Techniques for using augmented reality for computer systems maintenance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016140868-A1
Application number	US-201414540607-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 13, 2014
Priority date	Nov 13, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Techniques for an augmented reality component are described. An apparatus may comprise an augmented reality component to execute an augmented reality service in a data system. The augmented reality service operative to generate an augmented reality view of one or more objects within a target location. The augmented reality service operative to receive spatial awareness information for at least one object. The augmented reality service operative to calculate a path to the at least one object within the augmented reality view. The augmented reality service operative to add a digital representation of the path to the augmented reality view to create a mapped augmented reality view. The augmented reality service operative to present the mapped augmented reality view on an electronic device.

First claim

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
generating an augmented reality view of one or more objects within a target location, the target location representing a physical geographic location; receiving spatial awareness information for at least one object; calculating a path to the at least one object within the augmented reality view; adding a digital representation of the path to the augmented reality view to create a mapped augmented reality view; and presenting the mapped augmented reality view on an electronic device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
identifying the one or more objects in the target location using one of multiple location-identification mechanisms; identifying the one or more objects for performing maintenance or service in the target location; adding directions to the one or more objects in the mapped augmented reality view; and adding maintenance or service instructions for the one or more objects in the mapped augmented reality view.

3 . The method of claim 1 , comprising adding to the augmented reality view a computer network mapping of the one or more objects, wherein the one ore more objects are computer devices and the computer network mapping includes at least each component of the one or more objects and electrical or optical connections to each of the one or more objects.

4 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
identifying and displaying in the augmented reality view at least one of a hazardous area or restricted regions of the target location; and using the mapped augmented reality view for directing a user away from the hazardous area or the restricted regions.

5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising prominently displaying the one or more objects for performing maintenance or service in the target location in the mapped augmented reality view.

6 . The method of claim 1 , comprising
determining spatial awareness information for at least one object using at least one of a global positioning satellite (GPS) device, a plurality of sensors, a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, a machine vision mechanism, a bar code, and an electric-field sensing component; determining both a position and orientation of a user relative the one or more objects for performing maintenance or service in the target location using the GPS device, the plurality of sensors, the RFID device, the machine vision mechanism, the bar code, the electric-field sensing component, a gesture recognition device, a head tracker, an eye tracker, and a motion detection device; tracking movements of the user in the target location; adding the movements of the user to the mapped augmented reality view; mapping the movements of the user to the path to the at least one object within the augmented reality view; and providing alerts to the user while the user traverses the path to the at least one object within the augmented reality view.

7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising refreshing the mapping in the augmented reality to the one of the one or more objects for performing maintenance or service.

8 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
maintaining historical data of a user relating to the augmented reality view of the one or more objects within a target location, wherein the historical data includes at least one of a log history, work orders, and movements and direction of the user relating to the mapping; and issuing work orders relating to the one or more objects in the target location.

9 . The method of claim 1 , comprising building and maintaining a physical layout of the target location in a target location generator, wherein the target location generator includes a data center database and includes management tools.

10 . An apparatus, comprising:
a processor circuit on a device; a target location generator, having management tools, in association with and operative by the processor circuit, the target location generator operative on the processor circuit to build and maintain a physical geographic location and computer network mapping of a target location; and an augmented reality component operative on the processor circuit, in communication with the target location generator, to execute an augmented reality service for the target location generator, the augmented reality component operative to:
generate an augmented reality view of one or more objects within the target location;
receive spatial awareness information for at least one object;
calculate a path to the at least one object within the augmented reality view;
add a digital representation of the path to the augmented reality view to create a mapped augmented reality view; and
present the mapped augmented reality view on an electronic device.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , the augmented reality component operative to:
identify the one or more objects in the target location using one of multiple location-identification mechanisms; identify the one or more objects for performing maintenance or service in the target location; prominently display the one or more objects for performing maintenance or service in the target location in the mapped augmented reality view; add directions to the one or more objects in the mapped augmented reality view; and issue and add maintenance or service instructions for the one or more objects in the mapped augmented reality view.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , the augmented reality component operative to add to the augmented reality view a computer network mapping of the one or more objects, wherein the one ore more objects are computer devices and the computer network mapping includes at least each component of the one or more objects and electrical or optical connections to each of the one or more objects.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , the augmented reality component operative to:
identify and display in the augmented reality view at least one of a hazardous area or restricted regions of the target location; and use the mapped augmented reality view for directing a user away from the hazardous area or the restricted regions.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , the augmented reality component operative to:
determine spatial awareness information for at least one object using at least one of a global positioning satellite (GPS) device, a plurality of sensors, a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, a machine vision mechanism, a bar code, and an electric-field sensing component; determine both a position and orientation of a user relative the one or more objects for performing maintenance or service in the target location using the GPS device, the plurality of sensors, the RFID device, the machine vision mechanism, the bar code, the electric-field sensing component, a gesture recognition device, a head tracker, an eye tracker, and a motion detection device; track movements of the user in the target location; add the movements of the user to the mapped augmented reality view; map the movements of the user to the path to the at least one object within the augmented reality view; provide alerts to the user while the user traverses the path to the at least one object within the augmented reality view; refresh the mapping in the augmented reality to the one of the one or more objects for performing maintenance or service; and maintain historical data of a user relating to the augmented reality view of the one or more objects within a target location, wherein the historical data includes at least one of a log history, work orders, and movements and direction of the user relating to the mapping.

15 . At least one non-transitory computer

Assignees

• Netapp Inc

Inventors

• Lovett Stuart
• Reger Brad
• Tracht Allen

Classifications

• G06T2215/16

  Using real world measurements to influence rendering · CPC title

• G01C21/206

  specially adapted for indoor navigation · CPC title

• G09B19/0053 Primary

  Computers, e.g. programming · CPC title

• G06T19/006 Primary

  Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00) · CPC title