Architecture and methods for generating and displaying three dimensional representations

• US 6,414,679 B1
• Filed: 10/30/1998
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CYBERWORLD International Corp.
• Original Assignee: CYBERWORLD International Corp.
• Inventors: Bank, Sandor, Miodonski, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimbinh T.
• Application Number:
  US09/183,793
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/355, 345/420, 345/850, 345/854, 706/55, 707/5, 707/10
• US Class Current: 345/420
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/00 Animation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/005 Tree description, e.g. octree, quadtree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for generating and displaying three dimensional representations. In one embodiment, a data structure is disclosed. The data structure is suitable for storing information useful in constructing a three dimensional representation of information in a viewable construction site that is conceptually divided into a multiplicity of locations. The data structure is embodied in a computer readable media and includes a plurality of attribute maps. Each attribute map is arranged to associate specific attribute instances with specific locations within the construction site. The data structure also includes a plurality of attribute descriptors. Each attribute descriptor is associated with one of the attribute maps and is arranged to reference specific attribute instances associated with the associated attribute map.

Claims

1. A data structure suitable for storing information useful in constructing a three dimensional representation of information via a viewable construction site that is conceptually divided into a multiplicity of locations, wherein at least a portion of the locations instance(s) and with a column of space within the three dimensional representation, wherein the population of attribute instance(s) of each construction site location correspond to different audiovisual components that are presented with the associated column of space of the three dimensional representation;

and

a plurality of attribute descriptors, each attribute descriptor being associated with one of the attribute maps and being arranged to reference specific attribute instances associated with the associated attribute map.

2. A data structure as recited in claim 1, wherein each attribute map has a plurality of identifiers, wherein each identifier is associated with a specific location within the construction site and a specific attribute instance.

3. A data structure as recited in claim 2, wherein each attribute descriptor is formatted to match specific identifiers of the associated attribute map to specific attribute instances.

4. A data structure as recited in claim 3, wherein specific identifiers are matched within the descriptors to specific attribute instances located within the descriptors.

5. A data structure as recited in claim 4, wherein other specific identifiers are matched within the descriptor to specific indexes that reference specific attribute instances located outside of the descriptors.

6. A data structure as recited in claim 3, wherein specific identifiers are matched within the descriptor to specific indexes that reference specific attribute instances located outside of the descriptors.

7. A data structure as recited in claim 3, wherein specific attribute instances are in the form of specific image objects that are referenced by specific start addresses within a bitmap file, the specific image objects being displayable at specific locations within the three dimensional representation.

8. A data structure as recited in claim 1, wherein each attribute instance is selected from a group consisting of an object and a link, and the object and link each being displayable or executable within the corresponding column of space within the three dimensional representation.

9. A data structure as recited in claim 1, wherein each attribute instance is selected from a group consisting of an image object, a video object, a sound object, a sprite object, an executable object, a URL, and a link to another data structure that are each displayable or executable at the associated column of space with the three dimensional representation.

10. A data structure as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the attribute instances is a value that defines a characteristic of the three dimensional representation at a specific location in the construction site.

11. A data structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising general data that specifies a plurality of characteristics of the three dimensional representation of information in the viewable construction site or of the construction site.

12. A data structure as recited in claim 11, wherein a first characteristic indicates a height of the viewable construction site or of the three dimensional representation of information.

13. A data structure as recited in claim 11, wherein a first characteristic indicates whether a particular attribute instance is associated with any of the attribute maps.

14. A data structure as recited in claim 11, wherein a first characteristic indicates a default user perspective with respect to the three dimensional representation.

15. A data structure as recited in claim 14, wherein the default user perspective is selected from a group consisting of a starting position, a viewing height, a viewing direction, an environmental reaction type, and a speed of movement within the three dimensional representation.

16. A data structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising general data that specifies a two dimensional representation of information associated with the three dimensional representation.

17. A data structure as recited in claim 16, wherein the two dimensional representation is a birdseye view of the three dimensional representation.

18. A data structure as recited in claim 16, wherein the general data also specifies a viewable symbol that indicates a group to which the three dimensional representation belongs.

19. A method for generating a three dimensional representation via a viewable construction site having a plurality of sections, each section having a plurality of associated attribute layers, the method comprising:

instantiating a new construction site associated with the three dimensional representation, wherein each section within the new construction site corresponds to a column of space within the three dimensional representation;

selecting a first attribute layer from the plurality of attribute layers that corresponds to a plurality of columns of space within the three dimensional representation, wherein the plurality of layers associated wit a particular section of the construction site corresponds to different audiovisual components that are presented within the associated column of space of the three dimensional representation;

displaying a first palette that includes a first plurality of attribute instances associated with the fist attribute layer;

selecting a first attribute instance from the first palette; and

painting the first attribute instance on one or more sections of the construction site, wherein the painted on first attribute instances will be presented within the corresponding columns within the three dimensional representation.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

selecting a second attribute layer that corresponds to the same plurality of columns of space within the three dimensional representation as the first attribute layer;

displaying a second palette that includes a second plurality of attribute instances associated with the second attribute layer;

selecting a second attribute instance from the second palette; and

painting the second attribute instance on one or more sections of the construction site, wherein the first and second attribute instances are painted onto at least one common section, wherein the painted on second attribute instances will be presented with the corresponding one or more columns within the three dimensional representation.

21. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising selecting a plurality of general settings for how the three dimensional representation will be displayed.

22. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the first and second attribute instances are each selected from a different instance type selected from a group consisting of a floor image, a wall image, or a ceiling image.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

selecting a third attribute layer that corresponds to the same plurality of columns of space within the three dimensional representation as the first attribute layer;

displaying a third palette that includes a third plurality of attribute instances associated with the third attribute layer;

selecting a third attribute instance from the second palette; and

painting the third attribute instance on one or more sections of the construction site, wherein the third attribute instance is painted onto at least a section in common with the first or second attribute instance, wherein the painted on third attribute instances will be executed or associated with the corresponding one or more columns within the three dimensional representation.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein the third attribute instance is selected from an instance type selected from a group consisting of a web link, a link to another three dimensional representation, and an executable object.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the executable audiovisual object is a computer video clip.

26. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for generating a three dimensional representation via a viewable construction site having a plurality of sections, each section having a plurality of associated attribute layers, comprising:

computer readable code for instantiating a new construction site associated with the three dimensional representation, wherein each section within the new construction site corresponds to a column of space within the three dimensional representation;

computer readable code for allowing selection of a first attribute layer from the plurality of attribute layers that corresponds to a plurality of columns of space within the three dimensional representation, wherein the plurality of layers associated with a particular section of the construction site corresponds to different audiovisual components that are presented within the associated column of space of the three dimensional representation;

computer readable code for displaying a first palette that includes a first plurality of attribute instances associated with the first attribute layer;

computer readable code for allowing selection of a first attribute instance from the first palette; and

computer readable code for allowing a painting operation of the first attribute instance on one or more sections of the construction site, wherein the painted on first attribute instances will be presented within the corresponding columns within the three dimensional representation; and

a computer readable medium that stores the computer codes.

27. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 26, further comprising:

computer readable code for allowing selection of a second attribute layer that corresponds to the same plurality of columns of space within the three dimensional representation as the first attribute layer;

computer readable code for displaying a second palette that includes a second plurality of attribute instances associated with the second attribute layer;

computer readable code for allowing selection of a second attribute instance from the second palette; and

computer readable code for allowing a painting operation of the second attribute instance on one or more sections of the construction site, wherein the first and second attribute instances may be painted onto at least one common section; and

computer readable code for presenting the painted on second attribute instances within the corresponding one or more columns within the tree dimensional presentation.

28. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 27, wherein the first and second attribute instances are each selected from a different instance type selected from a group consisting of a floor image, a wall image, or a ceiling image.

29. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

computer readable code for allowing selection of a third attribute layer that corresponds to the same plurality of columns of space within the three dimensional representation as the first attribute layer;

computer readable code for displaying a third palette that includes a third plurality of attribute instances associated with the third attribute layer;

computer readable code for allowing selection of a third attribute instance from the second palette;

computer readable code for painting the third attribute instance on one or more sections of the construction site, wherein the third attribute instance may be painted onto at least a section in common with the first or second attribute instance; and

computer readable code for executing or associating the painted on third attribute instances within the corresponding one or more columns within the three dimensional representation.

30. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 29, wherein the third attribute instance is selected from an instance type selected from a group consisting of a web link, a link to another three dimensional representation, and an executable object.