FACILITATING SEARCH FOR ITEMS IN 3D SIMULATIONS

• US 20090249227A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Clark, Jason, Leah, Robert C., Yim, Peter C., Poore, Nicholas E., Dewar, Amy H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,250,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A method for facilitating a search for an object in a three-dimensional simulation can be provided. The method can include receiving from a user at least one search parameter corresponding to an object and executing a search for the object based on the at least one search parameter. The method can further include generating a list of search results, wherein each search result corresponds to an object in the three-dimensional simulation and receiving from the user a selection corresponding to a first object in the list of search results. The method can further include transporting an avatar of the user to a location of the first object and displaying a visual indicator of a position of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation, wherein the visual indicator is distinct from the first object and wherein the visual indicator is not viewed by other users.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a search for an object in a three-dimensional simulation, comprising:

receiving from a user at least one search parameter corresponding to an object;

executing a search for the object based on the at least one search parameter;

generating a list of search results responsive to executing the search for the object, wherein each search result corresponds to an object in the three-dimensional simulation;

receiving from the user a selection corresponding to a first object in the list of search results;

transporting an avatar of the user to a location of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation; and

displaying a visual indicator of a position of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation, wherein the visual indicator is distinct from the first object and wherein the visual indicator is not viewed by other users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying comprises:

displaying in the three-dimensional simulation an illumination of the first object, wherein the illumination is not viewed by other users.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying comprises:

displaying movement of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation wherein the movement is not viewed by other users.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transporting comprises:

transporting an avatar of the user to a location of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation, wherein the avatar is positioned such that the first object is in a field of view displayed to the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of displaying comprises:

displaying in the three-dimensional simulation an illumination of the first object, wherein the illumination is not viewed by other users.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying comprises:

displaying in the three-dimensional simulation a rotation of a field of view about a location of the avatar, wherein the rotation ceases when the first object is in the field of view displayed to the user.

7. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium embodying computer usable program code for facilitating a search for an object in a three-dimensional simulation, comprising:

computer usable program code for receiving from a user at least one search parameter corresponding to an object;

computer usable program code for executing a search for the object based on the at least one search parameter;

computer usable program code for generating a list of search results responsive to executing the search for the object, wherein each search result corresponds to an object in the three-dimensional simulation;

computer usable program code for receiving from the user a selection corresponding to a first object in the list of search results;

computer usable program code for transporting an avatar of the user to a location of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation; and

computer usable program code for displaying a visual indicator of a position of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation, wherein the visual indicator is distinct from the first object and wherein the visual indicator is not viewed by other users.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer usable program code for displaying comprises:

computer usable program code for displaying in the three-dimensional simulation an illumination of the first object, wherein the illumination is not viewed by other users.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer usable program code for displaying comprises:

computer usable program code for displaying movement of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation wherein the movement is not viewed by other users.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer usable program code for transporting comprises:

computer usable program code for transporting an avatar of the user to a location of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation, wherein the avatar is positioned such that the first object is in a field of view displayed to the user.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer usable program code for displaying comprises:

computer usable program code for displaying in the three-dimensional simulation an illumination of the first object, wherein the illumination is not viewed by other users.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the computer usable program code for displaying comprises:

computer usable program code for displaying in the three-dimensional simulation a rotation of a field of view about a location of the avatar, wherein the rotation ceases when the first object is in the field of view displayed to the user.

13. A computer system for facilitating a search for an object in a three-dimensional simulation, comprising:

a processor configured for;

executing a search for the object based on at least one search parameter provided by a user; and

generating a list of search results responsive to executing the search for the object, wherein each search result corresponds to an object in the three-dimensional simulation;

a receiver for receiving from the user a selection corresponding to a first object in the list of search results; and

a display processor for;

displaying an avatar of the user in a location of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation; and

displaying a visual indicator of a position of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation, wherein the visual indicator is distinct from the first object and wherein the visual indicator is not viewed by other users.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of displaying a visual indicator comprises:

displaying in the three-dimensional simulation an illumination of the first object, wherein the illumination is not viewed by other users.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of displaying a visual indicator comprises:

displaying movement of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation wherein the movement is not viewed by other users.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of displaying an avatar comprises:

displaying an avatar of the user in a location of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation, wherein the avatar is positioned such that the first object is in a field of view displayed to the user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of displaying a visual indicator comprises:

displaying in the three-dimensional simulation an illumination of the first object, wherein the illumination is not viewed by other users.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of displaying a visual indicator comprises:

displaying in the three-dimensional simulation a rotation of a field of view about a location of the avatar, wherein the rotation ceases when the first object is in the field of view displayed to the user.