Perspective-based interface using an extended masthead

• US 5,621,906 A
• Filed: 02/13/1995
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: O'Neill, Rory, Muir, Eden G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/388,553
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 395/154-161, 395/119-127, 395/138-139, 395/128, 345/117-120, 345/127-131, 345/121, 345/146, 345/902, 345/125
• US Class Current: 715/848
• 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 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

Display surfaces such as catalog items, for example, are displayed in one-dimensional order in a corridor perspective which may be based on one or more points. An input-initiated, processor-controlled dollying effect facilitates visual access, navigation, and browsing to the display surfaces. Within a surface, an input-initiated panning option can be provided, and the scale at which a surface is displayed can be changed. Input may be via a mouse, a light pen, a touch-sensitive screen, a keyboard, a track ball, a touch pad, or voice-activated control.

Claims

1. A display system comprising a two-dimensional graphical display device, processor means operationally coupled to the display device for forming a display of a plurality of one-dimensionally ordered planar display surfaces on the display device, and input means operationally coupled to the processor means for controlling the display, wherein the processor means is instructed:

for forming the display such that the display surfaces appear in a corridor perspective in their one-dimensional order, wherein each display surface has at least one extended masthead within the plane;

for receiving dollying control input from the input means; and

for changing the display in response to the dollying control input so as to produce a display effect which gives a viewer of the display a perception of dollying along the corridor perspective.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the processor means is further instructed:

for receiving panning control input from the input means; and

for changing the display in response to the panning control input so as to produce a display effect which gives the viewer a perception of panning within one of the display surfaces.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein said input means is one of a mouse, a light pen, a touch-sensitive screen, a keyboard, a track ball, a touch pad, and voice-activated control.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the perspective is a one-point perspective.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the perspective is a multiple-point perspective.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the processor means is further instructed for changing a displayed surface as to scale.

7. The display system of claim 1, implemented on one of a Macintosh and a PC.

8. A computerized method for displaying a plurality of one-dimensionally ordered planar display surfaces on a two-dimensional graphical display device, comprising:

forming a display on the display device such that the display surfaces appear in a corridor perspective in their one-dimensional order, wherein each display surface has at least one extended masthead within the plane;

receiving dollying control input from an input means; and

changing the display in response to the dollying control input so as to produce a display effect which gives a viewer of the display a perception of dollying along the corridor perspective.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving panning control input from the input means; and

changing the display in response to the panning control input so as to produce a display effect which gives the viewer a perception of panning within one of the display surfaces.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said input means is one of a mouse, a light pen, a touch-sensitive screen, a keyboard, a track ball, a touch pad, and voice-activated control.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the perspective is a one-point perspective.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the perspective is a multiple-point perspective.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising changing a displayed surface as to scale.

14. The method of claim 8, carried out by one of a Macintosh and a PC.