System, method and computer program product for real-time alignment of an augmented reality device

Abstract

A system including a structure attachable to a surface in a real world environment, the structure establishing a known location and orientation of the structure, a docking element, as part of the structure, to secure an augmented reality device in a stationary position for alignment of the augmented reality device with the real world environment and with a parallel virtual environment, and a processor operable to perform the alignment by resetting the inertial navigation system of the augmented reality device to the known location when docked in the docking element and aligning the location and orientation of the virtual representation of the augmented reality device in the parallel virtual environment so that the parallel virtual environment in the augmented reality device overlaps the real world environment. A method and computer software produce are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a structure attachable to a surface in a real world environment, the structure establishing a known location and orientation of the structure;   a docking element, as part of the structure, to secure an augmented reality device in a stationary position for alignment of the augmented reality device with the real world environment and with a parallel virtual environment; and   a processor operable to perform the alignment by resetting the inertial navigation system of the augmented reality device to the known location when docked in the docking element and aligning the location and orientation of the virtual representation of the augmented reality device in the parallel virtual environment so that the parallel virtual environment in the augmented reality device overlaps the real world environment.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor has access to calibration data or data specific to a location and orientation of the structure at a time of the calibration of the augmented reality device. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver to communicate information from a remote location for use by the processor. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter to communicate information used by the processor to a remote location. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein information specific to a user of the augmented reality device is communicated to the augmented reality device during calibration. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein magnetic declination information specific to a location of the structure is communicated to the augmented reality device during calibration. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the augmented reality device comprises a head-mounted device and wherein the calibration is used to adjust at least one structural component of the head-mounted device. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is a part of the augmented reality device and information about the current location and orientation of the structure is communicated from a database remote from the structure. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the structure further comprises an identification code that is associated with the current location and orientation of the structure maintained at the database for use by the augmented reality device when retrieving the information from the database specific to the structure. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising the steps of
 establishing a known location and orientation of a calibration location post having a docking element;   providing an augmented reality device with the known location and orientation when docked in the docking element; and   calibrating the augmented reality device to align a virtual environment with the real world environment of the augmented reality device with respect to a current location and orientation of the post.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising obtaining information for use during calibrating wherein the information obtained comprises location and orientation data specific to the current location and orientation of the post. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein calibrating further comprises adjusting location information and orientation data of the augmented reality device with respect to a location and orientation of the post. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising adjusting at least one structural component of the augmented reality device in response to calibrating. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising adjusting at least one electronic setting of the augmented reality device in response to calibrating. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein calibrating further comprises:
 moving the augmented reality device while secured to the docking element in defined directions and at defined rates about a three-dimensional coordinate system or rotating angularly with respect to each axis of the three-dimensional coordinate system as required to determine a measurement of a same kind as the collected information;   comparing the measurement to the collected information of the same kind to determine an alignment factor for each particular existing measurement; and   specifically calibrating at least one component of the augmented reality device with the alignment factor to provide the measurement within a tolerance to the collected information.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , Wherein calibrating further comprises adjusting motion detection sensitivity in the augmented reality device, or wherein calibrating further comprises adjusting rotation detection sensitivity in the augmented reality device. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory processor readable storage medium, providing an executable computer program product, the executable computer program product comprising a computer software code that, when executed on a processor, causes the processor to:
 initiate acquisition of information comprising a current location and/or orientation of an electronic calibration and/or location post;   detect when an augmented reality device is attached to the post; and   calibrate the augmented reality device to align a virtual environment with a real world environment of the augmented reality device with respect to a current location and/or orientation. of the post.   
     
     
         18 . The processor readable storage medium according to claim  21 , wherein causing the processor to calibrate further comprises the processor to adjust a location and orientation of the augmented reality device with respect to a location or orientation of the post. 
     
     
         19 . The processor readable storage medium according to claim  21 , wherein causing the processor to calibrate further comprises causing the processor to adjust at least one structural component of the augmented reality device in response to calibrating. 
     
     
         20 . The processor readable storage medium according to claim  21 , wherein causing the processor to calibrate further comprises the processor to adjust at least one electronic setting of the augmented reality device in response to calibrating.