Methods and systems for interacting with a 3D visualization system using a 2D interface ("DextroLap")
First Claim
1. A method of positioning a cursor or other icon in a 3D virtual world that is being interactively visualized using a 2D interface, comprising:
- acquiring a first (x,y) position from a 2D device;
transforming said first position to a second (x,y) position in a plane within a 3D virtual world;
obtaining a (x,y,z) position in the virtual world by projecting from a virtual eye through the second (x,y) position into the 3D virtual world to obtain a hit point;
positioning a cursor or other icon on the hit point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a 3D visualization system can be ported to a laptop or desktop PC, or other standard 2D computing environment, which uses a mouse and keyboard as user interfaces. Using the methods of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a cursor or icon can be drawn at a contextually appropriate depth, thus preserving 3D interactivity and visualization while only having available 2D control. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a spatially correct depth can be automatically found for, and assigned to, the various cursors and icons associated with various 3D tools, control panels and other manipulations. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention this can preserve the three-dimensional experience of interacting with a 3D data set even though the 2D interface used to select objects and manipulate them cannot directly provide a third dimensional co-ordinate. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, based upon the assigned position of the cursor or icon in 3D, the functionality of a selected tool, and whether and in what sequence any buttons have been pressed on a 2D interface device, a variety of 3D virtual tools and functionalities can be implemented and controlled by a standard 2D computer interface.
159 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of positioning a cursor or other icon in a 3D virtual world that is being interactively visualized using a 2D interface, comprising:
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acquiring a first (x,y) position from a 2D device;
transforming said first position to a second (x,y) position in a plane within a 3D virtual world;
obtaining a (x,y,z) position in the virtual world by projecting from a virtual eye through the second (x,y) position into the 3D virtual world to obtain a hit point;
positioning a cursor or other icon on the hit point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of operating upon an object in a 3D data set using a 2D interface, comprising:
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selecting a 3D virtual tool;
obtaining a first (x,y) position from a 2D device;
transforming the first (x,y) position to a second (x,y) position in a plane within a 3D virtual world;
obtaining a (x,y,z) position in the virtual world by projecting from a virtual eye through the second (x,y) position into the 3D virtual world until a 3D object is hit; and
operating on the object based upon the (x,y,z) position and the functionality of the virtual tool selected. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A 3D visualization system, comprising:
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a data processor;
a memory in which software is loaded that facilitates the interactive visualization of 3D data sets in a virtual world, including a set of virtual tools, 3D display and processing functionalities;
a display; and
a 2D interface device;
wherein in operation the virtual tools and the operations on objects within the virtual world are controlled via user interaction with the 2D interface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising means for causing a computer to:
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acquire a first (x,y) position from a 2D interface device;
transform said first position to a second (x,y) position in a plane within a 3D virtual world;
obtain a (x,y,z) position in the virtual world by projecting from a virtual eye through the second (x,y) position into the 3D virtual world to obtain a hit point;
position a cursor or other icon on the hit point.
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19. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising means for causing a computer to:
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receive user input selecting a 3D virtual tool;
obtain a first (x,y) position from a 2D device;
transform the first (x,y) position to a second (x,y) position in a plane within a 3D virtual world;
obtain a (x,y,z) position in the virtual world by projecting from a virtual eye through the second (x,y) position into the 3D virtual world until a 3D object is hit; and
operate on the object based upon the (x,y,z) position and the functionality of the virtual tool selected.
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Specification