Rotating Marker Offline Sync for Multi-User AR

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in enabling multiuser visual experiences, such as interactive games and artistic media, without the need for a network connection, while allowing users to participate in synchronized experiences offline.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses a rotating marker, captured by multiple viewing electronic devices, to synchronize visual experiences. Each device captures images of the rotating marker, which is presented on a remote device, and uses the detected parameters to update the visual experience in real-time, allowing for offline synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a network connection is required for multiuser visual experiences, then synchronization and coordination between users can be achieved, but user mobility and offline participation are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesynchronizationVSAvoidoffline capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A rotating marker serves as an intermediary physical object that mediates synchronization between multiple users' devices. The marker contains visual information that each device captures and processes locally, enabling coordinated visual experiences without direct network communication between devices. The marker acts as a shared reference point that all users can observe and use to synchronize their experiences offline.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Each user device captures a copy of the visual information from the rotating marker through its camera. This copying mechanism allows each device to independently process and display the same visual content simultaneously, enabling multiuser experiences without requiring continuous network connection for data synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Speed

If online connection is used for multiuser experiences, then real-time synchronization is achieved, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time synchronizationVSAvoidnetwork infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network infrastructure requirement is extracted and replaced with a simple physical rotating marker. Instead of relying on complex network infrastructure for synchronization, the system uses a tangible object that naturally provides synchronization through its physical presence and rotation, significantly reducing device and infrastructure complexity while maintaining real-time coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating marker autonomously provides synchronization information through its rotation and visual patterns. Each device independently captures and processes the marker information without requiring server mediation or network coordination, enabling self-service synchronization that reduces infrastructure complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4559547A1Multi-user ar experience with offline synchronization
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 SNAP INC
  • EP4559547A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4559547A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4559547A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer readable media directed to multi-user visual experiences such as interactive gaming experiences and artistic media experiences. A viewing electronic device includes a camera configured to capture images, a display, and a processor coupled to the camera and the display. The processor is configured to capture, with the camera, images of a rotating marker where the rotating marker is presented on a monitor of a remote device and to present, on the display, a visual experience where the visual experience has an adjustable feature. The processor detects a parameter of the rotating marker from the captured images that corresponds to the adjustable feature and updates the visual experience responsive to the detected parameter. The parameter may be one or more of an angle, speed of rotation, direction of rotation, color, or pattern of the rotating marker.