Virtual Object Anchor for Synchronized AR Collaboration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Collaborative augmented reality in enterprise settings is hindered by the lack of coordinated presentation of virtual objects among multiple users wearing head-mounted displays, due to limitations in distance accuracy, field of view, processing power, and user tracking in existing systems.
Innovation Solution
A virtual object anchor system that integrates a processor, memory, network interface, and sensors to store and communicate an offset defining the position, orientation, and scale of a virtual object, allowing information handling systems to generate a synchronized three-dimensional visual image across multiple head-mounted displays, enabling coordinated interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If inside-out tracking data is used to merge and synchronize virtual spaces of separate head mounted displays, then collaborative augmented reality is enabled, but distance accuracy, field of view, processing power and user tracking are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an outside-in tracking system as an intermediary between the virtual objects and the head-mounted displays. This external tracking system uses cameras or sensors positioned in the environment to track the position and orientation of virtual objects independently of each user's view, thereby providing accurate distance measurements and spatial relationships that are not limited by individual device performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the tracking function into two independent components: inside-out tracking for individual user experience and outside-in tracking for collaborative coordination. This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific purpose without being constrained by the limitations of a unified approach
2Ease of operation
If each end user has his own three dimensional virtual object presented through his own head mounted display, then individual visualization is achieved, but coordinated presentation among multiple users is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The outside-in tracking system serves as a mediator that coordinates virtual objects across multiple users. External cameras track the position and orientation of virtual objects in the shared environment, allowing each user to see their own customized view while maintaining spatial coherence with other users through the common external reference frame
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows each user to have local customization of their virtual object presentation (individual gestures, personalization) while maintaining global coordination through the external tracking system that ensures all users share the same spatial understanding of virtual object positions and orientations
3Ease of manufacture
If head mounted displays project three dimensional images in virtual reality, then immersive experience is achieved, but user interaction with real world is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between virtual reality and augmented reality modes, and between inside-out and outside-in tracking, depending on the collaborative context. This allows the system to adapt to different interaction scenarios, providing full immersion when individual work is needed and environmental awareness when collaboration is required
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual object anchor stores an offset in memory that defines a virtual object position, orientation and scale relative to the location of the virtual object anchor. Information handling systems retrieve and apply the offset to generate a virtual object in a head mounted display that is presented at a location relative to the virtual object defined by the offset. In one embodiment, gestures detected by information handling system sensors that change the position, orientation or scale of the virtual object are applied to update the offset and communicated for storage at the virtual object anchor. In another embodiment, gestures detected by sensors of the virtual object anchor are applied to update the offset so that the updated offset is communicated to the information handling systems for presentation of the virtual object at an updated position, orientation and/or scale determined from the gestures.