Computer-executed, three-dimensional graphical resource management process and system
DCFirst Claim
1. A graphical resource management process executed by programmed instructions of a general purpose computer in response to input information;
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
creating a display of a three-dimensional environment in a main window of the display device;
representing a plurality of resources available for use through the computer by a plurality of corresponding resource icons;
establishing predetermined different positions for each of the resource icons within the three-dimensional environment;
establishing a user'"'"'s point of view within the three-dimensional environment;
displaying within the main window a field of view of the environment from the user'"'"'s point of view;
displaying within the main window each of the resource icons which are visible within the field of view;
moving the user'"'"'s point of view in three dimensions through incremental steps in response to input information correlated to a local set of axes defined by the user'"'"'s point of view in the main window; and
selecting a resource icon visible within the field of view through manipulation of the input device to activate the resource represented by the resource icon.
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Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
A three-dimensional space is defined and displayed in a main window of a computer display. Navigation through the three-dimensional space occurs by user inputs correlated to the three-dimensional display of the space from the user'"'"'s point of view within the space. Navigation also occurs from user inputs correlated to a secondary two-dimensional display of the user'"'"'s position relative to two dimensions of the three-dimensional space. A three-dimensional environment defined by the space displays computer resource icons. Activation of a computer resource is achieved by navigation through the three-dimensional environment and selection of a displayed resource icon through manipulation of an input device. Resource icons may be displayed in the environment in various predetermined three-dimensional configurations to signify hierarchical relationships between the associated computer resources. A state defined by the position and point of view of the user within the three-dimensional environment, in combination with the user-defined arrangement of resource icons within the environment, may be saved and recalled for later use.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A graphical resource management process executed by programmed instructions of a general purpose computer in response to input information;
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
creating a display of a three-dimensional environment in a main window of the display device; representing a plurality of resources available for use through the computer by a plurality of corresponding resource icons; establishing predetermined different positions for each of the resource icons within the three-dimensional environment; establishing a user'"'"'s point of view within the three-dimensional environment; displaying within the main window a field of view of the environment from the user'"'"'s point of view; displaying within the main window each of the resource icons which are visible within the field of view; moving the user'"'"'s point of view in three dimensions through incremental steps in response to input information correlated to a local set of axes defined by the user'"'"'s point of view in the main window; and selecting a resource icon visible within the field of view through manipulation of the input device to activate the resource represented by the resource icon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
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4. A graphical resource management process executed by programmed instructions of a general purpose computer in response to input information;
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
creating a display of a three-dimensional environment in a main window of the display device; representing a plurality of resources available for use through the computer by a plurality of corresponding resource icons; establishing predetermined different positions for each of the resource icons within the three-dimensional environment; establishing a user'"'"'s point of view within the three-dimensional environment; displaying within the main window a field of view of the environment from the user'"'"'s point of view; displaying within the main window each of the resource icons which are visible within the field of view; moving the user'"'"'s point of view in three dimensions within the three-dimensional environment in response to input information supplied at the input device; selecting a resource icon visible within the field of view through manipulation of the input device to activate the resource represented by the resource icon; creating a two-dimensional display of two dimensions of the three-dimensional environment in a view box window on the display device; and creating a reference point within the view box window to represent the position of the user'"'"'s point of view within the three-dimensional environment. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
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14. A graphical resource management process executed by programmed instructions of a general purpose computer in response to input information;
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
creating a display of a three-dimensional environment in a main window of the display device, wherein the three-dimensional environment is a subset of a three-dimensional universe of space; representing a plurality of resources available for use through the computer by a plurality of corresponding resource icons; establishing predetermined different positions for each of the resource icons within the three-dimensional environment; establishing a user'"'"'s point of view within the three-dimensional environment; displaying within the main window a field of view of the environment from the user'"'"'s point of view; displaying within the main window each of the resource icons which are visible within the field of view; moving the user'"'"'s point of view in three dimensions within the three-dimensional environment in response to input information supplied at the input device; and selecting a resource icon visible within the field of view through manipulation of the input device to activate the resource represented by the resource icon. - View Dependent Claims (15)
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
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16. A graphical resource management process executed by programmed instructions of a general purpose computer in response to input information;
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
creating a display of a three-dimensional environment in a main window of the display device; representing a plurality of resources available for use through the computer by a plurality of corresponding resource icons; establishing predetermined different positions for each of the resource icons within the three-dimensional environment; establishing a user'"'"'s point of view within the three-dimensional environment; displaying within the main window a field of view of the environment from the user'"'"'s point of view; displaying within the main window each of the resource icons which are visible within the field of view; moving the user'"'"'s point of view in three dimensions within the three-dimensional environment in response to input information supplied at the input device; selecting a resource icon visible within the field of view through manipulation of the input device to activate the resource represented by the resource icon; and indicating the selected resource by moving the resource icon corresponding to the selected resource at the predetermined three-dimensional position of the icon.
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
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17. A graphical resource management process executed by programmed instructions of a general purpose computer in response to input information;
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
creating a display of a three-dimensional environment in a main window of the display device; representing a plurality of resources available for use through the computer by a plurality of corresponding resource icons; establishing predetermined different positions for each of the resource icons within the three-dimensional environment; establishing a user'"'"'s point of view within the three-dimensional environment; displaying within the main window a field of view of the environment from the user'"'"'s point of view; displaying within the main window each of the resource icons which are visible within the field of view; moving the user'"'"'s point of view in three dimensions within the three-dimensional environment in response to input information supplied at the input device; selecting a resource icon visible within the field of view through manipulation of the input device to activate the resource represented by the resource icon; moving a cursor in three dimensions within the three-dimensional environment to a selected three-dimensional segment of the environment in response to input information supplied at the input device; and positioning the resource icons within the selected three-dimensional segment in a predetermined three-dimensional configuration. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
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25. A graphical resource management process executed by programmed instructions of a general purpose computer in response to input information;
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
creating a display of a three-dimensional environment in a main window of the display device; representing a plurality of resources available for use through the computer by a plurality of corresponding resource icons; establishing predetermined different positions for each of the resource icons within the three-dimensional environment; establishing a user'"'"'s point of view within the three-dimensional environment; displaying within the main window a field of view of the environment from the user'"'"'s point of view; displaying within the main window each of the resource icons which are visible within the field of view; moving the user'"'"'s point of view in three dimensions within the three-dimensional environment in response to input information supplied at the input device; selecting a resource icon visible within the field of view through manipulation of the input device to activate the resource represented by the resource icon; associating a predetermined plurality of resources to accomplish a predetermined task; and recording state information in the memory describing the resource icons corresponding to the predetermined plurality of associated resources. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
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30. A graphical resource management process executed by programmed instructions of a general purpose computer in response to input information;
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
creating a display of a three-dimensional environment in a main window of the display device; representing a plurality of resources available for use through the computer by a plurality of corresponding resource icons; establishing predetermined different positions for each of the resource icons within the three-dimensional environment; establishing a user'"'"'s point of view within the three-dimensional environment; displaying within the main window a field of view of the environment from the user'"'"'s point of view; displaying within the main window each of the resource icons which are visible within the field of view; moving the user'"'"'s point of view in three dimensions within the three-dimensional environment in response to input information supplied at the input device; selecting a resource icon visible within the field of view through manipulation of the input device to activate the resource represented by the resource icon; dividing the three-dimensional environment into a plurality of predetermined three-dimensional segments; defining portals between separate three-dimensional segments to allow movement of the user'"'"'s point of view between separate three-dimensional segments; recording portal information in the memory describing the portals between separate three-dimensional segments; and recalling the portal information from memory to move the user'"'"'s point of view between separate three-dimensional segments.
- the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of;
Specification