Method and apparatus for an augmented reality user interface

Abstract

An approach is provided for an augmented reality user interface. An image representing a physical environment is received. Data relating to a horizon within the physical environment is retrieved. A section of the image to overlay location information based on the horizon data is determined. Presenting of the location information within the determined section to a user equipment is initiated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving an image representing a physical environment; 
 determiningretrieving data relating to a horizon within the physical environment; 
 determining a first section of the image to overlay in which to present location information with a boundary of the section defined based, at least in part, on the horizon; and based on the data relating to the horizon within the physical environment; 
 causing, at least in part, a presenting presentation of the location information within the determined first section to a user equipment of the image, wherein the location information comprises a map and further wherein the map represents a virtual reflection of an area surrounding the physical environment; and 
 determining a virtual horizon line based on virtual objects in a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, 
 wherein presentation of the virtual reflection of the map is a virtual dome representation of the map of the area surrounding the physical environment. 
 
     
     
       2. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the horizon data relating to the horizon within the physical environment comprises data retrieved from an accelerometer sensor, a compass sensor, a gyroscope, an altimeter, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. A method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 receiving the image from an image sensor, and wherein the horizon data relating to the horizon within the physical environment is retrieved by processing the image. 
 
     
     
       4. A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determiningretrieving structural information relating to the image; and 
 determining another a second section of the image comprising that comprises structures to overlay in which to present the structural information based on the horizon data relating to the horizon within the physical environment. 
 
     
     
       5. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the location information comprises a map, an icon representing a point of interest, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       6. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the location information comprises a map and wherein the map represents a virtual reflection of an area surrounding the physical environment. 
     
     
       7. A method of  claim 1 , wherein the boundary of the section is defined based on outlines of structures within the image above the horizon
 wherein the section of the image in which to present the location information is above the virtual horizon. 
 
     
     
       8. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory including computer program code, 
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
 receive an image representing a physical environment, 
 determineretrieve data relating to a horizon within the physical environment, 
 determine a first section of the image to overlay in which to present location information with a boundary of the section defined based, at least in part, on the horizon, and based on the data relating to the horizon within the physical environment, 
 cause, at least in part, a presenting presentation of the location information within only the determined first section to a user equipment of the image, wherein the location information comprises a map and further wherein the map represents a virtual reflection of an area surrounding the physical environment, and 
 
 determining a virtual horizon line based on virtual objects in a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, 
 wherein presentation of the virtual reflection of the map is a virtual dome representation of the map of the area surrounding the physical environment. 
 
     
     
       9. An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the horizon data relating to the horizon within the physical environment comprises data retrieved from an accelerometer sensor, a compass sensor, a gyroscope, an altimeter, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 receive the image from an image sensor, and wherein the horizon data relating to the horizon within the physical environment is retrieved by processing the image. 
 
     
     
       11. An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determineretrieve structural information relating to the image; and 
 determine another a second section of the image comprising that comprises structures to overlay in which to present the structural information based on the horizon data relating to the horizon within the physical environment. 
 
     
     
       12. An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the location information comprises a map, an icon representing a point of interest, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the location information comprises a map and wherein the map represents a virtual reflection of an area surrounding the physical environment. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the boundary of the section is defined based on outlines of structures within the image above the horizon
 wherein the section of the image in which to present the location information is above the virtual horizon. 
 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to perform at least the following:
 receive an image representing a physical environment, 
 determineretrieve data relating to a horizon within the physical environment, 
 determine a first section of the image to overlay in which to present location information with a boundary of the section defined based, at least in part, on the horizon, and based on the data relating to the horizon within the physical environment, 
 cause, at least in part, a presenting presentation of the location information within the determined first section to a user equipment of the image, wherein the location information comprises a map and further wherein the map represents a virtual reflection of an area surrounding the physical environment, and 
 determining a virtual horizon line based on virtual objects in a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, 
 wherein presentation of the virtual reflection of the map is a virtual dome representation of the map of the area surrounding the physical environment. 
 
     
     
       16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the horizon data relating to the horizon within the physical environment comprises data retrieved from an accelerometer sensor, a compass sensor, a gyroscope, an altimeter, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 receive the image from an image sensor, and wherein the horizon data relating to the horizon within the physical environment is retrieved by processing the image. 
 
     
     
       18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determineretrieve structural information relating to the image; and 
 determine another a second section of the image comprising that comprises structures to overlay in which to present the structural information based on the horizon data relating to the horizon within the physical environment. 
 
     
     
       19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the location information comprises a map, an icon representing a point of interest, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the boundary of the section is defined based on outlines of structures within the image above the horizon
 wherein the section of the image in which to present the location information is above the virtual horizon.