Google Inc.

Shengzhi Wu

Alexander James Faaborg

Diane Wang

Elena Nattinger

Diane C Wang

Elena Jessop Nattinger

According to an aspect, a method for sharing a collaborative augmented reality (AR) environment including obtaining, by a sensor system of a first computing system, visual data representing a physical space of an AR environment, where the visual data is used to create a three-dimensional (3D) map of the physical space. The 3D map includes a coordinate space having at least one virtual object added by a user of the first computing system. The method includes broadcasting, by a transducer on the first computing system, an ultrasound signal, where the ultrasound signal includes an identifier associated with the 3D map. The identifier is configured to be detected by a second computing system to join the AR environment.

Triggering a collaborative augmented reality environment using an ultrasound signal

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for delivering notifications to a device or accessory based on the context. A host device may be wirelessly coupled to one or more accessories that are available to receive a notification. The host device may analyze a context for transmitting a notification, such as analyzing user attention and accessory state. Analyzing user attention and accessory state may be done by analyzing sensor data, such as audio input, image sensors, proximity sensors, etc. The host device may determine a content type, such as text, e-mail, news, or download, content classification, such as urgent, sensitive, or reminder, and a notification type, such as visual, audio, or haptic. The host device may select at least one of the accessories based on the context. The host device may transmit the notification to the selected accessory.

Notification delivery based on context awareness

A user may routinely wear or hold more than one computing devices. One of the computing devices may be a head-mounted computing-device configured for augmented reality. The head-mounted computing-device may include a camera. While imaging, the camera can consume power and processing resources that diminish a battery of the head-mounted computing device. To improve a battery life and to enhance a user's privacy, imaging of the camera can be deactivated during periods when the user is not interacting with the head-mounted computing device and activated when the user wishes to interact with the head-mounted computing device. The activation of the camera can be triggered by gestured data collected by a computing device other than the head-mounted computing-device.

Gesture-triggered augmented-reality

Three-dimensional (3D) maps may be generated for different areas based on scans of the areas using sensor(s) of a mobile computing device. During each scan, locations of the mobile computing device can be measured relative to a fixed-positioned smart device using ultra-wideband communication (UWB). The 3D maps for the areas may be registered to the fixed position (i.e., anchor position) of the smart device based on the location measurements acquired during the scan so that the 3D maps can be merged into a combined 3D map. The combined (i.e., merged) 3D map may then be used to facilitate location-specific operation of the mobile computing device or other smart device.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Shengzhi Wu