Depth-Based Annotation Interface for Spatially Fixed AR Markup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for augmenting media, such as adding annotations or virtual objects, are cumbersome and inefficient, requiring multiple inputs and causing cognitive burden on users, especially in battery-operated devices.

Innovation Solution

The system utilizes depth data to maintain a fixed spatial relationship between augmentations and physical environments, allowing for intuitive annotation and virtual object placement, and supports shared annotation sessions across devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional methods are used for augmenting media, then annotations can be added to media, but the process is cumbersome and requires multiple inputs increasing cognitive burden

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of annotation inputVSAvoidcomplexity of input process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing depth data and establishing spatial relationships between camera views and physical environments before the user needs to add annotations. The depth information is preprocessed to create a spatial map that automatically associates annotations with physical objects, eliminating the need for users to manually track and re-locate objects across different camera views.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Depth data serves as an intermediary between the camera views and the physical environment. This intermediary layer automatically establishes correspondences between images captured at different times and locations, allowing the system to bridge the gap between current camera view and previously captured media without requiring manual user intervention to re-locate objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If annotations are added to stored media, then augmentation is possible, but it takes time and wastes energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of annotation processVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically using depth data to establish spatial relationships and locate annotations without requiring active user participation. The depth information is processed automatically to determine where annotations should appear in current camera views, eliminating the need for users to manually search through stored media or re-locate objects, thereby reducing both time and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If depth data is used to maintain spatial relationship, then annotation location accuracy is improved, but processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of spatial locationVSAvoidcomplexity of processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processing system is segmented into distinct modules: depth data capture, spatial relationship establishment, annotation association, and display rendering. By dividing the complex processing into separate functional segments, each module can be optimized independently and processed more efficiently, reducing overall computational burden while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3837684B1Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for depth-based annotation
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 APPLE INC
  • EP3837684B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3837684B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3837684B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A computer system displays a representation of a field of view of one or more cameras that is updated with changes in the field of view. In response to a request to add an annotation, the representation of the field of view of the camera(s) is replaced with a still image of the field of view of the camera(s). An annotation is received on a portion of the still image that corresponds to a portion of a physical environment captured in the still image. The still image is replaced with the representation of the field of view of the camera(s). An indication of a current spatial relationship of the camera(s) relative to the portion of the physical environment is displayed or not displayed based on a determination of whether the portion of the physical environment captured in the still image is currently within the field of view of the camera(s).