Methods, systems and computer readable media for augmented reality navigation in network test environments

1 . A method for augmented reality navigation in network test environments, the method comprising:

at a user device of a user, wherein the user device is executing an augmented reality (AR) navigation application:

providing, via the AR navigation application and to an AR navigation system, an image of an office layout representing an office in a real-world test environment;

receiving, via the AR navigation application and from the AR navigation system, a request for the user to visit, while carrying the user device, two or more points of the office layout in the real-world test environment;

sending, via the AR navigation application and to the AR navigation system, distance information between the two or more points visited, wherein the AR navigation system uses the distance information in determining a scale of the office layout and generates a virtual representation of the office based on the determination;

communicating, via the AR navigation application and to the AR navigation system, user location information and resource identification information obtained from a visual code or a user interface, wherein the resource identification information indicates a physical network testing or monitoring resource in the real-world test environment;

receiving, via the AR navigation application and from the AR navigation system, navigation information for navigating the user to the physical network testing or monitoring resource;

providing, via a display, the navigation information for navigating the user to the physical network testing or monitoring resource;

requesting, via the AR navigation application and from the AR navigation system, active user information indicating active users of the physical network testing or monitoring resource;

selecting, via the AR navigation application, an active user of the physical network testing or monitoring resource to request navigation information for navigating the user to the active user;

receiving, via the AR navigation application and from the AR navigation system, navigation information for navigating the user to the active user; and

providing, via the display, the navigation information for navigating the user to the active user, wherein providing the navigation information includes generating an augmented path overlay that includes visual indicators indicating a path for the user to follow and providing, via the display, the augmented path overlay over a live video of the real-world test environment.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the physical network testing or monitoring resource includes a platform, a chassis, a device, a component, or hardware usable for testing or monitoring a network.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the AR navigation application includes an operational mode for displaying a visual indicator associated with the physical network testing or monitoring resource, wherein the visual indicator indicates the location of the physical network testing or monitoring resource relative to the user device regardless of whether the physical network testing or monitoring resource is currently visible to the user.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the AR navigation application includes an operational mode for reducing data storage requirements by dynamically requesting a portion of the navigation information based on a current location of the user device.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the AR navigation application provides adjusted navigation information based on temporary path change information indicating traffic or temporary obstructions.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the AR navigation system includes a location data store for storing AR positional information indicating locations of multiple entities and a path data store for storing path information for navigating to the multiple entities.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the multiple entities includes the physical network testing or monitoring resource, or a person associated with testing or monitoring, or a physical location associated with testing or monitoring.

8 . The method of claim 6 wherein the AR navigation system uses image processing to process the office layout to generate at least a portion of the path information and the locations of the multiple entities.

9 . The method of claim 6 wherein the AR navigation system receives path training information from the AR navigation application via a discrete training session or when the AR navigation application is running, wherein the path training information includes AR positional information for indicating one or more locations of one or more viewed entities and is used by the AR navigation system for determining one or more viable paths to the one or more viewed entities.

10 . A system for augmented reality navigation in network test environments, the system comprising:

a user device; and

at least one processor, wherein the user device is configured to execute an augmented reality (AR) navigation application using the at least one processor, wherein the AR navigation application is configured for:

providing, to an AR navigation system, an image of an office layout representing an office in a real-world test environment;

receiving, from the AR navigation system, a request for a user to visit, while carrying the user device, two or more points of the office layout in the real-world test environment;

sending, to the AR navigation system, distance information between the two or more points visited, wherein the AR navigation system uses the distance information in determining a scale of the office layout and generates a virtual representation of the office based on the determination;

communicating, to the AR navigation system, user location information and resource identification information obtained from a visual code or a user interface, wherein the resource identification information indicates a physical network testing or monitoring resource in the real-world test environment;

receiving, from the AR navigation system, navigation information for navigating the user to the physical network testing or monitoring resource;

providing, via a display, the navigation information for navigating the user to the physical network testing or monitoring resource;

requesting, from the AR navigation system, active user information indicating active users of the physical network testing or monitoring resource;

selecting an active user of the physical network testing or monitoring resource to request navigation information for navigating the user to the active user;

receiving, from the AR navigation system, navigation information for navigating the user to the active user; and

providing, via the display, the navigation information for navigating the user to the active user, wherein providing the navigation information includes generating an augmented path overlay that includes visual indicators and providing, via the display, the augmented path overlay over a live video of the real-world test environment.

11 . The system of claim 10 wherein the physical network testing or monitoring resource includes a platform, a chassis, a device, a component, or hardware usable for testing or monitoring a network.

12 . The system of claim 10 wherein the AR navigation application includes an operational mode for displaying a visual indicator associated with the physical network testing or monitoring resource, wherein the visual indicator indicates the location of the physical network testing or monitoring resource relative to the user device regardless of whether the physical network testing or monitoring resource is currently visible to the user.

13 . The system of claim 10 wherein the AR navigation application includes an operational mode for reducing data storage requirements by dynamically requesting a portion of the navigation information based on a current location of the user device.

14 . The system of claim 10 wherein the AR navigation application provides adjusted navigation information based on temporary path change information indicating traffic or temporary obstructions.

15 . The system of claim 10 wherein the AR navigation system includes a location data store for storing AR positional information indicating locations of multiple entities and a path data store for storing path information for navigating to the multiple entities.

16 . The system of claim 15 wherein the multiple entities includes the physical network testing or monitoring resource, or a person associated with testing or monitoring, or a physical location associated with testing or monitoring.

17 . The system of claim 15 wherein the AR navigation system uses image processing to process the office layout to generate at least a portion of the path information and the locations of the multiple entities.

18 . The system of claim 15 wherein the AR navigation system is configured to receive path training information from the AR navigation application via a discrete training session or when the AR navigation application is running, wherein the path training information includes AR positional information for indicating one or more locations of one or more viewed entities and is used by the AR navigation system for determining one or more viable paths to the one or more viewed entities.

19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor of at least one computer cause the at least one computer to perform steps comprising:

at a user device of a user, wherein the user device is configured to execute an augmented reality (AR) navigation application:

providing, via the AR navigation application and to an AR navigation system, an image of an office layout representing an office in a real-world test environment;

receiving, via the AR navigation application and from the AR navigation system, a request for the user to visit, while carrying the user device, two or more points of the office layout in the real-world test environment;

sending, via the AR navigation application and to the AR navigation system, distance information between the two or more points visited, wherein the AR navigation system uses the distance information in determining a scale of the office layout and generates a virtual representation of the office based on the determination;

communicating, via the AR navigation application and to the AR navigation system, user location information and resource identification information obtained from a visual code or a user interface, wherein the resource identification information indicates a physical network testing or monitoring resource in the real-world test environment;

receiving, via the AR navigation application and from the AR navigation system, navigation information for navigating the user to the physical network testing or monitoring resource;

providing, via a display, the navigation information for navigating the user to the physical network testing or monitoring resource;

requesting, via the AR navigation application and from the AR navigation system, active user information indicating active users of the physical network testing or monitoring resource;

selecting, via the AR navigation application, an active user of the physical network testing or monitoring resource to request navigation information for navigating the user to the active user;

receiving, via the AR navigation application and from the AR navigation system, navigation information for navigating the user to the active user; and

providing, via the display, the navigation information for navigating the user to the active user, wherein providing the navigation information includes generating an augmented path overlay that includes visual indicators indicating a path for the user to follow and providing, via the display, the augmented path overlay over a live video of the real-world test environment.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the physical network testing or monitoring resource includes a platform, a chassis, a device, a component, or hardware usable for testing or monitoring a network.