Samsung Patent | Wearable device and method for displaying visual objects for entering multiple virtual spaces

Patent: Wearable device and method for displaying visual objects for entering multiple virtual spaces

Publication Number: 20250291198

Publication Date: 2025-09-18

Assignee: Samsung Electronics

Abstract

A processor of a wearable device may be configured to cause the wearable device to: display a first visual object corresponding to a first virtual space using a first size based on the number of applications linked to the first virtual space and a first distance related to the number of times of entering the first virtual space; display a second visual object corresponding to a second virtual space using a second size based on the number of applications linked to the second virtual space and a second distance related to the number of times of entering the second virtual space; and in response to an input of selecting one of the first visual object and the second visual object, display at least a part of a virtual space corresponding to the visual object selected by the input.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable device, comprising:a sensor;a display;memory comprising one or more storage media storing instructions, and at least one processor comprising processing circuitry, wherein instructions, when executed by at least one processor individually and/or collectively, cause the wearable device to:display, using a first size based on a number of applications associated with a first virtual space and a first distance associated with a number of entries into the first virtual space, a first visual object corresponding to the first virtual space, in the display;display, using a second size based on a number of applications associated with a second virtual space and a second distance associated with a number of entries into the second virtual space, a second visual object corresponding to the second virtual space, in the display; anddisplay, in response to an input selecting one of the first visual object or the second visual object, at least a portion of a virtual space corresponding to a visual object selected by the input, in the display.

2. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the wearable device to:display the first visual object including a closed-curved surface where an image with respect to a window or a widget provided from an application associated with the first virtual space is positioned.

3. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the wearable device to:display the closed-curved surface based on at least one of a first transparency indicating providing an augmented reality using the first virtual space or a second transparency indicating providing a virtual reality using the first virtual space.

4. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the wearable device to:display, in response to the input selecting an image with respect to a window at a portion of the first visual object distinguished by the closed-curved surface, a portion of the first virtual space based on a view angle facing the window in the first virtual space.

5. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the wearable device to:in a state that a number of applications associated with the first virtual space is greater than a number of applications associated with the second virtual space, display the second visual object using the second size smaller than the first size.

6. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the wearable device to:in a state that a number of entries into the first virtual space is greater than a number of entries into the second virtual space, display the second visual object using the second distance longer than the first distance.

7. The wearable device of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the wearable device to:display the second visual object at the second distance, based on a binocular parallax smaller than a binocular parallax of the first visual object.

8. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the wearable device to:in response to another input to display a list of a virtual space in a state displaying at least a portion of the virtual space, display a screen in which the first visual object and the second visual object are arranged by the first distance and the second distance.

9. The wearable device of claim 1, further comprising a camera, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the wearable device to:in response to the input selecting the first visual object corresponding to the first virtual space to provide an augmented reality, activate the camera;display at least one virtual object provided from the application associated with the first virtual space together with at least one image obtained from the activated camera, in the display.

10. The wearable device of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the wearable device to:in response to another input selecting the second virtual space to provide a virtual reality different from the augmented reality based on the second visual object, deactivate the camera.

11. A method of operating a wearable device, comprising:displaying, using a first size based on a number of applications associated with a first virtual space and a first distance associated with a number of entries into the first virtual space, a first visual object corresponding to the first virtual space, in a display of the wearable device;displaying, using a second size based on a number of applications associated with a second virtual space and a second distance associated with a number of entries into the second virtual space, a second visual object corresponding to the second virtual space, in the display; anddisplaying, in response to an input selecting one of the first visual object or the second visual object, at least a portion of a virtual space corresponding to a visual object selected by the input, in the display.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the displaying the first visual object comprises:displaying the first visual object including a closed-curved surface where an image with respect to a window or a widget provided from an application associated with the first virtual space is positioned.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the displaying the first visual object comprises:displaying the closed-curved surface based on at least one of a first transparency indicating providing an augmented reality using the first virtual space or a second transparency indicating providing a virtual reality using the first virtual space.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the displaying the first visual object comprises:displaying, in response to the input selecting an image with respect to a window at a portion of the first visual object distinguished by the closed-curved surface, a portion of the first virtual space based on a view angle facing the window in the first virtual space.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the displaying the second visual object comprises:in a state that a number of applications associated with the first virtual space is greater than a number of applications associated with the second virtual space, displaying the second visual object using the second size smaller than the first size.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the displaying the second visual object comprises:in a state that a number of entries into the first virtual space is greater than a number of entries into the second virtual space, displaying the second visual object using the second distance longer than the first distance.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the displaying the second visual object comprises:displaying the second visual object at the second distance, based on a binocular parallax smaller than a binocular parallax of the first visual object.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the displaying the at least portion of the virtual space comprises:in response to another input to display a list of a virtual space in a state displaying at least a portion of the virtual space, displaying a screen in which the first visual object and the second visual object are arranged by the first distance and the second distance.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the displaying the at least portion of the virtual space comprises:in response to the input selecting the first visual object corresponding to the first virtual space to provide an augmented reality, activate a camera of the wearable device;display at least one virtual object provided from the application associated with the first virtual space together with at least one image obtained from the activated camera, in the display.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, of a wearable device including a display, cause the wearable device to:display, using a first size based on a number of applications associated with a first virtual space and a first distance associated with a number of entries into the first virtual space, a first visual object corresponding to the first virtual space, in the display;display, using a second size based on a number of applications associated with a second virtual space and a second distance associated with a number of entries into the second virtual space, a second visual object corresponding to the second virtual space, in the display; anddisplay, in response to an input selecting one of the first visual object or the second visual object, at least a portion of a virtual space corresponding to a visual object selected by the input, in the display.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2023/019569 designating the United States, filed on Nov. 30, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0169963, filed on Dec. 7, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Field

The disclosure relates to a wearable device and a method for displaying visual objects for entering a plurality of virtual spaces.

Description of Related Art

In order to provide an enhanced user experience, an electronic device that provides an augmented reality (AR) service that displays information generated by a computer in connection with an external object in a real-world are being developed. The electronic device may be a wearable device that may be worn by a user. For example, the electronic device may be AR glasses and/or a head-mounted device (HMD).

SUMMARY

According to an example embodiment, a wearable device may comprise: a sensor, a display, memory storing instructions, and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, may be configured to execute the instructions and to cause the wearable device to: display, using a first size based on a number of applications associated with a first virtual space and a first distance associated with a number of entries into the first virtual space, a first visual object corresponding to the first virtual space, in the display; display, using a second size based on a number of applications associated with a second virtual space and a second distance associated with a number of entries into the second virtual space, a second visual object corresponding to the second virtual space, in the display; and in response to an input selecting one of the first visual object or the second visual object, at least a portion of a virtual space corresponding to a visual object selected by the input, in the display.

According to an example embodiment, a method of operating a wearable device may comprise: displaying, using a first size based on a number of applications associated with a first virtual space and a first distance associated with a number of entries into the first virtual space, a first visual object corresponding to the first virtual space, in a display of the wearable device; displaying, using a second size based on a number of applications associated with a second virtual space and a second distance associated with a number of entries into the second virtual space, a second visual object corresponding to the second virtual space, in the display; and in response to an input selecting one of the first visual object or the second visual object, at least a portion of a virtual space corresponding to a visual object selected by the input, in the display.

According to an example embodiment, a wearable device may comprise a display, memory storing instructions, and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, configured to execute the instructions and to cause the wearable device to: display a first virtual object provided from a first application associated with a first virtual space, in the display; in response to an input to display a list of a plurality of virtual spaces in a state displaying the first virtual object, identify a second virtual space distinguished from the first virtual space; display, based on identifying the second virtual space, a first visual object representing the first virtual space based on an image representing the first virtual object using the first distance and a second visual object representing the second virtual space using a second distance distinguished from the first distance; and in response to an input selecting one of the first visual object or the second visual object, at least a portion of a virtual space corresponding to a visual object selected by the input, in the display.

According to an example embodiment, a method of operating a wearable device may include: displaying a first virtual object provided from a first application associated with a first virtual space in a display of the wearable device; in response to an input to display a list of a plurality of virtual spaces in a state displaying the first virtual object, identifying a second virtual space distinguished from the first virtual space; based on identifying the second virtual space, displaying a first visual object representing the first virtual space based on an image representing the first virtual object using the first distance and a second visual object representing the second virtual space using a second distance distinguished from the first distance; and in response to an input selecting one of the first visual object or the second visual object, displaying at least a portion of a virtual space corresponding to a visual object selected by the input, in the display.

According to an example embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions may be provided. The instructions, when executed by at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, of a wearable device including a display, may cause the wearable device to: display, using a first size based on a number of applications associated with a first virtual space and a first distance associated with a number of entries into the first virtual space, a first visual object corresponding to the first virtual space, in the display; display, using a second size based on a number of applications associated with a second virtual space and a second distance associated with a number of entries into the second virtual space, a second visual object corresponding to the second virtual space, in the display; and in response to an input selecting one of the first visual object or the second visual object, at least a portion of a virtual space corresponding to a visual object selected by the input, in the display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying a visual object for a virtual space by a wearable device according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of a wearable device according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating an example wearable device according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating an example configuration of hardware positioned in a wearable device according to various embodiments;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views illustrating an exterior of an example wearable device according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of virtual spaces provided by a wearable device according to various embodiments;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example operation in which a wearable device displays a screen including a list of virtual spaces according to various embodiments;

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are diagrams illustrating an example operation performed by a wearable device based on an input selecting a specific virtual space from a list of virtual spaces according to various embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of operating a wearable device according to various embodiments; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network environment associated with a metaverse service according to various embodiments.