Portable Device Position Tracking via Embedded Display Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack effective methods for determining the precise position and rotation of portable devices relative to display screens, especially in interactive systems involving complex content streams and multiple device interactions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that captures and analyzes image streams from portable devices to detect embedded patterns and digital watermarks, allowing for the determination and tracking of the device's location and rotation by rendering sequences of patterns on the display screen, which can be synchronized with the device's camera analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If embedded content is detected within captured image streams to determine device location, then measurement precision of device position is improved, but device complexity increases due to image processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice location determinationVSAvoidimage processing system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses embedded content (such as watermarks or distinctive patterns) as an intermediary element between the display and the portable device camera. This intermediary carries position information that can be detected by the camera, allowing location determination without requiring complex active sensors or transmitters in the portable device itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with an optical detection system. Instead of using active transmitters, RFID tags, or mechanical encoders in the portable device, the system uses passive image capture and analysis of embedded visual content to determine position, simplifying the device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If sequences of patterns are rendered on the display to enable position tracking, then measurement precision of device position and rotation is improved, but loss of time increases due to pattern rendering cycles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice position and rotation trackingVSAvoidpattern rendering cycle

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic rendering of patterns on the display at synchronized intervals with the portable device's camera capture rate. This periodic action ensures that position information is continuously updated without requiring continuous rendering, allowing the system to balance measurement precision with time efficiency through rhythmic, synchronized updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuous position tracking by ensuring that pattern rendering and image capture occur in a continuous, synchronized manner. The embedded content is updated in a way that maintains uninterrupted position information availability, eliminating gaps in tracking while using efficient periodic rendering cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If image streams are captured and analyzed to detect embedded patterns, then adaptability of the system to different display content is improved, but use of energy by the portable device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem adaptability to display contentVSAvoidportable device energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential position information embedded within the display content rather than processing the entire image stream. By selectively detecting and analyzing only the embedded patterns or watermarks that contain position data, the system reduces processing requirements and energy consumption while maintaining adaptability to various display contents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by analyzing only the necessary portions of the captured image stream that contain embedded position information, rather than processing the complete image data. This selective analysis approach maintains system adaptability to different content types while significantly reducing computational load and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9774989B2Position and rotation of a portable device relative to a television screen

Publication Date: 2017.09.26 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

A method for determining the location of a portable device relative to a display is provided. An image stream is captured by the portable device when the portable device is positioned proximate to the display. The image stream is captured from a region of the display when the display is actively rendering a content stream, the content stream including embedded content for position determination. The embedded content is detected within the captured image stream, and the location of the portable device relative to the display is determined based on the detected embedded content.