TECHNIQUES TO PRESENT LOCATION INFORMATION FOR SOCIAL NETWORKS USING AUGMENTED REALITY

• US 20110310120A1
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Narayanan, Harishkumar
• Granted Patent: US 9,361,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• 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

Abstract

Techniques to present location information using augmented reality are described. An apparatus may comprise an augmentation system operative to augment an image with information for an individual, the image having a virtual object representing a real object. The augmentation system may comprise a location component operative to determine location information for the real object, a virtual information component operative to retrieve location information for an individual, and a proximity component operative to determine whether location information for the real object substantially matches location information for the individual. The augmentation system may further comprise an augmentation component operative to augment the virtual object with information for the individual to form an augmented object when the location information for the real object substantially matches the location information for the individual. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving an image having a virtual object representing a real object;

determining location information for the real object in the image;

retrieving location information for an individual;

determining when the location information for the real object substantially matches the location information for the individual; and

augmenting the virtual object with information for the individual to form an augmented object.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising rendering an augmented image with the augmented object.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising presenting an augmented image with the augmented object.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising augmenting the virtual object or another virtual object with information for the individual as location information for the individual changes.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising augmenting the virtual object with updated information for the individual as information for the individual changes to form an updated augmented object.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising selecting the augmented object with an input device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising presenting additional information for the individual when the augmented object is selected.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising presenting contact information for the individual when the augmented object is selected.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising selecting a contact identifier for the individual when contact information for the individual is presented with the augmented object.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, comprising initiating a communications application based on a selected contact identifier for the individual when contact information for the individual is presented with the augmented object.

11. An article comprising a storage medium containing instructions that when executed enable a system to:

receive an image having a virtual object representing a real object;

determine location information for the real object in the image;

retrieve location information for an individual; and

modify the virtual object with information for the individual to form a modified virtual object when the location information for the real object substantially matches the location information for the individual.

12. The article of claim 11, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to render an augmented image with the modified virtual object.

13. The article of claim 11, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to modify the virtual object or another virtual object with information for the individual as location information for the individual changes.

14. The article of claim 11, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to modify the modified virtual object with updated information for the individual as information for the individual changes.

15. The article of claim 11, further comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to send a control directive to initiate a communications application based on a selected contact identifier for the individual when contact information for the individual is presented with the modified virtual object.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

an augmentation system operative to augment an image with information for an individual, the image having a virtual object representing a real object, the augmentation system comprising;

a location component operative to determine location information for the real object;

a virtual information component operative to retrieve location information for an individual;

a proximity component operative to determine whether location information for the real object substantially matches location information for the individual; and

an augmentation component operative to augment the virtual object with information for the individual to form an augmented object when the location information for the real object substantially matches the location information for the individual.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, the augmentation system comprising a rendering component operative to render an augmented image with the augmented object.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, comprising a display communicatively coupled to the digital camera and the augmentation system, the display operative to display an augmented image with the augmented object.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, comprising an input device operative to select the augmented object to display additional information about the individual.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, comprising a communication application operative to communicate with the individual when the augmented object is selected by an input device.