Location based augmented reality system for exchange of items based on location sensing methods and devices related thereto

• US 9,626,070 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Totem Air LLC
• Original Assignee: iOculi, Inc.
• Inventors: Cowles, Jonathan, Bryan, Jesse, Clem, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Smithers, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US14/348,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15

Abstract

Location-based augmented reality systems configured exchange of items based on location sensing and associated triggering icons, and methods and devices related thereto. In one exemplary embodiment, a first, provider user identifies a specific physical location; associates a triggering icon representing a value item with the specific physical location; and, transmits the existence of the triggering icon and specific physical location to a second, mobile recipient user computing device. The second, mobile recipient user receives the triggering icon and specific physical location from the first, provider user computing device, then finds the specific physical location, activates the triggering icon and receives the value item.

Claims

1. A system for electronically transferring at least one value item from a first user to a second user via an augmented reality system, comprising:

a first, provider user computing device configured to identify a specific physical location and associate a triggering icon representing a value item with the specific physical location; and

,

the second, recipient user mobile computing device, wherein the second, recipient user mobile computing device is configured to;

receive an indication of the existence of the value item and/or the specific physical location;

detect via a sensor on the second, recipient user mobile computing device that the second, recipient user mobile computing device is in a designated range of the specific physical location;

responsive to the detection, display the triggering icon on the second, recipient user mobile computing device using augmented reality such that a display of a portion of a real world location is augmented with a display of the triggering icon;

wherein the system is configured such that upon receiving notification that the triggering icon has been triggered by the second, recipient user mobile computing device, the second recipient user receives the value item.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the specific physical location is identified by geolocation or an image of the physical location.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first, provider user computing device is a mobile smart phone and the specific physical location is identified by causing the mobile smart phone to be located at the specific physical location.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the specific physical location is identified by depositing a bar code tag to the specific physical location.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the specific physical location is at least one of a specific set of longitude and latitude coordinates, a set of GPS coordinates, a store front identified in an image, or a corporate logo.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured such that the value item is kept secret from the second, mobile recipient user computing device until after the second, recipient user mobile computing device is in the designated range of the specific physical location.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the value item is kept secret from the second, recipient user mobile computing device until after the second, recipient user mobile computing device triggers the triggering icon.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured to lead the second, recipient user to the specific physical location by providing multiple clues to the second, recipient user mobile computing device each lead closer to the specific physical location.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured such that a getting warmer signal is provided to the second, recipient user mobile computing device when the second, recipient mobile user computing device is located within a specific physical distance to the specific physical location.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured such that a success signal is provided to the second, recipient user mobile computing device when the second, recipient user mobile computing device arrives at the specific physical location.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the success signal comprises a success icon.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the success icon comprises at least one of an image of a treasure chest or a corporate logo.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the success icon comprises a 3D image.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the 3D image requires manipulation by the second recipient user to be opened, whereby the value item is then exposed to the second user via such opening.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the 3D image is displayed as a superimposed element over the real world view of the specific physical location displayed on the second, recipient user mobile computing device.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein:

upon accessing the success signal, the system receives notification that the triggering icon has been triggered and the second, recipient user is then awarded the value item and can use it to obtain a real world item.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the second, recipient user obtains the real world item by at least one of redeeming the value item at a vendor located at the specific physical location or purchasing physical goods at a vendor located at the specific physical location.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured for one or more human providers to leave value items at one or more specific physical locations for one or more other human recipients.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured for a commercial entity to provide an incentive to customers or potential customers to utilize or purchase services or goods from the commercial entity.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured such that at least one of the triggering icon or the value item is associated with the specific physical location and further comprising associating a security device with the at least one triggering icon or the value item that assures only a desired user can access the at least one triggering icon or value item.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the security device is a PIN number.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the security device is a password shared by the first, provider user and the second, recipient user.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the security device is a biometric identifier associated with the second recipient user.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the biometric identifier is at least one of a fingerprint, an iris print or a facial image of the second recipient user.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling one or more computing devices to perform a method comprising:

under control of a first computing device of a provider user, identifying a specific physical location and associating a triggering icon representing a value item with the specific physical location; and

,

under control of a second, mobile computing device of a recipient user,

receiving an indication of the existence of the value item and/or the specific physical location;

detecting via a sensor on the second, mobile computing device that the second, mobile computing device is in a designated range of the specific physical location;

responsive to the detection, displaying, the triggering icon on the second, mobile computing device using augmented reality such that a display of a portion of a real world location is augmented with a display of the triggering icon;

wherein, upon receiving notification that the triggering icon has been triggered by the second, mobile computing device, the recipient user receives the value item.

26. A method comprising:

under control of a first computing device of a provider user, identifying a specific physical location and associating a triggering icon representing a value item with the specific physical location; and

,

under control of a second, mobile computing device of a recipient user,

receiving an indication of the existence of the value item and/or the specific physical location;

detecting via a sensor on the second, mobile computing device that the second, mobile computing device is in a designated range of the specific physical location;

responsive to the detection, displaying the triggering icon on the second, mobile computing device using augmented reality such that a display of a portion of a real world location is augmented with a display of the triggering icon;

wherein, upon receiving notification that the triggering icon has been triggered by the second, mobile computing device, the recipient user receives the value item.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that control a processor of a mobile device to perform a method comprising:

receiving an indication of the existence that a specific physical location has been associated with a triggering icon by a first provider user computing device;

detecting via a sensor of the mobile device that the mobile device is in a designated range of the specific physical location;

responsive to the detecting, displaying the triggering icon associated with the specific physical location using augmented reality such that display of a portion of a real world location is augmented with display of the triggering icon; and

exposing a value item associated with a real world item upon activation and/or opening of the triggering icon.