Method and system for displaying visual content in a virtual three-dimensional space

• US 20020176636A1
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yoav Shefi
• Original Assignee: Yoav Shefi
• Inventors: Shefi, Yoav
• Granted Patent: US 8,035,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/285
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/205 Image-based rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]

Abstract

A system and system for positioning content elements in a virtual 3D space. A 2D base plane is designated in the 3D space, and the visual content is positioned in the 3D space with at least one page being parallel to the base plane. A viewpoint and a viewing ray are selected in the 3D space from which to view the 3D space with the viewing ray being neither parallel or perpendicular to the base plane. A 2D surface is then positioned in the 3D space so that the 2D surface intersects the view ray between the viewpoint and the base plane. At least a portion of the 3D space is then projected onto the 2D surface by a perspective projection determined by the viewing ray. The process may be repeated as desired each time optionally selecting a new viewpoint and/or selecting a new viewing ray and/or altering a property of one or more content elements. The projection onto the viewing surface may be displayed on a display device such as a computer monitor.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a first page and at least a second page or a content element, a page being a 2D array of 2D and/or volumetric 3D content elements, each page having a layout, and projecting the first page and the second page or the first page and the content element onto a 2D surface, comprising:

(a) In a virtual three-dimensional (3D) space 3D space, designating a 2D base plane;

(b) positioning the at least first page and the second page or the content element in the 3D space with at least the first page parallel to the base plane;

(c) selecting a viewpoint and a viewing ray;

(d)positioning the 2D surface in the 3D space so that the 2D surface intersects the view ray between the viewpoint and the base plane; and

(e)projecting at least a portion of the 3D space onto the 2D surface by a perspective projection determined by the view ray;

(f) repeating (c), (d), and (e) as desired, each time optionally selecting a new viewpoint and/or selecting a new viewing ray and/or altering a property of one or more content elements or one or more pages in the 3D space;

characterized in that the view ray is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the base plane.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the 2D surface is a planar surface, a spherical surface, a cylindrical surface, or an irregular surface.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein two adjacent pages are separated from each other in the base plane.

4. The method according to anyone of the previous claims wherein at least one page contains at least one 3D volumetric content element.

5. The method according to anyone of the previous claims further comprising a step of parsing a page into content elements and repositioning one or more of the content elements in the 3D space.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein and the page'"'"'s content elements are repositioned in the 3D space so as to preserve the layout.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6 wherein a content element is repositioned in the base plane next to the page.

8. The method according to claim 5 or 6 wherein a content element is repositioned out of the base plane.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein a 2D content element is positioned parallel to the base plane.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein a 2D content element is repositioned so that it projects from the base plane.

11. The method according to anyone of the previous claims further comprising a step of positioning in the 3D space one or more additional content elements.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein one or more of the additional content elements are advertising.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein a content element is positioned equidistantly between two pages.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein a content element is positioned between two adjacent pages closer to one of the pages than the other.

15. The method according to anyone of the previous claims wherein a content element executes a response when the viewing ray or the viewpoint satisfies a predetermined condition.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the predetermined condition is selected from the group comprising:

(a) a distance from the viewpoint to the content element is less than a predetermined distance;

(b)The content element intersects a cone centered around the viewing ray having a vertex at the viewpoint and a predetermined apical angle;

(c) The content element intersects a cone centered around the viewing ray having a vertex at the viewpoint and a predetermined apical angle as the viewpoint moves towards the content element;

(d) The content element intersects a cone centered around the viewing ray having a vertex at the viewpoint and a predetermined apical angle as the viewpoint moves away from the content element;

(e) The content element intersects a cone centered around the viewing ray having a vertex at the viewpoint and a predetermined apical angle as the viewpoint accelerates or decelerates;

(f) The viewpoint passes by the content element; and

(g) The user requests a response from a content element using a computer input device.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the response is selected from the group comprising:

(a) the content element becomes animated;

(b) the content element is repositioned;

(c) the content element issues sounds;

18. The method according to any one of the previous claims further comprising a step displaying the 2D surface on one or more viewing surfaces.

19. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of projecting the 2D surface onto a second 2D surface positioned in the 3D space and displaying the second 2D surface on one or more viewing surfaces.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19 wherein the viewing surface is a computer monitor, a television, or a set-top box.

21. The method according to anyone of claims 18 to 20 wherein one or more of the display devices is remotely located.

22. The method according to anyone of the previous claims further comprising:

(a) designating one or more planes in the 3D space in addition to the base plane, the additional planes being parallel to the base plane;

(b) positioning one or more pages or content elements in the additional planes;

23. The method according to claim 22 further comprising:

(a) Selecting a plane from among the base plane and the additional planes; and

removing the other planes from the 3D space; and

(b) projecting at least a portion of the 3D space onto the 2D surface by a perspective projection determined by the viewing ray.

24. The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one page is an application window.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the window contains a content element that is at least a portion of a document page.

26. The method according to claim 1 further including a step of designating in the base plane one or more regions for positioning a page and/or content element.

27. The method according to anyone of the previous claims further comprising a step of replacing a page or a content element in the base plane when a distance between the viewpoint and the page or content element is greater than a predetermined distance.

28. The method according to any one of the previous claims wherein the base plane is subdivided into content areas by a grid.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein the grid designates areas in the base plane for one or more pages, areas surrounding pages, or areas between the designated areas surrounding pages.

30. The method according to any one of the previous claims wherein one or more of the pages are results of a search query.

31. The method according to any one of the previous claims, wherein a first content element is positioned between a second content element and a third content element in a different page.

32. The method according to any one of the previous claims further comprising transmitting content elements or pages in the 3D with their positions in the 3D space to a local disk or a remote location.

43. The system according to anyone of claims 31 to 42 the processor is further configured to position in the 3D space one or more additional content elements.

44. The system according to claim 43 wherein one or more of the additional content elements are advertising.

45. The system according to claim 44 wherein a content element is positioned equidistantly between two pages.

46. The system according to claim 44 wherein a content element is positioned between two adjacent pages closer to one of the pages than the other.

47. The system according to anyone of claims 31 to 46 wherein a content element executes a response when the viewing ray or the viewpoint satisfies a predetermined condition.

48. The system according to claim 47 wherein the predetermined condition is selected from the group comprising:

(h) a distance from the viewpoint to the content element is less than a predetermined distance;

(i) The content element intersects a cone centered around the viewing ray having a vertex at the viewpoint and a predetermined apical angle;

(j) The content element intersects a cone centered around the viewing ray having a vertex at the viewpoint and a predetermined apical angle as the viewpoint moves towards the content element;

(k)The content element intersects a cone centered around the viewing ray having a vertex at the viewpoint and a predetermined apical angle as the viewpoint moves away from the content element;

(l) The content element intersects a cone centered around the viewing ray having a vertex at the viewpoint and a predetermined apical angle as the viewpoint accelerates or decelerates;

(m) The viewpoint passes by the content element; and

(n) The user requests a response from a content element using a computer input device.

49. The system according to claim 47 or 48 wherein the response is selected from the group comprising;

(d) the content element becomes animated;

(e) the content element is repositioned;

(f) the content element issues sounds;

50. The system according to claim 31 further comprising one or more display devices.

51. The system according to claim 50 wherein the viewing surface is a computer monitor, a television, or a stereo viewer.

52. The system according to anyone of claims 50 or 51 wherein one or more of the display devices is remotely located.

53. A computer program comprising computer program code means for performing all the steps of claim 1 when said program is run on a computer.

54. A computer program as claimed in claim 53 embodied on a computer readable medium.

33. A system for positioning a first page and at least a second page or a content element, a page being a 2D array of 2D and/or volumetric 3D content elements, each page having a layout, and projecting the first page and the second page or the first page and the content element onto a 2D surface, comprising:

(a) A processor configured to

(aa) Designate a 2D base plane in the 3D space

(ab) position the at least first page and the second page or the content element in the 3D space with at least one page parallel to the base plane;

(ac) position the 2D surface in the 3D space so as to intersect a predetermined view ray at a predetermined distance from a predetermined view point;

(ad) project at least a portion of the 3D space onto the 2D surface by a perspective projection determined by the view ray; and

(ae) repeat (ab), (ac), and (ad) as desired, each time optionally selecting a new viewpoint and/or selecting a new viewing ray and/or altering a property of one or more content elements or one or more pages in the 3D space;

,

characterized in that the view ray is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the base plane.

34. The system according to claim 33 wherein the 2D surface is a planar surface, a spherical surface, a cylindrical surface, or an irregular surface.

35. The system according to claim 33 or 34 wherein two adjacent pages are separated from each other in the base plane.

36. The system according to anyone of claims 33 to 35 wherein at least one page contains at least one 3D volumetric content element.

37. The system according to anyone of claims 33 to 36 wherein the processor is further configured to parse a page into content elements and reposition one or more of the content elements in the 3D space.

38. The system according to claim 37 wherein and the processor is further configured to reposition a page'"'"'s content element so as to preserve the page'"'"'s layout.

39. The system according to claim 37 or 38 wherein the processor is further configured to reposition a content element in the base plane next to the page.

40. The system according to claim 37 or 38 wherein the processor is further configured reposition a content element out of the base plane.

41. The system according to claim 40 wherein the processor is further configured to position a 2D content element iparallel to the base plane.

42. The system according to claim 40 wherein the processor is further configured to reposition a 2D content element so that it projects from the base plane.