Context-Sensitive VR Interface Activation via Approach Dynamics

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Solution Overview

Problem

In immersive virtual reality systems, accurately interpreting virtual contacts and determining user intentions can be challenging, especially when users move through multiple virtual objects, leading to difficulties in executing intended commands.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize characteristics such as approach velocity, acceleration, and direction to differentiate between intended and unintended virtual contacts, allowing for precise selection and actuation of virtual objects in a virtual environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If virtual contact detection is used for user interaction, then user interaction capability is enabled, but accuracy in determining user intention deteriorates when users move through multiple virtual objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction capabilityVSAvoidaccuracy in determining user intention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters used for contact detection from simple contact presence to multiple characteristics including approach velocity, acceleration, and direction. By analyzing these dynamic parameters, the system can distinguish between intentional contacts (with specific velocity/acceleration patterns) and incidental contacts (with different patterns), thereby resolving the contradiction between enabling interaction and ensuring accurate intention recognition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring contact characteristics and using this information to determine user intention. The detection system provides feedback about the nature of each contact (intentional vs. incidental) based on analyzed parameters, allowing the system to respond appropriately to user actions while filtering out false positives from incidental contacts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If simple virtual contact detection is implemented, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to differentiate between intended and unintended contacts deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoidcontact differentiation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using simple contact detection, the patent introduces multiple parameters (approach velocity, acceleration, direction) to characterize each contact event. This parameter enrichment allows the system to differentiate between intended and unintended contacts with higher reliability, accepting increased computational complexity as a necessary trade-off for accurate contact differentiation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12243171B2Context sensitive user interface activation in an augmented and/or virtual reality environment

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

In a system for determining intent of a detected virtual contact between a user and a virtual object in a virtual reality environment, contact maybe detected between a designated selection device, manipulated by the user, and the virtual object. It may then be determined whether or not the detected contact between the designated selection device and the virtual object is intention. Determination of whether or not the detected contact is intentional may be based on at least one of an approach direction of the virtual contact with the virtual object, an approach velocity of the virtual contact with the virtual object, or an approach acceleration of the virtual contact with the virtual object.