U.S. patent application number 15/849596 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-05 for systems and methods for providing augmented reality effects and three-dimensional mapping associated with interior spaces.
The applicant listed for this patent is Facebook, Inc.. Invention is credited to John Samuel Barnett, Dantley Davis, Joshua Charles Harris, Congxi Lu, Jonathan Morton, Peter Vajda.
Application Number | 20180190033 15/849596 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62711937 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180190033 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barnett; John Samuel ; et
al. |
July 5, 2018 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AUGMENTED REALITY EFFECTS AND
THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAPPING ASSOCIATED WITH INTERIOR SPACES
Abstract
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media can
obtain image data from a camera view associated with a computing
device, where the image data is associated with an interior space.
A portion of the image data for displaying one or more augmented
reality (AR) content items can be determined. An AR content item to
display in the camera view can be determined. The AR content item
can be provided for presentation in the camera view based on the
determined portion of the image data.
Inventors: |
Barnett; John Samuel;
(Newark, CA) ; Davis; Dantley; (Morgan Hill,
CA) ; Lu; Congxi; (Los Angeles, CA) ; Morton;
Jonathan; (Menlo Park, CA) ; Vajda; Peter;
(Palo Alto, CA) ; Harris; Joshua Charles;
(Belmont, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Facebook, Inc. |
Menlo Park |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
62711937 |
Appl. No.: |
15/849596 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62441109 |
Dec 30, 2016 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 9/66 20130101; G06Q
30/0277 20130101; G06N 20/00 20190101; G06T 15/205 20130101; G06K
9/00671 20130101; G06T 7/70 20170101; G06Q 50/01 20130101; G06T
19/006 20130101; G06Q 30/0269 20130101; G06K 9/6256 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06T 19/00 20060101
G06T019/00; G06N 99/00 20060101 G06N099/00; G06Q 50/00 20060101
G06Q050/00; G06K 9/66 20060101 G06K009/66; G06T 7/70 20060101
G06T007/70 |
Claims
1. A computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining, by a
computing system, image data from a camera view associated with a
computing device, the image data associated with an interior space;
determining, by the computing system, a portion of the image data
for displaying one or more augmented reality (AR) content items;
determining, by the computing system, an AR content item to display
in the camera view; and providing, by the computing system, the AR
content item for presentation in the camera view based on the
determined portion of the image data.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising
identifying one or more objects included in the image data from the
camera view.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the one or
more objects are identified based on a machine learning model.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the portion
is an object identified in the image data from the camera view.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising
providing a three-dimensional (3D) map of the interior space.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the 3D map
is based on simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM).
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising
mapping the image data to the 3D map of the interior space in order
to determine one or more of a location or a direction of a user
associated with the camera view in the 3D map, wherein the camera
view represents a perspective of the user.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the 3D map
includes a 3D model of one or more objects in the interior
space.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the portion
is associated with one or more of a predefined section or a
predefined object in the 3D map.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising
providing information in response to a gesture associated with the
AR content item.
11. A system comprising: at least one hardware processor; and a
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one
processor, cause the system to perform: obtaining image data from a
camera view associated with a computing device, the image data
associated with an interior space; determining a portion of the
image data for displaying one or more augmented reality (AR)
content items; determining an AR content item to display in the
camera view; and providing the AR content item for presentation in
the camera view based on the determined portion of the image
data.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause
the system to perform identifying one or more objects included in
the image data from the camera view.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the portion is an object
identified in the image data from the camera view.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause
the system to perform providing a three-dimensional (3D) map of the
interior space.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the portion is associated with
one or more of a predefined section or a predefined object in the
3D map.
16. A non-transitory computer readable medium including
instructions that, when executed by at least one hardware processor
of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a
method comprising: obtaining image data from a camera view
associated with a computing device, the image data associated with
an interior space; determining a portion of the image data for
displaying one or more augmented reality (AR) content items;
determining an AR content item to display in the camera view; and
providing the AR content item for presentation in the camera view
based on the determined portion of the image data.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16,
wherein the method further comprises identifying one or more
objects included in the image data from the camera view.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17,
wherein the portion is an object identified in the image data from
the camera view.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16,
wherein the method further comprises providing a three-dimensional
(3D) map of the interior space.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19,
wherein the portion is associated with one or more of a predefined
section or a predefined object in the 3D map.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/441,109, filed on Dec. 30, 2016 and entitled
"SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING AUGMENTED REALITY EFFECTS,
PERSONALIZED CONTENT, AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAPPING ASSOCIATED WITH
INTERIOR SPACES", which is incorporated in its entirety herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present technology relates to the field of augmented
reality (AR). More particularly, the present technology relates to
techniques for providing AR effects or content associated with
media content.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Users often utilize computing devices for a wide variety of
purposes. Users can use their computing devices to, for example,
interact with one another, access media content, share media
content, and create media content. The media content can include
one or a combination of, for example, text, images, videos, and
audio. In some cases, media content can be provided by users of a
social networking system for consumption by others. The media
content can be captured on computing devices of users and uploaded
to the social networking system. For example, a user can capture an
image or a video in a camera view associated with an application,
such as an application provided by the social networking
system.
SUMMARY
[0004] Various embodiments of the present disclosure can include
systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media
configured to obtain image data from a camera view associated with
a computing device, where the image data is associated with an
interior space. A portion of the image data for displaying one or
more augmented reality (AR) content items can be determined. An AR
content item to display in the camera view can be determined. The
AR content item can be provided for presentation in the camera view
based on the determined portion of the image data.
[0005] In some embodiments, one or more objects included in the
image data from the camera view can be identified.
[0006] In certain embodiments, the one or more objects are
identified based on a machine learning model.
[0007] In an embodiment, the portion is an object identified in the
image data from the camera view.
[0008] In some embodiments, a three-dimensional (3D) map of the
interior space can be provided.
[0009] In certain embodiments, the 3D map is based on simultaneous
localization and mapping (SLAM).
[0010] In an embodiment, the image data can be mapped to the 3D map
of the interior space in order to determine one or more of a
location or a direction of a user associated with the camera view
in the 3D map, wherein the camera view represents a perspective of
the user.
[0011] In some embodiments, the 3D map includes a 3D model of one
or more objects in the interior space.
[0012] In certain embodiments, the portion is associated with one
or more of a predefined section or a predefined object in the 3D
map.
[0013] In an embodiment, information can be provided in response to
a gesture associated with the AR content item.
[0014] Various embodiments of the present disclosure can include
systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media
configured to determine a placement in a camera view for displaying
an augmented reality (AR) advertisement, where the camera view is
associated with a computing device. An AR advertisement for a user
associated with the computing device can be determined based on
attributes associated with the user. Display of the AR
advertisement can be caused at the determined placement in the
camera view.
[0015] In some embodiments, the determining the placement in the
camera view comprises identifying one or more objects in the camera
view.
[0016] In certain embodiments, the identifying the one or more
objects in the camera view is based on a machine learning
model.
[0017] In an embodiment, the AR advertisement for the user is
determined based at least in part on the one or more objects.
[0018] In some embodiments, the one or more objects include an
object in an exterior space in the camera view.
[0019] In certain embodiments, the determining the placement in the
camera view comprises mapping image data of the camera view to a
three-dimensional (3D) map of an interior space in the camera
view.
[0020] In an embodiment, the 3D map of the interior space is based
on simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM).
[0021] In some embodiments, the placement is associated with a
predefined section or a predefined object in the 3D map.
[0022] In certain embodiments, the attributes associated with the
user include one or more of: an age, an age range, a gender, a
geographical region, or an interest.
[0023] In an embodiment, the determining the AR advertisement is
based on information associated with the user in a social
networking system.
[0024] It should be appreciated that many other features,
applications, embodiments, and/or variations of the disclosed
technology will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from
the following detailed description. Additional and/or alternative
implementations of the structures, systems, non-transitory computer
readable media, and methods described herein can be employed
without departing from the principles of the disclosed
technology.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system including an example
augmented reality effects module configured to provide various AR
effects associated with a camera view, according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates an example AR interior overlay module
configured to provide AR overlays associated with interior spaces,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates an example AR personalized advertisement
module configured to provide AR personalized advertisements,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates an example first method for providing AR
overlays associated with interior spaces, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates an example second method for providing AR
personalized advertisements, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates a network diagram of an example system
that can be utilized in various scenarios, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a computer system that can
be utilized in various scenarios, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0032] The figures depict various embodiments of the disclosed
technology for purposes of illustration only, wherein the figures
use like reference numerals to identify like elements. One skilled
in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion
that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods
illustrated in the figures can be employed without departing from
the principles of the disclosed technology described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Providing Augmented Reality Effects
[0033] Users often utilize computing devices for a wide variety of
purposes. Users can use their computing devices to, for example,
interact with one another, access media content, share media
content, and create media content. The media content can include
one or a combination of, for example, text, images, videos, and
audio. In some cases, media content can be provided by users of a
social networking system for consumption by others.
[0034] Media content can be created on computing devices of users
and uploaded to the social networking system. For example, a user
can capture an image or a video shown in a camera view associated
with an application, such as an application provided by the social
networking system. Conventional approaches specifically arising in
the realm of computer technology may provide an overlay in a camera
view associated with creating media content. However, such overlay
may not be related to image data shown in the camera view.
Accordingly, conventional approaches may not provide relevant
information in connection with image data in the camera view.
[0035] An improved approach rooted in computer technology can
overcome the foregoing and other disadvantages associated with
conventional approaches specifically arising in the realm of
computer technology. Based on computer technology, the disclosed
technology can provide augmented reality (AR) effects in a camera
view associated with an application. The disclosed technology can
provide AR effects in a camera view in connection with interior
spaces shown in the camera view. In some embodiments, one or more
objects in an interior space can be identified, and AR overlays can
be provided in connection with the identified objects. For example,
objects can be identified based on object detection or recognition
techniques. In other embodiments, a 3D mapping of an interior space
can be provided, for example, by an entity associated with the
interior space. A camera view in the interior space can be mapped
to a 3D map of the interior space based on a perspective
represented by the camera view. AR overlays can be provided in
connection with a location and/or a direction of the user in the 3D
map of the interior space. For example, it can be determined that
the user is at a certain location in the 3D map and that the user
is looking at a certain section or a certain object, and AR
overlays can be provided based on the certain section or the
certain object. The disclosed technology can also provide AR
personalized content, such as advertisements, in the camera view.
AR personalized advertisements can be selected based on selected
criteria, such as attributes associated with users, objects, etc.
AR personalized advertisements can be displayed over one or more
objects identified within the camera view. AR personalized
advertisements can also be displayed in predefined locations or
areas in the camera view. In this way, the disclosed technology can
provide AR content associated with image data shown in the camera
view and provide an interactive and interesting user
experience.
[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 including an
example augmented reality effects module 102 configured to provide
various AR effects associated with a camera view, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure. The augmented reality effects
module 102 can include an AR interior overlay module 104 and an AR
personalized advertisement module 106. In some instances, the
example system 100 can include at least one data store 120. The
components (e.g., modules, elements, steps, blocks, etc.) shown in
this figure and all figures herein are exemplary only, and other
implementations may include additional, fewer, integrated, or
different components. Some components may not be shown so as not to
obscure relevant details. In various embodiments, one or more of
the functionalities described in connection with the augmented
reality effects module 102 can be implemented in any suitable
combinations. For illustrative purposes, the disclosed technology
is described in connection with a social networking system, but the
disclosed technology can apply to any type of application and/or
system.
[0037] The augmented reality effects module 102 can provide various
AR effects associated with image data shown in a camera view. The
camera view can show image data acquired by a camera. Image data
shown in the camera view can be captured as a media content item,
such as an image or a video. The augmented reality effects module
102 can provide one or more AR content items associated with image
data shown in the camera view. An AR content item can include any
content that provides an AR effect, such as an AR overlay. AR
content items can be provided in the camera view. AR content items
may be captured as a part of a media content item. For example, if
an AR overlay is displayed in the camera view and an image as shown
in the camera view is captured, the AR overlay can be included as a
part of the image. In some embodiments, a media content item can be
live and can be uploaded to a social networking system as it is
being recorded. In such embodiments, AR content items similarly can
be provided for a live media content item.
[0038] The AR interior overlay module 104 can provide AR content
items, such as AR overlays, associated with interior spaces. For
example, the AR interior overlay module 104 can provide AR overlays
for one or more objects identified within a camera view showing an
interior space. As another example, the AR interior overlay module
104 can provide AR overlays for a user based on a 3D mapping of an
interior space shown in a camera view. An interior space can
include any interior environment, such as inside of a building or a
structure. Examples of interior spaces can include a store, an
office, etc. Functionality of the AR interior overlay module 104 is
descried in more detail herein.
[0039] The AR personalized advertisement module 106 can provide
personalized AR content items, such as AR personalized
advertisements. The AR personalized advertisement module 106 can
determine a placement of a personalized advertisement within a
camera view. The AR personalized advertisement module 106 can
select a personalized advertisement to display for a particular
user based on selected criteria. The selected personalized
advertisement can be provided at the determined placement in the
camera view. Functionality of the AR personalized advertisement
module 106 is described in more detail herein.
[0040] In some embodiments, the augmented reality effects module
102 can be implemented, in part or in whole, as software, hardware,
or any combination thereof. In general, a module as discussed
herein can be associated with software, hardware, or any
combination thereof. In some implementations, one or more
functions, tasks, and/or operations of modules can be carried out
or performed by software routines, software processes, hardware,
and/or any combination thereof. In some cases, the augmented
reality effects module 102 can be, in part or in whole, implemented
as software running on one or more computing devices or systems,
such as on a server system or a client computing device. In some
instances, the augmented reality effects module 102 can be, in part
or in whole, implemented within or configured to operate in
conjunction or be integrated with a social networking system (or
service), such as a social networking system 630 of FIG. 6.
Likewise, in some instances, the augmented reality effects module
102 can be, in part or in whole, implemented within or configured
to operate in conjunction or be integrated with a client computing
device, such as the user device 610 of FIG. 6. For example, the
augmented reality effects module 102 can be implemented as or
within a dedicated application (e.g., app), a program, or an applet
running on a user computing device or client computing system. It
should be understood that many variations are possible.
[0041] The data store 120 can be configured to store and maintain
various types of data, such as the data relating to support of and
operation of the augmented reality effects module 102. The data
maintained by the data store 120 can include, for example,
information relating to AR overlays, image data in camera views,
object identification (e.g., object detection or recognition), 3D
mapping of spaces, etc. The data store 120 also can maintain other
information associated with a social networking system. The
information associated with the social networking system can
include data about users, social connections, social interactions,
locations, geo-fenced areas, maps, places, events, groups, posts,
communications, content, account settings, privacy settings, and a
social graph. The social graph can reflect all entities of the
social networking system and their interactions. As shown in the
example system 100, the augmented reality effects module 102 can be
configured to communicate and/or operate with the data store 120.
In some embodiments, the data store 120 can be a data store within
a client computing device. In some embodiments, the data store 120
can be a data store of a server system in communication with the
client computing device.
[0042] FIG. 2 illustrates an example AR interior overlay module 202
configured to provide AR overlays associated with interior spaces,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some
embodiments, the AR interior overlay module 104 of FIG. 1 can be
implemented with the example AR interior overlay module 202. As
shown in the example of FIG. 2, the example AR interior overlay
module 202 can include an object identification module 204, a 3D
modeling module 206, and an AR content determination module
208.
[0043] The object identification module 204 can identify objects
shown within a camera view. Identification of objects can be
triggered based on appropriate triggering conditions (e.g.,
initiation of a camera view). The object identification module 204
can detect objects within a camera view based on object recognition
or detection techniques. The object identification module 204 can
detect objects within a camera view based on a machine learning
model. In some embodiments, the machine learning model can be a
classifier. The machine learning model can be trained based on
training data that includes objects and associated images. The
trained machine learning model can be applied to images or video of
objects in order to determine objects included within a camera
view. In some cases, objects may move within a camera view, and
objects can be tracked in order to detect objects. The object
identification module 204 can detect objects within a camera view
in or near real time. In some embodiments, objects can be logos
and/or brands. In other embodiments, objects can be products. In
certain embodiments, objects can be windows, doors, empty walls,
etc. Many variations are possible.
[0044] The 3D modeling module 206 can provide a three-dimensional
(3D) mapping of an interior space. For example, a 3D map of an
interior space can be provided by an entity associated with the
interior space (e.g., a user, a business owner, a company, etc.). A
3D map can provide a 3D depth map of an interior space. In some
cases, a 3D map of an interior space can also include 3D models of
objects within the interior space. In some embodiments, a 3D map of
an interior space can be provided based on simultaneous
localization and mapping (SLAM) techniques. For example, SLAM
techniques can construct or update a map of an unknown environment
while simultaneously keeping track of a user's location within the
environment. Objects within an interior space can also be mapped
based on SLAM techniques. An entity associated with an interior
space can specify or designate various sections and/or objects
within a 3D map of the interior space for providing AR overlays.
For example, an entity associated with a store can specify sections
for different store departments within a 3D map of the store in
which to provide AR overlays.
[0045] The 3D modeling module 206 can map a camera view presented
to a user to a 3D map of an interior space. Mapping of image data
in a camera view to a 3D map of an interior space can be triggered
based on appropriate triggering conditions (e.g., initiation of a
camera view). The 3D modeling module 206 can determine a user's
location and/or direction within a 3D map based on a perspective as
shown in the user's camera view. Image data in the camera view can
represent a point of view of the user within the interior space,
and the 3D modeling module 206 can determine where the user is
within the interior space and what the user is seeing within the
interior space by mapping the image data to the 3D map. The 3D
modeling module 206 can determine any sections and/or objects the
user is viewing through the camera view, and related AR overlays
can be provided in connection with the determined sections and/or
objects, for example, by the AR content determination module
208.
[0046] The AR content determination module 208 can determine and
provide an AR overlay in connection with an interior space. An AR
overlay can include any type of content items. Examples of content
items can include text, images, videos, audios, etc. Content items
can include two-dimensional (2D) content and/or three-dimensional
content. In some embodiments, the AR content determination module
208 can provide the same or similar AR overlays for all users. For
example, an AR overlay can provide information associated with a
store event or sale. In other embodiments, the AR content
determination module 208 can select an AR overlay to provide for a
specific user based on selected criteria. Selected criteria can
include attributes associated with users, products, etc. For
example, an AR overlay can provide product recommendations for a
particular user based on products that the user has looked at
within a store. In some embodiments, a user can interact with AR
overlays based on various gestures applied through an interface
presenting a camera view. For example, a particular gesture, such
as a touch gesture, can correspond to a particular functionality.
As an example, a user can access additional information (e.g.,
context information) in association with an AR overlay by
performing a particular touch gesture.
[0047] In some embodiments, the AR content determination module 208
can determine AR overlays to provide based on identified objects
within a camera view. For example, the AR content determination
module 208 can determine AR overlays for one or more objects
identified by the object identification module 204. For instance,
an object can be a logo or a brand, and an AR overlay can be
displayed in the camera view to provide information about one or
more products associated with the logo or the brand. In certain
embodiments, the AR content determination module 208 can also
determine a location within a camera view for providing AR overlays
based on identified objects within the camera view. For example, AR
overlays can be provided over one or more other objects detected in
the camera view, such as doors, windows, or empty spaces. Many
variations are possible.
[0048] In certain embodiments, the AR content determination module
208 can determine AR overlays to provide based on a mapping of
image data from a camera view to a 3D map of an interior space. As
explained above, a location and/or a direction of a user can be
determined within a 3D map of an interior space, for example, by
the 3D modeling module 206. The AR content determination module 208
can provide AR overlays based on where in the 3D map a user is and
what the user is viewing. For example, if the user is looking at a
certain product, an AR overlay can provide information associated
with the product. The AR content determination module 208 can
provide AR overlays in one or more designated sections in the 3D
map. The AR content determination module 208 can also provide AR
overlays in connection with one or more designated objects in the
3D map. For example, sections and/or objects for which to provide
AR overlays can be specified or predefined by an entity associated
with an interior space. As an example, an entity associated with an
interior space can include an organization, a person or an agent of
an organization, etc. For instance, the entity can be a company
associated with the interior space, an employee of the company, an
administrator of the company, etc.
[0049] The AR content determination module 208 can provide various
types of information in AR overlays. Examples of information
provided in AR overlays can include information relating to
products, stores, events (e.g., sales), recommendations for
products, etc. In some cases, information to be provided in an AR
overlay can be defined by an entity associated with an interior
space. For example, the entity can choose a video or an image to
display over a section in the 3D map. In some embodiments, a bot
for assisting a user can be provided as an AR overlay. For example,
a bot can appear as an object or an animation within a camera view.
As another example, a bot can appear as a messaging functionality
within a camera view. All examples herein are provided for
illustrative purposes, and there can be many variations and other
possibilities.
[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates an example AR personalized advertisement
module 302 configured to provide AR personalized advertisements,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In some
embodiments, the AR personalized advertisement module 106 of FIG. 1
can be implemented with the example AR personalized advertisement
module 302. As shown in the example of FIG. 3, the example AR
personalized advertisement module 302 can include an advertisement
placement module 304 and an advertisement determination module
306.
[0051] The advertisement placement module 304 can determine one or
more locations within a camera view for displaying AR personalized
advertisements. In some embodiments, the advertisement placement
module 304 can determine a location based on one or more objects
identified within a camera view. Object identification can be
similar to object identification described above. For example,
objects within a camera view can be identified based on object
recognition or detection techniques. A machine learning model can
be used to identify objects. Personalized advertisements can be
provided over one or more identified objects within a camera view.
In other embodiments, the advertisement placement module 304 can
determine a location based on a 3D mapping of an interior space. 3D
mapping of an interior space can be similar to 3D mapping described
above. For example, an entity associated with an interior space can
designate or predefine one or more sections and/or objects within a
3D map of the interior space for providing AR personalized
advertisements. Personalized advertisements can be provided in
designated sections in the 3D map or in connection with designated
objects in the 3D map. The advertisement placement module 304 can
provide personalized advertisements for exterior spaces as well as
interior spaces. Examples of exterior spaces can include parks,
stadiums, landmarks, buildings, etc. As just one example, a
personalized advertisement can be provided over a mound in a
baseball stadium. The advertisement placement module 304 can also
provide personalized advertisements for public places as well as
private places. Many variations are possible.
[0052] The advertisement determination module 306 can determine one
or more personalized advertisements to provide for a user within a
camera view. The advertisement determination module 306 can select
an advertisement to provide for a specific user based on selected
criteria. Selected criteria can include attributes associated with
users, objects (e.g., products), etc. Examples of attributes
associated with users can include an age, an age range, a gender, a
geographical region (e.g., a country, a state, a county, a city,
etc.), an interest, etc. In some embodiments, the advertisement
determination module 306 can select an advertisement for a user
based on information associated with the user in a social
networking system. A user can create content and engage in various
activities in the social networking system, such as creating posts,
commenting on posts, liking posts, uploading media content, etc.
The advertisement determination module 306 can determine an
advertisement based on the user's content and activities within the
social networking system. The advertisement determination module
306 can also select an advertisement for a user based on rating
methods, a social graph, and other attributes associated with the
social networking system. An AR personalized advertisement can
include any type of content items. Examples of content items can
include text, images, videos, audios, etc. Content items can
include two-dimensional (2D) content and/or three-dimensional
content. In some embodiments, an AR personalized advertisement can
relate to image data shown in a camera view. For example, the AR
personalized advertisement can relate to an object identified in
the camera view. In other embodiments, an AR personalized may not
relate to image data shown in a camera view, but can be relevant to
a user. For example, the AR personalized advertisement can relate
to a user's interest that is not directly associated with the image
data in the camera view. AR personalized advertisements can be
provided as overlays in a camera view. In some embodiments, a user
can interact with AR personalized advertisements based on various
gestures applied through an interface presenting a camera view. For
example, a particular gesture, such as a touch gesture, can
correspond to a particular functionality. As an example, a user can
access additional information (e.g., context information) in
association with an AR personalized advertisement by performing a
particular touch gesture. For illustrative purposes, the disclosed
technology is explained in connection with AR personalized
advertisements, but the disclosed technology can apply to any type
of content. All examples herein are provided for illustrative
purposes, and there can be many variations and other
possibilities.
[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates an example first method 400 for providing
AR overlays associated with interior spaces, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be understood that
there can be additional, fewer, or alternative steps performed in
similar or alternative orders, or in parallel, based on the various
features and embodiments discussed herein unless otherwise
stated.
[0054] At block 402, the example method 400 can obtain image data
from a camera view associated with a computing device, the image
data associated with an interior space. At block 404, the example
method 400 can determine a portion of the image data for displaying
one or more augmented reality (AR) content items. At block 406, the
example method 400 can determine an AR content item to display in
the camera view. At block 408, the example method 400 can provide
the AR content item for presentation in the camera view based on
the determined portion of the image data. Other suitable techniques
that incorporate various features and embodiments of the present
disclosure are possible.
[0055] FIG. 5 illustrates an example second method 500 for
providing AR personalized advertisements, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be understood that
there can be additional, fewer, or alternative steps performed in
similar or alternative orders, or in parallel, based on the various
features and embodiments discussed herein unless otherwise stated.
Certain steps of the method 500 may be performed in combination
with the example method 400 explained above.
[0056] At block 502, the example method 500 can determine a
placement in a camera view for displaying an augmented reality (AR)
advertisement, the camera view associated with a computing device.
At block 504, the example method 500 can determine an AR
advertisement for a user associated with the computing device based
on attributes associated with the user. At block 506, the example
method 500 can cause display of the AR advertisement at the
determined placement in the camera view. Other suitable techniques
that incorporate various features and embodiments of the present
disclosure are possible.
[0057] It is contemplated that there can be many other uses,
applications, features, possibilities, and/or variations associated
with various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example,
users can, in some cases, choose whether or not to opt-in to
utilize the disclosed technology. The disclosed technology can, for
instance, also ensure that various privacy settings, preferences,
and configurations are maintained and can prevent private
information from being divulged. In another example, various
embodiments of the present disclosure can learn, improve, and/or be
refined over time.
Social Networking System--Example Implementation
[0058] FIG. 6 illustrates a network diagram of an example system
600 that can be utilized in various scenarios, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system 600 includes
one or more user devices 610, one or more external systems 620, a
social networking system (or service) 630, and a network 650. In an
embodiment, the social networking service, provider, and/or system
discussed in connection with the embodiments described above may be
implemented as the social networking system 630. For purposes of
illustration, the embodiment of the system 600, shown by FIG. 6,
includes a single external system 620 and a single user device 610.
However, in other embodiments, the system 600 may include more user
devices 610 and/or more external systems 620. In certain
embodiments, the social networking system 630 is operated by a
social network provider, whereas the external systems 620 are
separate from the social networking system 630 in that they may be
operated by different entities. In various embodiments, however,
the social networking system 630 and the external systems 620
operate in conjunction to provide social networking services to
users (or members) of the social networking system 630. In this
sense, the social networking system 630 provides a platform or
backbone, which other systems, such as external systems 620, may
use to provide social networking services and functionalities to
users across the Internet.
[0059] The user device 610 comprises one or more computing devices
that can receive input from a user and transmit and receive data
via the network 650. In one embodiment, the user device 610 is a
conventional computer system executing, for example, a Microsoft
Windows compatible operating system (OS), Apple OS X, and/or a
Linux distribution. In another embodiment, the user device 610 can
be a device having computer functionality, such as a smart-phone, a
tablet, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone,
etc. The user device 610 is configured to communicate via the
network 650. The user device 610 can execute an application, for
example, a browser application that allows a user of the user
device 610 to interact with the social networking system 630. In
another embodiment, the user device 610 interacts with the social
networking system 630 through an application programming interface
(API) provided by the native operating system of the user device
610, such as iOS and ANDROID. The user device 610 is configured to
communicate with the external system 620 and the social networking
system 630 via the network 650, which may comprise any combination
of local area and/or wide area networks, using wired and/or
wireless communication systems.
[0060] In one embodiment, the network 650 uses standard
communications technologies and protocols. Thus, the network 650
can include links using technologies such as Ethernet, 802.11,
worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), 3G, 4G,
CDMA, GSM, LTE, digital subscriber line (DSL), etc. Similarly, the
networking protocols used on the network 650 can include
multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), transmission control
protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP),
hypertext transport protocol (HTTP), simple mail transfer protocol
(SMTP), file transfer protocol (FTP), and the like. The data
exchanged over the network 650 can be represented using
technologies and/or formats including hypertext markup language
(HTML) and extensible markup language (XML). In addition, all or
some links can be encrypted using conventional encryption
technologies such as secure sockets layer (SSL), transport layer
security (TLS), and Internet Protocol security (IPsec).
[0061] In one embodiment, the user device 610 may display content
from the external system 620 and/or from the social networking
system 630 by processing a markup language document 614 received
from the external system 620 and from the social networking system
630 using a browser application 612. The markup language document
614 identifies content and one or more instructions describing
formatting or presentation of the content. By executing the
instructions included in the markup language document 614, the
browser application 612 displays the identified content using the
format or presentation described by the markup language document
614. For example, the markup language document 614 includes
instructions for generating and displaying a web page having
multiple frames that include text and/or image data retrieved from
the external system 620 and the social networking system 630. In
various embodiments, the markup language document 614 comprises a
data file including extensible markup language (XML) data,
extensible hypertext markup language (XHTML) data, or other markup
language data. Additionally, the markup language document 614 may
include JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) data, JSON with padding
(JSONP), and JavaScript data to facilitate data-interchange between
the external system 620 and the user device 610. The browser
application 612 on the user device 610 may use a JavaScript
compiler to decode the markup language document 614.
[0062] The markup language document 614 may also include, or link
to, applications or application frameworks such as FLASH.TM. or
Unity.TM. applications, the SilverLight.TM. application framework,
etc.
[0063] In one embodiment, the user device 610 also includes one or
more cookies 616 including data indicating whether a user of the
user device 610 is logged into the social networking system 630,
which may enable modification of the data communicated from the
social networking system 630 to the user device 610.
[0064] The external system 620 includes one or more web servers
that include one or more web pages 622a, 622b, which are
communicated to the user device 610 using the network 650. The
external system 620 is separate from the social networking system
630. For example, the external system 620 is associated with a
first domain, while the social networking system 630 is associated
with a separate social networking domain. Web pages 622a, 622b,
included in the external system 620, comprise markup language
documents 614 identifying content and including instructions
specifying formatting or presentation of the identified
content.
[0065] The social networking system 630 includes one or more
computing devices for a social network, including a plurality of
users, and providing users of the social network with the ability
to communicate and interact with other users of the social network.
In some instances, the social network can be represented by a
graph, i.e., a data structure including edges and nodes. Other data
structures can also be used to represent the social network,
including but not limited to databases, objects, classes, meta
elements, files, or any other data structure. The social networking
system 630 may be administered, managed, or controlled by an
operator. The operator of the social networking system 630 may be a
human being, an automated application, or a series of applications
for managing content, regulating policies, and collecting usage
metrics within the social networking system 630. Any type of
operator may be used.
[0066] Users may join the social networking system 630 and then add
connections to any number of other users of the social networking
system 630 to whom they desire to be connected. As used herein, the
term "friend" refers to any other user of the social networking
system 630 to whom a user has formed a connection, association, or
relationship via the social networking system 630. For example, in
an embodiment, if users in the social networking system 630 are
represented as nodes in the social graph, the term "friend" can
refer to an edge formed between and directly connecting two user
nodes.
[0067] Connections may be added explicitly by a user or may be
automatically created by the social networking system 630 based on
common characteristics of the users (e.g., users who are alumni of
the same educational institution). For example, a first user
specifically selects a particular other user to be a friend.
Connections in the social networking system 630 are usually in both
directions, but need not be, so the terms "user" and "friend"
depend on the frame of reference. Connections between users of the
social networking system 630 are usually bilateral ("two-way"), or
"mutual," but connections may also be unilateral, or "one-way." For
example, if Bob and Joe are both users of the social networking
system 630 and connected to each other, Bob and Joe are each
other's connections. If, on the other hand, Bob wishes to connect
to Joe to view data communicated to the social networking system
630 by Joe, but Joe does not wish to form a mutual connection, a
unilateral connection may be established. The connection between
users may be a direct connection; however, some embodiments of the
social networking system 630 allow the connection to be indirect
via one or more levels of connections or degrees of separation.
[0068] In addition to establishing and maintaining connections
between users and allowing interactions between users, the social
networking system 630 provides users with the ability to take
actions on various types of items supported by the social
networking system 630. These items may include groups or networks
(i.e., social networks of people, entities, and concepts) to which
users of the social networking system 630 may belong, events or
calendar entries in which a user might be interested,
computer-based applications that a user may use via the social
networking system 630, transactions that allow users to buy or sell
items via services provided by or through the social networking
system 630, and interactions with advertisements that a user may
perform on or off the social networking system 630. These are just
a few examples of the items upon which a user may act on the social
networking system 630, and many others are possible. A user may
interact with anything that is capable of being represented in the
social networking system 630 or in the external system 620,
separate from the social networking system 630, or coupled to the
social networking system 630 via the network 650.
[0069] The social networking system 630 is also capable of linking
a variety of entities. For example, the social networking system
630 enables users to interact with each other as well as external
systems 620 or other entities through an API, a web service, or
other communication channels. The social networking system 630
generates and maintains the "social graph" comprising a plurality
of nodes interconnected by a plurality of edges. Each node in the
social graph may represent an entity that can act on another node
and/or that can be acted on by another node. The social graph may
include various types of nodes. Examples of types of nodes include
users, non-person entities, content items, web pages, groups,
activities, messages, concepts, and any other things that can be
represented by an object in the social networking system 630. An
edge between two nodes in the social graph may represent a
particular kind of connection, or association, between the two
nodes, which may result from node relationships or from an action
that was performed by one of the nodes on the other node. In some
cases, the edges between nodes can be weighted. The weight of an
edge can represent an attribute associated with the edge, such as a
strength of the connection or association between nodes. Different
types of edges can be provided with different weights. For example,
an edge created when one user "likes" another user may be given one
weight, while an edge created when a user befriends another user
may be given a different weight.
[0070] As an example, when a first user identifies a second user as
a friend, an edge in the social graph is generated connecting a
node representing the first user and a second node representing the
second user. As various nodes relate or interact with each other,
the social networking system 630 modifies edges connecting the
various nodes to reflect the relationships and interactions.
[0071] The social networking system 630 also includes
user-generated content, which enhances a user's interactions with
the social networking system 630. User-generated content may
include anything a user can add, upload, send, or "post" to the
social networking system 630. For example, a user communicates
posts to the social networking system 630 from a user device 610.
Posts may include data such as status updates or other textual
data, location information, images such as photos, videos, links,
music or other similar data and/or media. Content may also be added
to the social networking system 630 by a third party. Content
"items" are represented as objects in the social networking system
630. In this way, users of the social networking system 630 are
encouraged to communicate with each other by posting text and
content items of various types of media through various
communication channels. Such communication increases the
interaction of users with each other and increases the frequency
with which users interact with the social networking system
630.
[0072] The social networking system 630 includes a web server 632,
an API request server 634, a user profile store 636, a connection
store 638, an action logger 640, an activity log 642, and an
authorization server 644. In an embodiment of the invention, the
social networking system 630 may include additional, fewer, or
different components for various applications. Other components,
such as network interfaces, security mechanisms, load balancers,
failover servers, management and network operations consoles, and
the like are not shown so as to not obscure the details of the
system.
[0073] The user profile store 636 maintains information about user
accounts, including biographic, demographic, and other types of
descriptive information, such as work experience, educational
history, hobbies or preferences, location, and the like that has
been declared by users or inferred by the social networking system
630. This information is stored in the user profile store 636 such
that each user is uniquely identified. The social networking system
630 also stores data describing one or more connections between
different users in the connection store 638. The connection
information may indicate users who have similar or common work
experience, group memberships, hobbies, or educational history.
Additionally, the social networking system 630 includes
user-defined connections between different users, allowing users to
specify their relationships with other users. For example,
user-defined connections allow users to generate relationships with
other users that parallel the users' real-life relationships, such
as friends, co-workers, partners, and so forth. Users may select
from predefined types of connections, or define their own
connection types as needed. Connections with other nodes in the
social networking system 630, such as non-person entities, buckets,
cluster centers, images, interests, pages, external systems,
concepts, and the like are also stored in the connection store
638.
[0074] The social networking system 630 maintains data about
objects with which a user may interact. To maintain this data, the
user profile store 636 and the connection store 638 store instances
of the corresponding type of objects maintained by the social
networking system 630. Each object type has information fields that
are suitable for storing information appropriate to the type of
object. For example, the user profile store 636 contains data
structures with fields suitable for describing a user's account and
information related to a user's account. When a new object of a
particular type is created, the social networking system 630
initializes a new data structure of the corresponding type, assigns
a unique object identifier to it, and begins to add data to the
object as needed. This might occur, for example, when a user
becomes a user of the social networking system 630, the social
networking system 630 generates a new instance of a user profile in
the user profile store 636, assigns a unique identifier to the user
account, and begins to populate the fields of the user account with
information provided by the user.
[0075] The connection store 638 includes data structures suitable
for describing a user's connections to other users, connections to
external systems 620 or connections to other entities. The
connection store 638 may also associate a connection type with a
user's connections, which may be used in conjunction with the
user's privacy setting to regulate access to information about the
user. In an embodiment of the invention, the user profile store 636
and the connection store 638 may be implemented as a federated
database.
[0076] Data stored in the connection store 638, the user profile
store 636, and the activity log 642 enables the social networking
system 630 to generate the social graph that uses nodes to identify
various objects and edges connecting nodes to identify
relationships between different objects. For example, if a first
user establishes a connection with a second user in the social
networking system 630, user accounts of the first user and the
second user from the user profile store 636 may act as nodes in the
social graph. The connection between the first user and the second
user stored by the connection store 638 is an edge between the
nodes associated with the first user and the second user.
Continuing this example, the second user may then send the first
user a message within the social networking system 630. The action
of sending the message, which may be stored, is another edge
between the two nodes in the social graph representing the first
user and the second user. Additionally, the message itself may be
identified and included in the social graph as another node
connected to the nodes representing the first user and the second
user.
[0077] In another example, a first user may tag a second user in an
image that is maintained by the social networking system 630 (or,
alternatively, in an image maintained by another system outside of
the social networking system 630). The image may itself be
represented as a node in the social networking system 630. This
tagging action may create edges between the first user and the
second user as well as create an edge between each of the users and
the image, which is also a node in the social graph. In yet another
example, if a user confirms attending an event, the user and the
event are nodes obtained from the user profile store 636, where the
attendance of the event is an edge between the nodes that may be
retrieved from the activity log 642. By generating and maintaining
the social graph, the social networking system 630 includes data
describing many different types of objects and the interactions and
connections among those objects, providing a rich source of
socially relevant information.
[0078] The web server 632 links the social networking system 630 to
one or more user devices 610 and/or one or more external systems
620 via the network 650. The web server 632 serves web pages, as
well as other web-related content, such as Java, JavaScript, Flash,
XML, and so forth. The web server 632 may include a mail server or
other messaging functionality for receiving and routing messages
between the social networking system 630 and one or more user
devices 610. The messages can be instant messages, queued messages
(e.g., email), text and SMS messages, or any other suitable
messaging format.
[0079] The API request server 634 allows one or more external
systems 620 and user devices 610 to call access information from
the social networking system 630 by calling one or more API
functions. The API request server 634 may also allow external
systems 620 to send information to the social networking system 630
by calling APIs. The external system 620, in one embodiment, sends
an API request to the social networking system 630 via the network
650, and the API request server 634 receives the API request. The
API request server 634 processes the request by calling an API
associated with the API request to generate an appropriate
response, which the API request server 634 communicates to the
external system 620 via the network 650. For example, responsive to
an API request, the API request server 634 collects data associated
with a user, such as the user's connections that have logged into
the external system 620, and communicates the collected data to the
external system 620. In another embodiment, the user device 610
communicates with the social networking system 630 via APIs in the
same manner as external systems 620.
[0080] The action logger 640 is capable of receiving communications
from the web server 632 about user actions on and/or off the social
networking system 630. The action logger 640 populates the activity
log 642 with information about user actions, enabling the social
networking system 630 to discover various actions taken by its
users within the social networking system 630 and outside of the
social networking system 630. Any action that a particular user
takes with respect to another node on the social networking system
630 may be associated with each user's account, through information
maintained in the activity log 642 or in a similar database or
other data repository. Examples of actions taken by a user within
the social networking system 630 that are identified and stored may
include, for example, adding a connection to another user, sending
a message to another user, reading a message from another user,
viewing content associated with another user, attending an event
posted by another user, posting an image, attempting to post an
image, or other actions interacting with another user or another
object. When a user takes an action within the social networking
system 630, the action is recorded in the activity log 642. In one
embodiment, the social networking system 630 maintains the activity
log 642 as a database of entries. When an action is taken within
the social networking system 630, an entry for the action is added
to the activity log 642. The activity log 642 may be referred to as
an action log.
[0081] Additionally, user actions may be associated with concepts
and actions that occur within an entity outside of the social
networking system 630, such as an external system 620 that is
separate from the social networking system 630. For example, the
action logger 640 may receive data describing a user's interaction
with an external system 620 from the web server 632. In this
example, the external system 620 reports a user's interaction
according to structured actions and objects in the social
graph.
[0082] Other examples of actions where a user interacts with an
external system 620 include a user expressing an interest in an
external system 620 or another entity, a user posting a comment to
the social networking system 630 that discusses an external system
620 or a web page 622a within the external system 620, a user
posting to the social networking system 630 a Uniform Resource
Locator (URL) or other identifier associated with an external
system 620, a user attending an event associated with an external
system 620, or any other action by a user that is related to an
external system 620. Thus, the activity log 642 may include actions
describing interactions between a user of the social networking
system 630 and an external system 620 that is separate from the
social networking system 630.
[0083] The authorization server 644 enforces one or more privacy
settings of the users of the social networking system 630. A
privacy setting of a user determines how particular information
associated with a user can be shared. The privacy setting comprises
the specification of particular information associated with a user
and the specification of the entity or entities with whom the
information can be shared. Examples of entities with which
information can be shared may include other users, applications,
external systems 620, or any entity that can potentially access the
information. The information that can be shared by a user comprises
user account information, such as profile photos, phone numbers
associated with the user, user's connections, actions taken by the
user such as adding a connection, changing user profile
information, and the like.
[0084] The privacy setting specification may be provided at
different levels of granularity. For example, the privacy setting
may identify specific information to be shared with other users;
the privacy setting identifies a work phone number or a specific
set of related information, such as, personal information including
profile photo, home phone number, and status. Alternatively, the
privacy setting may apply to all the information associated with
the user. The specification of the set of entities that can access
particular information can also be specified at various levels of
granularity. Various sets of entities with which information can be
shared may include, for example, all friends of the user, all
friends of friends, all applications, or all external systems 620.
One embodiment allows the specification of the set of entities to
comprise an enumeration of entities. For example, the user may
provide a list of external systems 620 that are allowed to access
certain information. Another embodiment allows the specification to
comprise a set of entities along with exceptions that are not
allowed to access the information. For example, a user may allow
all external systems 620 to access the user's work information, but
specify a list of external systems 620 that are not allowed to
access the work information. Certain embodiments call the list of
exceptions that are not allowed to access certain information a
"block list". External systems 620 belonging to a block list
specified by a user are blocked from accessing the information
specified in the privacy setting. Various combinations of
granularity of specification of information, and granularity of
specification of entities, with which information is shared are
possible. For example, all personal information may be shared with
friends whereas all work information may be shared with friends of
friends.
[0085] The authorization server 644 contains logic to determine if
certain information associated with a user can be accessed by a
user's friends, external systems 620, and/or other applications and
entities. The external system 620 may need authorization from the
authorization server 644 to access the user's more private and
sensitive information, such as the user's work phone number. Based
on the user's privacy settings, the authorization server 644
determines if another user, the external system 620, an
application, or another entity is allowed to access information
associated with the user, including information about actions taken
by the user.
[0086] In some embodiments, the social networking system 630 can
include an augmented reality effects module 646. The augmented
reality effects module 646 can be implemented with the augmented
reality effects module 102, as discussed in more detail herein. In
some embodiments, one or more functionalities of the augmented
reality effects module 646 can be implemented in the user device
610.
Hardware Implementation
[0087] The foregoing processes and features can be implemented by a
wide variety of machine and computer system architectures and in a
wide variety of network and computing environments. FIG. 7
illustrates an example of a computer system 700 that may be used to
implement one or more of the embodiments described herein in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The computer system
700 includes sets of instructions for causing the computer system
700 to perform the processes and features discussed herein. The
computer system 700 may be connected (e.g., networked) to other
machines. In a networked deployment, the computer system 700 may
operate in the capacity of a server machine or a client machine in
a client-server network environment, or as a peer machine in a
peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. In an embodiment
of the invention, the computer system 700 may be the social
networking system 630, the user device 610, and the external system
720, or a component thereof. In an embodiment of the invention, the
computer system 700 may be one server among many that constitutes
all or part of the social networking system 630.
[0088] The computer system 700 includes a processor 702, a cache
704, and one or more executable modules and drivers, stored on a
computer-readable medium, directed to the processes and features
described herein. Additionally, the computer system 700 includes a
high performance input/output (I/O) bus 706 and a standard I/O bus
708. A host bridge 710 couples processor 702 to high performance
I/O bus 706, whereas I/O bus bridge 712 couples the two buses 706
and 708 to each other. A system memory 714 and one or more network
interfaces 716 couple to high performance I/O bus 706. The computer
system 700 may further include video memory and a display device
coupled to the video memory (not shown). Mass storage 718 and I/O
ports 720 couple to the standard I/O bus 708. The computer system
700 may optionally include a keyboard and pointing device, a
display device, or other input/output devices (not shown) coupled
to the standard I/O bus 708. Collectively, these elements are
intended to represent a broad category of computer hardware
systems, including but not limited to computer systems based on the
x86-compatible processors manufactured by Intel Corporation of
Santa Clara, Calif., and the x86-compatible processors manufactured
by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., as
well as any other suitable processor.
[0089] An operating system manages and controls the operation of
the computer system 700, including the input and output of data to
and from software applications (not shown). The operating system
provides an interface between the software applications being
executed on the system and the hardware components of the system.
Any suitable operating system may be used, such as the LINUX
Operating System, the Apple Macintosh Operating System, available
from Apple Computer Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., UNIX operating
systems, Microsoft.RTM. Windows.RTM. operating systems, BSD
operating systems, and the like. Other implementations are
possible.
[0090] The elements of the computer system 700 are described in
greater detail below. In particular, the network interface 716
provides communication between the computer system 700 and any of a
wide range of networks, such as an Ethernet (e.g., IEEE 802.3)
network, a backplane, etc. The mass storage 718 provides permanent
storage for the data and programming instructions to perform the
above-described processes and features implemented by the
respective computing systems identified above, whereas the system
memory 714 (e.g., DRAM) provides temporary storage for the data and
programming instructions when executed by the processor 702. The
I/O ports 720 may be one or more serial and/or parallel
communication ports that provide communication between additional
peripheral devices, which may be coupled to the computer system
700.
[0091] The computer system 700 may include a variety of system
architectures, and various components of the computer system 700
may be rearranged. For example, the cache 704 may be on-chip with
processor 702. Alternatively, the cache 704 and the processor 702
may be packed together as a "processor module", with processor 702
being referred to as the "processor core". Furthermore, certain
embodiments of the invention may neither require nor include all of
the above components. For example, peripheral devices coupled to
the standard I/O bus 708 may couple to the high performance I/O bus
706. In addition, in some embodiments, only a single bus may exist,
with the components of the computer system 700 being coupled to the
single bus. Moreover, the computer system 700 may include
additional components, such as additional processors, storage
devices, or memories.
[0092] In general, the processes and features described herein may
be implemented as part of an operating system or a specific
application, component, program, object, module, or series of
instructions referred to as "programs". For example, one or more
programs may be used to execute specific processes described
herein. The programs typically comprise one or more instructions in
various memory and storage devices in the computer system 700 that,
when read and executed by one or more processors, cause the
computer system 700 to perform operations to execute the processes
and features described herein. The processes and features described
herein may be implemented in software, firmware, hardware (e.g., an
application specific integrated circuit), or any combination
thereof.
[0093] In one implementation, the processes and features described
herein are implemented as a series of executable modules run by the
computer system 700, individually or collectively in a distributed
computing environment. The foregoing modules may be realized by
hardware, executable modules stored on a computer-readable medium
(or machine-readable medium), or a combination of both. For
example, the modules may comprise a plurality or series of
instructions to be executed by a processor in a hardware system,
such as the processor 702. Initially, the series of instructions
may be stored on a storage device, such as the mass storage 718.
However, the series of instructions can be stored on any suitable
computer readable storage medium. Furthermore, the series of
instructions need not be stored locally, and could be received from
a remote storage device, such as a server on a network, via the
network interface 716. The instructions are copied from the storage
device, such as the mass storage 718, into the system memory 714
and then accessed and executed by the processor 702. In various
implementations, a module or modules can be executed by a processor
or multiple processors in one or multiple locations, such as
multiple servers in a parallel processing environment.
[0094] Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not
limited to, recordable type media such as volatile and non-volatile
memory devices; solid state memories; floppy and other removable
disks; hard disk drives; magnetic media; optical disks (e.g.,
Compact Disk Read-Only Memory (CD ROMS), Digital Versatile Disks
(DVDs)); other similar non-transitory (or transitory), tangible (or
non-tangible) storage medium; or any type of medium suitable for
storing, encoding, or carrying a series of instructions for
execution by the computer system 700 to perform any one or more of
the processes and features described herein.
[0095] For purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
description. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the
art that embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced without
these specific details. In some instances, modules, structures,
processes, features, and devices are shown in block diagram form in
order to avoid obscuring the description. In other instances,
functional block diagrams and flow diagrams are shown to represent
data and logic flows. The components of block diagrams and flow
diagrams (e.g., modules, blocks, structures, devices, features,
etc.) may be variously combined, separated, removed, reordered, and
replaced in a manner other than as expressly described and depicted
herein.
[0096] Reference in this specification to "one embodiment", "an
embodiment", "other embodiments", "one series of embodiments",
"some embodiments", "various embodiments", or the like means that a
particular feature, design, structure, or characteristic described
in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one
embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of, for example, the
phrase "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places
in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually
exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, whether or not there is
express reference to an "embodiment" or the like, various features
are described, which may be variously combined and included in some
embodiments, but also variously omitted in other embodiments.
Similarly, various features are described that may be preferences
or requirements for some embodiments, but not other
embodiments.
[0097] The language used herein has been principally selected for
readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been
selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.
It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited
not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that
issue on an application based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure
of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative,
but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth
in the following claims.
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