Volumetric Space Indications for Obstruction-Free Remote Collaboration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Challenges arise in collaborative display systems when users in different locations attempt to share virtual content, as differences in their real-world spaces and displayed virtual objects can obscure views and create physical obstacles, posing safety hazards and interaction difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A head-mounted display device determines volumetric spaces in each user's environment that satisfy collaboration criteria, such as absence of objects, and displays indications of these spaces to ensure clear viewing and interaction, using spatial mapping and recognition techniques to generate and synchronize shared virtual content across different environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple indicators are shared between remote and local users, then collaboration effectiveness is improved, but cognitive load and information processing complexity increase for remote users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollaboration effectivenessVSAvoidinformation processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the unified indicator set into two distinct groups: primary indicators visible to both remote and local users, and secondary indicators visible only to the remote user. This segmentation allows the remote user to access comprehensive information without overwhelming the local user interface, thereby maintaining collaboration effectiveness while managing information processing complexity through organized presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a spatial dimension to indicator presentation by displaying primary indicators in a first location and secondary indicators in a second location on the heads-up display. This dimensional separation allows remote users to access multiple levels of information without increasing the cognitive load on local users, as the additional indicators are positioned in a way that does not interfere with the primary display area.

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

2Loss of information

If comprehensive indicators are displayed on heads-up display, then situational awareness is improved, but visual clutter and distraction from primary display increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesituational awarenessVSAvoidvisual distraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different indicator visibility to different user roles: primary indicators are visible to both remote and local users, while secondary indicators are visible only to the remote user. This localized information distribution ensures that each user receives the appropriate level of detail for their role, improving situational awareness without creating visual clutter for the local user who needs to focus on primary display elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The heads-up display acts as an intermediary between the comprehensive system data and the remote user's decision-making process. It provides a filtered view that presents essential indicators in an organized manner, translating complex multi-vehicle data into manageable visual information that enhances situational awareness without causing distraction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If remote user has access to all local user indicators, then operational awareness is improved, but interface design complexity and user training requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational awarenessVSAvoidinterface design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic indicator visibility system where the remote user's access to indicators is selectively controlled based on their role and operational needs. The system dynamically adjusts which indicators are presented to the remote user versus the local user, providing comprehensive operational awareness when needed while simplifying the interface during other operational phases. This dynamic approach reduces interface design complexity compared to a static full-access model.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4091035B1Remote collaborations with volumetric space indications
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP4091035B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4091035B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4091035B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Examples are disclosed that relate to computing devices, head-mounted display devices and methods for remote collaborations. In one example a computing device receives a first spatial mapping of a first environment and a second spatial mapping of a second environment. The computing device determines that a first volumetric space in the first environment and a second volumetric space in the second environment each satisfy at least one collaboration criterion. Based on this determination, an indication of the first volumetric space is displayed by a first display device in the first environment, and an indication of the second volumetric space is displayed by a second display device in the second environment.