Display terminal user interface with ability to select remotely stored surface finish for mapping onto displayed 3-D surface

• US 6,331,858 B2
• Filed: 06/02/1998
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Fisher, Kim J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US09/077,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20010019332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 345/418, 345/419, 345/429, 345/430, 345/431, 345/432, 345/425, 345/473, 345/474, 345/339, 345/335, 345/572, 345/582, 345/587, 345/619, 345/620, 345/719, 345/738, 705/26, 705/27, 707/530, 707/540, 707/3, 707/4, 707/102, 707/104, 707/5, 707/6, 707/10, 707/513, 707/501, 709/217-219
• US Class Current: 345/582
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design

Abstract

A user interface on a display terminal, such as a personal computer, includes a 3D display region which shows a scene incorporating a number of objects, such as items of furniture. A surface finish selector is also displayed and is used to select a surface finish from a number of alternatives. In the case of items of furniture, these finishes may correspond to different fabrics for upholstery. A surface texture data for a selected finish is automatically downloaded from a remote source and mapped onto the object in the 3D scene. In a preferred implementation, the surface finish selector is a frame of a web page and generates control data which is passed to another frame containing the 3D scene together with movement controls for changing the viewpoint in the scene.

Claims

1. A user interface for a display terminal, the user interface comprising:

a) a 3-dimensional display region including at least one displayed object;

b) a surface finish selector including a display of samples of surface finishes arranged to display to the user a plurality of alternative surface finishes for mapping onto at least one of said displayed objects, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) a user input device for selecting one of the plurality of alternative surface finish samples;

d) means responsive to the user input device for reading data corresponding to a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) a display generator for mapping the selected surface finish onto the displayed object using said data.

2. A user interface as in claim 1, further comprising a movement controller for moving a viewpoint in the 3-dimensional display in response to a user input.

3. A display terminal incorporating a user interface as in claim 1.

4. A user interface for a display terminal, the user interface comprising:

a) a 3-dimensional display region including one or more displayed objects;

b) a surface finish selector arranged to display to the user a plurality of alternative surface finishes for the one or more displayed objects, wherein each surface finish is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) a user input device for selecting one of the plurality of alternative surface finishes;

d) means responsive to the user input device for reading, from a source which is remote from the terminal, data for a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) a display generator for mapping the selected surface finish onto the displayed object using the data;

wherein both the surface finish selector and the 3-dimensional display region form part of web pages displayed by a web client.

5. A user interface for a display terminal, the user interface comprising:

a) a 3-dimensional display region including one or more displayed objects;

b) a surface finish selector arranged to display to the user a plurality of alternative surface finishes for said one or more displayed objects, wherein each surface finish is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) a user input device for selecting one of the plurality of alternative surface finishes;

d) means responsive to the user input device for reading, from a source which is remote from the terminal, data for a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) a display generator for mapping the selected surface finish onto the displayed object using the data;

wherein the surface finish selector includes a 2D display of samples of said surface finishes; and

wherein the surface finish selector further comprises icons representing displayed objects to which the finishes shown in the samples may be applied.

6. A user interface for a display terminal, the user interface comprising:

a) a 3-dimensional display region including one or more displayed objects;

b) a surface finish selector arranged to display to the user a plurality of alternative surface finishes for said one or more displayed objects, wherein each of the surface finishes is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) a user input device for selecting one of the plurality of alternative surface finishes;

d) means responsive to the user input device for reading, from a source which is remote from the terminal, data for a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) a display generator for mapping the selected surface finish onto the displayed object using the data;

wherein the surface finish selector is a first web page arranged to pass control data to a second web page including the 3-dimensional display region, and the second web page is arranged to import texture data from a network address determined by the said control data, and is arranged to map the said texture data onto a respective object in the 3-dimensional display region.

7. A user interface for a display terminal, the user interface comprising:

a) a 3-dimensional display region including one or more displayed objects;

b) a surface finish selector arranged to display to the user a plurality of alternative surface finishes for said one or more displayed objects, wherein each of the surface finishes is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) a user input device for selecting one of the plurality of alternative surface finishes;

d) means responsive to the user input device for reading, from a source which is remote from the terminal, data for a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) a display generator for mapping the selected surface finish onto the displayed object using the data; and

a pricing calculator which is arranged automatically to calculate and display the total price of an object displayed in the 3-dimensional environment depending on the selected finish.

8. A method of operating a display terminal comprising:

a) displaying a 3-dimensional environment including one or more objects,

b) displaying to a user samples of surface finishes for application to said objects, wherein each surface finish sample is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) selecting by a user input device a surface finish sample;

d) forming a connection via a communications network to a source of surface finish data, said source associated with a network address and retrieving data corresponding to the selected finish from the network address; and

e) mapping said surface finish data onto at least one object in the 3-dimensional environment.

9. A method as in claim 8 in which the source of data for display comprises a trader'"'"'s on-line catalogue, and the method includes importing a selected sample and/or importing said 3-dimensional environment, or importing parts of said 3-dimensional environment, from said on-line catalogue.

10. A method of operating a display terminal comprising:

a) loading and displaying one the terminal a web page including a plurality of surface finishes, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

b) loading and displaying on the terminal a web page including a 3-dimensional environment, which 3-dimensional environment includes one or more objects; and

c) in response to selection by the user of one of the plurality of a surface finishes displayed in step (a), importing surface finish data from the associated network address and mapping the surface finish data onto one of the objects displayed in step (b).

12. A method as in claim 10, in which the source of data for display comprises a trader'"'"'s on-line catalogue, and the method includes importing a selected sample and/or importing the 3-dimensional environment, or importing parts of said 3-dimensional environment, from said on-line catalogue.

13. A method as in claim 10, in which the user selects a surface finish for an object by dragging a displayed sample surface onto one of said objects in the 3-dimensional environment.

14. A method as in claim 13, including generating a request for downloading of surface finish data as soon as the user begins to drag a displayed sample finish.

11. A method as in claim 11 including preliminary steps of:

i) entering at the display terminal user data defining a 3-dimensional environment;

ii) importing from a source remote from the display terminal data defining the objects;

iii) generating said 3-dimensional environment for display from the user data and said data defining said objects.

15. A method of operating a display terminal, said method comprising:

i) entering at the display terminal user data defining a 3-dimensional environment;

ii) importing from a source remote from the display terminal, data defining said objects;

iii) generating the said 3-dimensional environment for display from said user data and said data defining said objects;

followed by;

a) displaying a 3-dimensional environment including at least one object;

b) displaying to a user samples of surface finishes which may be applied to the objects, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) selecting by a user input one of the surface finishes;

d) retrieving from a source which is remote from the terminal, surface data corresponding to the selected finish; and

e) mapping said surface data onto the objects in the 3-dimensional environment.

16. A method of operating a display terminal, said method comprising:

a) displaying a 3-dimensional environment including at least one object;

b) displaying to a user samples of surface finishes which may be applied to the objects, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) selecting by a user input one of the surface finishes;

d) retrieving from a source which is remote from the terminal, surface data corresponding to the selected finish;

e) mapping said surface data onto the objects in the 3-dimensional environment,

wherein the user selects a surface finish for an object by dragging a displayed sample surface finish onto one of said objects in the 3-dimensional environment.

17. A method as in claim 16, including generating a request for downloading of surface finish data as soon as the user begins to drag a displayed sample finish.

18. A user interface for a display terminal, said user interface comprising:

means for loading and displaying on the terminal a web page including a plurality of surface finish samples, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

means for loading and displaying on the terminal a web page including a 3-dimensional environment, which 3-dimensional environment includes at least one object; and

means operable to import surface finish data and map said data onto one of said objects in response to selection by the user of one of the plurality of surface finish samples.

19. A user interface for a display terminal as in claim 18 further including:

means enabling entry at the display terminal, user data defining a 3-dimensional environment;

means for importing from a source remote from the display terminal data defining said objects; and

means to generate said 3-dimensional environment for display from said user data and said data defining said objects.

20. A user interface for a display terminal as in claim 18 including:

means for forming a connection via a communications network to a source of data for display.

21. A user interface for a display terminal as in claim 18, in which:

the source of data for display comprises a trader'"'"'s on-line catalogue, and the user interface is capable of importing a selected sample and/or importing said 3-dimensional environment, or importing parts of said 3-dimensional environment, from said on-line catalogue.

22. A user interface for a display terminal as in claim 18, in which:

means are provided to enable the user to select a surface finish for an object by dragging a displayed sample surface finish onto one of said objects in the 3-dimensional environment.

23. A user interface for a display terminal as in claim 18, including:

means for generating a request for downloading of surface finish data as soon as the user begins to drag a displayed sample finish.

24. A user interface for a display terminal, the user interface comprising:

a) a 3-dimensional display region including at least one displayed object;

b) a surface finish selector including a display of one or more samples of surface finishes arranged to display to the user one or more alternative surface finishes for mapping onto at least one of said displayed objects, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) a user input device for selecting a surface finish sample;

d) means responsive to the user input device for reading data corresponding to a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) a display generator for mapping the selected surface finish onto the displayed object using said data.

25. A user interface for a display terminal, the user interface comprising:

a) a 3-dimensional display region including one or more displayed objects;

b) a surface finish selector including a display of one or more samples of surface finishes arranged to display to the user one or more alternative surface finishes for mapping onto at least one of said displayed objects, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) a user input device for selecting a surface finish sample;

d) means responsive to the user input device for reading data for a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) a display generator for mapping the selected surface finish onto the displayed object using the data;

wherein both the surface finish selector and the 3-dimensional display region form part of web pages displayed by a web client.

26. A user interface for a display terminal, the user interface comprising:

a) a 3-dimensional display region including one or more displayed objects;

b) a surface finish selector including a display of one or more samples of surface finishes arranged to display to the user one or more alternative surface finishes for mapping onto at least one of said displayed objects, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) a user input device for selecting a surface finish sample;

d) means responsive to the user input device for reading data for a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) a display generator for mapping the selected surface finish onto the displayed object using the data;

wherein the surface finish selector includes a 2D display of samples of said surface finishes; and

wherein the surface finish selector further comprises icons representing displayed objects to which the finishes shown in the samples may be applied.

27. A user interface for a display terminal, the user interface comprising:

a) a 3-dimensional display region including one or more displayed objects;

b) a surface finish selector including a display of one or more samples of surface finishes arranged to display to the user one or more alternative surface finishes for mapping onto at least one of said displayed objects, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) a user input device for selecting a surface finish sample;

d) means responsive to the user input device for reading data for a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) a display generator for mapping the selected surface finish onto the displayed object using the data;

wherein the surface finish selector is a first web page arranged to pass control data to a second web page including the 3-dimensional display region, and the second web page is arranged to import texture data from a network address determined by the said control data, and is arranged to map the said texture data onto a respective object in the 3-dimensional display region.

28. A user interface for a display terminal, the user interface comprising:

a) a 3-dimensional display region including one or more displayed objects;

b) a surface finish selector including one or more samples of surface finishes arranged to display to the user one or more samples of alternative surface finishes for mapping onto at least one of said displayed objects, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) a user input device for selecting a surface finish sample;

d) means responsive to the user input device for reading data for a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) a display generator for mapping the selected surface finish onto the displayed object using the data; and

a pricing calculator which is arranged automatically to calculate and display the total price of an object displayed in the 3-dimensional environment depending on the selected finish.

29. A method of operating a display terminal comprising:

a) displaying a 3-dimensional environment including one or more objects,

b) displaying to a user one or more samples of surface finishes for mapping onto at least one of said objects, wherein each surface finish sample is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) selecting by a user input device a surface finish sample;

d) forming a connection via a communications network to a source of surface finish data, said source associated with a network address and retrieving data corresponding to the selected finish from the network address; and

e) mapping said surface finish data onto at least one object in the 3-dimensional environment.

30. A method of operating a display terminal comprising:

a) loading and displaying one the terminal a web page including one or more surface finishes, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

b) loading and displaying on the terminal a web page including a 3-dimensional environment, which 3-dimensional environment includes one or more objects; and

c) in response to selection by the user of a surface finish displayed in step (a), importing surface finish data from the associated network address and mapping the surface finish data onto one of the objects displayed in step (b).

31. A method of operating a display terminal, said method comprising:

i) entering at the display terminal user data defining a 3-dimensional environment;

ii) importing from a source remote from the display terminal, data defining said objects;

iii) generating the said 3-dimensional environment for display from said user data and said data defining said objects;

followed by;

a) displaying a 3-dimensional environment including at least one object;

b) displaying to a user one or more samples of surface finishes which may be applied to the objects, wherein each of the surface finish samples is associated with a network address of data defining a surface finish;

c) selecting by a user input a surface finish sample;

d) retrieving surface data corresponding to the selected finish; and

e) mapping said surface data onto the objects in the 3-dimensional environment.

32. A user interface for a display terminal, the user interface comprising:

a) a 3-dimensional display region including at least one displayed object;

b) a surface finish selector including a display arranged for displaying to a user at least one surface finish sample received from a remote source for mapping onto said at least one displayed object, the user receiving one surface finish sample at a time from the remote source, wherein each surface finish sample is associated with a network address, the network address having associated means for storing data defining a surface finish;

c) a user input device for selecting a surface finish sample from among one or more surface finish samples;

d) means responsive to the user input device for reading data corresponding to a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) a display generator for mapping selected surface finish data onto the displayed object using said data.

33. A method of operating a display terminal, said method comprising:

a) displaying a 3-dimensional display region including at least one displayed object;

b) displaying to a user at least one surface finish sample received from a remote source for mapping onto said at least one displayed object, the user receiving one surface finish sample at a time from the remote source, wherein each surface finish sample is associated with a network address, the network address having associated means for storing data defining a surface finish;

c) selecting a surface finish sample from among one or more surface finish samples;

d) retrieving data corresponding to a surface finish selected by the user, and

e) mapping selected surface finish data onto the displayed object using said data.