Apple patents 3D maps showing real-time environmental data from devices
Apple describes a method for displaying a virtual 3D model of a physical space on a screen. The system pulls status data from physical devices located in that space to calculate environmental values, such as temperature or air quality, and displays these readings at specific spots in the virtual model.
In the filing’s own words
In one implementation, a method of visualizing an environmental characteristic is performed by a device including a display, one or more processors, and non-transitory memory. The method includes displaying a virtual representation of a physical environment. The method includes obtaining, from a physical device at a device physical location in the physical environment, status information indicating a status of the physical device. The method includes displaying, at a device virtual location in the virtual representation of the physical environment corresponding to the device physical location in the physical environment, a virtual representation of the physical device. The method includes determining a plurality of values of an environmental characteristic of the physical environment at a plurality of environment physical locations in the physical environment, wherein the plurality of values are based at least in part on the status information. The method includes displaying, at a plurality of environment virtual locations in the virtual representation of the physical environment corresponding to the environment physical locations in the physical environment, indications of the plurality of values of the environmental characteristic.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method comprising: at a device including a display, non-transitory memory and one or more processors: displaying a virtual representation of a physical environment; obtaining, from a physical device at a device physical location in the physical environment, status information indicating a status of the physical device; displaying, at a device virtual location in the virtual representation of the physical environment corresponding to the device physical location in the physical environment, a virtual representation of the physical device; determining a plurality of values of an environmental characteristic of the physical environment at a plurality of environment physical locations in the physical environment, wherein the plurality of values are based at least in part on the status information; and displaying, at a plurality of environment virtual locations in the virtual representation of the physical environment corresponding to the environment physical locations in the physical environment, indications of the plurality of values of the environmental characteristic.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTIC VISUALIZATION
- Publication number
- US20260260440A1
- Application number
- 19460627
- Filed
- Jan 27, 2026
- Published
- Sep 3, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06T 19/20 Physics & computingG06T 2219/2016 Physics & computingMore from Apple in AR, VR & displays
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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.