IP Library Granted Patent US 12,346,409
Granted Patent B1
US 12,346,409 · App. 17/506,879 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Method and device for presenting content based on environment type

Inventor: Ian M. Richter (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
G06F18/2413G06F18/2431G06N3/04G06V10/60G06V20/50
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,346,409
App. No.
17/506,879
Granted
Jul 1, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

In one implementation, a method of presenting content is performed by a device including an image sensor, a display one or more processors, and non-transitory memory. The method includes obtaining, using the image sensor, an image of a physical environment. The method includes classifying, based on the image of the physical environment, the physical environment as a particular environment type of a plurality of environment types. The method includes obtaining content based on the particular environment type. The method includes displaying, on the display, a representation of the content in association with the physical environment.

Claims (56)

1. A method comprising:

at a device including an image sensor, a display, a processor, and non-transitory memory:

obtaining, using the image sensor, an image of a physical environment;

classifying, based on the image of the physical environment, the physical environment as a particular environment type of a plurality of environment types;

obtaining a request to display a virtual object in association with the physical environment;

obtaining a first type of the virtual object from a plurality of types of the virtual object, wherein the first type of virtual object represents a first physical object, and wherein the first type of the virtual object is associated with a first environment type;

selecting, by the electronic device, the first type of the virtual object based on classifying the physical environment as the first environment type;

obtaining a first objective-effectuator associated with at least one objective based on the particular environment type being the first environment type;

causing the first objective-effectuator to perform a task associated with the at least one objective; and

displaying, on the display, a representation of the first type of the virtual object in association with the physical environment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein classifying the physical environment includes applying a neural network to the image of the physical environment.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein classifying the physical environment is based on detecting a particular object in the image of the physical environment.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein displaying the representation of the first type of the virtual object includes displaying the representation of the first type of the virtual object in association with the particular object.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein classifying the physical environment is based on content displayed on a screen in the physical environment.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein classifying the physical environment is based on at least one of a point cloud of the physical environment, a physical location of the physical environment, an environmental condition of the physical environment, a lighting characteristic of the physical environment, or a time at the physical environment.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of environment types includes a plurality of biomes.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of environment types includes at least one of a home environment, a work environment, a school environment, or a commercial environment.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the first type of the virtual object includes selecting the first type of the virtual object from a plurality of types of the virtual object respectively associated with the plurality of environment types.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the first type of the virtual object includes obtaining audio content based on the first environment type, the method further comprising playing, via a speaker, the audio content.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first type of the virtual object is made from a first set of components, and wherein the first set of components corresponds to a first set of materials.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first type of the virtual object has a first visual appearance indicative of the first set of components.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first virtual object is moveable in a first manner associated with the first set of components.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the task associated with the at least one objective includes an interaction with a real object in the physical environment.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the task associated with the at least one objective includes an interaction with a virtual object in the physical environment.

16. A device comprising:

an image sensor;

a display;

a non-transitory memory; and

one or more processors to:

obtain, using the image sensor, an image of a physical environment;

classify, based on the image of the physical environment, the physical environment as a particular environment type of a plurality of environment types;

obtain a request to display a virtual object in association with the physical environment;

obtain a first type of the virtual object from a plurality of types of the virtual object, wherein the first type of virtual object represents a first physical object, and wherein the first type of the virtual object is associated with a first environment type;

select, by the electronic device, the first type of the virtual object based on classifying the physical environment as the first environment type;

obtain a first objective-effectuator associated with at least one objective based on the particular environment type being a first environment type;

cause the first objective-effectuator to perform a task associated with the at least one objective; and

display, on the display, a representation of the first type of the virtual object in association with the physical environment.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are to classify the physical environment by applying a neural network to the image of the physical environment.

18. The device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are to classify the physical environment based on at least one of a point cloud of the physical environment, a physical location of the physical environment, an environmental condition of the physical environment, a lighting characteristic of the physical environment, or a time at the physical environment.

19. The device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are to obtain the first type of the virtual object by selecting the first type of the virtual object from a plurality of types of the virtual object respectively associated with the plurality of environment types.

20. The device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are to obtain the first type of the virtual object by obtaining audio content based on the first environment type and are further to play, via a speaker, the audio content.

21. The device of claim 16 , wherein classifying the physical environment includes applying a neural network to the image of the physical environment.

22. A non-transitory memory storing one or more programs,

which, when executed by one or more processors of a device with an image sensor and

a display, cause the device to:

obtain, using the image sensor, an image of a physical environment;

classify, based on the image of the physical environment, the physical environment as a particular environment type of a plurality of environment types;

obtain a request to display a virtual object in association with the physical environment;

obtain a first type of the virtual object from a plurality of types of the virtual object, wherein the first type of virtual object represents a first physical object, and wherein the first type of the virtual object is associated with a first environment type;

select, by the electronic device, the first type of the virtual object based on classifying the physical environment as the first environment type;

obtain a first objective-effectuator associated with at least one objective based on the particular environment type being a first environment type;

cause the first objective-effectuator to perform a task associated with the at least one objective; and

display, on the display, a representation of the first type of the virtual object in association with the physical environment.

23. The non-transitory memory of claim 22 , wherein classifying the physical environment includes applying a neural network to the image of the physical environment.

24. The non-transitory memory of claim 22 , wherein classifying the physical environment is based on at least one of a point cloud of the physical environment, a physical location of the physical environment, an environmental condition of the physical environment, a lighting characteristic of the physical environment, or a time at the physical environment.

25. The non-transitory memory of claim 22 , wherein obtaining the first type of the virtual object includes obtaining audio content based on the first environment type, the one or more processors further cause the device to, play, via a speaker, the audio content.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2021
From: RICHTER, IAN M.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 057887/0906 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 63111885 · Nov 10, 2020
References Cited (9)
US 10607083B2 · Pekelny et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10663740B2 · Osterhout et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20190005546A1 · Chen · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190250805A1 · Brewer et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200302681A1 · Totty · 2020 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2019067642A1 · 2019 [cited by examiner]
WO 2019232005A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
Barakonyi, István, Thomas Psik, and Dieter Schmalstieg. “Agents that talk and hit back: Animated agents in augmented reality.” Third IEEE and ACM International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality. IEEE, 2004. (Year… [cited by examiner]
Tang, Jeff KT, et al. “AR interior designer: Automatic furniture arrangement using spatial and functional relationships.” 2014 International Conference on Virtual Systems & Multimedia (VSMM). IEEE, 2014. (Year: 2014). [cited by examiner]