Augmented reality spatial interaction and navigational system

• US 20070035563A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Inventors: Biocca, Frank, Owens, Charles
• Application Number:
  US11/502,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20070035563A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A method of operation for use with an augmented reality spatial interaction and navigational system includes receiving initialization information, including a target location corresponding to a point of interest in space, and a source location corresponding to a spatially enabled display. It further includes computing a curve in a screen space of the spatially enabled display between the source location and the target location, and placing a set of patterns along the curve, including illustrating the patterns in the screen space.

Claims

1. An augmented reality spatial interaction and navigational system, comprising:

an initialization module receiving initialization information, including a target location corresponding to a point of interest in space, and a source location corresponding to a spatially enabled display, and computing a curve in a screen space of the spatially enabled display between the source location and the target location; and

a pattern presentation module placing a set of patterns along the curve, including illustrating the patterns in the screen space.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the patterns at least include planes with a virtual bore-sight in the center.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein placement of the patterns accomplishes orientation of the planes normal to the curve at points of placement of the planes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the patterns of the set-are varied in appearance to draw perspective attention to a depth and center of a funnel formed by the set of patterns.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a curve refreshing module refreshing the curve during movement of one or more of the source location and the target location.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface employing the funnel as a user interface component.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said user interface employs the funnel to draw attention of the user to an object in space.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said user interface specifies a location of the object as the target location.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said user interface employs the funnel to provide navigational instructions to the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said user interface causes the curve to lie upon a known route in space.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said user interface module employs the funnel to allow the user to select a spatial point.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said user interface module detects training the funnel on the point produced by user movement of the display.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said pattern presentation module initializes a current pattern variable to be an initial pattern of the set of patterns.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said pattern presentation module initializes a control value for the curve by an interpattern distance in order to move a distance down the curve necessary to reach a next presentation location.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said pattern presentation module uses a local derivative of the curve to determine step distances for increasing the control value incrementally.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said pattern presentation module determines whether the target is reached and completes the curve when the target is reached by placing a final pattern of the set.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said pattern presentation module determines whether a pattern starting distance has been reached for a next pattern in the set.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said pattern presentation module resets the current pattern variable to the next pattern in the set when the pattern starting distance is reached.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said pattern presentation module computes a local equation derivative and interpolated up direction for a local frame having an origin at a computed curve location, and uses the frame to draw the pattern.

20. A method of operation for use with an augmented reality spatial interaction and navigational system, comprising:

receiving initialization information, including a target location corresponding to a point of interest in space, and a source location corresponding to a spatially enabled display;

computing a curve in a screen space of the spatially enabled display between the source location and the target location;

placing a set of patterns along the curve, including illustrating the patterns in the screen space.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the patterns at least include planes with a virtual bore-sight in the center.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein placement of the patterns accomplishes orientation of the planes normal to the curve at points of placement of the planes.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the patterns of the set are varied in appearance to draw perspective attention to a depth and center of a funnel formed by the set of patterns.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising refreshing the curve during movement of one or more of the source location and the target location.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising employing the funnel as a user interface component.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising employing the funnel to draw attention of the user to an object in space.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising specifying a location of the object as the target location.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising employing the funnel to provide navigational instructions to the user.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising causing the curve to lie upon a known route in space.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising employing the funnel to allow the user to select a spatial point.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising detecting training the funnel on the point produced by user movement of the display.

32. The method of claim 20, further comprising initializing a current pattern variable to be an initial pattern of the set of patterns.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising incrementing a control value for the curve by an interpattern distance in order to move a distance down the curve necessary to reach a next presentation location.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising using a local derivative of the curve to determine step distances for increasing the control value incrementally.

35. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining whether the target is reached and completing the curve when the target is reached by placing a final pattern of the set.

36. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining whether a pattern starting distance has been reached for a next pattern in the set.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising resetting the current pattern variable to the next pattern in the set when the pattern starting distance is reached.

38. The method of claim 20, further comprising computing a local equation derivative and interpolated up direction for a local frame having an origin at a computed curve location, and using the frame to draw the pattern.