Systems and methods for universal augmented reality architecture and development

Abstract

Provided are various systems and methods that establish a self-service AR generation and publication platform. The platform is configured to allow novice users to build AR experiences for rendering to other users. The platform encodes the AR experiences under a universal data format that decouples generation functions from later visualization responsive to a recognizable visual trigger. Access to the file triggers request, retrieval, rendering and display of the user defined AR Media and associated options set for that specific AR Experience. Also provided is a AR universal browser which public and private users can execute to view, share, load, and experience user generated AR Media (e.g., generated on the platform). The browser can provide the connections, logic and security needed to initialize and load the specific aggregation of data for the AR experience.

1 . An augmented reality generation and publication system, the AR system comprising:
 at least one processor operatively connected to a memory;   a generation component, executed by the at least one processor, configured to present at least a minimal set of selectable options for creating an AR experience, wherein a first option of the minimal set defines a content target, a second option of the minimal set specifies AR content to associate with the content target, a third option of the minimal set defines access restrictions for the AR experience;   wherein the generation component is further configured to generate a universal format AR experience data file having a plurality of data structures for recording definitions for each selection of the minimal set of selectable options that are associated with pre-generated executable logic for each option and respective AR content; and   a browser component, executed by the at least one processor, configured to:
 receive the AR experience data file matching a recognized content target; 
 request the AR experience defined in the data file and render the communicated AR content according to default settings defined in the data file; and 
 enable content re-orientation responsive to user selection in a user interface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the browser component configured to access AR experiences stored on the system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the browser component is configured to access analytic information to sort and display a subset of highly rated by access AR experiences. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the generation component is configured to access defined AR content for direct rendering on a user device without image recognition. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the generation component is configured to link a newly captured image on the device to the AR content being directly rendered; and store the newly captured image and AR content as a new AR experience. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an access control component configured to define a storage container for the user created AR experience; and define user access to the storage container. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the access control component is further configured to control functions executable on the AR experiences within the storage container based on a user role. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a publication component configured to manage a status of the AR experience, wherein the status specifies a first access restriction for other users. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a publication component configured to define public or private access to the AR experience. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the publication component is configured to select content containers and/or user groups for access to the AR experience. 
     
     
         11 . A computer implemented method for augmented reality generation and publication, the method comprising:
 operatively connected to a memory;   presenting, by at least one processor, at least a minimal set of selectable options for creating an AR experience, wherein a first option of the minimal set defines a content target, a second option of the minimal set specifies AR content to associate with the content target, and a third option of the minimal set defines access restrictions for the AR experience;   generating, by at least one processor, a universal format data file having a plurality of data structures for recording definitions for each selection of the minimal set of selectable options that are associated with pre-generated executable logic for each option and respective AR content;   defining, by at least one processor, mappings between the pre-generated executable logic for each option, the plurality of the data structures in the universal format data file, and transcoded AR content;   defining, by at least one processor, a system signature for the content target for subsequent matching to a device generated signature of the content target; and   communicating, by at least one processor, the associated universal format data file responsive to a match between the system signature and the device signature of the content target to retrieve the AR content for rendering on a device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising accessing AR experiences stored on the system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising accessing analytic information to sort and display a subset of highly rated AR experiences. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising accessing defined AR content for direct rendering on a user device without image recognition. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 linking a newly captured image on the device to the AR content being directly rendered; and   storing the newly captured image and AR content as a new AR experience.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 defining a storage container for the user created AR experience; and   defining user access to the storage container.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the access control component is further configured to control functions executable on the AR experiences within the storage container based on a user role. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising managing a status of the AR experience, wherein the status specifies a first access restriction for other users. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising defining a public or private access to the AR experience. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising selecting content containers and/or user groups for access to the AR experience.