Eyewear Conversation Interface Spatial Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Smart glasses fail to selectively display virtual content in relation to user movement, leading to information overload and battery inefficiency due to resource-intensive processing, which distracts users and reduces battery life.

Innovation Solution

The eyewear device implements a conversation interface system that selectively positions virtual conversation objects in three-dimensional space based on timestamps and priorities, using low-power processing to prioritize recent messages and reduce unnecessary information, thereby enhancing user interaction and battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If virtual content is continuously displayed in smart glasses, then users can interact with virtual content, but information overload and user distraction occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevirtual content display capabilityVSAvoiduser distraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of virtual content display based on user state and context. The system continuously monitors user activities (reading, driving, exercising) and automatically adjusts whether to display virtual content or prioritize real-world visibility. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the display capability context-dependent rather than continuous, thereby reducing user distraction while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If standard resource-intensive programming is used to process virtual content, then virtual content can be displayed, but battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevirtual content processing capabilityVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces resource-intensive standard programming languages and processing methods with optimized, low-power alternative processing approaches. Specifically, it uses simplified rendering techniques and optimized algorithms that consume significantly less computational resources while maintaining the core functionality of virtual content display. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining versatility through alternative implementation methods that are energy-efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If all conversation objects are displayed prominently, then complete conversation information is available, but visual clutter and distraction increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversation information completenessVSAvoidvisual clutter
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display characteristics of different conversation objects based on their relevance and timing. Recent or important messages are displayed with higher prominence and clarity, while older or less relevant messages are displayed with reduced visibility or omitted entirely. This selective display approach maintains essential conversation information while eliminating visual clutter, thereby resolving the contradiction between information completeness and visual clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12105283B2Conversation interface on an eyewear device
Publication Date: 2024.10.01 SNAP INC
  • US12105283B2 patent drawing
  • US12105283B2 patent drawing
  • US12105283B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for performing operations comprising: receiving a request to access a conversation interface; in response to receiving the request, retrieving a plurality of virtual conversation objects associated with the conversation interface; displaying a first virtual conversation object of the plurality of virtual conversation objects at a first location in three-dimensional space; determining that a second virtual conversation object of the plurality of virtual conversation objects is associated with an earlier timestamp than the first virtual conversation object; and in response to determining that the second virtual conversation object is associated with the earlier timestamp than the first virtual conversation object, displaying the second virtual conversation object at a second location in three-dimensional space that is closer to a user of an eyewear device than the first location.