Virtual Control Positioning via Physical Anchors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current virtual reality interfaces face challenges in accurately detecting and processing gesture inputs, lacking a fixed reference point and providing flexible interaction methods that maintain user immersion, and are inflexible in mapping physical environment interactions to virtual controls.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a virtual anchor position based on physical environment data from sensors, such as cameras or infrared receivers, to position virtual controls dynamically within the virtual environment, allowing interaction only when the user's physical position corresponds to the virtual control's location and view angle, and enabling interaction after a threshold time, thus providing flexible and immersive gesture input detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If virtual controls are positioned using fixed reference points in the virtual environment, then the interaction framework is simple to implement, but the system lacks adaptability to different user positions and physical environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to user positionVSAvoidcomplexity of control positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic positioning of virtual controls by continuously updating their positions based on real-time sensor data from the physical environment. The system transitions from static fixed reference points to dynamic positioning that adapts to user movement and environmental changes, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity through runtime adjustment rather than pre-programming

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces sensor data and mapping algorithms as intermediaries between the physical environment and virtual control positioning. These intermediaries translate physical positions into corresponding virtual positions, enabling adaptive positioning without requiring direct complex calculations between user position and control elements, thus managing complexity while achieving adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If gesture input detection requires precise mapping between physical and virtual environments, then interaction accuracy is improved, but the detection complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture detection accuracyVSAvoidcomplexity of environment mapping
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary establishment of the mapping framework between physical and virtual environments during system initialization. By pre-defining the coordinate systems and transformation relationships, the system reduces real-time computational complexity while maintaining precise gesture detection accuracy during actual interaction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or manual calibration methods with sensor-based automated mapping systems. Sensors continuously capture physical environment data and automatically update the mapping, substituting manual precision-work with automated sensor processing to achieve high accuracy without proportional complexity increase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If virtual controls are made accessible from multiple physical positions, then ease of operation is improved, but maintaining user immersion and preventing unintended interactions becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of virtual controlsVSAvoidprecision of interaction intent
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements view-angle-dependent control accessibility by making virtual controls accessible only when the user is viewing them from the appropriate angle. This local quality approach allows controls to be positioned throughout the virtual environment while maintaining interaction precision through angular constraints, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If the system requires threshold time proximity for interaction, then false interactions are reduced, but the response time and user feedback delay increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of interaction detectionVSAvoidinteraction response delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic checking of proximity and view-angle conditions rather than continuous monitoring. By sampling at regular intervals and using threshold time proximity, the system achieves reliable interaction detection with reduced processing overhead, balancing accuracy requirements against response time through periodic validation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3250983B1Method and system for receiving gesture input via virtual control objects
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 CCP HF
  • EP3250983B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3250983B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3250983B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Aspects of the present invention provide computer systems, apparatuses, computer-executable methods and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media for receiving gesture input via virtual controls. Examples include a computer- implemented method that includes receiving data indicating a physical environment state, processing the data to determine a physical position of at least one user, determining at least one physical anchor position within the physical environment state, mapping the physical anchor position to a virtual anchor position within a virtual environment state, wherein the virtual environment state includes a plurality of virtual coordinate positions that map to at least a portion of the physical environment state, determining a particular virtual coordinate position for at least one virtual control from the plurality of virtual coordinate positions, and instructing a display device configured to display the virtual environment state to display the virtual control at the particular virtual coordinate position.