Navigation system for a 3D virtual scene

• US 10,564,798 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitzmaurice, George, Matejka, Justin, Mordatch, Igor, Kurtenbach, Gord
• Primary Examiner(s): Paula, Cesar B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heffington, John M
• Application Number:
  US12/200,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20090083673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,191 Days
• Field of Search: 715851, 715786, 715799
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A navigation system for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) scene that includes a model or object with which a user can interact. The system accommodates and helps both novice and advanced users. To do this, the system allows a user to move up and down within a scene relative to an up axis of the scene without the user being displaced horizontally. A scale is provided that shows the user the relative position of the current view in the vertical bounding box of the scene.

Claims

1. A method of navigating within a three-dimensional model, the method comprising:

displaying an up/down slider having a position marker, the position marker indicating a first elevation of a virtual camera along a vertical axis, wherein the virtual camera has a first camera view at the first elevation within the three-dimensional model;

displaying a rewind control;

moving, via a processing unit, the position marker on the up/down slider when a position of the virtual camera is moved along the vertical axis to a second elevation, wherein the virtual camera has a second camera view at the second elevation;

upon completion of moving the position marker, recording a first waypoint corresponding to the second elevation; and

moving the virtual camera to the second elevation corresponding to the first waypoint when the rewind control is selected.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

moving, via the processor, the position marker on the up/down slider towards a first end of the up/down slider when the second elevation of the virtual camera is above the first elevation along the vertical axis, wherein the first end of the up/down slider corresponds to a high elevation of the virtual camera along the vertical axis; and

moving, via the processor, the position marker on the sider towards a second end of the up/down slider when the second elevation of the virtual camera is below the first elevation along the vertical axis, wherein the second end of the up/down slider corresponds to a low elevation of the virtual camera along the vertical axis.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the high elevation of the virtual camera is associated with a top of a bounding box, and the low elevation of the virtual camera is associated with a bottom of the bounding box.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the three-dimensional model comprises a building model, and

the position marker is moved along the up/down slider when the elevation of the virtual camera is moved along the vertical axis between floors of the building.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the elevation of the virtual camera is moved up and down along the vertical axis without causing the position of the virtual camera to be displaced along a horizontal plane.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving cursor motion upward relative to the first camera view at the first elevation of the three-dimensional model; and

receiving cursor motion downward relative to the second camera view at the second elevation of the three-dimensional model,

wherein the cursor motion upward causes the elevation of the virtual camera to move up along the vertical axis, and the cursor motion downward causes the elevation of the virtual camera to move down along the vertical axis.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving cursor motion upward relative to the first camera view at the first elevation of the three-dimensional model; and

receiving cursor motion downward relative to the second camera view at the second elevation of the three-dimensional model,

wherein the cursor motion upward causes the position marker to move towards the first end of the up/down slider, and the cursor motion downward causes the position marker to move towards the second end of the up/down slider.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the up/down slider and the position marker are initially displayed near a current cursor position.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the up/down slider is displayed as a semi-transparent element.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first waypoint comprises:

the second elevation of the virtual camera,

an orientation of the virtual camera, and

a thumbnail image of the three-dimensional model corresponding to the second camera view at the second elevation and the orientation of the virtual camera.

10. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including instructions that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to navigate within a three-dimensional model, by performing the steps of:

displaying an up/down slider having a position marker, the position marker indicating a first elevation of a virtual camera along a vertical axis, wherein the virtual camera has a first camera view at the first elevation within the three-dimensional model;

displaying a rewind control;

moving, via a processing unit, the position marker on the up/down slider when a position of the virtual camera is moved along the vertical axis to a second elevation, wherein the virtual camera has a second camera view at the second elevation;

upon completion of moving the position marker, recording a first waypoint corresponding to the second elevation; and

moving the virtual camera to the second elevation corresponding to the first waypoint when the rewind control is selected.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 10, further comprising:

moving, via the processor, the position marker on up/down the slider towards a first end of the up/down slider when the second elevation of the virtual camera is above the first elevation along the vertical axis, wherein the first end of the up/down slider corresponds to a high elevation of the virtual camera along the vertical axis; and

moving, via the processor, the position marker on the slider towards a second end of the up/down slider when the second elevation of the virtual camera is below the first elevation along the vertical axis, wherein the second end of the up/down slider corresponds to a low elevation of the virtual camera along the vertical axis.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the high elevation of the virtual camera is associated with a top of a bounding box, and the low elevation of the virtual camera is associated with a bottom of the bounding box.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein:

the three-dimensional model comprises a building model, and

the position marker is moved along the up/down slider when the elevation of the virtual camera is moved along the vertical axis between floors of the building.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the elevation position of the virtual camera is moved up and down along the vertical axis without causing the position of the virtual camera to be displaced along a horizontal plane.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving cursor motion upward relative to the first camera view at the first elevation of the three-dimensional model; and

receiving cursor motion downward relative to the second camera view at the second elevation of the three-dimensional model,

wherein the cursor motion upward causes the elevation of the virtual camera to move up along the vertical axis, and the cursor motion downward causes the elevation of the virtual camera to move down along the vertical axis.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving cursor motion upward relative to the first camera view at the first elevation of the three-dimensional model; and

receiving cursor motion downward relative to the second camera view at the second elevation of the three-dimensional model,

wherein the cursor motion upward causes the position marker to move towards the first end of the up/down slider, and the cursor motion downward causes the position marker to move towards the second end of the up/down slider.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the up/down slider and the position marker are initially displayed near a current cursor position.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein the up/down slider is displayed as a semi-transparent element.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory including instructions; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory and, when executing the instructions, is configured to;

display an up/down slider having a position marker, the position marker indicating a first elevation of a virtual camera along a vertical axis, wherein the virtual camera has a first camera view at the first elevation within the three-dimensional model;

display a rewind control;

move, via a processing unit, the position marker on the slider when a position of the virtual camera is moved along the vertical axis to a second elevation, wherein the virtual camera has a second camera view corresponding to the second elevation;

upon completion of moving the position marker, record a first waypoint at the second elevation; and

move the virtual camera to the second elevation corresponding to the first waypoint when the rewind control is selected.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

moving, via the processor, the position marker on the up/down slider towards a first end of the up/down slider when the second elevation of the virtual camera is above the first elevation along the vertical axis, wherein the first end of the up/down slider corresponds to a high elevation of the virtual camera along the vertical axis; and

moving, via the processor, the position marker on the slider towards a second end of the up/down slider when the second elevation of the virtual camera is below the first elevation along the vertical axis, wherein the second end of the up/down slider corresponds to a low elevation of the virtual camera along the vertical axis.