Control interface
First Claim
1. A control interface for a data terminal, the control interface comprising a three-dimensional display of an environment which includes a plurality of objects corresponding to different respective data sources, in which:
- the apparent location of the viewpoint in the environment is arranged to move, in response to a control input from the user, from a current location to the location of a destination object gradually, via a series of intermediate locations, and with a speed which is progressively reduced as the destination object is approached;
the direction of gaze of the viewpoint is arranged to be directed away from the destination object towards another object in the environment in response to a further control input made by the user during flight of the viewpoint; and
at the same time, in response to the said further control input, a discontinuous reduction is made in the speed of travel in addition to the progressive reduction associated with the approach to the destination object.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control interface for a data terminal includes a three-dimensional display of an environment which includes a number of objects. Different objects correspond to different data sources. The apparent location of the viewpoint in the environment is changed in response to input from the user. In response to the selection of a destination object by the user, the viewpoint moves from a current location to the location of the destination object gradually via a series of intermediate locations. The speed with which the viewpoint moves is progressively reduced as the destination object is approached. The speed may also be further reduced if the direction of gaze of the viewpoint is moved by the user away from the destination object during the flight. As an alternative to direct selection of the destination object, the user may select a vehicle object to take the viewpoint to a predetermined location.
46 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A control interface for a data terminal, the control interface comprising a three-dimensional display of an environment which includes a plurality of objects corresponding to different respective data sources, in which:
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the apparent location of the viewpoint in the environment is arranged to move, in response to a control input from the user, from a current location to the location of a destination object gradually, via a series of intermediate locations, and with a speed which is progressively reduced as the destination object is approached;
the direction of gaze of the viewpoint is arranged to be directed away from the destination object towards another object in the environment in response to a further control input made by the user during flight of the viewpoint; and
at the same time, in response to the said further control input, a discontinuous reduction is made in the speed of travel in addition to the progressive reduction associated with the approach to the destination object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)
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8. A control interface for a data terminal comprising a three-dimensional display of an environment including a plurality of objects corresponding to different respective data sources,
the apparent location of the viewpoint in the environment being changeable in response to an input from the user, wherein in response to a control input from the user, the said viewpoint is arranged to move from a current location to the location of a destination object gradually via a series of intermediate locations and with a speed which is progressively reduced as the destination object is approached, in which the direction of gaze of the viewpoint is arranged to be directed away from the target object towards another object in the environment in response to a further control input by the user during the flight, and at the same time a further discontinuous reduction is made in the speed of travel in addition to the gradual reduction associated with the approach to the destination object.
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10. A data terminal including
a) a display device; -
b) a user input device; and
c) processor mean which are arranged i) to generate and output to the display device a three-dimensional display of an environment including a plurality of objects corresponding to different respective data sources and to change the apparent location of the viewpoint in the environment in response to an input from the user via the user input device, thereby providing a control interface for the terminal, and to move the viewpoint from a current location to the location of a destination object gradually via a series of intermediate locations and with a speed which is progressively reduced as the destination object is approached, and ii) to move the direction of gaze of the viewpoint from the destination object towards another object in the environment, in response to a further control input made by the user during flight of the viewpoint, and at the same time, in response to the said further control input, to make a discontinuous reduction in the speed of travel in addition to the progressive reduction associated with the approach to the destination object.
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11. A method of controlling a data terminal comprising:
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generating a display of a three-dimensional environment which includes a plurality of objects which correspond to different data sources;
moving the apparent location of the viewpoint in the environment, in response to a control input from the user, from a current location to the location of a destination object gradually, via a series of intermediate locations, and with a speed which is progressively reduced as the destination object is approached;
orienting the direction of gaze of the viewpoint away from the destination object towards another object in the environment in response to a further control input made by the user during flight of the viewpoint; and
at the same time, in response to the said further control input, making a discontinuous reduction in the speed of travel in addition to the progressive reduction associated with the approach to the destination object.
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Specification