Virtual Space User Icon Display Control for Hybrid Work

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mixed work styles where employees both come to an office and work remotely, it is difficult for users to determine if they can meet and converse directly in a real space when user icons are displayed in a virtual space based on their real-space position, and for remote workers to know if other users are available for conversation.

Innovation Solution

A display control system that includes a first display processing unit to show a user icon at a predetermined position in a virtual space based on the user's real-space position, a reception processing unit to receive moving operations of the user icon, and a second display processing unit to display a second user icon in the virtual space when the reception processing unit receives a moving operation from the user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If user icons are displayed in a virtual space based on real-space position, then the system can show user locations accurately, but users cannot easily determine if they can meet and converse directly in real space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition accuracyVSAvoidconversation availability determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the user icon display into two distinct modes: a first user icon showing real-space position and a second user icon showing virtual-space movable position. This segmentation allows users to separately understand their physical location versus their virtual representation, resolving the confusion about real-space meeting availability while maintaining virtual space interaction capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary indicator that visually connects the first user icon (real position) and second user icon (virtual position). This intermediary element helps users understand the relationship between real-space and virtual-space positions, enabling them to determine conversation availability by seeing whether the virtual icon can be moved to overlap with others' real position icons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the system displays only one user icon at real-space position, then the display is simple, but remote workers cannot determine if other users are available for conversation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay structureVSAvoidconversation availability information

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the single user icon into two functional icons: the first user icon anchored at real-space position and the second user icon that can be moved in virtual space. This segmentation preserves the simple real-position display while adding virtual movement capability, enabling remote workers to determine conversation availability by attempting to move their virtual icon to overlap with others' positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a virtual space dimension to the existing real-space position display. By introducing the second user icon that operates in the virtual dimension while the first icon remains anchored in real space, the system provides conversation availability information without complicating the fundamental real-position display structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If users can move their user icon freely in virtual space, then they can explore virtual environment, but it becomes unclear which position corresponds to real-space location

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual space explorationVSAvoidreal-space position correspondence

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the user's presence into two distinct icons: the first user icon that remains fixed at the real-space position to maintain position correspondence information, and the second user icon that can move freely in virtual space for exploration. This segmentation allows users to explore the virtual environment while always knowing their real-space location through the anchored first icon.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy (second user icon) of the user's real-position representation (first user icon) that can be moved in virtual space. This copy allows virtual exploration without affecting the original position information, as the first icon remains anchored to show the real-space correspondence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12293132B2Display control system, display control method, and recording medium recording a display control program for displaying user icons in a virtual space

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 SHARP KK

AI summary

A display control system includes a first display processing unit that displays a first user icon of a user at a predetermined position in a virtual space on the basis of a current position of the user in a real space, a reception processing unit that receives, from the user corresponding to the first user icon, moving operation of the first user icon displayed at the predetermined position in the virtual space, and a second display processing unit that displays a second user icon corresponding to the moving operation by the user in the virtual space, in a case where the reception processing unit receives the moving operation of the first user icon from the user.