VR Play Area Collision Prevention via Dynamic Overlap Adjustment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In scenarios where multiple users experience Virtual Reality (VR) content using different Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) in a shared space, there is a risk of collision due to overlapping play areas, which are independently set for each user.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that acquires and manages play area information for multiple users, using coordinate conversion matrices to ensure non-overlapping play areas by resizing or updating the play areas as needed, and providing priority settings for regions to prevent collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If play areas are independently set for each user to improve VR immersion, then user immersion is improved, but collision risk between users increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser immersionVSAvoidcollision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The play area boundaries are made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors user positions and automatically adjusts play area boundaries in real-time to prevent overlaps, allowing users to maintain immersion while ensuring safety through adaptive boundary management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by detecting user positions within the play area and providing real-time information about boundary conditions. When a user approaches or exceeds boundaries, the system responds by adjusting the play area configuration to prevent collisions, creating a closed-loop safety system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If play area boundaries are expanded to cover full field of view, then VR immersion is improved, but safety hazards increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveVR immersionVSAvoidsafety hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions within the play area are assigned different priority levels. High-priority regions maintain strict boundary enforcement for safety, while low-priority regions allow greater freedom of movement. This spatial differentiation enables expanded play areas that cover the full field of view while maintaining safety through localized boundary management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple users are allowed to use HMDs simultaneously in shared space, then system versatility is improved, but collision probability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem versatilityVSAvoidcollision probability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shared physical space is segmented into multiple virtual play areas, each assigned to a specific user. The system creates and manages separate play area instances for each HMD user, allowing simultaneous usage while preventing collisions through spatial segmentation of the shared environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20240303941A1Information processing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and medium

Publication Date: 2024.09.12 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories. The one or more processors and the one or more memories are configured to acquire play area information about a first play area indicating a movable range of a first user in a real space, set a second play area indicating a movable range of a second user in the real space, and set the second play area according to whether the first play area overlaps the set second play area.