REALITY OVERLAY DEVICE

• US 20090289955A1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yahoo Holdings, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kalaboukis, Chris, Athsani, Athellina, Perry, Marc, Crane, Barry, Douris, Stephan
• Application Number:
  US12/125,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20090289955A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/630
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for capturing information that is pertinent to physical surroundings with respect to a device, the information including at least one of visual information or audio information. Overlay information for use in generating a transparent overlay via the device is obtained using at least a portion of the captured information. The transparent overlay is then superimposed via the device using the overlay information, wherein the transparent overlay provides one or more transparent images that are pertinent to and in correlation with the physical surroundings.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

automatically capturing information that is pertinent to physical surroundings with respect to a device, the information including visual information;

automatically obtaining overlay information for use in generating a transparent overlay via the device using at least a portion of the captured information; and

automatically superimposing the transparent overlay via the device using the overlay information, wherein the transparent overlay provides one or more transparent images that are pertinent to and in correlation with the physical surroundings.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the overlay information is obtained using at least a portion of the captured information and user information associated with a user of the device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information that is pertinent to the surroundings with respect to the device includes at least one of a location of the device, an orientation of the device, or a speed with which the device is traveling.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more entities using at least a portion of the captured information;

wherein obtaining the overlay information includes obtaining information that is pertinent to the identified entities.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the overlay information indicates placement of visual overlay information within the transparent overlay such that the transparent overlay is correlated with the physical surroundings.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more entities using at least a portion of the captured information;

wherein superimposing the transparent overlay includes providing the one or more transparent images with respect to the identified entities.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input that is pertinent to the transparent overlay; and

processing the user input or transmitting the user input to another entity.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving information that is pertinent to physical surroundings with respect to a device, the information including visual information;

obtaining overlay information for use in generating a transparent overlay via the device using at least a portion of the received information, wherein the transparent overlay provides one or more transparent images that are pertinent to and in correlation with the physical surroundings; and

transmitting the overlay information to the device.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

receiving user information associated with a user of the device;

wherein obtaining overlay information for use in generating a transparent overlay via the device includes obtaining the overlay information using at least a portion of the received information and at least a portion of the user information.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the information that is pertinent to the surroundings with respect to the device includes at least one of a location of the device, an orientation of the device, or a speed with which the device is traveling.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

identifying one or more entities using at least a portion of the received information;

wherein obtaining the overlay information includes obtaining information that is pertinent to the identified entities.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

identifying one or more entities using at least a portion of the received information; and

ascertaining a desired placement of the overlay information with respect to the identified entities;

wherein the overlay information indicates the desired placement of visual overlay information within the transparent overlay.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for;

automatically capturing information that is pertinent to physical surroundings with respect to the apparatus, the information including visual information;

automatically obtaining overlay information for use in generating a transparent overlay via the apparatus using at least a portion of the captured information; and

automatically superimposing the transparent overlay via the apparatus using the overlay information, wherein the transparent overlay provides one or more transparent images that are pertinent to and in correlation with the physical surroundings.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the overlay information is obtained using at least a portion of the captured information and user information associated with a user of the apparatus.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the information that is pertinent to the surroundings with respect to the device includes at least one of a location of the apparatus, an orientation of the apparatus, or a speed with which the apparatus is traveling.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, at least one of the processor or the memory being further adapted for:

identifying one or more entities using at least a portion of the captured information;

wherein obtaining the overlay information includes obtaining information that is pertinent to the identified entities.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the overlay information indicates placement of visual overlay information within the transparent overlay such that the transparent overlay is correlated with the physical surroundings.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, at least one of the processor or the memory being further adapted for:

identifying one or more entities using at least a portion of the captured information;

wherein superimposing the transparent overlay includes providing the one or more transparent images with respect to the identified entities.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for;

receiving information that is pertinent to physical surroundings with respect to a device, the information including visual information;

obtaining overlay information for use in generating a transparent overlay via the device using at least a portion of the received information, wherein the transparent overlay provides one or more transparent images that are pertinent to and in correlation with the physical surroundings; and

transmitting the overlay information to the device.

20. A computer-readable medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions, comprising:

instructions for receiving information that is pertinent to physical surroundings with respect to a device, the information including visual information;

instructions for obtaining overlay information for use in generating a transparent overlay via the device using at least a portion of the received information, wherein the transparent overlay provides one or more transparent images that are pertinent to and in correlation with the physical surroundings; and

instructions for transmitting the overlay information to the device.