Digital Note Anchors for Physical-Virtual Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual and augmented reality systems lack effective methods for synchronizing information between physical and virtual environments, particularly in immersive multi-user systems, where users need to share and access digital notes and instructions seamlessly across both realms.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize image data from physical objects, identify points on these objects, associate digital information with them, and synchronize this information across virtual environments using anchors, allowing users to attach and retrieve digital notes, instructions, and other multimedia content between physical and virtual replicas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If digital information is attached to physical objects in augmented reality environments, then information accessibility and user collaboration are improved, but synchronization complexity and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces anchors as intermediary elements that bridge physical and virtual environments. These anchors serve as stable reference points that enable digital information to be attached to physical objects while maintaining synchronization across multiple users and devices. The anchor system mediates between the physical world (tracked via image data) and the virtual information layer, resolving the contradiction by providing a reliable connection mechanism without requiring direct complex synchronization between all system components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical objects through image data processing and anchor placement. By generating digital representations (icons, digital twins) of physical objects and their associated information, the system enables information to be accessed in both physical and virtual environments. This copying approach allows information to be preserved and synchronized across different instances without requiring continuous complex communication between all system elements.
2Productivity
If multiple users access and modify digital notes in real-time across virtual environments, then collaboration efficiency is improved, but system complexity and data synchronization challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where changes to digital information attached to anchors are automatically detected and propagated to other users' views. When a user modifies digital notes or information associated with an anchor, the system provides feedback by updating the anchor's data structure and notifying other connected users. This feedback loop enables real-time collaboration while managing synchronization complexity through structured data propagation rather than complex peer-to-peer communication protocols.
3Stability of the object's composition
If digital information is synchronized across multiple virtual environment instances, then information consistency is improved, but processing time and system resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing image data to identify and track physical objects before attaching digital information. Anchors are established in advance on stable reference points within the environment, and digital information is pre-associated with these anchors. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for complex real-time processing during information synchronization, as the foundation for consistency is already in place. The system prepares data structures and anchor placements beforehand, reducing processing time during actual collaboration and synchronization operations.
Data Source
AI summary
To facilitate virtual training, employee on-boarding, knowledge transfer and remote assistance, embodiments provide a digital note viewable in a virtual environment which may be attached to a physical machine and viewable when a user is engaged with the system. When a user sees the machine through either an augmented reality device or a virtual reality device, the digital note is displayable and selectable. Selection of the digital note access information stored in association with the note and the object the note is attached to. The note may be modified in one instance, which synchronizes the note in any other instances. For example, modifying a digital note attached to a physical object in an AR environment causes a copy of the digital note to be modified in the same way in a digital twin of the object in a VR environment.