SPATIAL EXPLORATION FIELD OF VIEW PREVIEW MECHANISM

• US 20090128565A1
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Van Tilburg, Martijn E., Panchal, Prarthana, Folchi, David M., Girling, Robert M., Wong, Curtis Glenn, Fay, Jonathan Edgar
• Granted Patent: US 8,081,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/428
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

Indicators operable to preview or show the position and relative zoom level of a field of view within a virtual space. Virtual space exploration tools typically make use of a field of view for limiting a user'"'"'s view of the virtual space and zooming in on a portion of the virtual space. A spherical indicator is provided to show the current position of the field of view within the virtual space, as well as provide an indication of level of zoom. A local field of view indication is also provided to show the current position of the field of view, as well as provide an indication of level of zoom, with respect to a nearby object within the virtual space. Such indicators may be useful in exploring outer space as well as landscapes and any other spaces.

Claims

1. A set of indicators for indicating a position and relative zoom level of a field of view in a corresponding spatial environment, the set of indicators comprising:

a spherical indicator rendered on a two-dimensional display, the spherical indicator including;

a circle including an oval between the two horizontal-most points of the circle, the circle representing a sphere of the spherical indicator, the oval representing a celestial equator of the spherical indicator, and

a line between the two vertical-most points of the circle, the line representing a celestial pole of the spherical indicator, and

a center point of the circle from which a projection of the field of view is rendered within the circle representing the sphere of the spherical indicator, wherein the area of the projection of the field of view provides an indication of the relative zoom level, and

a North indication associated with the celestial pole, and

a Right Ascension indication associated with the projection of the field of view, and

a Declination indication associated with the projection of the field of view; and

a local field of view indicator rendered on the two-dimensional display, the local field of view indicator including;

an area operable to present a representation of an object of the corresponding spatial environment, and

a representation of the field of view positioned in the area relative to the object, the representation of the field of view corresponding to the projection of the field of view, wherein the area of the representation of the field of view provides an indication of the relative zoom level, and

an indication of the relative zoom level, and

a presentation of a name of the object.

2. The set of indicators of claim 1 wherein the Right Ascension indication is a value presented in an hours, minutes, seconds format.

3. The set of indicators of claim 1 wherein the Declination indication is a value presented in a degrees, minutes, seconds format.

4. The set of indicators of claim 1 wherein the corresponding spatial environment is a virtual space representing outer space.

5. The set of indicators of claim 1 wherein the projection of the field of view is scaled and oriented in the spherical indicator corresponding to the field of view in the corresponding spatial environment.

6. The set of indicators of claim 1 wherein the representation of the field of view is scaled and oriented in the local field of view indicator relative to the object corresponding to the field of view in the corresponding spatial environment.

7. A spherical indication system providing a preview of a field of view in a corresponding spatial environment, the spherical indication system comprising:

a representation of a sphere wherein the representation of the sphere represents the corresponding spatial environment;

a representation of a celestial equator of the representation of the sphere;

a representation of a celestial pole of the representation of the sphere; and

a projection of the field of view on the of the representation of the sphere,

the projection of the field of view scaled and oriented to reflect a position and a relative zoom level of the field of view in the corresponding spatial environment.

8. The spherical indication system of claim 7 further comprising a North indication associated with the representation of the celestial pole.

9. The spherical indication system of claim 7 further comprising a Right Ascension indication associated with the projection of the field of view.

10. The spherical indication system of claim 9 wherein the Right Ascension indication is a value presented in an hours, minutes, seconds format.

11. The spherical indication system of claim 7 further comprising a Declination indication associated with the projection of the field of view.

12. The spherical indication system of claim 11 wherein the Declination indication is a value presented in a degrees, minutes, seconds format.

13. The spherical indication system of claim 7 wherein the corresponding spatial environment is a virtual space representing outer space.

14. A local field of view indication system providing a preview of a field of view in a corresponding spatial environment, the local field of view indication system comprising:

an area operable to present a representation of an object of the corresponding spatial environment; and

a representation of the field of view positioned in the area relative to the object and scaled and oriented to reflect a position and a relative zoom level of the field of view in the corresponding spatial environment.

15. The local field of view indication system of claim 14 further comprising an indication of the relative zoom level.

16. The local field of view indication system of claim 15 wherein the indication of the relative zoom level is a bar graph.

17. The local field of view indication system of claim 14 wherein the indication of the relative zoom level is a numerical value.

18. The local field of view indication system of claim 14 further comprising a presentation of a name of the object.

19. The local field of view indication system of claim 14 wherein the corresponding spatial environment is a virtual space representing outer space.

20. The local field of view indication system of claim 14 wherein the object is a nearest known object to the field of view in the corresponding spatial environment.