Dynamic VR Environment Transitions for Collaboration Sessions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional VR collaboration sessions lack the ability to dynamically incorporate user gestures and conversation contexts into the VR environment representation, failing to enhance user experience by allowing seamless transitions between different VR environments.

Innovation Solution

A method that analyzes participant inputs, such as gestures and conversation context, to determine whether to output a second VR environment representation and generates a transitional sequence for smooth transitions between VR environments, allowing participants to initiate changes in the displayed environment based on predefined gestures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional VR collaboration sessions use static environment representations, then system complexity is reduced, but user engagement and interactivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser engagementVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The VR environment representation transitions from a static state to a dynamic state by automatically modifying environmental parameters (lighting, objects, layout) based on real-time analysis of participant inputs, gestures, and conversation context. This dynamic adaptation enhances user engagement while the automated modification process manages system complexity through algorithmic control rather than manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing participant inputs and autonomously modifying the VR environment without requiring manual user configuration. The environment adapts itself to user needs through gesture recognition and conversation analysis, reducing the operational burden on users while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If manual changes to VR environment are required, then system complexity is reduced, but productivity and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeeting efficiencyVSAvoidautomation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback loops by continuously monitoring participant gestures, conversation context, and environmental parameters, then automatically adjusting the VR environment based on this feedback. This closed-loop control enables automatic adaptation that improves meeting efficiency by eliminating manual intervention, with the complexity managed through systematic feedback processing algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (users physically configuring environment settings) with automated computational systems that analyze inputs and modify environments through software control. This substitution of manual mechanics with automated algorithms improves productivity while concentrating complexity in the computational layer rather than user operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If VR environment transitions are abrupt, then system complexity is reduced, but user experience and seamless interaction deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransition smoothnessVSAvoidtransitional sequence complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-planning and executing transitional sequences before environment changes occur. These transitional sequences prepare participants for upcoming changes through gradual modifications, maintaining user experience while the complexity of sequencing is managed through automated temporal control algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action through transitional sequences that gradually modify environment parameters over time rather than instantaneously. These periodic transitions smooth the user experience by distributing environmental changes across multiple time steps, with the temporal scheduling complexity managed through automated control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20240203046A1Dynamic modification of virtual reality (VR) environment representations used in a VR collaboration session

Publication Date: 2024.06.20 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes outputting a first virtual reality (VR) environment representation for display on a plurality of VR devices. First inputs received from participants using the VR devices are analyzed to determine whether to output a second VR environment representation. The method further includes determining, based on the analysis, a second VR environment representation and a first transitional sequence for the VR devices to output while transitioning from displaying the first VR environment representation to displaying the second VR environment representation. The second VR environment representation and the first transitional sequence are output for display on the VR devices. In response to a determination that a first of the participants has performed a predetermined gesture, a second transitional sequence for the VR devices to output while transitioning from the second VR environment representation back to the first VR environment representation is output.