Apparatus and method for providing augmented reality using synthesized environment map

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing Augmented Reality (AR) corresponding to objects that are hidden from view of a user. The apparatus includes a first extraction unit to extract a first environment map corresponding to a location of a terminal; a second extraction unit to determine an expanded area enclosing the location of the terminal and to extract a second environment map corresponding to the expanded area; and a synthesization unit to generate a synthesized environment map by synthesizing the first environment map and the second environment map.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a display unit configured to display a synthesized map obtained by synthesizing a first map corresponding to a location of a terminal and a second map included in an expanded area enclosing the location of the terminal; and   a depth level adjustment unit configured to adjust a depth level of at least one of a first object in the first map and a second object in the second map.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the depth level is obtained by adjusting at least one of a size of the first object and the second object. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the depth level is obtained by adjusting at least one of a transparency of the first object and the second object. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the depth level is obtained by adjusting both a size and a transparency of at least one of the first object and the second object. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first object is visible from the terminal location and a second object is hidden from view from the terminal location. 
     
     
         6 . A method for providing Augmented Reality (AR), comprising:
 synthesizing a first map corresponding to a location of a terminal and a second map included in an expanded area enclosing the location of the terminal;   displaying the synthesized map; and   adjusting a depth level of at least one of a first object in the first map and a second object in the second map of the synthesized map.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the depth level is obtained by adjusting at least one of a size of the first object and the second object. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the depth level is obtained by adjusting at least one of a transparency of the first object and the second object. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the depth level is obtained by adjusting both a size and a transparency of at least one of the first object and the second object. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first object is visible from the terminal location and a second object is hidden from view from the terminal location.