Systems and methods for generating an interactive floor plan

• US 10,062,205 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2015
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trick 3D, LLC
• Original Assignee: Trick 3D, LLC
• Inventors: Eikhoff, Chad E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A
• Application Number:
  US14/697,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20160110916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 345419, 345420, 345426, 345619, 345632, 703 1, 715782, 715800, 715964
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5854 using shape and object relationship
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/60 Shadow generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/20 Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, tesselation

Abstract

A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for generating a three-dimensional floor plan of a structure (e.g., a building, vehicle, or other structure) that includes a plurality of walls and at least one window. The three-dimensional floor plan includes internal building data such as height and orientation information for one or more rooms of the structure. The internal building data may include lighting elements and a view from the at least one window. The floor plan also includes external building data such as size, shape, location, and orientation of a second structure adjacent the first structure. The external building data may include points of interest and heavenly bodies. The system may allow a user to view the interior of a particular room and the exterior view from the particular room while manipulating the lighting conditions inside and/or outside of the particular room.

Claims

1. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for:

receiving a floor plan comprising at least one room within a floor of a first building, the room comprising a plurality of walls and at least one window;

receiving a set of building location data that includes the height and orientation of the at least one room;

receiving a set of external building data representing the size, shape, location and orientation of a second building that is disposed adjacent the first building;

receiving a set of heavenly body position data regarding at least the approximate position, in the sky, of a plurality of heavenly bodies when viewed from the first building at a particular time;

using the set of heavenly body position data, the floor plan, the set of building location data, and the set of external building data to create a three-dimensional version of the floor plan, the three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprising a view out of the window that comprises a view of the second building;

rendering the three-dimensional version of the floor plan on a user interface, wherein the view out of the window comprises;

a scale view of the first building that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the second building;

if the particular time is at night, a visual representation of at least one star or the moon, and lighting from the at least one star or the moon according to a position that is determined, at least in part, based on the set of heavenly body position data; and

if the particular time is during daylight hours, a visual representation of lighting from the sun according to a position that is determined, at least in part, based on the set of heavenly body position data;

receiving input from a user via the user interface; and

in response to receiving the input from the user, modifying the three-dimensional version of the floor plan and the view out of the window.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the set of external building data further comprises data representing;

a size, shape, location, and orientation of a third building that is disposed adjacent the first building; and

a size, shape and location of one or more roadways that are disposed adjacent the first building; and

the view out of the window comprises;

a scale view of the second building that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the second building;

a scale view of the third building that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the third building;

a scale view of the roadway that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the roadway.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the set of heavenly body position data further includes at least the approximate path that the sun travels in the sky, when viewed from the first building, as the earth rotates over the course of at least four daylight hours on a particular day; and

the view out of the window comprises;

a visual representation of the sun as the sun travels along the path.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises:

shadowing, within a graphical depiction of an interior of the room, representing shadowing created by sunlight shining through the window when the sun is in the position that is determined, at least in part, based on the set of heavenly body position data.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein:

the particular day is a first particular day;

the set of heavenly body position data is a first set of sun position data;

the three-dimensional version of the floor plan is a first three-dimensional version of the floor plan;

the path is a first path; and

the computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

receiving a second set of heavenly body position data regarding at least an approximate second path that the sun travels in the sky, when viewed from the first building, as the earth rotates over the course of at least four daylight hours on a second particular day; and

using the second set of heavenly body position data, along with the floor plan, the set of building location data, and the set of external building data, to create a second three-dimensional version of the floor plan, wherein;

the view out of the window within the second three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises;

a scale view of the first building that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the second building; and

a visual representation of the sun as the sun travels along the second path.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the first three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises:

shadowing, within a graphical depiction of an interior of the room, representing shadowing created by sunlight shining through the window when the sun is in the position that is determined, at least in part, based on the set of heavenly body position data.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein:

the first particular day is a first date received from a user, wherein;

the first date is a date occurring in a winter season;

the computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

receiving a third set of heavenly body position data regarding at least an approximate third path that the sun travels in the sky, when viewed from the first building, as the earth rotates over the course of at least four daylight hours on the first date; and

using the third set of heavenly body position data, along with the floor plan, the set of building location data, and the set of external building data, to create a third three-dimensional version of the floor plan, wherein the view out of the window within the third three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises;

a scale view of the first building that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the second building; and

a visual representation of the sun as the sun travels along the third path.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein:

the second particular day is a second date received from a user, the second date is a date occurring in a summer season;

the computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

receiving a fourth set of heavenly body position data regarding at least an approximate fourth path that the sun travels in the sky, when viewed from the first building, as the earth rotates over the course of at least four daylight hours on the second date; and

using the fourth set of heavenly body position data, along with the floor plan, the set of building location data, and the set of external building data, to create a fourth three-dimensional version of the floor plan, wherein;

the view out of the window within the fourth three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises;

a scale view of the first building that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the second building; and

a visual representation of the sun as the sun travels along the fourth path.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the set of external building data representing the size, shape, location and orientation of a second building that is disposed adjacent the first building comprises receiving the set of external building data from a map.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the map comprises an interactive map.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for:

receiving a room configuration of the at least one room within the floor of the first building, the room configuration including the size and shape of the at least one room;

receiving a set of furniture data that includes a size of at least one piece of furniture; and

using the room configuration and set of furniture data to create the three-dimensional version of the floor plan with furniture, wherein the computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

receiving a request from a user to move the furniture; and

in response to receiving the request, displaying the moving of the furniture in the three-dimensional version of the floor plan.

12. A computer-implemented method of generating a three-dimensional floor plan, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a floor plan of a first building comprising at least one room, the room comprising a plurality of walls and at least one window;

receiving a color associated with the at least one room;

receiving building location data representing the size, shape, location, and orientation of the first building;

receiving external building data representing the size, shape, location, and orientation of a second building that is disposed adjacent the first building;

receiving sun position data regarding at least the approximate path that the sun travels in the sky, when viewed from the first building on a particular day;

using the sun position data, along with the floor plan, the color associated with the at least one room, the building location data, and the external building data, to create a three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprising a view of the at least one room and a view out of the window;

rendering the three-dimensional version of the floor plan on a user interface,

wherein the view of the at least one room comprises a visual representation of lighting according to the color associated with the at least one room and according to the sun according to a position that is determined, at least in part, based on the sun position data, and

wherein the view out of the window comprises;

a scale view of the first building that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the second building; and

a visual representation of lighting from the sun according to a position that is determined, at least in part, based on the sun position data;

receiving input from a user via the user interface; and

in response to receiving the input from the user, modifying the three-dimensional version of the floor plan and the view out of the window.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein:

the particular day is a first particular day;

the set of sun position data is a first set of sun position data;

the three-dimensional version of the floor plan is a first three-dimensional version of the floor plan;

the path is a first path; and

the computer-implemented method further comprises the steps of;

receiving a second set of sun position data regarding at least an approximate second path that the sun travels in the sky when viewed from the first building on a second particular day; and

using the second sun position data, along with the floor plan, the set of building location data, and the set of external building data, to create a second three-dimensional version of the floor plan, wherein the view out of the window within the second three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises;

a scale view of the first building that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the second building; and

a visual representation of the sun as the sun travels along the second path.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein:

the three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises shadowing, within a graphical depiction of an interior of the room, representing shadowing created by sunlight shining through the window when the sun is in a first position; and

a second three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises shadowing, within a graphical depiction of an interior of the room, representing shadowing created by sunlight shining through the window when the sun is in a second position.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the step of receiving the external building data representing the size, shape, location and orientation of the second building that is disposed adjacent the first building comprises receiving the external building data from a map.

16. A system for generating a three-dimensional floor plan, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory,

wherein the memory stores computer-executable instructions for;

receiving a floor plan comprising at least one room within a floor of a first building, the room comprising a plurality of walls and at least one window;

receiving a set of building location data that includes the orientation of the at least one room;

receiving a room configuration of the at least one room, wherein the room configuration includes the size and shape of the at least one room;

receiving a set of man-made lighting data corresponding to interior man-made lighting within the at least one room;

receiving a set of sun position data regarding at least the approximate path that the sun travels in the sky, when viewed from the first building, as the earth rotates over the course of at least four daylight hours on a particular day;

receiving a set of external building data representing the size, shape, location and orientation of a second building that is disposed adjacent the first building; and

using the floor plan, the set of building location data, the room configuration, the set of man-made lighting data, the set of sun position data, and the set of external building data to create a three-dimensional version of the floor plan, the three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprising a view out of the window;

rendering the three-dimensional version of the floor plan on a user interface, wherein a view of the at least one room and out of the window comprises;

a view of the second building, and

a visual representation of an overall lighting effect in the at least one room generated from a combination of the man-made lighting data and lighting from the sun according to a position that is determined, at least in part, based on the sun position data;

receiving input from a user via the user interface; and

in response to receiving the input from the user, modifying the three-dimensional version of the floor plan and the view out of the window.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the particular day is a first particular day;

the set of sun position data is a first set of sun position data;

the three-dimensional version of the floor plan is a first three-dimensional version of the floor plan;

the path is a first path; and

the computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

receiving a second set of sun position data regarding at least an approximate second path that the sun travels in the sky, when viewed from the first building, as the earth rotates over the course of at least four daylight hours on a second particular day; and

using the second sun position data, along with the floor plan, the set of building location data, and the set of external building data, to create a second three-dimensional version of the floor plan, wherein the view out of the window within the second three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises;

a scale view of the first building that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the second building; and

a visual representation of the sun as the sun travels along the second path.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises:

shadowing, within a graphical depiction of an interior of the room, representing shadowing created by sunlight shining through the window when the sun is in the position that is determined, at least in part, based on the sun position data.

19. A, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for:

receiving a floor plan comprising at least one room within a floor of a first building, the room comprising a plurality of walls and at least one window;

receiving a set of building location data that includes the height and orientation of the at least one room;

receiving a set of external building data representing the size, shape, location and orientation of a second building that is disposed adjacent the first building;

receiving a first set of sun position data regarding a first position, in the sky, of the sun when viewed from the first building at a first particular time of day;

receiving a second set of sun position data regarding a second position, in the sky, of the sun when viewed from the first building at a second particular time of day;

using the first set of sun position data, the second set of sun position data, the floor plan, the set of building location data, and the set of external building data, to create a three-dimensional version of the floor plan, wherein;

the computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

receiving a request from a user to view a three-dimensional version of the floor plan that depicts the at least one room at the first particular time of day as a life-size projection into a space around the user via virtual reality goggles configured to be worn by the user; and

in response to receiving the request, displaying the life-size projection of the three-dimensional version of the floor plan that comprises;

a scale view of the first building that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the second building; and

a visual representation of lighting from the sun according to a particular position that is determined, at least in part, based on at least one of the first sun position data;

receiving input from the user via the virtual reality goggles; and

in response to receiving the input from the user, modifying the three-dimensional version of the floor plan.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises:

shadowing, within a graphical depiction of an interior of the room, representing shadowing created by sunlight shining through the window when the sun is in the first position.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein:

the three-dimensional version of the floor plan is a first three-dimensional version of the floor plan;

the visual representation of the sun in a particular position is a visual representation of the sun in a first position;

the computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for;

receiving a request from a user to view a three-dimensional version of the floor plan that depicts the at least one room at the second particular time of day; and

in response to receiving the request, displaying a second three-dimensional version of the floor plan that comprises;

a scale view of the first building that depicts, at least substantially to scale, a distance between the first building and the second building; and

a visual representation of lighting from the sun according to a second position that is determined, at least in part, based on at least one of the second sun position data.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein:

the first three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises shadowing, within a graphical depiction of an interior of the room, representing shadowing created by sunlight shining through the window when the sun is in the first position; and

the second three-dimensional version of the floor plan comprises shadowing, within a graphical depiction of an interior of the room, representing shadowing created by sunlight shining through the window when the sun is in the second position.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein a time period between the first the first particular time of day and the second particular time of day lapses while the user is wearing the virtual reality goggles such that the three-dimensional version of the floor plan dynamically changes in real time along with the visual representation of lighting from the sun.