Using augmented reality markers for local positioning in a computing environment

Abstract

Techniques for providing indirect local geo-positioning using AR markers are disclosed. A first moveable AR marker can be located or found by a computing device. A location of the first moveable AR marker can be known and shared with the computing device. The location of the first moveable AR marker can be based on distance between the first moveable AR marker and a fixed AR marker. A distance to the first moveable AR marker can be determined. Based on the known location of the first moveable AR marker and the distance to the first moveable AR marker from the computing device, an estimate of the location of the computing device can be determined without having line-of-sight (LOS) to the fixed AR marker.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a first computing device associated with a movable object, the first device configured to determine a first location relative to a fixed augmented reality (AR) marker;   a second computing device configured to:
 determine a second location relative to the fixed AR marker; 
 determine a confirmed location of the first computing device relative to the second computing device based on the first location determined by the first computing device and the second location; 
 detect the first computing device in a field of view on a display of the second computing device; and 
 associate AR content with the first computing device on the display. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , the first computing device configured to communicate the first location to a remote computing device, and the second device configured to receive the first location from the remote computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second computing device is associated with a fixed object or another movable object. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , the second computing device configured to display, on the display, the AR content associated with the first computing device when the first computing device is in the field of view. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , the second computing device comprising a camera to capture the field of view to present on the display. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the AR content comprises graphical content, textual content, numerical content, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , the second computing device configured to continuously update the confirmed location of the first computing device and the second location of the second computing device to continuously detect the first computing device in the field of view. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first computing device is affixed to the movable object, and the second computing device configured to display, on the display, the AR content adjacent to the movable object. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , the second computing device configured to receive the AR content from a remote computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed AR marker is a two-dimensional AR marker or a three-dimensional AR marker. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first location and the second location are located within an indoor area where global positioning system (GPS) signals are unavailable. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 determining, by a first computing device, a first location relative to a fixed augmented reality (AR) marker;   determining, by the first computing device, a confirmed location of a second computing device relative to the first computing device based on a second location determined by the second computing device and the first location;   detecting, by the first computing device, the second computing device in a field of view on a display; and   associating, by the first computing device, AR content with the second computing device on the display.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , comprising determining, by the second computing device, the second location relative to the fixed AR marker. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 communicating, by the second computing device, the second location to a remote computing device; and   receiving, by the first computing device, the second location from the remote computing device.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the second computing device is associated with a movable object. 
     
     
         16 . The computing-implemented method of  claim 12 , comprising displaying, by the first computing device, the AR content associated with the second computing device when the second computing device is in the field of view. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the AR content comprises graphical content, textual content, numerical content, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the second computing device is affixed to a movable object, and the first computing device is configured to display, on the display, the AR content adjacent to the movable object. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the fixed AR marker is a two-dimensional AR marker or a three-dimensional AR marker. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the first location and the second location are located within an indoor area where global positioning system (GPS) signals are unavailable.