Virtual Anchoring for XR Content Without Physical Anchor Objects
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented reality technologies face challenges in determining the appropriate location in a physical environment to place electronic information, as they struggle to anchor virtual content to unavailable physical objects.
Innovation Solution
The system generates a virtual anchor at a fixed location in the physical environment when a requested physical anchor object is not available, allowing virtual content to be rendered and displayed at this location, either in space or on a virtual anchor object, thereby anchoring it to the physical environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If virtual content is anchored to physical objects in augmented reality, then the electronic information appears to be part of the physical environment, but it becomes challenging to determine where to place the electronic information when physical anchor objects are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual anchor objects as intermediary elements that mediate between the virtual content and the physical environment. When physical anchor objects are unavailable, the system creates virtual anchor objects at determined locations in the physical environment, which then serve as anchors for virtual content. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by providing a reliable anchoring mechanism without requiring direct attachment to physical objects.
2Stability of the object's composition
If virtual content is anchored to physical objects, then stable positioning is achieved, but the system complexity increases due to the need to detect and manage physical anchor objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies (virtual anchor objects) of physical anchor objects when the physical objects are unavailable. These virtual copies replicate the anchoring function without requiring the actual physical objects to be present or detectable. This copying approach reduces system complexity by eliminating the need for complex physical object detection and management while maintaining stable virtual content positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If physical anchor objects are used for virtual content placement, then realistic immersion is achieved, but latency increases and artifacts like floating content occur when physical objects are absent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary determination of anchor object locations and creates virtual anchor objects in advance, before virtual content needs to be placed. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time physical object detection and processing during content placement, thereby reducing latency. The virtual anchor objects are pre-positioned at determined locations, ensuring realistic immersion without the delays associated with physical object management.
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of the subject technology provide virtual anchoring for extended reality (XR) display devices. A device may generate an XR environment that includes computer-generated (CG) content for display relative to various physical objects in a physical environment. In order to position the CG content, an XR application may request a physical anchor object to which the CG content can be anchored. In circumstances in which the physical anchor object is not available in the physical environment, a virtual anchor and/or a virtual anchor object corresponding to the physical anchor object can be provided to which the CG content can be anchored.