Augmented and virtual reality are new frontiers for Apple's larger customer base, and the company is researching development of a computer-generated assistant to help users navigate the new space, and the new interfaces it will require.

In a new patent application published Thursday, titled "Contextual Computer-Generated Reality (CGR) Digital Assistants," Apple notes that the amount of information given in these VR or AR environments could quickly become "overwhelming" to a user.

To help counter that, Apple is working on virtual assistants — which appear as computer-generated characters or images — that could outline useful information or help offers tips to a user. These characters would be contextual, meaning that they'd only appear during certain events or after certain triggers.

Apple gives a few specific examples based on a user's knowledge and experience withe specific animals, symbols or other potential characters.

"For example, knowing a dog's ability to run fast and fetch items, when the user notices a restaurant (real-world or CGR), a computer-generated dog can be used as a visual representation of a contextual CGR digital to quickly fetch restaurant information for the user," the patent reads.

Another example suggests a pod of dolphins could be used for AR navigation.

Other characters described in the patent include a virtual cat that guides users to an interesting place or a pod of digital dolphins that shows users the way to a location. Apple notes that users may also be able to experience CGR assistants through other senses, such as hearing.

Such a virtual assistant would have obvious benefits to users of a head-mounted AR or MR headset, since a virtual assistant could quickly point out useful information directly in front of their eyes. But there's a good chance that Apple is exploring ways to bring similar CGR assistants to existing devices, like iPhones or iPads.

In the patent, Apple also gives non-animal examples, like a balloon, offering at least one tie to rumors of a potential Apple Ultra Wideband (UWB) tracking tag. Information found in early iOS 13 beta builds suggest that the Find My app could display a balloon to help users find missing objects.

It isn't clear when a potential Apple AR/VR headset could launch, but past rumors have suggested a timeline as soon as 2021. Apple's potential AR-leveraging "AirTags" could launch as soon as summer 2020.