PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11321926-B2
Application Number: US-202016953591-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Method and device for content placement

Abstract:
In some implementations, a method includes: obtaining a representation an environment; determining a plurality of candidate content placement locations within the environment based on the representation of the environment; determining characterization parameters for the plurality of candidate content placement locations; obtaining extended reality (XR) content selected based on a match between content parameters associated with the XR content and characterization parameters for a respective candidate content placement location among the plurality of candidate content placement locations; and displaying, via the display device, the XR content at the respective candidate content placement location within the environment.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 at a computing system including non-transitory memory and one or more processors, wherein the computing system is communicatively coupled to a display device and one or more input devices:
 obtaining a representation an environment; 
 determining a plurality of candidate content placement locations within the environment based on the representation of the environment; 
 determining characterization parameters for the plurality of candidate content placement locations; 
 obtaining extended reality (XR) content selected based on a match between content parameters associated with the XR content and characterization parameters for a respective candidate content placement location among the plurality of candidate content placement locations; 
 displaying, via the display device, the XR content at the respective candidate content placement location within the environment; 
 detecting, via the one or more input devices, a change of pose across time relative to the environment; and 
 in response to detecting the change of pose, maintaining the XR content at the respective candidate content placement location within the environment. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of candidate content placement locations satisfies a content placement criterion. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the content placement criterion is satisfied when a candidate content placement location satisfies dimensional parameters. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the content placement criterion is satisfied when a candidate content placement location corresponds to a planar surface. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the content placement criterion is not satisfied when a candidate content placement location is associated with rotational motion. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the content placement criterion is not satisfied when a candidate content placement location is associated with translational motion greater than a threshold velocity. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the characterization parameters associated with the respective candidate content placement location corresponds to at least one of a brightness value, an albedo value, texture information, material information, contrast information, dimensional values, and location type associated with the respective candidate content placement location. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the XR content is selected based on contextual information associated with the environment. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the contextual information includes at least one of: location information according to a determination that an opt-in input has been detected from a user of the electronic device, or historical usage information according to a determination that an opt-in input has been detected from a user of the electronic device. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the XR content corresponds to static XR content. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 in accordance with a determination that a user interest criterion is satisfied, updating the XR content from static XR content to dynamic XR content. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a user input that corresponds to selecting the XR content; and 
 in response to detecting the user input, displaying additional information associated with the XR content. 
 
     
     
       13. A computing system comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 a non-transitory memory; 
 a communication interface for communicating with a display device and one or more input devices; and 
 one or more programs stored in the non-transitory memory, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to:
 obtain a representation an environment; 
 determine a plurality of candidate content placement locations within the environment based on the representation of the environment; 
 determine characterization parameters for the plurality of candidate content placement locations; 
 obtain extended reality (XR) content selected based on a match between content parameters associated with the XR content and characterization parameters for a respective candidate content placement location among the plurality of candidate content placement locations; 
 display, on the display device, the XR content at the respective candidate content placement location within the environment; 
 detect, via the one or more input devices, a change of pose across time relative to the environment; and 
 in response to detecting the change of pose, maintain the XR content at the respective candidate content placement location within the environment. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The computing system of  claim 13 , wherein the characterization parameters associated with the respective candidate content placement location corresponds to at least one of a brightness value, an albedo value, texture information, material information, contrast information, dimensional values, and location type associated with the respective candidate content placement location. 
     
     
       15. The computing system of  claim 13 , wherein the XR content is selected based on contextual information associated with the environment. 
     
     
       16. The computing system of  claim 15 , wherein the contextual information includes at least one of: location information according to a determination that an opt-in input has been detected from a user of the electronic device, or historical usage information according to a determination that an opt-in input has been detected from a user of the electronic device. 
     
     
       17. The computing system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of candidate content placement locations satisfies a content placement criterion. 
     
     
       18. The computing system of  claim 17 , wherein the content placement criterion is satisfied when at least one of: a candidate content placement location satisfies dimensional parameters or a candidate content placement location corresponds to a planar surface. 
     
     
       19. The computing system of  claim 17 , wherein the content placement criterion is not satisfied when at least one of: a candidate content placement location is associated with rotational motion or a candidate content placement location is associated with translational motion greater than a threshold velocity. 
     
     
       20. A non-transitory memory storing one or more programs, which, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system with a communication interface for communicating with a display device and one or more input devices, cause the device to:
 obtain a representation an environment; 
 determine a plurality of candidate content placement locations within the environment based on the representation of the environment; 
 determine characterization parameters for the plurality of candidate content placement locations; 
 obtain extended reality (XR) content selected based on a match between content parameters associated with the XR content and characterization parameters for a respective candidate content placement location among the plurality of candidate content placement locations; 
 display, on the display device, the XR content at the respective candidate content placement location within the environment;
 detect, via the one or more input devices, a change of pose across time relative to the environment; and 
 in response to detecting the change of pose, maintain the XR content at the respective candidate content placement location within the environment. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The non-transitory memory of  claim 20 , wherein the characterization parameters associated with the respective candidate content placement location corresponds to at least one of a brightness value, an albedo value, texture information, material information, contrast information, dimensional values, and location type associated with the respective candidate content placement location. 
     
     
       22. The non-transitory memory of  claim 20 , wherein the XR content is selected based on contextual information associated with the environment. 
     
     
       23. The non-transitory memory of  claim 22 , wherein the contextual information includes at least one of: location information according to a determination that an opt-in input has been detected from a user of the electronic device, or historical usage information according to a determination that an opt-in input has been detected from a user of the electronic device. 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory memory of  claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of candidate content placement locations satisfies a content placement criterion. 
     
     
       25. The non-transitory memory of  claim 24 , wherein the content placement criterion is satisfied when at least one of: a candidate content placement location satisfies dimensional parameters or a candidate content placement location corresponds to a planar surface. 
     
     
       26. The non-transitory memory of  claim 24 , wherein the content placement criterion is not satisfied when at least one of: a candidate content placement location is associated with rotational motion or a candidate content placement location is associated with translational motion greater than a threshold velocity.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/949,944, filed on Dec. 18, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to content placement, and in particular, to systems, methods, and devices for content placement in a virtual or extended reality (XR) environment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In some instances, typical content placement in video games or other media is both static and manually placed by the media creator. By contrast, according to some implementations, a virtual environment or an XR environment is parsed for candidate content placement locations. Furthermore, characterization parameters (e.g., contextual metadata) for those candidate content placement locations are determined in order to make a more informed decision when placing XR content thereon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the present disclosure can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, a more detailed description may be had by reference to aspects of some illustrative implementations, some of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example operating architecture in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example controller in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an example electronic device in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an example data processing architecture in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate a sequence of instances of an extended reality (XR) presentation scenario in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate a sequence of instances of an XR presentation scenario in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates block diagrams of example data structures in accordance with some implementations. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart representation of a method of content placement in accordance with some implementations. 
     
    
    
     In accordance with common practice the various features illustrated in the drawings may not be drawn to scale. Accordingly, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. In addition, some of the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given system, method, or device. Finally, like reference numerals may be used to denote like features throughout the specification and figures. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for “smart” content placement. According to some implementations, the method is performed at a computing system including non-transitory memory and one or more processors, wherein the computing system is communicatively coupled to a display device and one or more input devices. The method includes: obtaining a representation an environment (sometimes also referred to as a “XR environment” or a “graphical environment”); determining a plurality of candidate content placement locations within the environment based on the representation of the environment; determining characterization parameters for the plurality of candidate content placement locations; obtaining extended reality (XR) content selected based on a match between content parameters associated with the XR content and characterization parameters for a respective candidate content placement location among the plurality of candidate content placement locations; and displaying, via the display device, the XR content at the respective candidate content placement location within the environment. 
     In accordance with some implementations, a device includes one or more processors, a non-transitory memory, and one or more programs; the one or more programs are stored in the non-transitory memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors and the one or more programs include instructions for performing or causing performance of any of the methods described herein. In accordance with some implementations, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium has stored therein instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the device to perform or cause performance of any of the methods described herein. In accordance with some implementations, a device includes: one or more processors, a non-transitory memory, and means for performing or causing performance of any of the methods described herein. 
     In accordance with some implementations, a computing system includes one or more processors, non-transitory memory, an interface for communicating with a display device and one or more input devices, and one or more programs; the one or more programs are stored in the non-transitory memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors and the one or more programs include instructions for performing or causing performance of the operations of any of the methods described herein. In accordance with some implementations, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium has stored therein instructions which when executed by one or more processors of a computing system with an interface for communicating with a display device and one or more input devices, cause the computing system to perform or cause performance of the operations of any of the methods described herein. In accordance with some implementations, a computing system includes one or more processors, non-transitory memory, an interface for communicating with a display device and one or more input devices, and means for performing or causing performance of the operations of any of the methods described herein. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     Numerous details are described in order to provide a thorough understanding of the example implementations shown in the drawings. However, the drawings merely show some example aspects of the present disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other effective aspects and/or variants do not include all of the specific details described herein. Moreover, well-known systems, methods, components, devices, and circuits have not been described in exhaustive detail so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the example implementations described herein. 
     A physical environment refers to a physical world that people can sense and/or interact with without aid of electronic systems. Physical environments, such as a physical park, include physical articles, such as physical trees, physical buildings, and physical people. People can directly sense and/or interact with the physical environment, such as through sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell. 
     In contrast, an extended reality (XR) environment refers to a wholly or partially simulated environment that people sense and/or interact with via an electronic system. In XR, a subset of a person&#39;s physical motions, or representations thereof, are tracked, and, in response, one or more characteristics of one or more XR objects simulated in the XR environment are adjusted in a manner that comports with at least one law of physics. For example, an XR system may detect a person&#39;s head turning and, in response, adjust graphical content and an acoustic field presented to the person in a manner similar to how such views and sounds would change in a physical environment. In some situations (e.g., for accessibility reasons), adjustments to characteristic(s) of XR object(s) in an XR environment may be made in response to representations of physical motions (e.g., vocal commands). 
     A person may sense and/or interact with an XR object using any one of their senses, including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. For example, a person may sense and/or interact with audio objects that create 3D or spatial audio environment that provides the perception of point audio sources in 3D space. In another example, audio objects may enable audio transparency, which selectively incorporates ambient sounds from the physical environment with or without computer-generated audio. In some XR environments, a person may sense and/or interact only with audio objects. 
     A virtual reality (VR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs for one or more senses. A VR environment comprises a plurality of virtual objects with which a person may sense and/or interact. For example, computer-generated imagery of trees, buildings, and avatars representing people are examples of virtual objects. A person may sense and/or interact with virtual objects in the VR environment through a simulation of the person&#39;s presence within the computer-generated environment, and/or through a simulation of a subset of the person&#39;s physical movements within the computer-generated environment. 
     In contrast to a VR environment, which is designed to be based entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs, a mixed reality (MR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed to incorporate sensory inputs from the physical environment, or a representation thereof, in addition to including computer-generated sensory inputs (e.g., virtual objects). On a virtuality continuum, a mixed reality environment is anywhere between, but not including a wholly physical environment at one end and virtual reality environment at the other end. 
     In some MR environments, computer-generated sensory inputs may respond to changes in sensory inputs from the physical environment. Also, some electronic systems for presenting an MR environment may track location and/or orientation with respect to the physical environment to enable virtual objects to interact with real-world objects (that is, physical articles from the physical environment or representations thereof). For example, a system may account for movements so that a virtual tree appears stationery with respect to the physical ground. 
     An augmented reality (AR) environment refers to a simulated environment in which one or more virtual objects are superimposed over a physical environment, or a representation thereof. For example, an electronic system for presenting an AR environment may have a transparent or translucent display through which a person may directly view the physical environment. The system may be configured to present virtual objects on the transparent or translucent display, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. Alternatively, a system may have an opaque display and one or more imaging sensors that capture images or video of the physical environment, which are representations of the physical environment. The system composites the images or video with virtual objects and presents the composition on the opaque display. A person, using the system, indirectly views the physical environment by way of the images or video of the physical environment, and perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. As used herein, a video of the physical environment shown on an opaque display is called “pass-through video,” meaning a system uses one or more image sensor(s) to capture images of the physical environment and uses those images in presenting the AR environment on the opaque display. Further alternatively, a system may have a projection system that projects virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface, so that a person, using the system, perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physical environment. 
     An augmented reality environment also refers to a simulated environment in which a representation of a physical environment is transformed by computer-generated sensory information. For example, in providing pass-through video, a system may transform one or more sensor images to impose a select perspective (e.g., viewpoint) different than the perspective captured by the imaging sensors. As another example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically modifying (e.g., enlarging) portions thereof, such that the modified portion may be representative but not photorealistic versions of the originally captured images. As a further example, a representation of a physical environment may be transformed by graphically eliminating or obfuscating portions thereof. 
     An augmented virtuality (AV) environment refers to a simulated environment in which a virtual or computer-generated environment incorporates one or more sensory inputs from the physical environment. The sensory inputs may be representations of one or more characteristics of the physical environment. For example, an AV park may have virtual trees and virtual buildings, but people with faces photorealistically reproduced from images taken of physical people. As another example, a virtual object may adopt a shape or color of a physical article imaged by one or more imaging sensors. As a further example, a virtual object may adopt shadows consistent with the position of the Sun or another light source in the physical environment. 
     There are many different types of electronic systems that enable a person to sense and/or interact with various XR environments. Examples include near-eye systems, projection-based systems, heads-up displays (HUDs), vehicle windshields having integrated display capability, windows having integrated display capability, displays formed as lenses designed to be placed on a person&#39;s eyes (e.g., similar to contact lenses), headphones/earphones, speaker arrays, input systems (e.g., wearable or handheld controllers with or without haptic feedback), smartphones, tablets, and desktop/laptop computers. A near-eye system may have one or more speaker(s) and an integrated opaque display. Alternatively, a near-eye system may be configured to accept an external opaque display (e.g., a smartphone). The near-eye system may incorporate one or more imaging sensors to capture images or video of the physical environment, and/or one or more microphones to capture audio of the physical environment. Rather than an opaque display, a near-eye system may have a transparent or translucent display. The display may utilize digital light projection, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), digital micromirror devices (DMDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), light-emitting diodes (LEDs), micro-light-emitting diodes (μLEDs), liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS), laser scanning light source, or any combination of these technologies. The medium may be an optical waveguide, a hologram medium, an optical combiner, an optical reflector, or any combination thereof. In one implementation, the transparent or translucent display may be configured to become opaque selectively. Projection-based systems may employ retinal projection technology that projects graphical images onto a person&#39;s retina. Projection systems also may be configured to project virtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example operating architecture  100  in accordance with some implementations. While pertinent features are shown, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the example implementations disclosed herein. To that end, as a non-limiting example, the operating architecture  100  includes an optional controller  110  and an electronic device  120  (e.g., a tablet, mobile phone, laptop, near-eye system, wearable computing device, or the like). 
     In some implementations, the controller  110  is configured to manage and coordinate an XR experience (sometimes also referred to herein as a “XR environment” or a “virtual environment” or a “graphical environment”) for a user  150  and zero or more other users. In some implementations, the controller  110  includes a suitable combination of software, firmware, and/or hardware. The controller  110  is described in greater detail below with respect to  FIG. 2 . In some implementations, the controller  110  is a computing device that is local or remote relative to the physical environment  105 . For example, the controller  110  is a local server located within the physical environment  105 . In another example, the controller  110  is a remote server located outside of the physical environment  105  (e.g., a cloud server, central server, etc.). In some implementations, the controller  110  is communicatively coupled with the electronic device  120  via one or more wired or wireless communication channels  144  (e.g., BLUETOOTH, IEEE 802.11x, IEEE 802.16x, IEEE 802.3x, etc.). In some implementations, the functions of the controller  110  are provided by the electronic device  120 . As such, in some implementations, the components of the controller  110  are integrated into the electronic device  120 . 
     In some implementations, the electronic device  120  is configured to present audio and/or video (A/V) content to the user  150 . In some implementations, the electronic device  120  is configured to present a user interface (UI) and/or an XR environment  128  to the user  150 . In some implementations, the electronic device  120  includes a suitable combination of software, firmware, and/or hardware. The electronic device  120  is described in greater detail below with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
     According to some implementations, the electronic device  120  presents an XR experience to the user  150  while the user  150  is physically present within a physical environment  105  that includes a table  107  within the field-of-view (FOV)  111  of the electronic device  120 . As such, in some implementations, the user  150  holds the electronic device  120  in his/her hand(s). In some implementations, while presenting the XR experience, the electronic device  120  is configured to present XR content (sometimes also referred to herein as “graphical content” or “virtual content”), including an XR cylinder  109 , and to enable video pass-through of the physical environment  105  (e.g., including the table  107 ) on a display  122 . For example, the electronic device  120  corresponds to a near-eye system, mobile phone, tablet, laptop, wearable computing device, or the like. 
     In some implementations, the display  122  corresponds to an additive display that enables optical see-through of the physical environment  105  including the table  107 . For example, the display  122  correspond to a transparent lens, and the electronic device  120  corresponds to a pair of glasses worn by the user  150 . As such, in some implementations, the electronic device  120  presents a user interface by projecting the XR content (e.g., the XR cylinder  109 ) onto the additive display, which is, in turn, overlaid on the physical environment  105  from the perspective of the user  150 . In some implementations, the electronic device  120  presents the user interface by displaying the XR content (e.g., the XR cylinder  109 ) on the additive display, which is, in turn, overlaid on the physical environment  105  from the perspective of the user  150 . 
     In some implementations, the user  150  wears the electronic device  120  such as a near-eye system. As such, the electronic device  120  includes one or more displays provided to display the XR content (e.g., a single display or one for each eye). For example, the electronic device  120  encloses the FOV of the user  150 . In such implementations, the electronic device  120  presents the XR environment  128  by displaying data corresponding to the XR environment  128  on the one or more displays or by projecting data corresponding to the XR environment  128  onto the retinas of the user  150 . 
     In some implementations, the electronic device  120  includes an integrated display (e.g., a built-in display) that displays the XR environment  128 . In some implementations, the electronic device  120  includes a head-mountable enclosure. In various implementations, the head-mountable enclosure includes an attachment region to which another device with a display can be attached. For example, in some implementations, the electronic device  120  can be attached to the head-mountable enclosure. In various implementations, the head-mountable enclosure is shaped to form a receptacle for receiving another device that includes a display (e.g., the electronic device  120 ). For example, in some implementations, the electronic device  120  slides/snaps into or otherwise attaches to the head-mountable enclosure. In some implementations, the display of the device attached to the head-mountable enclosure presents (e.g., displays) the XR environment  128 . In some implementations, the electronic device  120  is replaced with an XR chamber, enclosure, or room configured to present XR content in which the user  150  does not wear the electronic device  120 . 
     In some implementations, the controller  110  and/or the electronic device  120  cause an XR representation of the user  150  to move within the XR environment  128  based on movement information (e.g., body pose data, eye tracking data, hand/limb/finger/extremity tracking data, etc.) from the electronic device  120  and/or optional remote input devices within the physical environment  105 . In some implementations, the optional remote input devices correspond to fixed or movable sensory equipment within the physical environment  105  (e.g., image sensors, depth sensors, infrared (IR) sensors, event cameras, microphones, etc.). In some implementations, each of the remote input devices is configured to collect/capture input data and provide the input data to the controller  110  and/or the electronic device  120  while the user  150  is physically within the physical environment  105 . In some implementations, the remote input devices include microphones, and the input data includes audio data associated with the user  150  (e.g., speech samples). In some implementations, the remote input devices include image sensors (e.g., cameras), and the input data includes images of the user  150 . In some implementations, the input data characterizes body poses of the user  150  at different times. In some implementations, the input data characterizes head poses of the user  150  at different times. In some implementations, the input data characterizes hand tracking information associated with the hands of the user  150  at different times. In some implementations, the input data characterizes the velocity and/or acceleration of body parts of the user  150  such as his/her hands. In some implementations, the input data indicates joint positions and/or joint orientations of the user  150 . In some implementations, the remote input devices include feedback devices such as speakers, lights, or the like. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example of the controller  110  in accordance with some implementations. While certain specific features are illustrated, those skilled in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity, and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the implementations disclosed herein. To that end, as a non-limiting example, in some implementations, the controller  110  includes one or more processing units  202  (e.g., microprocessors, application-specific integrated-circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), processing cores, and/or the like), one or more input/output (I/O) devices  206 , one or more communication interfaces  208  (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.11x, IEEE 802.16x, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), global positioning system (GPS), infrared (IR), BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE, and/or the like type interface), one or more programming (e.g., I/O) interfaces  210 , a memory  220 , and one or more communication buses  204  for interconnecting these and various other components. 
     In some implementations, the one or more communication buses  204  include circuitry that interconnects and controls communications between system components. In some implementations, the one or more I/O devices  206  include at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, a joystick, one or more microphones, one or more speakers, one or more image sensors, one or more displays, and/or the like. 
     The memory  220  includes high-speed random-access memory, such as dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM), double-data-rate random-access memory (DDR RAM), or other random-access solid-state memory devices. In some implementations, the memory  220  includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. The memory  220  optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the one or more processing units  202 . The memory  220  comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some implementations, the memory  220  or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the memory  220  stores the following programs, modules and data structures, or a subset thereof including an optional operating system  230  and a content management engine  240 . 
     The operating system  230  includes procedures for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. 
     In some implementations, the content management engine  240  is configured to manage and coordinate one or more XR experiences (sometimes also referred to herein as “XR environments”) for one or more users (e.g., a single XR experience for one or more users, or multiple XR experiences for respective groups of one or more users). To that end, in various implementations, the content management engine  240  includes a data obtainer  242 , a mapper and locator engine  244 , a privacy subsystem  410 , a scene analyzer  420 , a content placer  430 , a presentation engine  450 , and a data transmitter  262 . 
     In some implementations, the data obtainer  242  is configured to obtain data (e.g., presentation data, input data, image frames, user interaction data, head tracking information, camera pose tracking information, eye tracking information, hand/limb tracking information, depth information, sensor data, location data, etc.) from at least one of the I/O devices  206  of the controller  110 , the electronic device  120 , and the optional remote input devices  170 A and  170 B. To that end, in various implementations, the data obtainer  242  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     In some implementations, the mapper and locator engine  244  is configured to map the physical environment  105  and to track the position/location of at least the electronic device  120  with respect to the physical environment  105 . To that end, in various implementations, the mapper and locator engine  244  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     In some implementations, the privacy subsystem  410  is configured to remove, obscure, anonymize, or otherwise protect user information and/or identifying information (e.g., at least some portion of the representation of the environment in  FIG. 4 ) based on one or more privacy filters. The privacy subsystem  410  is described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 4 . To that end, in various implementations, the privacy subsystem  410  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     In some implementations, the scene analyzer  420  is configured to process the representation of the environment (e.g., one or more image frames of the physical environment  105  captured by an exterior-facing image sensor, or a 3D mesh of the XR environment). In some implementations, the scene analyzer  420  determines a plurality of candidate content placement locations within the physical environment that satisfy a content placement criterion. In some implementations, the scene analyzer  420  also determines a characterization vector for each of the plurality of candidate content placement locations includes a plurality of characterization parameters. The scene analyzer  420  is described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 4 . Furthermore, the characterization vector is described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 7 . To that end, in various implementations, the scene analyzer  420  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     In some implementations, the content placer  430  configured to select XR content for a respective candidate content placement location among the plurality of candidate content placement locations. The content placer  430  is described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 4 . To that end, in various implementations, the content placer  430  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     In some implementations, the presentation engine  450  is configured to generate (i.e., render), manage, and modify content and/or an XR environment presented to a user. To that end, in various implementations, the presentation engine  450  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. To that end, in some implementations, the presentation engine  450  includes a viewing vector manager  247  and an interaction and manipulation engine  248 . 
     In some implementations, the viewing vector manager  247  is configured to obtain (e.g., receive, retrieve, or generate) and update a viewing vector based on body pose tracking information, head tracking information, camera pose tracking information, eye tracking information, hand/limb tracking information, intrinsic camera parameters, and/or the like from the electronic device  120  and/or associated with a user  150  of the electronic device  120 . The viewing vector is described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 7 . To that end, in various implementations, the viewing vector manager  247  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     In some implementations, the interaction and manipulation engine  248  is configured to interpret user interactions and/or modification inputs directed to the content and/or the XR environment. In some implementations, the interaction and manipulation engine  248  also is configured to update the XR environment when the viewing vector changes (e.g., due to translational and/or rotational movement of the electronic device  120 ). To that end, in various implementations, the interaction and manipulation engine  248  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     In some implementations, the data transmitter  262  is configured to transmit data (e.g., presentation data such as rendered image frames associated with the XR environment, location data, etc.) to at least the electronic device  120 . To that end, in various implementations, the data transmitter  262  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     Although the data obtainer  242 , the mapper and locator engine  244 , the privacy subsystem  410 , the scene analyzer  420 , the content placer  430 , a presentation engine  450 , and the data transmitter  262  are shown as residing on a single device (e.g., the controller  110 ), it should be understood that in other implementations, any combination of the data obtainer  242 , the mapper and locator engine  244 , the privacy subsystem  410 , the scene analyzer  420 , the content placer  430 , a presentation engine  450 , and the data transmitter  262  may be located in separate computing devices. 
     In some implementations, the functions and/or components of the controller  110  are combined with or provided by the electronic device  120  shown below in  FIG. 3 . Moreover,  FIG. 2  is intended more as a functional description of the various features which be present in a particular implementation as opposed to a structural schematic of the implementations described herein. As recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, items shown separately could be combined and some items could be separated. For example, some functional modules shown separately in  FIG. 2  could be implemented in a single module and the various functions of single functional blocks could be implemented by one or more functional blocks in various implementations. The actual number of modules and the division of particular functions and how features are allocated among them will vary from one implementation to another and, in some implementations, depends in part on the particular combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware chosen for a particular implementation. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an example of the electronic device  120  (e.g., a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, wearable computing device, or the like) in accordance with some implementations. While certain specific features are illustrated, those skilled in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity, and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the implementations disclosed herein. To that end, as a non-limiting example, in some implementations, the electronic device  120  includes one or more processing units  302  (e.g., microprocessors, ASICs, FPGAs, GPUs, CPUs, processing cores, and/or the like), one or more input/output (I/O) devices and sensors  306 , one or more communication interfaces  308  (e.g., USB, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.11x, IEEE 802.16x, GSM, CDMA, TDMA, GPS, IR, BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE, and/or the like type interface), one or more programming (e.g., I/O) interfaces  310 , one or more displays  312 , one or more optional interior- and/or exterior-facing image sensors  314 , a memory  320 , and one or more communication buses  304  for interconnecting these and various other components. 
     In some implementations, the one or more communication buses  304  include circuitry that interconnects and controls communications between system components. In some implementations, the one or more I/O devices and sensors  306  include at least one of an inertial measurement unit (IMU), an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a thermometer, one or more physiological sensors (e.g., blood pressure monitor, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen sensor, blood glucose sensor, etc.), one or more microphones, one or more speakers, a haptics engine, a heating and/or cooling unit, a skin shear engine, one or more depth sensors (e.g., structured light, time-of-flight, LiDAR, or the like), an eye tracking engine, a body pose tracking engine, a hand/limb tracking engine, a head pose tracking engine, a camera pose tracking engine, and/or the like. 
     In some implementations, the one or more displays  312  are configured to present the XR environment to the user. In some implementations, the one or more displays  312  are also configured to present flat video content to the user (e.g., a 2-dimensional or “flat” AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV, MP4, or the like file associated with a TV episode or a movie, or live video pass-through of the physical environment  105 ). In some implementations, the one or more displays  312  correspond to touchscreen displays. In some implementations, the one or more displays  312  correspond to holographic, digital light processing (DLP), liquid-crystal display (LCD), liquid-crystal on silicon (LCoS), organic light-emitting field-effect transitory (OLET), organic light-emitting diode (OLED), surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), field-emission display (FED), quantum-dot light-emitting diode (QD-LED), micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), and/or the like display types. In some implementations, the one or more displays  312  correspond to diffractive, reflective, polarized, holographic, etc. waveguide displays. For example, the electronic device  120  includes a single display. In another example, the electronic device  120  includes a display for each eye of the user. In some implementations, the one or more displays  312  are capable of presenting AR and VR content. In some implementations, the one or more displays  312  are capable of presenting AR or VR content. 
     In some implementations, the one or more optional interior- and/or exterior-facing image sensors  314  correspond to one or more RGB cameras (e.g., with a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor), IR image sensors, event-based cameras, and/or the like. 
     The memory  320  includes high-speed random-access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or other random-access solid-state memory devices. In some implementations, the memory  320  includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. The memory  320  optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the one or more processing units  302 . The memory  320  comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some implementations, the memory  320  or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the memory  320  stores the following programs, modules and data structures, or a subset thereof including an optional operating system  330  and a presentation engine  340 . 
     The operating system  330  includes procedures for handling various basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In some implementations, the presentation engine  340  is configured to present content and/or an XR environment to the user via the one or more displays  312 . To that end, in various implementations, the presentation engine  340  includes a data obtainer  342 , a presenter  344 , an interaction handler  346 , and a data transmitter  350 . 
     In some implementations, the data obtainer  342  is configured to obtain data (e.g., presentation data such as rendered image frames associated with the XR environment, input data, user interaction data, head tracking information, camera pose tracking information, eye tracking information, body pose tracking information, hand/limb tracking information, sensor data, location data, etc.) from at least one of the I/O devices and sensors  306  of the electronic device  120 , the controller  110 , and the remote input devices  170 A and  170 B. To that end, in various implementations, the data obtainer  342  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     In some implementations, the presenter  344  is configured to present and update the content and/or the XR environment (e.g., the rendered image frames associated with the XR environment) via the one or more displays  312 . To that end, in various implementations, the presenter  344  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     In some implementations, the interaction handler  346  is configured to detect user interactions with the presented content and/or XR environment. To that end, in various implementations, the interaction handler  346  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     In some implementations, the data transmitter  350  is configured to transmit data (e.g., presentation data, location data, image frames, user interaction data, head tracking information, camera pose tracking information, eye tracking information, body pose tracking information, hand/limb tracking information, depth information, sensor data, etc.) to at least the controller  110 . To that end, in various implementations, the data transmitter  350  includes instructions and/or logic therefor, and heuristics and metadata therefor. 
     Although the data obtainer  342 , the presenter  344 , the interaction handler  346 , and the data transmitter  350  are shown as residing on a single device (e.g., the electronic device  120 ), it should be understood that in other implementations, any combination of the data obtainer  342 , the presenter  344 , the interaction handler  346 , and the data transmitter  350  may be located in separate computing devices. 
     Moreover,  FIG. 3  is intended more as a functional description of the various features which be present in a particular implementation as opposed to a structural schematic of the implementations described herein. As recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, items shown separately could be combined and some items could be separated. For example, some functional modules shown separately in  FIG. 3  could be implemented in a single module and the various functions of single functional blocks could be implemented by one or more functional blocks in various implementations. The actual number of modules and the division of particular functions and how features are allocated among them will vary from one implementation to another and, in some implementations, depends in part on the particular combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware chosen for a particular implementation. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an example data processing architecture  400  in accordance with some implementations. While pertinent features are shown, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the example implementations disclosed herein. To that end, as a non-limiting example, the data processing architecture  400  includes a privacy subsystem  410 , a scene analyzer  420 , a content placer  430 , and a presentation engine  450 . In some implementations, the data processing architecture  400  is included in the controller  110  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; the electronic device  120  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ; and/or a suitable combination thereof. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the input for the data processing architecture  400  corresponds to a representation  402  of the environment (e.g., one or more input image frames of the physical environment  105 , or a 3D mesh of the XR environment). For example, one or more input image frames of the physical environment  105  are captured by an exterior-facing image sensor of the electronic device  120  in  FIG. 1 . In this example, the representation  402  of the environment correspond to a current viewpoint of the physical environment  105  in  FIG. 1 . 
     In various implementations, the data processing architecture  400  includes a privacy subsystem  410  that includes one or more privacy filters associated with user information and/or identifying information (e.g., at least a portion of the one or more input image frames of the physical environment  105 , or a 3D mesh of the XR environment). In some implementations, the privacy subsystem  410  includes an opt-in feature where the device informs the user as to what user information and/or identifying information is being monitored and how the user information and/or the identifying information will be used. In some implementations, the privacy subsystem  410  selectively prevents and/or limits the data processing architecture  400  or portions thereof from obtaining and/or transmitting the user information. To this end, the privacy subsystem  410  receives user preferences and/or selections from the user in response to prompting the user for the same. In some implementations, the privacy subsystem  410  prevents the data processing architecture  400  from obtaining and/or transmitting the user information unless and until the privacy subsystem  410  obtains informed consent from the user. In some implementations, the privacy subsystem  410  anonymizes (e.g., scrambles or obscures) certain types of user information (e.g., at least a portion of the one or more input image frames of the physical environment  105 , or a 3D mesh of the XR environment). For example, the privacy subsystem  410  receives user inputs designating which types of user information the privacy subsystem  410  anonymizes. As another example, the privacy subsystem  410  anonymizes certain types of user information likely to include sensitive and/or identifying information (e.g., at least a portion of the one or more input image frames of the physical environment  105 , or a 3D mesh of the XR environment), independent of user designation (e.g., automatically). 
     In various implementations, the data processing architecture  400  includes a scene analyzer  420  configured to process the representation  402  of the environment (e.g., captured by an exterior-facing image sensor) associated with a physical environment. In some implementations, the scene analyzer  420  determines a plurality of candidate content placement locations within the physical environment that satisfy content placement criterion (e.g., based on semantic segmentation, plane recognition, and/or other image processing techniques). For example, the content placement criterion is satisfied when a candidate placement location corresponds to a planar surface, a non-trademarked surface, a non-cluttered surrounding area, a non-distracting/dangerous location, a surface area that is at least X by Y cm in size, and/or the like. 
     In some implementations, the scene analyzer  420  also determines a characterization vector  414  for each of the plurality of candidate content placement locations, wherein the characterization vector  414  includes a plurality of characterization parameters. For example, the plurality of characterization parameters included in the characterization vector  414  for a respective candidate content placement location  412  include: an angle of the respective candidate content placement location  412  relative to a camera position/pose; velocity and acceleration values associated with the respective candidate content placement location  412  relative to the camera position/pose; color and texture information associated with the respective candidate content placement location  412 ; dimensions, volume, surface area, etc. associated with the respective candidate content placement location  412 ; contrast and brightness information associated with the respective candidate content placement location  412 ; semantic information associated with the respective candidate content placement location  412  (e.g., type of object or surface); and/or the like. A characterization vector for a respective candidate placement location is discussed in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     In various implementations, the data processing architecture  400  includes a content placer  430  configured to select XR content  434  for a respective candidate content placement location  412  among the plurality of candidate content placement locations. As one example, the content placer  430  selects the XR content  434  to be placed at the respective candidate content placement  412  location according to a determination that a match, comparison, or difference between content parameters (e.g., texture, color, brightness, size, etc.) associated with the XR content  434  and characterization parameters for the respective candidate content placement  412 . In some implementations, the content placer  430  determines that a match occurs between the XR content  434  and the respective candidate content placement  412  when a selection criterion is satisfied. For example, the selection criterion corresponds to a threshold variance between the content parameters associated with XR content  434  and characterization parameters for the respective candidate content placement location  412 . 
     In some implementations, the content placer  430  corresponds to a local content manager that places XR content in at least some of plurality of candidate content placement locations based on other information  432  such as current GPS coordinates associated with the electronic device  120  (e.g., location-specific XR content), user preferences, device usage history, search history, social media content associated with one or more social media profiles of a user of the electronic device  120 , and/or the like. In some implementations, the content placer  430  corresponds to an application programming interface (API) that enables third parties to place the XR content (e.g., auction off the plurality of candidate content placement locations for third-party advertisement placements). 
     In various implementations, the data processing architecture  400  includes a presentation engine  450  that presents the XR content  434  at the respective candidate content placement location  412 . As one example, when the electronic device  120  corresponds to an optical-see through implementation, the electronic device  120  projects the XR content  434  onto the optical-see through display (e.g., an additive display) such that the XR content  434  appears to be displayed at the respective candidate content placement location  412 . As another example, when the electronic device  120  corresponds to a video pass-through implementation, the controller  110 , the electronic device  120 , or a suitable combination thereof composites the XR content  434  with the representation  402  of the environment such that the resultant rendered image frame  452  shows the XR content  434  placed within the physical environment at the respective candidate content placement location  412 . Continuing with this example, the electronic device  120  displays the resultant rendered image frame  452 . 
       FIG. 4  is intended more as functional description of the various features which may be present in a particular implementation as opposed to a structural schematic of the implementations described herein. As recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, items shown separately could be combined and some items could be separated. For example, some functional modules shown separately in  FIG. 4  could be implemented in a single module and the various functions of single functional blocks could be implemented by one or more functional blocks in various implementations. The actual number of modules and the division of particular functions and how features are allocated among them will vary from one implementation to another and, in some implementations, depends in part on the particular combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware chosen for a particular implementation. 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate a sequence of instances  510 ,  520 , and  530  of an extended reality (XR) presentation scenario in accordance with some implementations. While pertinent features are shown, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the example implementations disclosed herein. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C , the XR presentation scenario includes a physical environment  105  and an XR environment  550  displayed on the display  122  of the electronic device  120 . The electronic device  120  presents an XR environment  550  to the user  150  while the user  150  is physically present within the physical environment  105  that includes the table  107  within the FOV  111  of an exterior-facing image sensor of the electronic device  120 . As such, in some implementations, the user  150  holds the electronic device  120  in his/her hand(s) similar to the operating environment  100  in  FIG. 1 . 
     In other words, in some implementations, the electronic device  120  is configured to present XR content and to enable optical see-through or video pass-through of at least a portion of the physical environment  105  (e.g., including the table  107 ) on the display  122  (e.g., the XR environment  550 ). For example, the electronic device  120  corresponds to a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, wearable computing device, or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , during the instance  510  (e.g., associated with time T 1 ) of the presentation scenario, the electronic device  120  presents the XR environment  550  including video pass-through of at least a portion of the physical environment  105  (e.g., including the table  107 ) on the display  122 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , during the instance  520  (e.g., associated with time T 2 ) of the presentation scenario, the controller  110 , the electronic device  120 , or a suitable combination thereof analyzes the XR environment  550  and determines a plurality of candidate content placement locations by determining which of locations  522 ,  524 , and  526  satisfy the content placement criterion. For example, the content placement criterion is satisfied when the location corresponds to a planar surface that is at least X cm by Y cm, the location is situated at less than a Z degree angle relative to the exterior-facing image sensor of the electronic device  120 , and the location does not cause occlusion(s). 
     In the example associated with  FIG. 5B , the location  522  fails to satisfy the content placement criterion because the location  522  occludes a doorway within the physical environment  105 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , the location  524  fails to satisfy the content placement criterion because the location  524  is situated at an oblique angle relative to the exterior-facing image sensor of the electronic device  120  that is greater than Z degrees. 
     In  FIG. 5B , the location  526  satisfies the content placement criterion because the location  526  corresponds to a planar surface that is at least X cm by Y cm, is situated at less than a Z degree angle relative to the exterior-facing image sensor of the electronic device  120 , and does not occlude any objects within the physical environment  105  (e.g., the table  107  corresponds to an unobstructed planar surface). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5C , during the instance  530  (e.g., associated with time T 3 ) of the presentation scenario, the electronic device  120  presents the XR environment  550  including video pass-through of at least a portion of the physical environment  105  (e.g., including the table  107 ) on the display  122  and the XR content  560  at the location  526 . For example, in some implementations, the XR content  560  may be static or dynamic. For example, in some implementations, the XR content  560  may transition from a static mode (e.g., stationary) to a dynamic mode (e.g., animation or other movement) in response to detecting a user interaction with the XR content  560 . For example, in some implementations, the XR content  560  may transition from a static mode to a dynamic mode in response to detecting that the direction of the gaze of the user  150  has lingered on the XR content  560  for at least a predefined duration of time. 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  illustrate a sequence of instances  610 ,  620 , and  630  of an extended reality (XR) presentation scenario in accordance with some implementations. While pertinent features are shown, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the example implementations disclosed herein. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C , the XR presentation scenario includes a physical environment  600  and an XR environment  650  displayed on the display  122  of the electronic device  120 . The electronic device  120  presents an XR environment  650  to the user  150  while the user  150  is physically present within the physical environment  600  (e.g., a kitchen) that includes a set of cabinets  612 , a countertop  614 , a refrigerator  616 , a kitchen island  618 , a coffee maker  622 , and a stack of dishes  624  within the FOV  111  of an exterior-facing image sensor of the electronic device  120 . As such, in some implementations, the user  150  holds the electronic device  120  in his/her hand(s) similar to the operating environment  100  in  FIG. 1 . 
     In other words, in some implementations, the electronic device  120  is configured to present XR content and to enable optical see-through or video pass-through of at least a portion of the physical environment  600  on the display  122  (e.g., the XR environment  650 ). For example, the electronic device  120  corresponds to a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, wearable computing device, or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6A , during the instance  610  (e.g., associated with time T 1 ) of the presentation scenario, the electronic device  120  presents the XR environment  650  including video pass-through of at least a portion of the physical environment  600  (e.g., a portion of the kitchen including the set of cabinets  612 , the countertop  614 , the refrigerator  616 , the kitchen island  618 , the coffee maker  622 , and the stack of dishes  624 ) on the display  122 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6B , during the instance  620  (e.g., associated with time T 2 ) of the presentation scenario, the controller  110 , the electronic device  120 , or a suitable combination thereof analyzes the XR environment  650  and determines a plurality of candidate content placement locations by determining which of locations  652 ,  654 ,  656 ,  658 ,  660 , and  662  satisfy the content placement criterion. For example, the content placement criterion is satisfied when the location corresponds to a planar surface that is at least X cm by Y cm, the location is situated at less than a Z degree angle relative to the exterior-facing image sensor of the electronic device  120 , the location does not cause occlusion(s), and the area surrounding the location is not cluttered. 
     In the example associated with  FIG. 6B , the locations  652 ,  654 , and  658  fail to satisfy the content placement criterion because the locations  652 ,  654 , and  658  are both cluttered and cause occlusion(s) of objects within the physical environment  600 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , the locations  656  and  660  fail to satisfy the content placement criterion because the locations  656  and  660  are situated at oblique angles relative to the exterior-facing image sensor of the electronic device  120  that are greater than Z degrees. 
     In  FIG. 6B , the location  662  (e.g., the front vertical surface of the kitchen island  618 ) satisfies the content placement criterion because the location  662  corresponds to a planar surface that is at least X cm by Y cm, is situated at less than a Z degree angle relative to the exterior-facing image sensor of the electronic device  120 , does not occlude any objects within the physical environment  600 , and the area surrounding the location is non-cluttered (e.g., the front vertical surface of the kitchen island  618  corresponds to an unobstructed planar surface). 
     As shown in  FIG. 6C , during the instance  630  (e.g., associated with time T 3 ) of the presentation scenario, the electronic device  120  presents the XR environment  650  including video pass-through of at least a portion of the physical environment  600  (e.g., including the set of cabinets  612 , the countertop  614 , the refrigerator  616 , the kitchen island  618 , the coffee maker  622 , and the stack of dishes  624 ) on the display  122  and the XR content  675  at the location  662 . For example, in some implementations, the XR content  675  may be static or dynamic. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates block diagrams of example data structures in accordance with some implementations. While pertinent features are shown, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the example implementations disclosed herein.  FIG. 7  shows block diagrams of a data structures for a characterization vector  414  and a viewing vector  750 . 
     For example, the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the scene analyzer  420 ) obtains (e.g., receives, retrieves, or generates) the characterization vector  414  for a respective candidate placement location within a physical environment by performing one or more image processing techniques (e.g., semantic segmentation, color analysis, texture analysis, etc.) on representation  402  of the environment. According to some implementations, the characterization vector  414  includes: translational coordinates  702  for the respective candidate placement location (e.g., absolute coordinates or coordinates relative to the physical environment); a viewing angle  704  of the respective candidate placement location relative to the camera origin associated with the representation  402  of the environment; dimensions  705  for the respective candidate placement location (e.g., width, depth, height, volume, surface area, etc.); motion information  708  for the respective candidate placement location (e.g., translational and/or rotational speed, acceleration, etc. relative to the camera origin associated with the representation  402  of the environment); brightness and contrast information  710  for the respective candidate placement location; color and texture information  712  for the respective candidate placement location; semantic information  714  associated with the respective candidate placement location (e.g., a type of surface or object that corresponds to the respective candidate placement location such as wall, tabletop, vase, back of couch, etc.) for the respective candidate placement location; contextual information  716  associated with the respective candidate placement location (e.g., nearby objects, nearby surfaces, overall room/space type, overall building type, GPS coordinates, etc.); and other parameters  718 . 
     For example, the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the viewing vector manager  247  in  FIG. 2 ) obtains (e.g., receives, retrieves, or generates) the viewing vector  750  based on body pose tracking information, head tracking information, camera pose tracking information, eye tracking information, hand/limb tracking information, intrinsic camera parameters, and/or the like from the electronic device  120 . For example, the viewing vector  750  defines the viewpoint of the physical environment from which the representation  402  of the environment was captured. According to some implementations, the viewing vector  750  includes: translational coordinates  752  relative to the physical environment, camera/head pose information  754  (e.g., rotational parameters) associated with the user or camera, an optional gaze direction  756  (e.g., 2 degrees of freedom associated with eye tracking when a near-eye system is used) associated with the user, and other parameters  758  (e.g., focal length, zoom, and/or the like). As such, for example, the viewing vector  750  may comprise at least 8 degrees of freedom: x, y, z dimensions associated with the translational coordinates  752 ; roll, pitch, and yaw dimensions associated with the camera/head pose information  754 ; and first and second dimensions associated with the gaze direction  756 . For example, the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the viewing vector manager  247  in  FIG. 2 ) updates the viewing vector  750  over time due to translational and/or rotational movement. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart representation of a method  800  of content placement in accordance with some implementations. In various implementations, the method  800  is performed by at a computing system including non-transitory memory and one or more processors, wherein the computing system is communicatively coupled to a display device and one or more input devices (e.g., the controller  110  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; the electronic device  120  in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ; or a suitable combination thereof), or a component thereof. In some implementations, the method  800  is performed by processing logic, including hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. In some implementations, the method  800  is performed by a processor executing code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., a memory). In various implementations, some operations in method  800  are, optionally, combined and/or the order of some operations is, optionally, changed. 
     As described above, in some instances, typical content placement (e.g., advertisements) in video games or other media is both static and manually placed by the media creator. By contrast, according to some implementations, a physical environment or an extended reality (XR) environment is parsed for candidate content placement locations. Furthermore, characterization parameters (e.g., contextual metadata) for those candidate content placement locations are determined in order to make a more informed decision when placing XR content thereon. In some examples, an application-programming interface (API) enables third parties to determine whether to place XR content within the XR environment at those candidate content placement locations based on the characterization parameters therefor. 
     As represented by block  8 - 1 , the method  800  includes obtaining (e.g., receiving, retrieving, or capturing) a representation of an environment. In some implementations, the exterior-facing image sensors  314  of the electronic device  120  captures one or more image frames of the physical environment  105  (e.g., the representation of the environment) and subsequently provide the one or more image frames to the controller  110 . In some implementations, the controller  110  obtains a representation of the environment such as rendered image frames, a 3D mesh, or a 3D model thereof for the environment. 
     As represented by block  8 - 2 , the method  800  includes determining a plurality of candidate content placement locations within the environment based on the representation of the environment. In some implementations, the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the scene analyzer  420  in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) determines a plurality of candidate content placement locations within the physical environment that satisfy the content placement criterion. In some implementations, the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the scene analyzer  420  in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) determines a plurality of candidate content placement locations within the environment based on the representation of the environment (e.g., the rendered image frames, a 3D mesh, or a 3D model thereof for the environment). 
     In some implementations, each of the plurality of candidate content placement locations satisfies the content placement criterion. For example, the content placement criterion is satisfied when a candidate placement location corresponds to a planar surface, a non-trademarked surface, a non-cluttered surrounding area, a non-distracting/dangerous location, at least X by Y cm in size, and/or the like. 
     In some implementations, the content placement criterion is satisfied when a candidate content placement location corresponds to a planar surface. For example, the scene analyzer  420  performs plane recognition on the representation of the environment (e.g., one or more image frames of the physical environment  105  or a 3D mesh of the XR environment). In some implementations, the content placement criterion is satisfied when a candidate content placement location satisfies dimensional parameters. (e.g., X cm by Y cm in size). For example, the scene analyzer  420  estimates the surface area of the recognized planes based on the representation of the environment (e.g., one or more image frames or a 3D mesh) and optional depth information associated with the physical environment. 
     In the example associated with  FIG. 5B , the location  522  fails to satisfy the content placement criterion because the location  522  occludes a doorway within the physical environment  105 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , the location  524  fails to satisfy the content placement criterion because the location  524  is situated at an oblique angle relative to the exterior-facing image sensor of the electronic device  120  that is greater than Z degrees. In  FIG. 5B , the location  526  satisfies the content placement criterion because the location  526  corresponds to a planar surface that is at least X cm by Y cm, is situated at less than a Z degree angle relative to the exterior-facing image sensor of the electronic device  120 , and does not occlude any objects within the physical environment  105  (e.g., the table  107  corresponds to an unobstructed planar surface). 
     In some implementations, the content placement criterion is not satisfied when a candidate content placement location is associated with rotational motion. As such, for example, XR content is not placed on rotating bodies. In some implementations, the content placement criterion is not satisfied when a candidate content placement location is associated with translational motion greater than a threshold velocity. As such, for example, XR content is not placed on bodies that are translating faster than a threshold velocity or acceleration. For example, the scene analyzer  420  determines velocity and acceleration values for the translational and/or rotational movement of the candidate content placement locations by analyzing the displacement of the candidate content placement locations across two or more image frames. 
     As represented by block  8 - 3 , the method  800  includes determining characterization parameters for the plurality of candidate content placement locations. In some implementations, the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the scene analyzer  420  in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) determines a characterization vector for each of the plurality of candidate content placement locations that includes a plurality of characterization parameters. For example, the plurality of characterization parameters included in the characterization vector  414  for a respective candidate content placement location  412  include: an angle of the respective candidate content placement location  412  relative to a camera position/pose; velocity and acceleration values associated with the respective candidate content placement location  412  relative to the camera position/pose; color and texture information associated with the respective candidate content placement location  412 ; dimensions, volume, surface area, etc. associated with the respective candidate content placement location  412 ; contrast and brightness information associated with the respective candidate content placement location  412 ; semantic information associated with the respective candidate content placement location  412  (e.g., type of object or surface); and/or the like. A characterization vector for a respective candidate placement location is discussed in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     In some implementations, the characterization parameters associated with the respective candidate content placement location corresponds to at least one of a brightness value, an albedo value, texture information, material information, contrast information, dimensional values, and location type associated with the respective candidate content placement location. For example, the location type for a respective candidate content placement location may correspond to one of a wall, table, couch, chair, object, etc. 
     As represented by block  8 - 4 , the method  800  includes obtaining (e.g., receiving, retrieving, or determining) XR content selected based on a match between content parameters associated with XR content and characterization parameters for a respective candidate content placement location among the plurality of candidate content placement locations. In some implementations, with reference to  FIG. 4 , the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the content placer  430  in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) selects XR content  434  for a respective candidate content placement location  412  among the plurality of candidate content placement locations. As shown in  FIG. 5C , for example, the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the content placer  430  in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) selects the XR content  560  for the location  526 . 
     As one example, the content placer  430  selects the XR content  434  to be placed at the respective candidate content placement location  412  location when a comparison or difference between content parameters associated with the XR content  434  and characterization parameters for the respective candidate content placement location  412  satisfies a selection criterion (i.e., the match occurs when the selection criterion is satisfied). For example, the selection criterion corresponds to a threshold variance between the content parameters associated with XR content  434  and characterization parameters for the respective candidate content placement location  412 . As one example, the content placer  430  choses XR content that matches (within a threshold tolerance) the color, size, contrast, brightness, etc. of the respective candidate content placement location. 
     In some implementations, the content placer  430  corresponds to a local content manager that places XR content in at least some of plurality of candidate content placement locations based on other information  432  such as current GPS coordinates associated with the electronic device  120  (e.g., location-specific XR content), user preferences, device usage history, search history, social media content associated with one or more social media profiles of a user of the electronic device  120 , and/or the like. In some implementations, the content placer  430  corresponds to an API that enables third parties to place XR content within the XR environment. For example, the plurality of candidate content placement locations is auctioned off for content placement purposes and bid on by third-party advertisement placement services. 
     In some implementations, the XR content is selected based on contextual information associated with the XR environment. For example, the content placer  430  may also consider contextual information when selecting XR content  434  for a respective candidate content placement location  412 . According to some implementations, the contextual information corresponds to user history information associated with usage of the scene or the electronic device, user search history, crowd-sourced usage history information, GPS/location data, etc. In some implementations, the GPS/location data may be used to select the XR content if a user previously opted-into the usage thereof. In some implementations, the user history information and/or user search history may be used to select the XR content if a user previously opted-into the usage thereof. 
     As represented by block  8 - 5 , the method  800  includes displaying the XR content at the respective candidate content placement location within the environment. As one example, when the electronic device  120  corresponds to an optical-see through implementation, the electronic device  120  or a component thereof (e.g., the presentation engine  450  in  FIG. 4 ) projects the XR content  434  onto the optical-see through display (e.g., an additive display) such that the XR content  434  appears to be displayed at the respective candidate content placement location  412  (e.g., overlay the XR content). As another example, when the electronic device  120  corresponds to a video pass-through implementation, the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the presentation engine  450  in  FIG. 4 ) composites the XR content  434  with the representation  402  of the environment such that the resultant rendered image frame  452  shows the XR content  434  placed within the physical environment at the respective candidate content placement location  412  (e.g., composite the XR content). Continuing with this example, the electronic device  120  displays the resultant rendered image frame  452 . As shown in  FIG. 5C , for example, the electronic device  120  presents the XR environment  550  including video pass-through of at least a portion of the physical environment  105  (e.g., including the table  107 ) on the display  122  and the XR content  560  at the location  526 . 
     In some implementations, the method  800  further includes: detecting a change of pose across time relative to the scene; and in response to detecting the change of pose, maintaining the XR content at the respective candidate content placement location within the scene. For example, the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the viewing vector manager  247  in  FIG. 2 ) detects a change to the viewing vector and, in turn, coordinates with the presentation engine  450  to maintain the XR content at the respective candidate content placement location even though the viewing vector has changed (e.g., a rotational or translational movement associated with the camera/head pose of the electronic device  120 ). Therefore, spatial and temporal coherency for the XR content is maintained such that when a user looks away from and looks back at the respective candidate content placement location the XR content is still shown thereupon. A viewing vector is described in more detail above with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     In some implementations, the XR content corresponds to static XR content. In some implementations, the method  800  further includes: in accordance with a determination that a user interest criterion is satisfied, updating the XR content from static XR content to dynamic XR content. For example, the user interest criterion is satisfied when the user&#39;s gaze is focused on the XR content for at least Z seconds, the user selects or otherwise interacts with the XR content, or the like. For example, the static XR content may correspond to stationary text or images, and the dynamic XR content may correspond to animated 3D XR objects, video content, a sequence of text/images, and/or the like. 
     In some implementations, the method  800  further includes: detecting a user input that corresponds to modifying the XR content; and in response to detecting the user input, modifying the XR content. For example, modifying the XR content corresponds to performing at least one of the following operations on the XR content: scaling, translating, rotating, animating, coloring, texturing, shading, reshaping, and/or the like. For example, the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the interaction and manipulation engine  248  in  FIG. 2 ) obtains an indication of a user input that corresponds to modifying the XR content and, subsequently, modifies the XR content accordingly. For example, the user input corresponds to a hand/limb tracking input, a voice input, a gaze input, a touch input, or the like detected by the controller  110 , the electronic device  120 , and/or the remote input devices  170 A and  170 B. 
     In some implementations, the method  800  further includes: detecting a user input that corresponds to selecting the XR content; and in response to detecting the user input, displaying additional information associated with the XR content. For example, the controller  110  or a component thereof (e.g., the interaction and manipulation engine  248  in  FIG. 2 ) obtains an indication of a user input that corresponds to selecting the XR content and, subsequently, obtains and/or provides additional information associated with the XR content. For example, the user input corresponds to a hand/limb tracking input, a voice input, a gaze input, a touch input, or the like detected by the controller  110 , the electronic device  120 , and/or the remote input devices  170 A and  170 B. For example, the additional information corresponds to details regarding the XR content or a company associated with the XR content (e.g., nutritional information for XR content associated with food, a phone number and customer reviews for XR content associated with a vendor or service provider, etc.). In some implementations, the additional information is displayed in a pop-up overlay. In some implementations, the additional information is displayed is a new web browser window or a new window associated with another application. 
     While various aspects of implementations within the scope of the appended claims are described above, it should be apparent that the various features of implementations described above may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and that any specific structure and/or function described above is merely illustrative. Based on the present disclosure one skilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect described herein may be implemented independently of any other aspects and that two or more of these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, an apparatus may be implemented and/or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatus may be implemented and/or such a method may be practiced using other structure and/or functionality in addition to or other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein. 
     It will also be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first node could be termed a second node, and, similarly, a second node could be termed a first node, which changing the meaning of the description, so long as all occurrences of the “first node” are renamed consistently and all occurrences of the “second node” are renamed consistently. The first node and the second node are both nodes, but they are not the same node. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and is not intended to be limiting of the claims. As used in the description of the implementations and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “in response to detecting,” that a stated condition precedent is true, depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined [that a stated condition precedent is true]” or “if [a stated condition precedent is true]” or “when [a stated condition precedent is true]” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “upon detecting” or “in response to detecting” that the stated condition precedent is true, depending on the context.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20201120
Publication Date: 20220503
Grant Date: 20220503
Priority Date: 20191218
Inventors: NAGARAJA, SESHADRI
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06T19/006", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/011", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T19/006", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T19/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T2210/04", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/1407", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T19/006", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T19/20", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 76344940