Navigation Indicator for 360-Degree Viewport Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users accessing virtual content through computing devices, such as spherical videos capturing 360-degree views, often struggle to track changes in viewport zoom level and direction, leading to disorientation and a degraded user experience.
Innovation Solution
A navigation indicator is provided within the viewport interface, updating in real-time to visually indicate the direction and zoom level of the viewport, helping users maintain orientation while interacting with virtual content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users navigate virtual content by changing viewport direction and zoom level, then users can explore more of the 360-degree scene, but users become disoriented and lose track of their current orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by providing a navigation indicator that continuously displays the current viewport direction and zoom level relative to the original scene orientation. This visual feedback loop allows users to understand their current position in the virtual space, preventing disorientation while maintaining full navigation freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation indicator acts as an intermediary element between the user and the virtual content. It provides intermediate information about viewport orientation and zoom level, serving as a mediator that helps users maintain spatial awareness without directly interfering with the immersive experience.
2Loss of information
If a navigation indicator is added to show viewport direction and zoom level, then user orientation is maintained, but the interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation indicator is implemented as a localized overlay element within the viewport interface rather than a comprehensive system change. This local addition provides necessary orientation information without fundamentally altering the overall interface structure or requiring complex additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation indicator uses visual representations (arrows, icons) that copy or symbolize directional concepts in a simplified manner. Rather than implementing complex spatial tracking systems, the patent uses visual copies of directional indicators that are intuitively understood and easy to implement.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can determine at least one request to access a content item, wherein the content item was composed using a set of camera feeds that capture at least one scene from a set of different positions. A viewport interface can be provided on a display screen of the computing device through which playback of the content item is presented, the viewport interface being configured to allow a user operating the computing device to virtually navigate the at least one scene by changing i) a direction of the viewport interface relative to the scene or ii) a zoom level of the viewport interface. A navigation indicator can be provided in the viewport interface, the navigation indicator being configured to visually indicate any changes to a respective direction and zoom level of the viewport interface during playback of the content item.