Creation of three-dimensional user interface

• US 20080013860A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blanco, Victor K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,661,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/285
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A three-dimensional (3-D) user interface (UI) creation system maps a two-dimensional (2-D), interactive UI to an 3-D object template in a 3-D scene. Once mapped, the 2-D UI functions as a simple user interface while appearing as a skin to the 3-D object. A 3-D UI creation tool applies image resources of a 2-D UI template to a 3-D wire frame template to create a 3-D UI. The system provides for rapid implementation of a 3-D UI without need for understanding a 3-D space or 3-D authoring software. The process includes preparing a 2-D UI, loading a 3-D scene of 3-D objects, and mapping the 2-D UI to a 3-D object template in the 3-D scene. A scheme file provides a specification for recreating the 3-D scene in a runtime module whereby the 3-D scene functions as a 3-D UI system, allowing interaction via a user input system.

Claims

1. A method for authoring an interactive, three-dimensional user interface comprising

creating a three-dimensional object;

creating a two-dimensional texture;

defining an interactive behavior of the two-dimensional texture;

mapping the two-dimensional texture to the three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional space to form a three-dimensional scene; and

coordinating a behavior of the two-dimensional texture and the three-dimensional object in the three-dimensional space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

the two-dimensional texture is comprised of one or more image assets;

and

the defining operation defines the interactive behavior as user interface functionality in the one or more image assets in response to user input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the two-dimensional texture is comprised of one or more image assets;

and

the defining operation defines the interactive behavior as navigation instructions between the one or more image assets in response to user input.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising defining animation properties for the three-dimensional object.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the coordinating operation further comprises specifying a scene schema for implementing the three-dimensional scene in the three-dimensional space.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinating operation further comprises implementing instructions in addition to the scene schema to effect the behavior the two-dimensional texture and the three-dimensional object in the three-dimensional space.

7. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process implementing the method of claim 1.

8. A method for implementing an interactive, three-dimensional user interface comprising

reading instructions from a scene schema for creating a three-dimensional scene;

instantiating the three-dimensional scene in three-dimensional space by

importing a two-dimensional user interface into a three-dimensional space;

importing a three-dimensional object into the three-dimensional space; and

mapping the two-dimensional user interface to a surface of the three-dimensional object;

assigning user input commands to the two-dimensional user interface; and

activating behaviors associated with the two-dimensional user interface in response to the user input commands.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein

the assigning operation further comprises

sending the user input commands from the three-dimensional space to a resource image rendering module;

the activating operation further comprises

constructing a revised two-dimensional UI from a resource image file reflecting the activated behaviors; and

the second importing operation further comprises

importing the revised two-dimensional user interface into the three-dimensional space to change the three-dimensional scene.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising

designing a two-dimensional graphical template;

and

assigning one or more behavioral properties to the two dimensional graphical template to create the two-dimensional user interface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second assigning operation further comprises associating directions for navigating among elements of the two-dimensional graphic template in response to user input.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second assigning operation further comprises associating functions responsive to user input with one or more elements of the two-dimensional graphic template

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising receiving instructions, in addition to the scene schema, for instantiating the three-dimensional scene.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the instructions alter at least one of the behavioral properties.

15. The method of claim 8 further comprising

waiting for an event;

and,

upon occurrence of the event, altering at least one of the behavioral properties.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising

waiting for an event;

sending notification of the event from the three-dimensional space to a resource image rendering module;

constructing a revised two-dimensional user interface from a resource image file reflecting the activated behaviors; and

importing the revised two-dimensional user interface into the three-dimensional space to change the three-dimensional scene.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process implementing the method of claim 8.

18. A system for creating an interactive, three-dimensional user interface comprising

a two-dimensional user interface editor module for attaching behavioral attributes to a two-dimensional graphical template to create an interactive, two-dimensional user interface;

a three-dimensional scene building module that maps the two-dimensional user interface to the surface of a three-dimensional object to create a three-dimensional scene and specifies a scene schema for implementing the three-dimensional scene in three-dimensional space;

a two-dimensional resource rendering module that manages one or more two-dimensional user interface resources;

a three-dimensional resource rendering module that manages one or more two-dimensional user interface resources; and

a three-dimensional space runtime module that implements the scene schema by importing the two-dimensional user interface from the two-dimensional resource rendering module and the three-dimensional object from three-dimensional resource rendering module instantiate the three-dimensional in three-dimensional space.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a two-dimensional graphic design program for designing the two-dimensional graphical template

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising a three-dimensional graphic design program for designing the three-dimensional object.