Viewpoint Position Structures for Geographically Aligned VR and AR Media

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) content systems lack a common reference coordinate system that aligns virtual content viewpoints with real-world locations, limiting their utility in applications like tourism and education, and do not support transparent or see-through AR content indications.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that create a viewpoint position structure specifying a reference coordinate system with geographical offsets, indicating AR content, and supporting multiple timelines for overlay playback, using DASH descriptors and geographical references.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a common reference coordinate system is introduced to align virtual content viewpoints with real-world locations, then spatial alignment and location awareness are improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial alignment precisionVSAvoidcoordinate system integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a viewpoint position structure as an intermediary data container that bridges virtual content coordinates and real-world geographical references. This structure includes fields for viewpoint position, orientation, and scale parameters, serving as a mediator that translates between virtual and real-world coordinate systems without requiring direct complex integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the coordinate alignment problem into separate manageable components: viewpoint position parameters, orientation parameters, and scale parameters. Each component is handled independently within the viewpoint position structure, allowing systematic processing and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If viewpoint position structure with geographical offsets is implemented, then location awareness and spatial alignment are enhanced, but data processing and storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation awareness capabilityVSAvoiddata processing volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The viewpoint position structure is designed as a universal data container that serves multiple functions: storing viewpoint position, orientation, scale information, and geographical offset data. This multi-functional structure reduces the need for multiple separate data structures and minimizes overall data processing requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If support for transparent and see-through AR content is added, then AR content rendering capability is improved, but system complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAR content rendering capabilityVSAvoidAR rendering system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by introducing specific parameters within the viewpoint position structure that control transparency and see-through properties only where needed for AR content. This allows selective application of transparency effects without requiring complete system redesign, maintaining simplicity for non-AR content while enabling advanced AR rendering where required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3712751B1Method and apparatus for incorporating location awareness in media content
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP3712751B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3712751B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3712751B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method, apparatus and computer program product creates a viewpoint position structure for media content. The viewpoint position structure specifies a position of a viewpoint defined in a reference coordinate system and an offset of the reference coordinate system with respect to a geographical reference. The method, apparatus and computer program product cause storage of the viewpoint position structure. An indication may be created as to whether the media content is augmented reality media content. The augmented reality media content may comprise a background that is at least partially transparent. The offset may be determined, within the reference coordinate system, relative to a geomagnetic reference direction, based upon one or more of a viewpoint yaw angle, a viewpoint pitch angle, or a viewpoint roll angle.