Augmented reality system

• US 20030179218A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Junkins, Stephen, Martins, Fernando C. M., Plumb, Jason E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,301,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2215/16 Using real world measurements to influence rendering

Abstract

A virtual reality system surveys a real-world environment, generates 3D data that defines the real-world environment, renders a virtual 3D environment using the 3D data, retrieves a virtual object from a database comprised of pre-stored virtual objects, renders the virtual object in the virtual 3D environment, and re-positions the virtual object in the virtual 3D environment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a virtual three-dimensional environment;

retrieving a virtual object; and

rendering the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the virtual three-dimensional environment comprises:

surveying a real-world environment;

generating three-dimensional data that defines the real-world environment; and

rendering the virtual three-dimensional environment using the three-dimensional data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the virtual three-dimensional environment further comprises:

locating reference points in the real-world environment; and

recognizing planes in the real-world environment.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein recognizing a plane comprises identifying a cluster of points that behave similarly during motion.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scaling the virtual object in accordance with a size of the virtual three-dimensional environment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein scaling comprises:

obtaining a size of a target in the real-world; and

changing a size of the virtual object in accordance with the size of the target.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

illuminating the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment to simulate lighting in the real-world environment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual object is retrieved from a database comprised of pre-stored virtual objects.

9. A method comprising:

surveying a real-world environment;

generating three-dimensional data that defines the real-world environment;

rendering a virtual three-dimensional environment using the three-dimensional data;

retrieving a virtual object from a database comprised of pre-stored virtual objects;

rendering the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment; and

re-positioning the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

illuminating the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment to simulate lighting in the real-world environment.

31. The method of claim 9, wherein surveying is performed using a camera;

and

further comprising;

monitoring a location of the camera during surveying; and

using the location of the camera in rendering the virtual object.

11. An article comprising a machine-readable medium that stores executable instructions to:

generate a virtual three-dimensional environment;

retrieve a virtual object; and

render the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment.

12. The article of claim 11, wherein generating the virtual three-dimensional environment comprises:

surveying a real-world environment;

generating three-dimensional data that defines the real-world environment; and

rendering the virtual three-dimensional environment using the three-dimensional data.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein generating the virtual three-dimensional environment further comprises:

locating reference points in the real-world environment; and

recognizing planes in the real-world environment.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein recognizing a plane comprises identifying a cluster of points that behave similarly during motion.

15. The article of claim 11, further comprising instructions that cause the machine to:

scale the virtual object in accordance with a size of the virtual three-dimensional environment.

16. The article of claim 15, wherein scaling comprises:

obtaining a size of a target in the real-world; and

changing a size of the virtual object in accordance with the size of the target.

17. The article of claim 11, further comprising instructions that cause the machine to:

illuminate the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment to simulate lighting in the real-world environment.

18. The article of claim 11, wherein the virtual object is retrieved from a database comprised of pre-stored virtual objects.

19. An article comprising a machine-readable medium that stores executable instructions to:

survey a real-world environment;

generate three-dimensional data that defines the real-world environment;

render a virtual three-dimensional environment using the three-dimensional data;

retrieve a virtual object from a database comprised of pre-stored virtual objects;

render the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment; and

re-position the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment.

20. The article of claim 19, further comprising instructions that cause the machine to:

illuminate the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment to simulate lighting in the real-world environment.

32. The article of claim 19, wherein surveying is performed using input from a camera;

and

further comprising instructions that cause the computer to;

monitor a location of the camera during surveying; and

use the location of the camera in rendering the virtual object.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores executable instructions; and

a processor that executes the instructions to;

generate a virtual three-dimensional environment;

retrieve a virtual object; and

render the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein generating the virtual three-dimensional environment comprises:

surveying a real-world environment;

generating three-dimensional data that defines the real-world environment; and

rendering the virtual three-dimensional environment using the three-dimensional data.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein generating the virtual three-dimensional environment further comprises:

locating reference points in the real-world environment; and

recognizing planes in the real-world environment.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein recognizing a plane comprises identifying a cluster of points that behave similarly during motion.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor executes instructions to:

scale the virtual object in accordance with a size of the virtual three-dimensional environment.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein scaling comprises:

obtaining a size of a target in the real-world; and

changing a size of the virtual object in accordance with the size of the target.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor executes instructions to:

illuminate the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment to simulate lighting in the real-world environment.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the virtual object is retrieved from a database comprised of pre-stored virtual objects.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores executable instructions; and

a processor that executes the instructions to;

survey a real-world environment;

generate three-dimensional data that defines the real-world environment;

render a virtual three-dimensional environment using the three-dimensional data;

retrieve a virtual object from a database comprised of pre-stored virtual objects;

render the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment; and

re-position the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor executes instructions to:

illuminate the virtual object in the virtual three-dimensional environment to simulate lighting in the real-world environment.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein surveying is performed using input from a camera;

and

the processor executes instructions to;

monitor a location of the camera during surveying; and

use the location of the camera in rendering the virtual object.