Graphical interface for manipulation of 3D models

• US 6,985,145 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NextPat Limited
• Original Assignee: NextEngine, Inc.
• Inventors: McKinley, William D., Knighton, Mark S., Moyer, Todd C., Sidney, Kent E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US09/990,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20030103064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 345/418, 345/419, 345/428, 345/619, 382/113, 382/112, 382/111
• US Class Current: 345/428
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

A method comprising analyzing a data file representing a three dimensional object to automatically identify a plurality of views of interest based on at least one observable characteristic of the three dimensional object; and defining an access mechanism to permit the plurality of views to be accessed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

analyzing a data file representing a three dimensional object to automatically identify a plurality of views of interest based on at least one observable characteristic of the three dimensional object;

automatically eliminating views with an information content below a threshold; and

defining an access mechanism to permit the plurality of views to be accessed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein defining comprises:

automatically creating an adjusted scale representation of each view of interest; and

associating the adjusted scale representation with an actuatable control.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

rendering a representation of the three dimensional object from the data file; and

automatically translating the object to a corresponding view of interest responsive to an actuation of a control associated with a corresponding representation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of views includes all six orthogonal views.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the information content is determined relative to other views.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically creating a sequence for presenting the plurality of views in a prescribed manner.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

automatically presenting the sequence responsive to an event.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic is one of:

shape of the object, texture map of the object, indicia of the object, local detail of the object, and color of the object.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a representation of the three dimensional object in a viewing window; and

automatically providing a scale indicator that relates to an actual dimension of the three-dimensional object.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the scale indicator is one of dimension lines, coordinates, a grid, and a reference object.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a representation of the three dimensional object in a viewing window; and

automatically providing a color reference to allow for calibration of color of a display device.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a representation of the three dimensional object in a viewing window; and

automatically selecting a display background based on at least one characteristic of the object.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

analyzing a data file representing the three dimensional object to automatically identify at least one observable characteristic of the three dimensional object;

rendering a representation of the three dimensional object from the data file; and

automatically adjusting a virtual light source to light the representation to improve visibility of a characteristic of interest.

14. A method comprising:

analyzing a data file representing a three dimensional object to automatically identify a plurality of views of interest based on at least one observable characteristic of the three dimensional object;

defining an access mechanism to permit the plurality of views to be accessed; and

permitting a user to create an additional access mechanism and associate a user specified view with the additional access mechanism.

15. A method comprising:

analyzing a data file representing a three dimensional object to automatically identify a plurality of views of interest based on at least one observable characteristic of the three dimensional object;

defining an access mechanism to permit the plurality of views to be accessed;

wherein analyzing includes detecting symmetry of the object; and

automatically determining a primary axis of orientation for presentation of the object.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein analyzing the data further comprises:

determining volumetric distribution of features of the object.

17. A method comprising:

analyzing a data file representing a three dimensional object to automatically identify a plurality of views of interest based on at least one observable characteristic of the three dimensional object; and

automatically identifying homogenity exceptions in the object.

18. A method comprising:

rendering a three dimensional representation of an object from a data file;

accepting a definition of a feature of interest;

searching the data file for a region substantially conforming to the definition;

displaying an orientation and magnification that permits viewing of the feature;

tracking user behavior when viewing the representation of the three dimensional object;

inferring from the behavior a view of interest; and

defining an access mechanism to subsequently permit the view to be automatically accessed.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the definition is given by one of:

at least one stock criterion;

at least one user-specified criterion; and

a combination of user specified and stock criteria.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the definition includes at least one of:

geometrical shape of the object, surface texture of the object, indicia of the object, and local detail of the object.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

highlighting the feature of interest in the orientation and magnification displayed.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the view includes a specific orientation and a specific magnification.

23. A method comprising:

analyzing a data file representing a three dimensional object to automatically identify a plurality of views of interest based on at least one observable characteristic of the three dimensional object;

defining an access mechanism to permit the plurality of views to be accessed

displaying a representation of the three dimensional object in a viewing window;

determining if movement of a control device is within a tolerance range; and

automatically constraining rotation of the representation to a single axis if the movement is within the tolerance range.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the tolerance range is a function of recent activity.

25. A machine readable medium having stored thereon instructions which when executed by a processor cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

analyzing a data file representing a three dimensional object to automatically identify a plurality of views of interest based on at least one observable characteristic of the three dimensional object;

defining an access mechanism to permit the plurality of views to be accessed;

tracking user behavior when viewing a representation of the three dimensional object;

inferring from the behavior a view of interest; and

defining an access mechanism to subsequently permit the view to be automatically accessed.

26. A machine readable medium having stored thereon instructions which when executed by a processor cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

rendering a three dimensional representation of an object from a data file;

accepting a definition of a feature of interest;

searching the data file for a region substantially conforming to the definition;

displaying an orientation and magnification that permits viewing of the feature;

tracking user behavior when viewing the representation of the three dimensional object;

inferring from the behavior a view of interest; and

defining an access mechanism to subsequently permit the view to be automatically accessed.

27. The machine readable medium having stored thereon instructions which when executed by a processor cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

analyzing a data file representing a three dimensional object to automatically identify a plurality of views of interest based on at least one observable characteristic of the three dimensional object;

defining an access mechanism to permit the plurality of views to be accessed;

displaying a representation of the three dimensional object in a viewing window;

determining if movement of a control device is within a tolerance range; and

automatically constraining rotation of the representation to a single axis if the movement is within the tolerance range.