Method and system for disambiguation of augmented reality tracking databases
A method and system for reducing the amount of processing that an augmented reality platform needs to perform in order to provide an augmented reality experience to a user. The present invention enhances the efficiency of augmented reality processing by reducing the amount of tracking cues and images that need to be processed to determine the narrow pose of a mobile device that outputs the augmented reality experience.
1. A method for determining a narrow pose of a mobile device in a sub-space of a large space for providing an augmented reality experience, the method comprising:
receiving, by the mobile device from a local positioning system at least partially disposed within the subspace, local position information relative to a coordinate system associated with a three dimensional model of the sub-space;
receiving, by a central processor, information from the mobile device before a sub-space location of the mobile device within the large space is known, the information including the local position information and being usable to determine a sub-space ID uniquely corresponding to the sub-space in which the mobile device is disposed;
using the information to determine the sub-space ID corresponding to the sub-space in which the mobile device is disposed;
determining a sub-space location of the mobile device within the large space using the unique sub-space ID;
identifying, using the sub-space ID, a subset of tracking cues within a tracking cue database indexed by sub-space IDs uniquely corresponding to sub-spaces within the large space, the subset of tracking cues comprising tracking cues within the sub-space in which the mobile device is disposed;
processing the subset of tracking cues by an augmented reality processor;
receiving images of the sub-space captured by the mobile device;
processing the images by the augmented reality processor; and
determining, by the augmented reality processor, the narrow pose of the mobile device in the sub-space, using the inputted images and subset of tracking cues.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the local position information is received by the mobile device as a digital signal comprising at least one of the set consisting of a light pulse, an RFID signal, a radio signal, an audio signal, and a Wi-Fi signal.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the local position information is received by the mobile device as a unique audio signal sounded within the sub-space.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a head-mounted display, a tablet computer, or a smartphone.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the local position information is received by the mobile device using a camera on the mobile device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein all known tracking cues of the large space are stored in the tracking cue database.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the large space is a building and the sub-space is a room in the building.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the large space is a ship and the sub-space is a room in the ship.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions which when executed cause a processor to perform the actions of:
receiving from the mobile device before a sub-space location of the mobile device within the large space is known, information usable to determine a sub-space ID uniquely corresponding to the sub-space in which the mobile device is disposed, the information including local position information relative to a coordinate system associated with a three dimensional model of the sub-space in which the mobile device is disposed;
using the information to determine the sub-space ID corresponding to the sub-space in which the mobile device is disposed;
determining a sub-space location of the mobile device within the large space using the unique sub-space ID;
identifying a subset of tracking cues within a tracking cue database by using the sub-space ID, the tracking cue database being indexed by sub-space IDs uniquely corresponding to sub-spaces within the large space and the subset of tracking cues comprising tracking cues within the sub-space in which the mobile device is disposed;
processing the subset of tracking cues by an augmented reality processor;
receiving images of the sub-space captured by the mobile device;
processing the images by the augmented reality processor; and
determining, by the augmented reality processor, the narrow pose of the mobile device in the sub-space, using the inputted images and subset of tracking cues.