VR Navigator Gaze-Driven Positioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices struggle to provide an intuitive and unobtrusive navigator within virtual reality (VR) content, often causing visual disturbances and making it difficult for users to select items outside their direct view.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a processor configured to create a navigator with a shape determined by the content, positioning the user at its center, and arranging objects within based on distance, which is displayed according to the user's gaze information, allowing for easy selection and reduced visual field disturbance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a navigator is displayed within VR content, then users can access items outside their direct view, but visual field disturbance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to items outside direct viewVSAvoidvisual field disturbance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the navigator from the central visual field and positions it at the periphery (upper or lower end of the display area). This separates the navigation function from the main content viewing area, allowing users to access items outside their direct view through the navigator without the navigator itself causing visual field disturbance in the central viewing area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions the navigator from a two-dimensional overlay on the content to a three-dimensional spatial element positioned at the periphery of the display area. By placing the navigator at the upper or lower end of the display area rather than superimposing it on the content, the system creates a separate spatial dimension for navigation, reducing visual interference with the main content.

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

2Loss of information

If a traditional navigator is displayed, then navigation information is provided, but user interaction and selection ease deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation information provisionVSAvoiditem selection ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the navigator interactive and responsive to user gaze. When the user gazes at a specific area, the navigator provides relevant navigation information for that area, making item selection easier without overwhelming the user with all navigation information at once. This localized information provision enhances ease of operation while maintaining comprehensive navigation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by making the navigator respond to user gaze information. The system detects which area the user is looking at and dynamically adjusts the navigator to provide relevant navigation information, creating a feedback loop that enhances user interaction and makes item selection more intuitive and easier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the navigator is positioned in the center of the view, then spatial orientation is clear, but visual field disturbance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial orientation clarityVSAvoidvisual field disturbance
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the navigator at the upper or lower end of the display area rather than in the center. This asymmetric placement maintains spatial orientation clarity through the navigator's structured layout while avoiding the visual field disturbance that would result from a central position overlaying the main content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3299933B1Method for displaying a navigator associated with content and electronic device for implementing the same
Publication Date: 2022.12.28 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3299933B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3299933B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3299933B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various embodiments provide an electronic device and a method of operating the same. The electronic device includes a display, a memory, and at least one processor functionally connected to the display or the memory. The at least one processor is configured to: acquire a content type or object information associated with executed content; create a navigator using the content type or the object information; arrange the created navigator in the content; and display the navigator according to a user's gaze information. Other embodiments may also be made.