Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Torfi Frans Olafsson

Jason Matthew Cahill

Jesse Dylan Merriam

Michael Meincke Persson

Bradley Reid Shuber

Stacy Jiayan Chen

Holly Helene Pollock

Timothy James Schutz

Guillaume Philippe Marie Le Chenadec

David Richard Reed

Gabriel Takacs

Timothy Arthur Gill

Irina Koulinitch

Andrew Nicholas Bond

Bogdan Cosmin Bucur

Described herein is a system and method for sharing an AR game within a shared coordinate space created between devices with initially disjoint relative coordinate spaces. Once the shared coordinate space is created, an AR video game can provide a first mode in which the users engage in game play action that have consequences according to pre-established game rules. The AR video game can provide a second mode ('sandbox mode') in which users engage in non-destructive game play actions that do not have consequences once the second mode has been terminated. Further described herein is a system and method of using geolocation information within an AR session in which a virtual action can be initiated by a user that causes a corresponding virtual action to be displayed on a map of a virtual environment that parallels a physical environment displayed on a user gaming device of another user.

Shared augmented reality game within a shared coordinate space

The present concepts relate to placing gameplay locations in the real world, where gameplay elements can be generated at the gameplay locations. One example categorizes types of physical elements described in geolocation data, and determines scores for the physical elements based on the categorizations. Gameplay locations can then be utilized according to the scores, and the scores can be continuously refined through user or moderator interaction with gameplay elements that may be generated at the gameplay locations.

Generating locations for placement of augmented elements

Described herein is a system and method for experiencing a virtual object at a plurality of sizes. During an AR session, the virtual object can created at a first size based upon a first scale (e.g., miniature, tabletop size). Once created, information regarding the virtual object can be stored. Thereafter, the virtual object can be displayed in an AR session at a second size based upon a second scale (e.g., full size or life size). In some embodiments, functionality of at least portion(s) of the virtual object are different when experienced in an AR session at the second size than when experienced in an AR session at the first size.

Experiencing a virtual object at a plurality of sizes

Utilizing multiple input sources for generating gameplay locations

Described herein is a system and method for creating a shared coordinate space in an augmented reality session between two devices with disjoint relative coordinate spaces. With AR tracking initiated, each device has its own relative coordinate space. A spatial alignment image can be recognized by a device joining an AR session which records its location (e.g., six degrees of position). The joining device can utilize an obtained location of an inviting device at or about the time the spatial alignment image was recognized, and, a spatial origin of the inviting device, to calculate an offset between the joining device and the inviting device, establishing a shared coordinate space between the joining device and the inviting device.

Aligning location for a shared augmented reality experience

Described herein is a system and method for identifying locations for virtual items within a physical environment. For each of a plurality of users, information is received regarding the user's interaction with a one or more interactive virtual items presented on a map of a virtual environment that parallels at least portions of the physical environment. The information comprises the user's physical location when interacting with a particular interactive item. Each interactive virtual item has an associated physical location within the physical environment. The received information is aggregated over time to determine an associated physical location within the physical environment for the virtual item. With the virtual environment, the virtual item is placed at the determined associated physical location.

System and method for identifying locations for virtual items within a physical environment

Described herein is a system and method of generating precise location information. Feature points of an image are received from a user device (e.g., mobile phone). Location information of the user device (e.g., GPS coordinates) and relative transform information from the user device are also received. An image anchor is identified based upon the received feature points, relative transform information, and the received location information. Precise location information of the identified image anchor is provided to the user device. The precise location information of the identified image anchor is based upon filtered feature points, location information and relative transform information received from a plurality of user devices over a period of time (e.g., hours, days, weeks, months). The precise location information of the identified image anchor is updated based upon the location information of the user device and the relative transform information received from the user device.

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Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Torfi Frans Olafsson