SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NAVIGATING A 3-D ENVIRONMENT USING A MULTI-INPUT INTERFACE

• US 20120223936A1
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Aughey, John H., Fries, David D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,632,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

A system and method for 3-D environment manipulation is disclosed. A vector extrapolator is configured to extrapolate an input into a 3-D space to establish a 3-D vector extrapolation. A perspective locator is configured to relocate a viewing perspective based on the 3-D vector extrapolation.

Claims

1. A method for multi-input 3-D environment navigation, the method comprising:

extrapolating a first input into a 3-D space to provide a first 3-D vector extrapolation; and

relocating a viewing perspective based on a second 3-D vector extrapolation calculated based on the first 3-D vector extrapolation.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving the first input on a user interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first input comprises a touch.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a viewing frustum of a virtual camera to keep a first point in the 3-D space underneath a location of the first input on a user interface when the location of the first input moves on the user interface.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a relocation of a first location of the first input on a user interface to a second input location on the user interface.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising extrapolating the second input location into the 3-D space to provide the second 3-D vector extrapolation.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising manipulating a 3-D virtual construct based on the second 3-D vector extrapolation.

8. A multi-input 3-D environment device comprising:

a user interface that receives a first input;

a vector extrapolator that extrapolates the first input into a 3-D space to provide a first 3-D vector extrapolation; and

a perspective locator that relocates a viewing perspective based on a second 3-D vector extrapolation calculated based on the first 3-D vector extrapolation.

9. The multi-input 3-D environment device according to claim 8, wherein the user interface comprises a touch sensitive screen.

10. The multi-input 3-D environment device according to claim 8, wherein the first input comprises a touch.

11. The multi-input 3-D environment device according to claim 8, wherein the vector extrapolator determines a viewing frustum of a virtual camera keeping a first point in the 3-D space underneath a location of the first input on the user interface when the location of the first input moves on the user interface.

12. The multi-input 3-D environment device according to claim 8, wherein the vector extrapolator extrapolates a second input location into the 3-D space to provide the second 3-D vector extrapolation.

13. The multi-input 3-D environment device according to claim 12, wherein the perspective locator manipulates a 3-D virtual environment based on the second 3-D vector extrapolation.

14. A 3-D environment manipulation system comprising:

a vector extrapolator operable to extrapolate an input into a 3-D space to provide a 3-D vector extrapolation; and

a perspective locator operable to relocate a viewing perspective based on the 3-D vector extrapolation.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising an interface operable to receive the input.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the interface comprises at least one interface selected from the group consisting of:

a touch sensitive screen, a mouse, and a gesture based device.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the input comprises a touch.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein the vector extrapolator is further operable to determine a viewing frustum of a virtual camera to keep a virtual touch point underneath a location of the input on an interface when the location of the input moves on the interface.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the viewing frustum comprises at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

a virtual direction of a virtual camera, and a virtual location of a virtual camera.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein perspective locator is further operable to manipulate a 3-D virtual environment based on the 3-D vector extrapolation.