Moving viewpoint with respect to a target in a three-dimensional workspace
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of operating a system that includes a display, a user input device, and a processor connected for receiving signals from the user input device and for presenting images on the display;
- the user input device providing region indicating signals indicating regions within images presented and motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
the method comprising steps of;
presenting a first image on the display;
the first image including a first surface that is perceptible as viewed from a first viewpoint within a three-dimensional workspace;
the step of presenting the first image comprising a substep of storing viewpoint coordinate data indicating a position of the first viewpoint in the three-dimensional workspace;
receiving a first region indicating signal and a first motion requesting signal from the user input device;
the first region indicating signal indicating a first region on the first surface;
the first motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion relative to the first region; and
presenting a second image on the display;
the second image including a second surface that is perceptible as a continuation of the first surface viewed from a second viewpoint within the three-dimensional workspace, the second viewpoint being displaced from the position indicated by the stored viewpoint coordinate data relative to the first region on the first surface in accordance with the first motion requesting signal.
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Abstract
Images are presented on a display to produce the perception of viewpoint motion in a three-dimensional workspace. The user can indicate a point of interest (POI) or other region on a surface in an image and request viewpoint motion. In response, another image is presented from a viewpoint that is displaced as requested. The user can request viewpoint motion radially toward or away from the POI, and can also request viewpoint motion laterally toward a normal of the surface at the POI. Radial and lateral viewpoint motion can be combined. The orientation of the viewpoint can be shifted during lateral motion to keep the POI in the field of view, and can also be shifted to bring the POI toward the center of the field of view. In a sequence of steps of viewpoint motion, the radial viewpoint displacement in each step can be a proportion of the distance to the POI so that the radial displacements follow a logarithmic function and define an asymptotic path that approaches but does not reach the POI. While requesting viewpoint motion with a keyboard, the user can independently request POI motion with the mouse. In response, the POI moves within the bounds of the surface that includes the POI, and a shape within the image indicates the POI position.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. A method of operating a system that includes a display, a user input device, and a processor connected for receiving signals from the user input device and for presenting images on the display;
- the user input device providing region indicating signals indicating regions within images presented and motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
the method comprising steps of;presenting a first image on the display;
the first image including a first surface that is perceptible as viewed from a first viewpoint within a three-dimensional workspace;
the step of presenting the first image comprising a substep of storing viewpoint coordinate data indicating a position of the first viewpoint in the three-dimensional workspace;receiving a first region indicating signal and a first motion requesting signal from the user input device;
the first region indicating signal indicating a first region on the first surface;
the first motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion relative to the first region; andpresenting a second image on the display;
the second image including a second surface that is perceptible as a continuation of the first surface viewed from a second viewpoint within the three-dimensional workspace, the second viewpoint being displaced from the position indicated by the stored viewpoint coordinate data relative to the first region on the first surface in accordance with the first motion requesting signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9, 10)
- the user input device providing region indicating signals indicating regions within images presented and motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
- 5. The method of claim I in which the first surface is perceptible as having a normal in the first region, the second viewpoint being closer to the normal than the first viewpoint.
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11. A method of operating a system that includes a display, a user input device, and a processor connected for receiving signals from the user input device and for presenting images on the display;
- the user input device providing region indicating signals indicating regions within images presented on the display and motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
the method comprising a sequence of steps, each step comprising substeps of;presenting a respective image on the display;
each respective image including a respective surface that is perceptible as being viewed from a respective viewpoint within a three-dimensional workspace;
the substep of presenting the respective image comprising a substep of storing respective coordinate data indicating a position of the respective viewpoint in the three-dimensional workspace; andreceiving a respective region indicating signal and a respective motion requesting signal from the user input device;
each respective region indicating signal indicating a respective region on the respective surface;
each respective motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion relative to the respective region;the sequence of steps including a first step and a number of following steps, each following step having a next preceding step;
the respective surface of each following step being perceptible as a continuation of the respective surface of the next preceding step;
the respective viewpoint of each following step being displaced from the position indicated by the respective coordinate data stored in the next preceding step relative to the respective region of the next preceding step in accordance with the respective motion requesting signal of the next preceding step. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- the user input device providing region indicating signals indicating regions within images presented on the display and motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
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28. A method of operating a system that includes a display, a user input device, and a processor connected for receiving signals from the user input device and for presenting images on the display;
- the user input device providing motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
the method comprising steps of;presenting a first image on the display;
the first image including a first surface that is perceptible as being viewed from a first viewpoint within a three-dimensional workspace;
the first surface including a first region;
the first viewpoint being positioned at a first distance from the first region;receiving a first motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion from the user input device; and presenting a second image on the display;
the second image including a second surface that is perceptible as a continuation of the first surface viewed from a second viewpoint within the three-dimensional workspace;
the second viewpoint being displaced by a First displacement from the first viewpoint in accordance with the first motion requesting signal;
the first displacement being a function of the first distance. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
- the user input device providing motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
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42. A method of operating a system that includes a display, a user input device, and a processor connected for receiving signals from the user input device and for presenting images on the display;
- the user input device providing motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
the method comprising a sequence of steps, each step comprising substeps of;presenting a respective image on the display;
each respective image including a respective surface that is perceptible as being viewed from a respective viewpoint within a three-dimensional workspace;
each step'"'"'s respective surface including a respective region;
the respective viewpoint being positioned at a respective distance from the respective region; andreceiving a respective motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion from the user input device;
each respective motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion;the sequence of steps including a first step and a number of following steps, each following step having a next preceding step;
the respective surface of each following step being perceptible as a continuation of the respective surface of the next preceding step;
the respective viewpoint of each following step being displaced by a respective displacement from the respective viewpoint of the next preceding step in accordance with the next preceding step'"'"'s motion requesting signal;
the respective displacement of each following step being a function of the respective distance of the next preceding step. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
- the user input device providing motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
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46. A method of operating a system that includes a display, a user input device, and a processor connected for receiving signals from the user input device and for presenting images on the display;
- the user input device providing motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
the method comprising a sequence of steps, each step comprising substeps of;presenting a respective image on the display;
each respective image including a respective surface that is perceptible as being viewed from a respective viewpoint within a three-dimensional workspace;
each step'"'"'s respective surface including a respective region;
the respective viewpoint being positioned at a respective distance from the respective region; andreceiving a respective motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion from the user input device;
each respective motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion;the sequence of steps including a first step and a number of following steps, each following step having a next preceding step;
the respective surface of each following step being perceptible as a continuation of the respective surface of the next preceding step;
the respective viewpoint of each following step being displaced by a respective displacement from the respective viewpoint of the next preceding step in accordance with the next preceding step'"'"'s motion requesting signal;the following steps including first and second following steps;
the respective motion requesting signal of the next preceding step of the first following step requesting motion toward the respective region of the next preceding step;
the respective motion requesting signal of the next preceding step of the second following step requesting motion away from the respective region of the next preceding step;
the respective displacement of the first following step including a first proportional component that is a first proportion of the respective distance of the next preceding step;
the respective displacement of the second following step including a second proportional component that is a second proportion of the respective distance of the next preceding step. - View Dependent Claims (47)
- the user input device providing motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
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48. A method of operating a system that includes a display, a user input device, and a processor connected for receiving signals from the user input device and for presenting images on the display;
- the user input device providing motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
the method comprising a sequence of steps, each step comprising substeps of;presenting a respective image on the display;
each respective image including a respective surface that is perceptible as being viewed from a respective viewpoint within a three-dimensional workspace;
each step'"'"'s respective surface including a respective region;
the substep of presenting the respective image comprising a substep of storing respective coordinate data indicating a position of the respective viewpoint in the three-dimensional workspace; andreceiving a respective motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion from the user input device;
each respective motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion toward the respective region;the sequence of steps including a first step and a number of following steps, each following step having a next preceding step;
the respective surface of each following step being perceptible as a continuation of the respective surface of the next preceding step;
the respective viewpoint of each following step being displaced by a respective displacement from the respective viewpoint of the next preceding step toward the respective region of the next preceding step;
the respective displacement of each following step being a function of the position indicated by the next preceding step'"'"'s respective coordinate data such that the respective displacements define an asymptotic path. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
- the user input device providing motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
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52. A method of operating a system that includes a display, user input means for providing signals, and a processor connected for receiving signals from the user input means and for presenting images on the display;
- the user input means providing motion requesting signals;
the motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion and point of interest motion;
the user input means being structured so that the user can request viewpoint motion and point of interest motion independently;
the method comprising steps of;presenting a first image on the display;
the first image including a first surface that is perceptible as viewed from a first viewpoint within a three-dimensional workspace;
the first image including a first point of interest on the first surface;
the step of presenting the first image comprising a substep of storing viewpoint coordinate data indicating a position of the first viewpoint in the three-dimensional workspace;receiving a first motion requesting signal set from the user input means, the first motion requesting signal set requesting a first viewpoint motion and a first point of interest motion; and in response to the first motion requesting signal, presenting a second image on the display;
the second image including a second surface that is perceptible as a continuation of the first surface viewed from a second viewpoint within the three-dimensional workspace, the second viewpoint being displaced from the position indicated by the stored viewpoint coordinate data in accordance with the first viewpoint motion;
the second image including a second point of interest on the second surface, the second point of interest being displaced in accordance with the first point of interest motion. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
- the user input means providing motion requesting signals;
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59. A system comprising:
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a display; user input means for providing signals; and a processor connected for receiving signals from the user input means and for presenting images on the display;
the processor having memory;the user input means providing motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion and point of interest motion;
the user input means being structured so that the user can request viewpoint motion and point of interest motion independently;the processor comprising first means for presenting a first image on the display;
the first image including a first surface that is perceptible as viewed from a first viewpoint within a three-dimensional workspace;
the first image including a first point of interest on the first surface;
the first means further storing viewpoint coordinate data in memory, the viewpoint coordinate data indicating a position of the first viewpoint in the three-dimensional workspace;the processor further comprising second means for receiving a first motion requesting signal set from the user input means, the first motion requesting signal set requesting a first viewpoint motion and a first point of interest motion; the processor further comprising third means for responding to the first motion requesting signal set by presenting a second image on the display;
the second image including a second surface that is perceptible as a continuation of the first surface viewed from a second viewpoint within the three-dimensional workspace, the second viewpoint being displaced from the position indicated by the stored viewpoint coordinate data in accordance with the first viewpoint motion;
the second image including a second point of interest on the second surface, the second point of interest being displaced in accordance with the first point of interest motion. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62)
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63. A method of operating a system that includes a display, a user input device, and a processor connected for receiving signals from the user input device and for presenting images on the display;
- the user input device providing region indicating signals indicating regions within images presented and motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
the method comprising steps of;presenting a first image on the display;
the first image including a first surface that is perceptible as viewed from a first viewpoint within a three-dimensional workspace;
the step of presenting the first image comprising a substep of storing first viewpoint coordinate data indicating a position of the first viewpoint in the three-dimensional workspace.receiving a first region indicating signal and a first motion requesting signal from the user input device;
the first region indicating signal indicating a point within a first region on the first surface;
the first motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion relative to the first region;using the first region indicating signal, the first motion requesting signal, and the first viewpoint coordinate data to obtain second viewpoint coordinate data indicating a position of a second viewpoint in the three-dimensional workspace;
the position of the second viewpoint being moved from the position of the first viewpoint relative to the first region on the first surface in accordance with the viewpoint motion requested by the first motion requesting signal; andusing the second viewpoint coordinate data to present a second image on the display;
the second image including a second surface that is perceptible as a continuation of the first surface viewed from the second viewpoint within the three-dimensional workspace.
- the user input device providing region indicating signals indicating regions within images presented and motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
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64. A method of operating a system that includes a display, a user input device, and a processor connected for receiving signals from the user input device and for presenting images on the display;
- the user input device providing region indicating signals indicating regions within images presented on the display and motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
the method comprising a sequence of steps, each step comprising substeps of;presenting a respective image on the display;
each respective image including a respective surface that is perceptible as being viewed from a respective viewpoint within a three-dimensional workspace;
the substep of presenting the respective image comprising a substep of storing respective coordinate data indicating a position of the respective viewpoint in the three-dimensional workspace; andreceiving a respective region indicating signal and a respective motion requesting signal from the user input device;
each respective region indicating signal indicating a point within a respective region on the respective surface;
each respective motion requesting signal requesting viewpoint motion relative to the respective region;the sequence of steps including a first step and a number of following steps, each following step having a next preceding step;
each following step further comprising a substep of using the respective region indicating signal, the respective motion requesting signal, and the respective coordinate data stored in the next preceding step to obtain the respective coordinate data stored in the following step;
the respective surface of each following step being perceptible as a continuation of the respective surface of the next preceding step;
the respective viewpoint of each following step being displaced from the position indicated by the respective coordinate data stored in the next preceding step relative to the respective region of the next preceding step in accordance with the respective region of the next preceding step in accordance with the respective motion requesting signal of the next preceding step.
- the user input device providing region indicating signals indicating regions within images presented on the display and motion requesting signals requesting viewpoint motion;
Specification