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MetaGranted patentAudio & voiceInterest 6/10

Meta patents audio cues to guide users to tagged physical objects

Meta describes a system that helps users find specific physical items by using a small wireless beacon attached to the object. When a user asks to locate the item, the system calculates its last known position and plays directional sounds to lead the user there.

Why it mattersThis could make it easier to find misplaced items in large spaces by using sound instead of visual screens.

In the filing’s own words

An artificial reality system receives information identifying a physical object and location information describing a geographical location associated with the artificial reality system, in which the information identifying the physical object includes a trackable feature associated with the physical object. Upon receiving a request from a user to locate the physical object, the artificial reality system determines a most recent geographical location associated with the physical object based at least in part on the trackable feature and the location information. The artificial reality system then communicates a set of spatial audio cues to the user, in which the set of spatial audio cues guides the user to the most recent geographical location associated with the physical object.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method comprising: receiving, at an artificial reality system, information identifying a physical object and location information describing a geographical location associated with the artificial reality system, wherein the information identifying the physical object comprises a trackable feature having a physical beacon device coupled to the physical object, such that the physical beacon device is capable of sending a wireless signal based on receiving a request from a user of the artificial reality system to establish a secure connection to the artificial reality system; determining a most recent geographical location associated with the physical object based at least in part on the trackable feature having the physical beacon device and the location information; and communicating, to the user, a set of spatial audio cues guiding the user to the most recent geographical location associated with the physical object.

Facts

Company
Meta (Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC)
Official title
Guiding a user of an artificial reality system to a physical object having a trackable feature using spatial audio cues
Patent number
US12768655B2
Application number
18122073
Filed
Mar 15, 2023
Granted
Oct 20, 2026
Inventors
5
Claims
20

Classified under

G01C 21/206 Physics & computingG06V 10/945 Physics & computingG06V 20/20 Physics & computingG06V 20/40 Physics & computingH04S 7/303 Electricity & electronicsG06V 10/774 Physics & computing

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.