Method and system for providing a service in a photorealistic, 3-D environment

• US 20020154174A1
• Filed: 04/23/2001
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arthur Norman Redlich, John M. Goldsmith
• Original Assignee: Arthur Norman Redlich, John M. Goldsmith
• Inventors: Goldsmith, John M., Redlich, Arthur Norman
• Application Number:
  US09/840,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20020154174A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/848
• 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

Abstract

Method and system for providing 3-D services and 3-D visual directories in a photorealistic, 3-D virtual environment depicting a real-life entity. The real-life entity depicted in the 3-D virtual environment may be an actual place and/or actual entity that is not limited to a geographic location but may include other environments such as, for example, a subway system, library, a virtual card catalogue, a factory, an underground aqueduct system, an organism (e.g., an internal view of a human body), a cable system, a mechanism (e.g., a motor, a computer, a computer circuit), and a warehouse. A photorealistic, 3-D model is used as a platform for the services provided. These services may include mapping services, browsing services, historical services, educational services, entertainment services, and commercial services, such as advertising.

Claims

1. A method for providing a virtual interaction with a real-life entity, comprising the steps of:

generating a photorealistic, 3-D model of the entity, wherein the photorealistic, 3-D model corresponds to a physical structure of the entity and includes information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity;

receiving at least one navigation parameter, wherein the navigation parameter corresponds to an orientation relative to the entity;

receiving at least one interaction parameter, wherein the interaction parameter corresponds to an action relative to the entity; and

displaying a photorealistic, 3-D image of the entity as a function of the navigation parameter, the interaction parameter, and the information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interaction parameter corresponds to a trip planning action.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interaction parameter corresponds to a route marking action.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interaction parameter relates to an interaction between a first party and a second party.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the first party and the second party is represented by an avatar in the photorealistic, 3-D image.

6. A method for trip planning using an electronic medium, comprising the steps of:

generating a photorealistic, 3-D model of a real-life entity, wherein the photorealistic, 3-D model corresponds to a physical structure of the entity and includes information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity;

receiving a first route end point, wherein the first route end point corresponds to a first location relative to the entity;

receiving a second route end point, wherein the second route end point corresponds to a second location relative to the entity;

determining a route between the first route end point and the second route end point;

determining an orientation relative to the entity, wherein the orientation corresponds to a movement along the route; and

displaying a photorealistic, 3-D image of the entity as a function of the orientation and the information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first route end point corresponds to at least one of an area, an intersection, an address, a structure, a store, a residence, and a landmark relative to the entity.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second route end point corresponds to at least one of an area, an intersection, an address, a structure, a store, a residence, and a landmark relative to the entity.

9. A method for route marking on an electronic medium, comprising the steps of:

generating a photorealistic, 3-D model of a real-life entity, wherein the photorealistic, 3-D model corresponds to a physical structure of the entity and includes information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity;

receiving a first route end point, wherein the first route end point corresponds to a first location relative to the entity;

receiving a second route end point, wherein the second route end point corresponds to a second location relative to the entity;

determining a route between the first route end point and the second route end point;

determining route marking information relative to the entity, wherein the route marking information includes information for rendering at least one of a 2-D effect and a 3-D effect; and

displaying a photorealistic, 3-D image of the entity as a function of the route marking information and the information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first route end point corresponds to at least one of an area, an intersection, an address, a structure, a store, a residence, and a landmark relative to the entity.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the second route end point corresponds to at least one of an area, an intersection, an address, a structure, a store, a residence, and a landmark relative to the entity.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the content information includes at least one of a video content item, an audio content item, a logo and a trade dress item.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the trade dress item includes at least one of a structure and a color scheme.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the content information includes at least one of a video content item, an audio content item, a logo and a trade dress item.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the trade dress item includes at least one of a structure and a color scheme.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the information network is at least one of an Internet, a local area network, a wireless network, and an Intranet.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the content information includes at least one of a video content item, an audio content item, a logo and a trade dress item.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the trade dress item includes at least one of a structure and a color scheme.

12. A method for advertising on an electronic medium, comprising the steps of:

generating a photorealistic, 3-D model of a real-life entity, wherein the photorealistic, 3-D model corresponds to a physical structure of the entity and includes information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity;

receiving at least one advertising information item, wherein each advertising information item includes at least one of content information and link information for displaying a corresponding advertisement relative to the photorealistic, 3-D model; and

displaying a photorealistic, 3-D image of the entity and at least one advertisement, wherein the 3-D image is displayed as a function of the information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity and wherein each advertisement is rendered relative to the 3-D image as a function of the link information.

15. A system for advertising on an electronic medium, comprising:

a storage device;

a processor, wherein the processor is adapted to;

(i) store, on the storage device, a photorealistic, 3-D model of a real-life entity, wherein the photorealistic, 3-D model corresponds to a physical structure of the entity and includes information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity;

(ii) receive at least one advertising information item, wherein each advertising information item includes at least one of content information and link information for displaying a corresponding advertisement relative to the photorealistic, 3-D model; and

(iii) display a photorealistic, 3-D image of the entity and at least one advertisement, wherein the 3-D image is displayed as a function of the information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity and wherein each advertisement is rendered relative to the 3-D image as a function of the link information.

18. A system for advertising on an electronic medium, comprising:

a storage device;

a program memory;

a first processor connected to an information network, wherein the first processor is adapted to;

(i) store, on the storage device, a photorealistic, 3-D model of a real-life entity, wherein the photorealistic, 3-D model corresponds to a physical structure of the entity and includes information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity;

(ii) receive at least one advertising information item, wherein each advertising information item includes at least one of content information and link information for displaying a corresponding advertisement relative to the photorealistic, 3-D model;

(iii) transmit, over the information network, at least one of the photorealistic, 3-D model, the information for rendering the graphical representation of the entity, the advertisement, the advertising information item, the content information, and the link information; and

a second processor connected to the information network, wherein the second processor is adapted to;

(i) receive, over the information network, into the program memory at least one of the photorealistic, 3-D model, the information for rendering the graphical representation of the entity, the advertisement, the advertising information item, the content information, and the link information;

(ii) display, from the program memory, a photorealistic, 3-D image of the entity and at least one advertisement, wherein the 3-D image is displayed as a function of the information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity and wherein each advertisement is rendered relative to the 3-D image as a function of the link information.

22. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform the steps of:

generating a photorealistic, 3-D model of a real-life entity, wherein the photorealistic, 3-D model corresponds to a physical structure of the entity and includes information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity;

receiving at least one advertising information item, wherein each advertising information item includes at least one of content information and link information for displaying a corresponding advertisement relative to the photorealistic, 3-D model; and

displaying a photorealistic, 3-D image of the entity and at least one advertisement, wherein the 3-D image is displayed as a function of the information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity and wherein each advertisement is rendered relative to the 3-D image as a function of the link information.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the content information includes at least one of a video content item, an audio content item, a logo and a trade dress item.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the trade dress item includes at least one of a structure and a color scheme.

23. A method for generating advertising revenue on an electronic medium, comprising the steps of:

generating a photorealistic, 3-D model of a real-life entity, wherein the photorealistic, 3-D model corresponds to a physical structure of the entity and includes information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity;

receiving at least one advertising information item, wherein each advertising information item includes at least one of content information and link information for displaying a corresponding advertisement relative to the photorealistic, 3-D model;

displaying a photorealistic, 3-D image of the entity and at least one advertisement, wherein the 3-D image is displayed as a function of the information for rendering a graphical representation of the entity and wherein each advertisement is rendered relative to the 3-D image as a function of the link information; and

receiving a revenue stream for each advertisement.