Virtual-Space Agent Placement for Visibility Without View Obstruction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems struggle to place agents in a virtual or real space in a position that is easily recognizable by the user without obstructing their view of desired content.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus calculates an evaluation value based on user position information to determine the optimal placement of an agent in a virtual or real space, ensuring it is visible and avoids obstructing the user's view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the agent is placed at a position easily recognized by the user, then the user can quickly locate the agent, but the agent may block the user's view of the content they want to watch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagent detectabilityVSAvoidview obstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by evaluating different regions of the display screen with different weights. Regions that are more likely to contain content of interest to the user are assigned higher weights, causing the agent placement algorithm to avoid these high-weight regions. This creates a local quality distribution where the agent is directed toward areas with lower content density, thereby reducing view obstruction while remaining visible to the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent resolves the contradiction by introducing a new dimension for agent placement - not just horizontal and vertical screen coordinates, but also a 'content density dimension'. By calculating content density weights across the screen and using this as an additional placement criterion, the system finds optimal positions that balance visibility with minimal obstruction of content areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the agent is placed in a fixed position, then the placement is simple, but the agent may not be optimally positioned for different user viewing scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplacement complexityVSAvoidplacement adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing content density weight information for different regions of the screen before agent placement. This pre-computed weight data is then used by the placement algorithm to quickly determine optimal positions. The system performs this content analysis in advance, so when the agent needs to be placed, the decision-making process is simplified and efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the agent placement position adaptive rather than fixed. The placement algorithm dynamically adjusts the agent's position based on real-time content density calculations and user interaction context. This allows the system to adapt to different viewing scenarios, content types, and user behaviors while maintaining a relatively simple overall architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the agent is placed close to the user's current position, then the user can easily see the agent, but the agent may overlap with or block the content in the user's immediate field of view

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagent accessibilityVSAvoidcontent blocking
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a spatial weight map where regions close to the user's current position have higher base weights (indicating higher content importance). The agent placement algorithm then seeks positions with lower cumulative weights, naturally pushing the agent away from the user's immediate field of view while still maintaining reasonable accessibility. This local quality differentiation resolves the conflict between proximity and obstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12387446B2Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program for placing an agent in a virtual space
Publication Date: 2025.08.12 NT T INC
  • US12387446B2 patent drawing
  • US12387446B2 patent drawing
  • US12387446B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus includes an interface that transmits or receives data to or from an input apparatus that inputs user position information indicating a position of a user, and a processor that calculates an evaluation value for an evaluation target position based on the user position information, determines a position in a virtual space or a real space where an agent supporting the user is placed based on the evaluation value, and places the agent at the determined position in the virtual space or real space.