Interactive virtual portal

• US 6,950,116 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Ternullo, Noah J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US10/229,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 345/757, 345/6, 345/419, 345/427, 345/530, 345/531, 345/536, 345/619, 345/664, 345/679, 345/782, 345/156, 345/158, 345/166, 345/173, 348/121, 348/143, 463/32, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 342/357.12, 701/207, 701/213
• US Class Current: 715/747
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A system for performing interactive virtual reality sessions without constraining the mobility of a user is disclosed. The system allows a user to remain fully mobile while participating in an interactive virtual reality session. The system comprises a handheld computing device having a display, user input controls, a location sensing device and a user sensing device. To conduct a virtual reality session, a software application is loaded from a memory. Then, the computing device determines its position within a space using the location sensing device, and the user sensing device establishes a relationship between the user'"'"'s eyes and display. This relationship is used to provide the user with the same perspective as would be achieved if viewing the simulated session in real life. User input controls allow the user to control aspects of the session to further enhance the user'"'"'s experience.

Claims

1. A portable computing device for performing an interactive virtual reality session for a mobile user operating in a predefined space, said computing device comprising:

means for storing machine-readable instructions for controlling operation of said portable computing device;

means for retrieving said machine-readable instructions from said storing means;

means for sensing a location of said portable computing device with respect to the mobile user within said predefined space;

means for inputting user data into said portable computing device;

means, responsive to operation of said retrieving means, said sensing means and said inputting means, for processing said machine-readable instructions, said location, and said user data to manifest said interactive virtual reality session; and

means, responsive to operation of said processing means, for displaying said interactive virtual reality session to the mobile user.

2. The portable computing device of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises:

a location transponder for determining said location of said portable computing device in said predefined space.

3. The portable computing device of claim 2 wherein said sensing means further comprises:

a user transponder for obtaining information about a relationship between said portable computing device and the user, said information about said relationship for use in manipulating said displayed information.

4. The portable computing device of claim 3 wherein said displaying means comprises:

a flat panel display.

5. The portable computing device of claim 3 wherein said inputting means comprises:

an input device selected from the group consisting of a toggle switch, a control button, an on/off switch, a microphone and a touch sensitive display.

6. The portable computing device of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises:

a sensor component selected from the sensor group consisting of an acoustic transponder, a radio-frequency transponder, an optical transponder and a GPS receiver.

7. A method for performing a virtual reality session in a portable computing device, said method comprising the steps of:

storing machine-readable instructions for controlling operation of the portable computing device;

retrieving the machine-readable instructions;

sensing a location of the portable computing device with respect to a space that the portable computing device is operating in;

determining a relationship between a user and the potable computing device, the relationship used to establish a viewing perspective for the user while engaged in the virtual reality session;

receiving user input data;

processing the machine-readable instructions using a processor, the processor capable of manipulating information contained in the machine-readable instructions to manifest the virtual reality session;

making the user input data available to the processor; and

displaying the information to the user during the virtual reality session.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of sensing further comprises the step of:

selecting a sensing means from the sensor group consisting of an acoustic transponder, a radio-frequency transponder, an optical transponder and a GPS receiver.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of determining comprises the step of:

establishing a relationship between an eye of the user and the portable computing device wherein the movement of the portable computing device in the space changes the relationship between the eye and the portable computing device.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of receiving comprises the step of:

obtaining said user input data from an input device selected from the group consisting of a toggle switch, a control button, an on/off switch, a microphone and a touch sensitive display.

11. A computer program product containing computer-readable code for executing a method in a processor for performing a virtual reality session on a portable computing device, said method comprising the steps of:

storing machine-readable instructions for controlling operation of the portable computing device;

retrieving the machine-readable instructions;

sensing a location of said portable computing device with respect to a space that the portable computing device is operating in;

determining a relationship between a user and the portable computing device, the relationship used to establish a viewing perspective for the user while engaged in the virtual reality session;

receiving user input data;

processing the machine-readable instructions using a processor, the processor capable of manipulating information contained in the machine-readable instructions to manifest the virtual reality session;

making the user input data available to the processor; and

displaying the information to the user during the virtual reality session.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of sensing comprises the step of:

selecting a sensing means selected from the sensor group consisting of an acoustic transponder, a radio-frequency transponder, an optical transponder and a GPS receiver.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of determining comprises the step of:

establishing a relationship between an eye of said user and said computing device wherein the movement of the portable computing device in the space changes the relationship between the eye and the portable computing device.

14. A method for performing a virtual reality session on a portable computing device comprising the steps of:

loading machine-readable instructions onto the portable computing device, the machine-readable instructions implementing a virtual reality session;

determining the location of the portable computing device with respect to a user;

determining environmental information with respect to the user;

executing the machine-readable instructions with respect to the location of the user and the environmental information, said step of executing capable of producing simulated data; and

scaling the simulated data for display on the portable computing device to enable the virtual reality session.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

receiving input data from the user; and

repositioning the scaled simulated data based on the input data.

16. The method as defined in claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

selecting the virtual reality session from a group consisting of interior design and mechanical design.

17. A system for performing a virtual reality session on a portable computing device comprising:

means for loading machine-readable instructions onto said portable computing device, said machine-readable instructions implementing said virtual reality session;

means for determining the location of said portable computing device with respect to a user;

means for determining environmental information with respect to the user;

means for executing said machine-readable instructions with respect to said location of the user and with respect to said environmental information, said means for executing capable of producing simulated data; and

means for scaling said simulated data for display on said portable computing device.

18. The system as defined in claim 17 further comprising:

means for receiving input data from the user; and

means for repositioning said scaled simulated data based on said input data.

19. The system as defined in claim 17 wherein said virtual reality session comprises:

an interior design system.

20. The system as defined in claim 17 wherein said virtual reality session comprises:

a mechanical design system.