Method and apparatus for creating virtual graffiti in a mobile virtual and augmented reality system

Abstract

A method and system is provided for easily creating virtual graffiti that will be left for a particular device to view. During operation a device will be placed near a first point that is used to define a boundary for the virtual graffiti. The device will locate the first point, and use the point to define the boundary. The device will receive an image that is to be used as virtual graffiti, and will fit the image within or upon the boundary of the virtual graffiti. For example, the device may be consecutively placed near four points that will define a polygon to be used as the boundary for the virtual graffiti. An image will then be received, and the image will be fit within the polygon. Additionally, a device may create virtual graffiti from an image and a boundary.

1 . A method for a device to create virtual graffiti, the method comprising:
 determining, via the device, a location of a first point ;   using the location of the first point to define a user created boundary for the virtual graffiti; the first point thereafter being coupled to additional points for defining the user created boundary of a 3-dimensional shape for displaying the virtual graffiti;   defining a virtual graffiti message, with the device, to be used as the virtual graffiti;   providing the virtual graffiti within the user created boundary; and   transmitting information about the user created boundary and virtual graffiti to a server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 creating the virtual graffiti by fitting the virtual graffiti data within or upon the boundary for the virtual graffiti. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing to multiple users arranged around the location a different perspective of the virtual graffiti data defined by the boundary 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the virtual graffiti message to be selected from a group consisting of: images, video, text, or documents. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the boundary shapes comprise geometric shapes or pre-defined shapes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the server provides the virtual graffiti to any designated user having privileges for viewing the virtual graffiti when that user is near the location of the virtual graffiti. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the designated user having viewing privileges also have privilege to modify the virtual graffiti data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the designated user having viewing privileges also have privilege to view multiple versions of the virtual graffiti data. 
     
     
         9 . A virtual graffiti server, comprising:
 location circuitry for monitoring locations of plurality of devices configured to create virtual graffiti at their locations;   transmission circuitry communicatively coupled to a network for providing information on available virtual graffiti to the plurality of devices based on their current locations; and   logic circuitry for determining whether a designated user has privileges for viewing virtual graffiti when that user is near the location of the virtual graffiti.   
     
     
         10 . The virtual graffiti server claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiver circuitry for receiving boundary information corresponding to the virtual graffiti being placed within or upon the boundary.   
     
     
         11 . The virtual graffiti server claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the designated user having viewing privileges also have privilege to modify the virtual graffiti. 
     
     
         12 . The virtual graffiti server claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the designated user having viewing privileges also have privilege to view multiple versions of the virtual graffiti.