Electronic Eyewear Marker Scanning for Hands-Free AR Messaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable electronic devices, such as electronic eyewear, lack efficient methods for passive, hands-free messaging and social connection between users through real-world objects, limiting interpersonal awareness and emotional connections.
Innovation Solution
The system enables users to tag physical markers on objects, allowing electronic eyewear devices to detect these markers and send pre-configured augmented reality (AR) or real-world content to a remote partner's device without manual interaction, using stereo cameras and image processors to capture and process images, and project AR content based on detected markers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous data streaming is implemented in electronic eyewear, then real-time communication capability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic scanning of communication channels instead of continuous monitoring. The processor scans for messaging opportunities at predetermined intervals, allowing the device to remain power-efficient while still maintaining real-time communication capability when messages are available.
Solution Approach 2:
The device autonomously determines whether to scan for messages based on its current state and environmental conditions. The system self-regulates its scanning behavior to balance communication needs with power conservation, eliminating the need for constant user intervention or high-power continuous operation.
2Reliability
If the processor scans for messaging opportunities continuously, then message delivery reliability is improved, but battery power is depleted faster
Solution Approach 1:
The processor performs scanning operations at periodic intervals rather than continuously. This approach maintains message delivery reliability by regularly checking for messages while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning frequency and intensity are dynamically adjusted based on operational context. The system increases scanning activity when communication is needed and reduces it during low-activity periods, optimizing the balance between message delivery reliability and battery preservation.
3Ease of operation
If visual indicators are used to notify users of messages, then user awareness is improved, but the aesthetic appearance and comfort are worsened due to visible LEDs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using physical LED indicators that compromise aesthetics, the system creates visual representations of messages through augmented reality overlays on the lens. The AR display projects virtual indicators that provide the same notification function without any visible hardware components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical LED notification system with an electronic AR display system. This substitution eliminates the need for visible external indicators while maintaining effective user notification through virtual imagery displayed on the lens surface.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the device scans multiple communication protocols, then compatibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs an intermediary abstraction layer that handles multiple communication protocols uniformly. This mediator approach allows the device to support various protocols (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular) without requiring separate complex handling logic for each, thereby maintaining compatibility while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple protocols through a unified interface. The processor and messaging application are configured to work with different protocols using the same fundamental mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity despite broad protocol support.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are described for providing scan based imaging using an electronic eyewear device. The methods include scanning a scene using the electronic eyewear device to capture at least one image in an environment of a first user and identifying at least one physical marker in the scanned scene. Upon identification of the at least one physical marker in the scanned scene, a message (e.g., preselected AR content) is passively sent to at least one of directly to a second user or to at least one physical marker at a remote location for presentation to the second user. The message may be sent without use of the first user's hands to make a selection. The physical markers may be associated with a fixed object, a human face, a pet, a vehicle, a person, a logo, and the like.