NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR A 3D VIRTUAL SCENE

• US 20090083662A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Kurenbach, Gord, Fitzmaurice, George, Khan, Azam, Matejka, Justin
• Granted Patent: US 10,025,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A navigation system for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) scene that includes a model or object with which a user can interact. The system accommodates and helps both novice and advanced users. To do this, the system provides a first contact tool graphic that introduces a user to the types of navigation tools, their uses and the capabilities of their action tools. A graphical user interface is played on a display when a user initially starts navigation operations for navigating a three dimensional scene. The tool selection graphic includes a text graphic describing navigation tool behavior, a first graphic showing selectable navigation tools for new users, a second graphic showing selectable navigation tools for experienced users, tool description graphic selectable from the first and second graphics showing action tool details for a selected navigation tool comprising navigation tool shape, action tool location on the a circular tool position shape and tool functions, nd an associated tool graphic positioned adjacent the tool description graphic allowing selection of other tools of a set of task based tools associated with the tool description graphic.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface displayed on a display, comprising:

a tool selection graphic displayed in a scene comprising;

a first graphic showing selectable tools for new users; and

a second graphic showing selectable tools for experienced users.

2. An interface as recited in claim 1, further comprising a text graphic describing tool behavior.

3. An interface as recited in claim 2, wherein the graphic describes cursor tracking behavior.

4. An interface as recited in claim 2, wherein the graphic describes tool visibility key board key behavior.

5. An interface as recited in claim 1, further comprising tool description graphic selectable from the first and second graphics showing action tool details for a selected tool.

6. An interface as recited in claim 4, wherein the action tool details depict tool shape, action tool location on a circular tool position shape and tool functions.

7. An interface as recited in claim 4, further comprising an image showing typical use of the action tool.

8. An interface as recited in claim 4, further comprising an associated tool graphic positioned adjacent the tool description graphic allowing selection of other tools of a set of task based tools associated with the tool description graphic.

9. An interface as recited in claim 1, further comprising a text graphic describing tool use.

10. An interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the tool selection graphic is located in a lower left corner of a view of a scene upon start-up.

11. An interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the disappears when the cursor moves the cursor outside of bounds of the graphic.

12. An interface as recited in claim 1, wherein moving the cursor over sub-elements of the graphic change the graphic and switch default settings for a tool.

13. An interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the disappears when a tool is activated.

14. A graphical user interface displayed on a display when a user initially starts navigation operations for navigating a three dimensional scene, comprising:

a tool selection graphic comprising;

a text graphic describing navigation tool behavior;

a first graphic showing selectable navigation tools for new users;

a second graphic showing selectable navigation tools for experienced users;

tool description graphic selectable from the first and second graphics showing action tool details for a selected navigation tool comprising navigation tool shape, action tool location on the a circular tool position shape and tool functions; and

an associated tool graphic positioned adjacent the tool description graphic allowing selection of other tools of a set of task based tools associated with the tool description graphic.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a display; and

a computer displaying a tool selection graphic in a scene on the display, the tool selection graphic comprising a first graphic showing selectable tools for new users and a second graphic showing selectable tools for experienced users.

16. A computer readable storage for controlling a computer apparatus, comprising:

a program displaying a tool selection graphic in a scene on the display, the tool selection graphic comprising a first graphic showing selectable tools for new users and a second graphic showing selectable tools for experienced users.

17. An method, comprising:

displaying a tool selection graphic in a scene on the display, the tool selection graphic comprising a first graphic showing selectable tools for new users and a second graphic showing selectable tools for experienced users.