System, method, device and computer program product for connecting users to a persistent ar environment

A system for connecting users to a same instance of a persistent augmented reality (AR) environment, the persistent AR environment comprising an anchor point for defining a coordinate system of the persistent AR environment, the system comprising:

• a server comprising a processor configured for managing the persistent AR environment;
• and
• a first device and a second device connected to the server and comprising a display configured to display different instances of the persistent AR environment, the first device comprising a first device transmitter being configured to transmit first device data indicating a position of the first device and an angular orientation of a front, a top, a camera, or an antenna of the first device to the server, and the second device comprising a second device transmitter being configured to transmit second device data indicating a position of the second device and an angular orientation of a front, a top, a camera, or an antenna of the second device to the server;
• wherein the processor of the server is configured to:
• determine that the front, the top, the camera, or the antenna of the first device and the second device are oriented towards each other based on an aligning threshold using the first device data received at the server from the first device and the second device data received at the server from the second device, wherein the aligning threshold is dependent on the number of devices connected to the server, such that a higher number of devices lowers the aligning threshold;
• determine how long the front, the top, the camera, or the antenna of the first device and the second device are oriented towards each other;
• and
• sync the persistent AR environments of the first device and the second device with each other to connect to the same instance of the persistent AR environment in response to the front, the top, the camera, or the antenna of the first device and the second device being oriented towards each other for longer than a time threshold,
• wherein the syncing of the persistent AR environments of the first device and the second device with each other to connect to the same instance of the persistent AR environment is further based on the first device determining that a user of the second device is visible through a lens of the first device and the second device determining that a user of the first device is visible through a lens of the second device.

A method for connecting users to a same instance of a persistent augmented reality (AR) environment, the method comprising:

• providing, on a first device and a second device, an application to process the persistent AR environment;
• determining that the first device and the second device are oriented towards each other, wherein determining that the first device and the second device are oriented towards each other includes:
• determining that a user of the second device is visible through a lens of the first device and determining that a user of the first device is visible through a lens of the second device;
• and
• in response to the first device and the second device being oriented towards each other, syncing the first device and the second device to the same instance of the persistent AR environment.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with instructions, which when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

• provide, on a first device, an application to process a persistent AR environment;
• determine that the first device and a second device are oriented towards each other, wherein determining that the first device and the second device are oriented towards each other includes to:
• determine that a user of the second device is visible through a lens of the first device;
• and
• in response to the first device and the second device being oriented towards each other, sync the first device to the same instance of the persistent AR environment as the second device.