Method and system for providing network navigation aids

• US 6,008,814 A
• Filed: 05/23/1997
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Baldwin, Wayne Ross, Gaitatzes, Athanasios George
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, CHANTE E
• Application Number:
  US08/862,690
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 345/427, 345/419, 345/423
• US Class Current: 345/427
• 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

Abstract

A method and system are displayed in a computer network for providing a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional graphic representation to be displayed in association with the three-dimensional graphic representation. The computer network includes a client connectable to a server. Initially, a remote application is transferred from the server to a client. Next, the remote application is displayed within a graphic interface of the client system. Thereafter, the remote application is automatically searched for three-dimensional data representative of a three-dimensional graphic representation. If the remote application includes three-dimensional data, then the three-dimensional data is automatically converted to a two-dimensional representation. Thereafter, the two-dimensional representation is displayed within the graphic interface of the client system in association with the remote application.

Claims

1. A method in a computer network for providing a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional graphic representation to be displayed in association with said three-dimensional graphic representation, wherein said computer network includes at least one client connectable to at least one server, comprising the steps of:

transferring a remote application from said at least one server to a client;

displaying said remote application within a graphic interface of said client;

automatically searching said remote application for three-dimensional data representative of a three-dimensional graphic representation;

if said remote application includes three-dimensional data, automatically converting said three-dimensional data to a two-dimensional representation; and

thereafter displaying said two-dimensional representation within said graphic interface such that said two-dimensional representation is displayed in association with said three-dimensional graphic representation of said remote application.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of thereafter displaying said two-dimensional representation within said graphic interface such that said two-dimensional representation is displayed in association with said remote application, further comprises the step of:

thereafter displaying said two-dimensional representation within said graphic interface as a two-dimensional map such that said two-dimensional representation is displayed in association with said remote application.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of displaying a directional pointer within said graphic interface in association with said two-dimensional map.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of displaying a representation of a directional pointer within said graphic interface in association with said two-dimensional map, further comprises the step of:

displaying an icon representative of a directional compass within said graphic interface in association with said two-dimensional map.

5. A system in a computer network for providing a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional graphic representation to be displayed in association with said three-dimensional graphic representation, wherein said computer network includes at least one client connectable to at least one server, comprising:

transfer means for transferring a remote application from said at least one server to a client;

first display means for displaying said remote application within a graphic interface of said client;

search means for automatically searching said remote application for three-dimensional data representative of a three-dimensional graphic representation;

converting means, if said remote application includes three-dimensional data, for automatically converting said three-dimensional data to a two-dimensional representation; and

second display means for thereafter displaying said two-dimensional representation within said graphic interface such that said two-dimensional representation is displayed in association with said three-dimensional graphic representation of said remote application.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said two-dimensional representation comprises a map of said three-dimensional graphic representation.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising third display means for displaying a directional pointer within said graphic interface in association with said two-dimensional map.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said directional pointer further comprises an icon representative of a directional compass.

9. A program product residing in computer memory in a computer system for providing a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional graphic representation to be displayed in association with said three-dimensional graphic representation, wherein said computer network includes at least one client connectable to at least one server, said program product comprising:

transfer means for transferring a remote application from said at least one server to a client;

first display means for displaying said remote application within a graphic interface of said client;

search means for automatically searching said remote application for three-dimensional data representative of a three-dimensional graphic representation;

converting means, if said remote application includes three-dimensional data, for automatically converting said three-dimensional data to a two-dimensional representation;

second display means for thereafter displaying said two-dimensional representation within said graphic interface such that said two-dimensional representation is displayed in association with said three-dimensional graphic representation of said remote application; and

signal-bearing media bearing said transfer means, said first display means, said search means, said converting means, and said second display means.

10. The program product of claim 9 wherein said two-dimensional representation comprises a map of said three-dimensional graphic representation.

11. The program product of claim 10 further comprising third display means for displaying a directional pointer within said graphic interface in association with said two-dimensional map.

12. The program product of claim 11 wherein said directional pointer further comprises an icon representative of a directional compass.

13. The program product of claim 12 wherein said signal-bearing media further comprises:

signal-bearing media bearing said third display means.

14. The program product of claim 13 wherein:

said signal-bearing media further comprises transmission media.

15. The program product of claim 13 wherein:

said signal-bearing media further comprises recordable media.