Range of Focus in an Augmented Reality Application

Abstract

A computer-implemented augmented reality method includes receiving one or more indications, entered on a mobile computing device by a user of the mobile computing device, of a distance range for determining items to display with an augmented reality application, the distance range representing geographic distance from a base point where the mobile computing device is located. The method also includes selecting, from items in a computer database, one or more items that are located within the distance range from the mobile computing device entered by the user, and providing data for representing labels for the selected one or more items on a visual display of the mobile computing device, the labels corresponding to the selected items, and the items corresponding to geographical features that are within the distance range as measure from the mobile computing device.

1 . A computer-implemented augmented reality method, comprising:
 receiving one or more indications, entered on a mobile computing device by a user of the mobile computing device, of a distance range for determining items to display with an augmented reality application, the distance range representing geographic distance from a base point where the mobile computing device is located;   selecting, from items in a computer database, one or more items that are located within the distance range from the mobile computing device entered by the user; and   providing data for representing labels for the selected one or more items on a visual display of the mobile computing device, the labels corresponding to the selected items, and the items corresponding to geographical features that are within the distance range as measure from the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indications comprise user input of a pair of icons on a slider control, and wherein the pair of icons define a space therebetween that corresponds in size to the distance range. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a field of view for the augmented reality application using a compass on the mobile computing device, and selecting for display a subset of the one or more items that are within the field of view. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the field of view represents a direction in which a camera on the mobile computing device is pointed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating data that defines a location for display of each item on the display, wherein the location corresponds to a distance of the item from the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data for representing the selected one or more items represents locations on the display for displaying the items, the locations being selected to correspond to distances from the mobile computing device of the objects that the labels represent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indications are received from the mobile computing device at a central server system, the one or more items are selected by the central server system, and the data for representing labels is provided by the central server system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the central server system provides data for representing labels for geographic features in a zone surrounding the mobile computing device, for the mobile computing device to select a sub-set of items within the zone by determining a direction in which the mobile computing device is aimed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more indications of the distance range comprise a user selection of a range endpoint, and further comprising determining the distance range to be items closer than the range endpoint or further than the range endpoint from the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the one or more indications of the distance range to create corresponding one or more clipping planes, and using the clipping claims to filter items in the computer database. 
     
     
         11 . A tangible, non-transitory recordable medium having recorded thereon instructions, that when executed, perform actions comprising:
 receiving on a computing device one or more indications, entered a user of the computing device, of a distance range for determining items to display with an augmented reality application, the distance range representing geographic distance from a base point where the mobile computing device is located;   transmitting data identifying the distance range to a server system remote from the computing device   receiving information about one or more items, selected from among a group of items in a computer database at the server system, that are located within the distance range from the mobile computing device entered by the user; and   providing a display of an augmented reality presentation, where the presentation is augmented with labels for items represented in the presentation that are features that are within the distance range as measure from the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The tangible, non-transitory recordable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the indications comprise user input of a pair of icons on a slider control, and wherein the pair of icons define a space therebetween that corresponds in size to the distance range. 
     
     
         13 . The tangible, non-transitory recordable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the actions further comprise determining a field of view for the augmented reality application using a compass on the mobile computing device, and selecting for display a subset of labels for the items that are within the field of view. 
     
     
         14 . The tangible, non-transitory recordable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the received information includes data for representing labels for geographic features in a zone surrounding the computing device, and wherein the actions further comprise selecting, with the computing device, a sub-set of items within the zone by determining a direction in which the computing device is aimed. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented augmented reality system, comprising:
 an interface programmed to receive user input that defines a distance range for determining items to display with an augmented reality application, the distance range representing geographic distance from a basepoint for the mobile computing device;   a computer database that stores descriptive items that represent geographical features that are correlated to geographical locations;   a filter to select from the descriptive items, a group of items that are within the defined distance range, in discrimination to items that are not within the defined distance range; and   an augmented reality application on a mobile computing device programmed to display annotations defined by the group of items and to superimpose the annotations over an image of a geographical area on a computing device.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the augmented reality application is programming to generate, via the interface, a pair of user-movable icons on a slider control, and wherein the pair of icons define a space there between that corresponds in size to the distance range. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a compass, and wherein the augmented reality application is programmed to use information from the compass to select for display, annotations that are in a direction that a camera on the mobile computing device is pointed. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the augmented reality application is programmed to position the annotations on a display according to a distance of each item that corresponds to an annotation from the user's position in the augmented reality application. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the augmented reality application is located on the mobile device, and the filter is located on a server system that is remote from the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the server system is programmed to provide data for representing labels for geographic features in a zone surrounding the mobile computing device, and the augmented reality application is programmed to select a sub-set of items within the zone, in a directed that the user is facing in the augmented reality application. 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented augmented reality system, comprising:
 an interface programmed to receive user input that defines a distance range for determining items to display with an augmented reality application, the distance range representing geographic distance from a basepoint for the mobile computing device;   a computer database that stores descriptive items that represent geographical features that are correlated to geographical locations;   means for selecting one or more of the descriptive items that fall within the geographic distance, in discrimination to items that do not fall within the geographic distance.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising means for selecting, from the one or more of the descriptive items, items that are located in a direction from the user in a virtual space of an augmented reality application that corresponds to a direction that the user is facing in the virtual space.