3D model presentation system with motion and transitions at each camera view point of interest (POI) with imageless jumps to each POI

• US 20070211149A1
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitzmaurice, George, Kurtenbach, Gordon, Khan, Azam, Burtnyk, Nicolas
• Granted Patent: US 9,070,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.400
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

An interactive 3D presentation system that utilizes a collection of shots or motion views where each shot can include a combination of a camera view and camera action. A visual transition, such as a fade, can be presented at the end and beginning of sequential shots. Between the end point of a first shot and the beginning of a sequential shot, the scene is not shown. The system allows interactive authoring and/or viewing a 3D visual experience composed by defining a collection of shots where each shot is a combination of a camera view point of interest (POI) plus a camera motion path. The POI is placed on the path in a variety of ways where it can be at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of the path. A collection of predefined, cinematically styled camera motion paths, such as a crane and track shots, can be made available to the author. The pacing and duration of each shot can be adjusted. A graphical user interface showing the scene is provided and includes thumbnails of the POI or sets of POIs where the user can select a thumbnail to play an associated shot or set. The interface allows for the arrangement and ordering of shots to be used in a presentation. The system allows a shot to be retrieved from a collection of shots by indexing the 3D locations of each shot'"'"'s camera path and using this index to find the nearest neighbors to a user specified mouse cursor position. Variations in the scene can also be selected using the interface.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

allowing a user to specify a first motion view of a 3D scene comprising a path in association with the 3D scene and a view of the scene along the path; and

allowing the user to present the motion view.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the user to specify a second motion view; and

allowing the user to execute the first and second motion views in a sequence.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising allowing the user to specify a visual transition at an end of the first motion view and at a beginning of the second motion view.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein a display of a view of the scene between an end point of the first motion view and a start point of the second motion view is a viewless transition.

5. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising allowing the user to specify automatic repeated playing of the first and second motion views.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to specify one of a view type and a path type.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to specify a point of interest, comprising a point along the path and a view direction at the point.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to specify a pace and duration of the first motion view.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first motion view has predefined type path.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first motion view has a path curve and view orientations along the path curve interactively drawn by the user.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to specify the first motion view by selecting a thumbnail image representing the first motion view.

12. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising allowing the user to specify a set of the first and second motion views to play by selecting a thumbnail image representing the set.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to specify the first motion view by designating a point in the scene.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising locating a motion view associated with the point.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the locating comprises identifying a closest motion view to the point.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the locating comprises identifying a motion view that is closest to the point and oriented toward the point.

17. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the locating comprises identifying N motion views closest to and oriented toward the point.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to select scene variations for the first motion view.

19. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the execution of the motion view is automatic.

20. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the execution of the motion views is automatic.

21. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the motion view presented by one of executing the motion view or playing a rendered motion view.

22. A method, comprising:

allowing the user to specify a set of the first and second motion views to play by selecting a thumbnail image representing the set where each first motion view of a 3D scene comprises a path in association with the 3D scene and a view of the scene along the path;

allowing the user to specify a pace and duration for each view;

allowing the user to specify a visual transition at an end of the first motion view and at a beginning of the second motion view;

allowing the user to specify one of a path type from among predetermined path types for each motion view;

allowing the user to specify a point of interest for each motion view, comprising a point along the path and a view direction at the point; and

allowing the user to automatically execute the motion views and the transition along the paths in sequence according to the path types with the path traversing the points and viewing in the directions and with a viewless cut between the motion views.

23. A system, comprising:

a display;

an input device; and

a computer allowing a user to specify, with the input device, a first motion view of a 3D scene comprising a path in association with the 3D scene and a view of the scene along the path, and allowing the user to automatically execute the motion view to display the motion view on the display.

24. A graphical user interface, comprising:

a view of a 3D scene; and

a thumbnail image representing a motion view of the 3D scene comprising a path in association with the 3D scene and a view of the scene along the path.

25. An interface as recited in claim 24, further comprising a thumbnail image representing a set of motion views.

26. An interface as recited in claim 24, further comprising thumbnail images representing alternate 3D scenes.

27. An interface as recited in claim 24, further comprising a play control for playing the motion view.

28. An interface as recited in claim 24, further comprising a loop control for repeatedly playing the motion view.

29. A computer readable storage for controlling a computer including a process allowing a user to specify a first motion view of a 3D scene comprising a path in association with the 3D scene and a view of the scene along the path, and allowing the user to automatically execute the motion view.

30. A method, comprising:

allowing the user to specify a point in a scene; and

locating a view of the scene closest to the point.