SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING THREE-DIMENSIONAL GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

• US 20110029907A1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SpaceTime3D, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SpaceTime3D, Inc.
• Inventors: BAKHASH, E. EDDIE
• Granted Patent: US 8,881,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for providing an improved three-dimensional graphical user interface. In one embodiment, the method generally comprises: receiving an input from an end user, and capturing computing output from at least one computer source in response to the received end-user input. The computing output can be presented as two or more objects within a three-dimensional virtual space displayed to the end user. In one embodiment, the method further comprises generating a timeline that includes an icon for each object presented within the virtual space. In another embodiment, the method further comprises providing a database for storing and categorizing data regarding each object presented within the virtual space.

Claims

1. A method for providing a three-dimensional graphical user interface, comprising:

receiving an input from an end user;

capturing computing output from at least one computer source in response to the received end user input;

presenting the computing output as at least two objects within a three-dimensional virtual space displayed to the end user;

generating a timeline that includes an icon for each object presented within the virtual space, wherein each of the icons are organized in linear chronological order according to when the objects were presented within the virtual space; and

displaying the timeline within the virtual space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the computing output as at least two objects within a three-dimensional virtual space comprises presenting the at least two objects within a simulated three-dimensional Cartesian space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an input comprises receiving an search query entered by the end user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing computing output from at least one computer source comprises capturing at least one output from a network server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein capturing at least one output from a remote internet site comprises:

capturing a first output from a first web search service; and

capturing a second output from a second web search service.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein capturing a first output from a first web search service comprises running a first web search based on a first search term entered by the end user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein capturing a second output from a second web search service comprises running a second web search based on the first search term.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein capturing a second output from a second web search service comprises running a second web search based on a second search term entered by the end user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing computing output from at least one computer source comprises capturing at least one output from a local operating system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein capturing at least one output from a local operating system comprises dragging and dropping a first object from the local operating system into the virtual space.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing computing output from at least one computer source comprises capturing at least one output from a remote operating system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the computing output as at least two objects comprises displaying the at least two objects in association with each other within the virtual space.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein displaying the at least two objects in association with each other comprises displaying the at least two objects as a 3D stack within the virtual space.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the computing output as at least two objects comprises displaying the at least two objects in the virtual space according to a changeable gestalt.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the computing output as at least two objects comprises displaying one of the at least two objects as a 3D stack within the virtual space.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the computing output as at least two objects comprises displaying one of the at least two objects as a window within the virtual space.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the computing output as at least two objects comprises utilizing programmatic access to generate the at least two objects.

18. The method of claim 3, wherein presenting the computing output as at least two objects comprises providing a first object with a first hyperlink.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein clicking on the first hyperlink causes a second object to appear in association with a chosen gestalt in the virtual space.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein clicking on the first hyperlink causes a third object to appear in association with the chosen gestalt in the virtual space.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising saving an arrangement of the least two objects as a viewpoint for retrieval at a later time.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising adding a viewpoint icon representing the viewpoint into the timeline for retrieval of the viewpoint at a later time.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising recreating the viewpoint for display within the virtual space when the end user clicks on the viewpoint icon in the timeline.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising saving an arrangement of the icons in the timeline for retrieval at a later time.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising projecting one of the at least two objects as a heads-up display.

26. A system for providing a three-dimensional graphical user interface, comprising:

a display screen;

an input device for receiving an input from an end user;

a processor module operatively coupled to the display screen and the user input device; and

a memory module operatively coupled to the processor module, the memory module comprising executable code for the processor module to;

capture computing output from at least one computer source in response to the received end user input;

present the computing output as at least two objects within a three-dimensional virtual space displayed on the display screen;

generate a timeline that includes an icon for each object presented within the virtual space, wherein each of the icons are organized in linear chronological order according to when the objects were presented within the Cartesian space; and

display the timeline within the virtual space.

27. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the processor module presents the computing output as at least two objects within a three-dimensional virtual space by presenting the at least two objects within a simulated three-dimensional Cartesian space.

28. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the processor module receives an input by receiving an internet search query entered by the end user.

29. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the processor module captures computing output from at least one computer source by capturing at least one output from a remote internet site.

30. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the processor module captures computing output from at least one computer source by capturing at least one output from a local operating system.

31. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the processor module captures computing output from at least one computer source by capturing at least one output from a remote operating system.

32. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the processor module presents the computing output as at least two objects by displaying the at least two objects as a 3D stack within the virtual space.

33. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the processor module presents the computing output as at least two objects by displaying the at least two objects as a 3D stack within the virtual space.

34. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the processor module presents the computing output as at least two objects by displaying the at least two objects as two or more 3D stacks within the virtual space.

35. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the processor module presents the computing output as at least two objects by utilizing programmatic access to generate the at least two objects.

36. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein the processor module presents the computing output as at least two objects by providing at least one web page in the virtual space.

37. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the memory module further comprises executable code for the processor to save the arrangement of the least two objects in the virtual space as a viewpoint for retrieval at a later time.

40. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the memory module further comprises executable code for the processor to save the arrangement of the icons in the timeline for retrieval at a later time.

41. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the memory module further comprises executable code for the processor to project one of the at least two objects as a heads-up display.

38. The system as recited in claim 38, wherein the memory module further comprises executable code for the processor to add a viewpoint icon representing the viewpoint into the timeline for retrieval of the viewpoint at a later time.

39. The system as recited in claim 38, wherein the memory module further comprises executable code for the processor to recreate the viewpoint for display in the virtual space when the end user clicks on the viewpoint icon in the timeline.

42. A system for providing a three-dimensional graphical user interface in a computer network, comprising:

a server connected to the computer network and a user interface application executing in association with the server to provide the functions of;

receiving an input from an end user;

capturing computing output from at least one computer source in response to the received end user input;

presenting the computing output as at least two objects within a three-dimensional virtual space displayed to the end user;

generating a timeline that includes an icon for each object presented within the virtual space, wherein each of the icons are organized in linear chronological order according to when the objects were presented within the Cartesian space; and

displaying the timeline within the virtual space.

43. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the server presents the computing output as at least two objects within a three-dimensional virtual space by presenting the at least two objects within a simulated three-dimensional Cartesian space.

44. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the server receives an input by receiving an internet search query entered by the end user.

45. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the server captures computing output from at least one computer source by capturing at least one output from a remote internet site.

46. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the server captures computing output from at least one computer source by capturing at least one output from a local operating system.

47. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the server captures computing output from at least one computer source by capturing at least one output from a remote operating system.

48. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the server presents the computing output as at least two objects by displaying the at least two objects as a 3D stack within the virtual space.

49. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the server presents the computing output as at least two objects by displaying the at least two objects as a 3D stack within the virtual space.

50. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the server presents the computing output as at least two objects by displaying the at least two objects as two or more 3D stacks within the virtual space.

51. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the server presents the computing output as at least two objects by utilizing programmatic access to generate the at least two objects.

52. The system as recited in claim 45, wherein the server presents the computing output as at least two objects by providing at least one web page in the virtual space.

53. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the user interface application executes in association with the server to provide the further function of saving the arrangement of the least two objects in the virtual space as a viewpoint for retrieval at a later time.

54. The system as recited in claim 53, wherein the user interface application executes in association with the server to provide the further function of adding a viewpoint icon representing the viewpoint into the timeline for retrieval of the viewpoint at a later time.

55. The system as recited in claim 54, wherein the memory module further comprises executable code for the processor to recreate the viewpoint for display in the virtual space when the end user clicks on the viewpoint icon in the timeline.

56. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the user interface application executes in association with the server to provide the further function of saving the arrangement of the icons in the timeline for retrieval at a later time.

57. The system as recited in claim 42, wherein the user interface application executes in association with the server to provide the further function of projecting one of the at least two objects as a heads-up display.

58. A network system for providing a three-dimensional graphical user interface, comprising:

a computer server network comprising a plurality of servers in communication with each other;

at least one display screen operatively coupled to the computer server network;

at least one input device for receiving an input from an end user, the input device being operatively coupled to the computer server network; and

a software module for providing a series of screen displays to the end user, the software module being accessible by one or more of the servers of the computer server network, the software module comprising instructions for directing the servers to;

capture computing output from at least one network source in response to the received end user input;

present the computing output as at least two objects within a simulated three-dimensional Cartesian space displayed on the display screen;

generate a timeline that includes an icon for each object presented within the Cartesian space, wherein each of the icons are organized in linear chronological order according to when the objects were presented within the Cartesian space; and

display the timeline within the Cartesian space.

59. A computer readable recording medium for storing a computer program that makes a computer execute:

receiving an input from an end user;

capturing computing output from at least one computer source in response to the received end user input;

presenting the computing output as at least two objects within a simulated three-dimensional Cartesian space displayed to the end user;

generating a timeline that includes an icon for each object presented within the Cartesian space, wherein each of the icons are organized in linear chronological order according to when the objects were presented within the Cartesian space; and

displaying the timeline within the Cartesian space.

60. A method for providing a three-dimensional graphical user interface, comprising:

receiving an input from an end user;

capturing computing output from at least one computer source in response to the received end user input;

presenting the computing output as at least two objects within a three-dimensional virtual space displayed to the end user;

providing a database module for storing and categorizing data regarding each object presented within the virtual space; and

displaying the data regarding one or more of the objects within the database module presented along with virtual space.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising providing within the database module hyperlinks to respective viewpoints of the objects for which the data is displayed.

62. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

generating a timeline that includes an icon for each object presented within the virtual space, wherein each of the icons are organized in linear chronological order according to when the objects were presented within the virtual space; and

displaying the timeline within the virtual space.

63. A system for providing a three-dimensional graphical user interface, comprising:

a display screen;

an input device for receiving an input from an end user;

a processor module operatively coupled to the display screen and the user input device; and

a memory module operatively coupled to the processor module, the memory module comprising executable code for the processor module to;

capture computing output from at least one computer source in response to the received end user input;

present the computing output as at least two objects within a three-dimensional virtual space displayed on the display screen;

provide a database module for storing and categorizing data regarding each object presented within the virtual space;

provide a hyperlink within the database module to respective viewpoint of each object presented within the virtual space; and

display the data regarding one or more of the objects within the database module presented along with virtual space.

64. A system for providing a three-dimensional graphical user interface in a computer network, comprising:

a server connected to the computer network and a user interface application executing in association with the server to provide the functions of;

receiving an input from an end user;

capturing computing output from at least one computer source in response to the received end user input;

presenting the computing output as at least two objects within a three-dimensional virtual space displayed to the end user;

providing a database module for storing and categorizing data regarding each object presented within the virtual space;

providing a hyperlink within the database module to respective viewpoint of each object presented within the virtual space; and

displaying the data regarding one or more of the objects within the database module presented along with virtual space.

65. A network system for providing a three-dimensional graphical user interface, comprising:

a computer server network comprising a plurality of servers in communication with each other;

at least one display screen operatively coupled to the computer server network;

at least one input device for receiving an input from an end user, the input device being operatively coupled to the computer server network; and

a software module for providing a series of screen displays to the end user, the software module being accessible by one or more of the servers of the computer server network, the software module comprising instructions for directing the servers to;

capture computing output from at least one network source in response to the received end user input;

present the computing output as at least two objects within a simulated three-dimensional Cartesian space displayed on the display screen;

provide a database module for storing and categorizing data regarding each object presented within the virtual space;

provide a hyperlink within the database module to respective viewpoint of each object presented within the virtual space; and

display the data regarding one or more of the objects within the database module presented along with virtual space.

66. A computer readable recording medium for storing a computer program that makes a computer execute:

receiving an input from an end user;

capturing computing output from at least one computer source in response to the received end user input;

presenting the computing output as at least two objects within a simulated three-dimensional Cartesian space displayed to the end user;

providing a database module for storing and categorizing data regarding each object presented within the virtual space;

provide a hyperlink within the database module to respective viewpoint of each object presented within the virtual space; and

displaying the data regarding one or more of the objects within the database module presented along with virtual space.