Visual clues to navigate three-dimensional space in a computer-implemented graphics system

• US 6,918,087 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Gantt, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MYLINH T
• Application Number:
  US09/464,557
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 345/737, 345/738, 345/850, 345/757, 345/856, 345/859, 345/664, 345/665, 345/852, 345/679, 345/680, 345/849, 345/848
• US Class Current: 715/737
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

A computer-implemented graphics system provides visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space. The graphics system displays a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on a monitor attached to the computer. A cursor is moved through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of the cursor control device attached to the computer. The graphics system determines a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, and generates a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport. The visual representation of the cursor uses one or more human recognizable metaphors for three-dimensional distance cueing in order to provide an extra dimension of visual feedback to the operator navigating the cursor through the three-dimensional space related to the two dimensional viewport. This may include varying a composition, brightness, or reflectivity of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space represented in a computer-implemented graphics system, comprising:

(a) displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on a monitor attached to the computer;

(b) moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(c) determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(d) generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the generating step comprises varying a reflectivity of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

2. A computer-implemented method for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space represented in a computer-implemented graphics system, comprising:

(a) displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on a monitor attached to the computer;

(b) moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(c) determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(d) generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the generating step comprises adding and subtracting concentric circles about the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

3. A computer-implemented method for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space represented in a computer-implemented graphics system, comprising:

(a) displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on a monitor attached to the computer;

(b) moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(c) determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(d) generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the generating step comprises adding and subtracting projection lines to the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

4. A computer-implemented method for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space represented in a computer-implemented graphics system, comprising:

(a) displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on a monitor attached to the computer;

(b) moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(c) determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(d) generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the generating step comprises adding and subtracting tag along characters to the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

5. A computer-implemented graphics system for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space, comprising:

(a) a computer having a monitor attached thereto;

(b) means, performed by the computer, for displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on the monitor attached to the computer;

(c) means, performed by the computer, for moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(d) means, performed by the computer, for determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(e) means, performed by the computer, for generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the means for generating comprises means for varying a reflectivity of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

6. A computer-implemented graphics system for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space, comprising:

(a) a computer having a monitor attached thereto;

(b) means, performed by the computer, for displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on the monitor attached to the computer;

(c) means, performed by the computer, for moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(d) means, performed by the computer, for determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(e) means, performed by the computer, for generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the means for generating comprises means for adding and subtracting concentric circles about the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

7. A computer-implemented graphics system for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space, comprising:

(a) a computer having a monitor attached thereto;

(b) means, performed by the computer, for displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on the monitor attached to the computer;

(c) means, performed by the computer, for moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(d) means, performed by the computer, for determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(e) means, performed by the computer, for generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the means for generating comprises means for adding and subtracting projection lines to the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

8. A computer-implemented graphics system for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space, comprising:

(a) a computer having a monitor attached thereto;

(b) means, performed by the computer, for displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on the monitor attached to the computer;

(c) means, performed by the computer, for moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(d) means, performed by the computer, for determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(e) means, performed by the computer, for generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the means for generating comprises means for adding and subtracting tag along characters to the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

9. An article of manufacture embodying logic for performing a method for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space represented in a computer-implemented graphics system, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on a monitor attached to the computer;

(b) moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(c) determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(d) generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the generating step comprises varying a reflectivity of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

10. An article of manufacture embodying logic for performing a method for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space represented in a computer-implemented graphics system, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on a monitor attached to the computer;

(b) moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(c) determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(d) generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the generating step comprises adding and subtracting concentric circles about the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

11. An article of manufacture embodying logic for performing a method for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space represented in a computer-implemented graphics system, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on a monitor attached to the computer;

(b) moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(c) determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(d) generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the generating step comprises adding and subytracting projection lines to the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.

12. An article of manufacture embodying logic for performing a method for providing visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space represented in a computer-implemented graphics system, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on a monitor attached to the computer;

(b) moving a cursor through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of an input device attached to the computer;

(c) determining a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport; and

(d) generating a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, wherein the generating step comprises adding and subtracting tag along characters to the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport.