Methods, apparatus and data structures for providing a user interface, which exploits spatial memory in three-dimensions, to objects
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A man-machine interface method for permitting a user to act on thumbnails, each thumbnail being a scaled image of an associated object containing information, for use with a computer-implemented system having a video display device and a user input device, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) depicting a virtual three-dimensional environment, having a three-dimensional surface, on the video display device;
b) determining a virtual location of each of the thumbnails in the environment so as to define a plurality of determined locations;
c) rendering each of the thumbnails, within the environment, at a corresponding one of the determined locations so as to define a plurality of rendered thumbnails;
d) if a cursor, as rendered on the display device, is positioned, by the user, on one of the rendered thumbnails, designating said one thumbnail as being an active thumbnail; and
e) if the user instructs the system, through a move input provided through the user input device, to move the active thumbnail in the environment, in response to the move input;
e1) updating a corresponding one of the plurality of determined locations associated with the active thumbnail so as to define an updated location;
e2) rendering the active thumbnail at the updated location; and
e3) if the updated location of the active thumbnail lies within a predetermined distance of a corresponding one of the plurality of determined locations associated with another one of the thumbnails;
e3a) defining the other thumbnail as a pushed thumbnail;
e3b) changing the corresponding one of the determined locations associated with the pushed thumbnail so as to define a changed location, wherein the changed location maintains a predetermined distance between the other thumbnail and the active thumbnail so as to prevent the visual representations of both the pushed and active thumbnails from being totally occluded by each other; and
e3c) rendering the pushed thumbnail at the changed location in the environment.
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Abstract
A graphical user interface in which object thumbnails are rendered on a simulated three-dimensional surface which (i) exploits spatial memory and (ii) allows more objects to be rendered on a given screen. The objects may be moved, continuously, on the surface with a two-dimensional input device.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A man-machine interface method for permitting a user to act on thumbnails, each thumbnail being a scaled image of an associated object containing information, for use with a computer-implemented system having a video display device and a user input device, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) depicting a virtual three-dimensional environment, having a three-dimensional surface, on the video display device; b) determining a virtual location of each of the thumbnails in the environment so as to define a plurality of determined locations; c) rendering each of the thumbnails, within the environment, at a corresponding one of the determined locations so as to define a plurality of rendered thumbnails; d) if a cursor, as rendered on the display device, is positioned, by the user, on one of the rendered thumbnails, designating said one thumbnail as being an active thumbnail; and e) if the user instructs the system, through a move input provided through the user input device, to move the active thumbnail in the environment, in response to the move input; e1) updating a corresponding one of the plurality of determined locations associated with the active thumbnail so as to define an updated location; e2) rendering the active thumbnail at the updated location; and e3) if the updated location of the active thumbnail lies within a predetermined distance of a corresponding one of the plurality of determined locations associated with another one of the thumbnails; e3a) defining the other thumbnail as a pushed thumbnail; e3b) changing the corresponding one of the determined locations associated with the pushed thumbnail so as to define a changed location, wherein the changed location maintains a predetermined distance between the other thumbnail and the active thumbnail so as to prevent the visual representations of both the pushed and active thumbnails from being totally occluded by each other; and e3c) rendering the pushed thumbnail at the changed location in the environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer-implemented system which permits a user to act on thumbnails, each thumbnail being a scaled image of an associated object containing information, wherein the system comprises:
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a) a processor; b) a memory, connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; c) a user input device which provides user input for use by the processor; and d) a video display device which displays information provided by the processor; e) wherein the processor, in response to the executable instructions; e1) depicts a virtual three-dimensional environment, having a three-dimensional surface, on the video display device; e2) determines a virtual location of each of the thumbnails in the environment so as to define a plurality of determined locations; e3) renders each of the thumbnails, within the environment, at a corresponding one of the determined locations so as to define a plurality of rendered thumbnails; e4) if a cursor, as rendered on the display device, is positioned, by the user, on one of the rendered thumbnails, designates said one thumbnail as being an active thumbnail; and e5) if the user instructs the system, through a move input provided through the user input device, to move the active thumbnail in the environment, in response to the move input; e5a) updates a corresponding one of the plurality of determined locations associated with the active thumbnail so as to define an updated location; e5b) renders the active thumbnail at the updated location; and e5c) if the updated location of the active thumbnail lies within a predetermined distance of a corresponding one of the plurality of determined locations associated with another one of the thumbnails; e5c(i)) defines the other thumbnail as a pushed thumbnail; e5c(ii)) changes the corresponding one of the determined locations associated with the pushed thumbnail so as to define a changed location, wherein the changed location maintains a predetermined distance between the other thumbnail and the active thumbnail so as to prevent the visual representations of both the pushed and active thumbnails from being totally occluded by each other; and e5c(iii)) renders the pushed thumbnail at the changed location in the environment. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification