Browser-based room designer

• US 6,727,925 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1999
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Michelle Lyn Bourdelais
• Inventors: Bourdelais, Michelle Lyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LE V
• Application Number:
  US09/466,940
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 345/848-852, 345/836, 345/782, 345/757, 345/706, 345/764-765, 345/419
• US Class Current: 715/852
• 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 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design

Abstract

A system for designing a room using a browser connected to a system remote to the browser. The perspective view of the room is displayed. Specification is accepted of furnishings to be added to the room. Simplified images of the furnishings are displayed in the perspective view of the room. Manipulation of the simplified images of the furnishings is accepted and displayed. The room is rendered with substantially photorealistic perspective images of the furnishings in the perspective view of the room. The substantially photorealistic perspective images of the furnishings are obtained from the remote system, and the room is rendered in accordance with the manipulation of the simplified images so as to present corresponding perspective views of the furnishings. Preferably, specification of properties for the furnishings also are accepted and displayed. When the room is rendered, the room preferably is rendered with photorealistic perspective images also in accordance with the specification of independent properties. Specification of a recommended group of furnishings also preferably is accepted.

Claims

1. A method for designing a room using a browser connected to a system remote to the browser, comprising the steps of:

displaying a perspective view of the room;

accepting specification of individual furnishings to be added to the room;

displaying simplified images of the individual furnishings in the perspective view of the room;

accepting and displaying independent manipulation of the simplified images of the individual furnishings in the perspective view of the room; and

rendering the room with substantially photorealistic perspective images of the individual furnishings in the perspective view of the room, wherein the substantially photorealistic perspective images are obtained from the remote system, and wherein the room is rendered in accordance with the independent manipulation of the simplified images so as to present corresponding perspective views of the individual furnishings.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the furnishings include furniture.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of obtaining at least part of the substantially photorealistic perspective images from the remote system while the simplified images are being independently manipulated.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of accepting and displaying independent manipulation of the simplified images further comprises the step of accepting and displaying independent position changes for the simplified images in the perspective view of the room.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of accepting and displaying independent manipulation of the simplified images further comprises the step of scaling the simplified images within the perspective view of the room in accordance with the position changes.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of accepting and displaying independent manipulation of the simplified images further comprises the step of accepting and displaying independent orientation changes for the simplified images in the perspective view of the room.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of accepting and displaying specification of independent properties for the individual furnishings, wherein the simplified images are displayed also in accordance with the specification of independent properties.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein when the room is rendered, the room is rendered with photorealistic perspective images also in accordance with the specification of independent properties.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the independent properties include a manufacturer for the furnishings, a style for the furnishings, a color scheme for the furnishings, or a material used in the furnishings.

10. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of obtaining at least part of the substantially photorealistic perspective images from the remote system while the independent properties are being specified.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

accepting specification of a recommended group of furnishings; and

displaying in the perspective view of the room simplified images of the furnishings included in the recommended group;

wherein the step of accepting and displaying independent manipulation of the simplified images also accepts and displays independent manipulation of the simplified images of the furnishings included in the recommended group; and

wherein the step of rendering the room also renders the room with substantially photorealistic perspective images of the furnishings included in the recommended group.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of accepting and displaying specification of independent properties for the specified individual furnishings and for the furnishings in the recommended group, wherein the simplified images are displayed also in accordance with the specification of independent properties.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein when the room is rendered, the room is rendered with photorealistic perspective images also in accordance with the specification of independent properties.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of accepting and displaying specification of attributes for the room, wherein the perspective view of the room is displayed also in accordance with the specification of attributes for the room.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the simplified images are wire-frame images.

16. A memory storing instructions for designing a room using a browser connected to a system remote to the browser, the instructions comprising:

code to display a perspective view of the room;

code to accept specification of individual furnishings to be added to the room;

code to display simplified images of the individual furnishings in the perspective view of the room;

code to accept and to display independent manipulation of the simplified images of the individual furnishings in the perspective view of the room; and

code to render the room with substantially photorealistic perspective images of the individual furnishings in the perspective view of the room, wherein the substantially photorealistic perspective images are obtained from the remote system, and wherein the room is rendered in accordance with the independent manipulation of the simplified images so as to present corresponding perspective views of the individual furnishings.

17. A memory according to claim 16, wherein the furnishings include furniture.

18. A memory according to claim 16, wherein the instructions further comprise code to obtain at least part of the substantially photorealistic perspective images from the remote system while the simplified images are being independently manipulated.

19. A memory according to claim 16, wherein the code to accept and to display independent manipulation of the simplified images further comprises:

code to accept and to display independent position changes for the simplified images in the perspective view of the room; and

code to scale the simplified images within the perspective view of the room in accordance with the position changes.

20. A memory according to claim 16, wherein the code to accept and to display independent manipulation of the simplified images further comprises code to accept and to display independent orientation changes for the simplified images in the perspective view of the room.

21. A memory according to claim 16, wherein the instructions further comprise code to accept and to display specification of independent properties for the individual furnishings;

wherein the simplified images are displayed also in accordance with the specification of independent properties; and

wherein when the room is rendered, the room is rendered with photorealistic perspective images also in accordance with the specification of independent properties.

22. A memory according to claim 21, wherein the instructions further comprise code to obtain at least part of the substantially photorealistic perspective images from the remote system while the independent properties are being specified.

23. A memory according to claim 16, wherein the instructions further comprise:

code to accept specification of a recommended group of furnishings; and

code to display in the perspective view of the room simplified images of the furnishings included in the recommended group;

wherein the code to accept and to display independent manipulation of the simplified images also accepts and displays independent manipulation of the simplified images of the furnishings included in the recommended group; and

wherein the code to render the room also renders the room with substantially photorealistic perspective images of the furnishings in the recommended group.

24. A memory according to claim 23, wherein the instructions further comprise code to accept and to display specification of independent properties for the specified individual furnishings and for the furnishings in the recommended group;

wherein the simplified images are displayed also in accordance with the specification of independent properties; and

wherein when the room is rendered, the room is rendered with photorealistic perspective images also in accordance with the specification of independent properties.

25. A memory according to claim 16, wherein the instructions further comprise code to accept and to display specification of attributes for the room, wherein the perspective view of the room is displayed also in accordance with the specification of attributes for the room.

26. A method of providing images and code for designing a room to a browser connected to a system remote to the browser, comprising the steps of:

generating rotatable and scalable substantially photorealistic perspective images of different types of furnishings, the substantially photorealistic perspective images for each different type of furnishing differing according to properties for that type of furnishing;

generating rotatable and scalable simplified images of the different types of furnishings;

placing the substantially photorealistic perspective images and the simplified images on the remote system for access by the browser; and

placing code on the remote system, the code for enabling the browser to perform at least the steps of;

(a) displaying a perspective view of the room;

(b) accepting specification of individual furnishings to be added to the room;

(c) displaying simplified images of the individual furnishings in the perspective view of the room;

(d) accepting and displaying independent manipulation of the simplified images of the individual furnishings in the perspective view of the room; and

(e) rendering the room with substantially photorealistic perspective images of the individual furnishings in the perspective view of the room, wherein the substantially photorealistic perspective images are obtained from the remote system, and wherein the room is rendered in accordance with the independent manipulation of the simplified images so as to present corresponding perspective views of the individual furnishings.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of providing the images and code from the remote system to the browser responsive to requests from the browser.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the code further enables the browser to perform the step of:

(f) accepting and displaying specification of independent properties for the individual furnishings;

wherein the simplified images are displayed also in accordance with the specification of independent properties; and

wherein when the room is rendered, the room is rendered with photorealistic perspective images also in accordance with the specification of independent properties.

29. A method according to claim 26, wherein the code further enables the browser to perform the steps of:

(f) accepting specification of a recommended group of furnishings; and

(g) displaying in the perspective view of the room simplified images of furnishings included in the recommended group of furnishings;

wherein the step of accepting and displaying independent manipulation of the simplified images also accepts and displays independent manipulation of the simplified images of the furnishings included in the recommended group; and

wherein the step of rendering the room also renders the room with substantially photorealistic perspective images of the furnishings in the recommended group.

30. A method for designing a room using a browser connected to a system remote to the browser, comprising the steps of:

specifying individual furnishings to be displayed in a perspective view of the room;

independently manipulating simplified images of the individual furnishings in the perspective view of the room; and

instructing the browser to render the room with substantially photorealistic perspective images of the individual furnishings in the perspective view of the room, wherein the substantially photorealistic perspective images are obtained from the remote system.

31. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of specifying independent properties for the individual furnishings.

32. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of specifying a recommended group of furnishings to be displayed in the perspective view of the room.