Mobile virtual and augmented reality system

• US 7,844,229 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yu, Han, Gyorfi, Julius S., Buhrke, Eric R., Lopez, Juan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TUAN
• Application Number:
  US11/858,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20090081959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/421, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/41.2, 455/466, 455/70
• US Class Current: 455/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method and apparatus for messaging within a mobile virtual and augmented reality system is provided herein. During operation a user can create “virtual graffiti” that will be left for a particular device to view as part of an augmented reality scene. The virtual graffiti will be assigned to a particular physical location or a part of an object that can be mobile. The virtual graffiti is then uploaded to a network server, along with the location and individuals who are able to view the graffiti as part of an augmented reality scene. When a device that is allowed to view the graffiti is near the location, the graffiti will be downloaded to the device and displayed as part of an augmented reality scene.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a global object manager wirelessly receiving from a first mobile device, mobile virtual graffiti, the location of the first mobile device, and a list of devices with privileges to view the mobile virtual graffiti;

a database storing the mobile virtual graffiti, the location of the first mobile device, and the list of devices with privileges to view the mobile virtual graffiti;

a personal object manager periodically receiving locations from the devices with privileges to view the mobile virtual graffiti, periodically receiving a location of the first mobile device, and determining that a second mobile device is near the location of the first mobile device, wherein the second mobile device is on the list of devices with privileges to view the mobile virtual graffiti; and

a transmitter wirelessly providing the second mobile device with the mobile virtual graffiti when it is determined that the second mobile device is near the location of the first mobile device, wherein the mobile virtual graffiti is assigned to an object that is mobile.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mobile virtual graffiti comprises an avatar.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mobile virtual graffiti comprises information about a user of the first device.

4. A method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly receiving from a first mobile device, mobile virtual graffiti, the location of the first mobile device, and a list of devices with privileges to view the mobile virtual graffiti;

storing the mobile virtual graffiti, the location of the first mobile device, and the list of devices with privileges to view the mobile virtual graffiti;

periodically receiving locations from the devices with privileges to view the mobile virtual graffiti;

periodically receiving a location of the first mobile device;

determining that a second mobile device is near the location of the first mobile device, wherein the second mobile device is on the list of devices with privileges to view the mobile virtual graffiti; and

wirelessly providing the second mobile device with the mobile virtual graffiti when it is determined that the second mobile device is near the location of the first mobile device, wherein the mobile virtual graffiti is assigned to an object that is mobile.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the mobile virtual graffiti comprises an avatar.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the mobile virtual graffiti comprises information about a user of the first device.