Method and apparatus for displaying data within a three-dimensional information landscape
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for increasing the number of objects displayed within a three-dimensional graphics display landscape in a display view on a computer graphics display, wherein said display view displays objects located within the three-dimensional graphics display landscape in a field of view extending from a viewpoint comprising the steps of:
- laying out objects within the three-dimensional graphics display landscape;
compressing said objects laid-out within said three-dimensional graphics display landscape at a magnitude along at least one dimension, wherein the magnitude of said compressing is a function of the location of said objects relative to a predetermined landscape base point along said three-dimensional graphics display landscape;
expanding at least said compressed objects located within the display view, wherein said expanding step expands said compressed objects by a magnitude which is a function of the location of said viewpoint relative to said predetermined landscape base point; and
applying a perspective transformation to said expanded objects based on said viewpoint to render the display view.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are presented for displaying three-dimensional navigable display space containing an aggregation of graphical objects and an overview of the aggregation of display objects. An altered perspective is provided by compressing the horizontal dimension of the displayed objects so that a user can see a representative overview of the entire aggregation of display objects that have been selected for display together on a display screen. The compressed component is expanded so that the objects appear wider as a navigator approaches the displayed objects. A spotlight shines down on objects responsive to a data query. The spotlight serves as a navigation aid to the navigator so that highlighted items are visible from a distance and can be easily located. The user'"'"'s view of the display space is altered so that the navigator perceives that he is traveling in a straight line when approaching a display object in a display space in which the horizontal dimension of displayed objects is compressed in accordance with the apparent distance between a displayed object and the navigator.
791 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for increasing the number of objects displayed within a three-dimensional graphics display landscape in a display view on a computer graphics display, wherein said display view displays objects located within the three-dimensional graphics display landscape in a field of view extending from a viewpoint comprising the steps of:
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laying out objects within the three-dimensional graphics display landscape; compressing said objects laid-out within said three-dimensional graphics display landscape at a magnitude along at least one dimension, wherein the magnitude of said compressing is a function of the location of said objects relative to a predetermined landscape base point along said three-dimensional graphics display landscape; expanding at least said compressed objects located within the display view, wherein said expanding step expands said compressed objects by a magnitude which is a function of the location of said viewpoint relative to said predetermined landscape base point; and applying a perspective transformation to said expanded objects based on said viewpoint to render the display view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for increasing the number of objects displayed within a three-dimensional graphics display landscape in a display view on a computer graphics display, wherein said display view displays objects located within the three-dimensional graphics display landscape in a field of view extending from a viewpoint comprising:
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means for laying out objects within the three-dimensional graphics display landscape; means for compressing said objects laid-out within said three-dimensional graphics display landscape along at least one dimension, wherein said means for compressing compresses said objects at a magnitude which is a function of the location of said objects relative to a predetermined landscape base point along said three-dimensional graphics display landscape; and means for expanding at least said compressed objects located within the display view, wherein said means for expanding expands said compressed objects by a magnitude which is a function of the location of said viewpoint relative to said predetermined landscape base point; and means for applying a perspective transformation to said expanded objects based on said viewpoint to render the display view. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer-implemented method for increasing the number of objects displayed within a three-dimensional information landscape representation of data in a display view on a computer graphics display to increase contextual information regarding said data conveyed to a navigator, wherein said display view displays objects located within the three-dimensional information landscape in a field of view extending from a viewpoint, comprising the steps of:
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laying out objects in a graphics landscape in three-dimensional display space to create said three-dimensional information landscape representation of said data; compressing all of said objects laid-out within said three-dimensional information landscape in at least one dimension by a magnitude depending upon the location of said objects along said three dimensional information landscape relative to a landscape base point; expanding compressed objects within the display view by a magnitude depending upon the location of said viewpoint relative to said landscape base point; and applying a perspective transformation to said expanded objects based on said viewpoint to render the display view.
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30. A computer graphics processor for increasing the number of objects displayed within a three-dimensional information landscape representation of data in a display view on a computer graphics display to increase contextual information regarding said data conveyed to a navigator, wherein said display view displays objects located within the three-dimensional information landscape in a field of view extending from a viewpoint, comprising:
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means for laying out objects in a graphics landscape in three-dimensional display space to create said three-dimensional information landscape representation of said data; means for compressing all of said objects laid-out within said three-dimensional information landscape in at least one dimension by a magnitude depending upon the location of said objects along said three dimensional information landscape relative to a landscape base point; means for expanding compressed objects within the display view by a magnitude depending upon the location of said viewpoint relative to said landscape base point; and means for applying a perspective transformation to said expanded objects based on said viewpoint to render the display view.
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Specification