3D navigation techniques
First Claim
1. A system that navigates a virtual body within a 3D virtual workspace, the system comprising:
- an input drive control system that monitors changes in input variables associated with actions of a user input device;
a workspace control system that provides a user with a viewing context comprising a position and orientation associated with states of a plurality of workspace variables, at least one of the workspace variables coupled with the input drive control system, such that a selection of the at least one workspace variables allows for a single input motion of the user input device to change the state of the at least one workspace variable and deselection of the at least one workspace variable changes the position and orientation of the viewing context, wherein the change takes place over time such that the user is made aware of the change in position and orientation of the viewing context; and
a travel control system that couples the at least one of the workspace variables to the input drive control system based on a navigation type, which comprises at least one of speed coupled flying, orbiting, object manipulation technique, ghost copy technique, possession navigation technique, inverse fog technique, inverse scaling technique, and ephemeral world compression.
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Abstract
A system and method is provided for facilitating navigation techniques in a three-dimensional virtual environment. The present invention couples input driving techniques to the state of one or more workspace variables (e.g., object state, virtual body state, environment state) to change the user'"'"'s viewing context within a single input control motion. Modification of the user'"'"'s viewing context allows navigation to various positions and orientations with out the need to be provided with that viewing context prior to navigation. The modification of the user'"'"'s viewing context also allows for single input motion employing the same input drive controls.
78 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system that navigates a virtual body within a 3D virtual workspace, the system comprising:
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an input drive control system that monitors changes in input variables associated with actions of a user input device; a workspace control system that provides a user with a viewing context comprising a position and orientation associated with states of a plurality of workspace variables, at least one of the workspace variables coupled with the input drive control system, such that a selection of the at least one workspace variables allows for a single input motion of the user input device to change the state of the at least one workspace variable and deselection of the at least one workspace variable changes the position and orientation of the viewing context, wherein the change takes place over time such that the user is made aware of the change in position and orientation of the viewing context; and a travel control system that couples the at least one of the workspace variables to the input drive control system based on a navigation type, which comprises at least one of speed coupled flying, orbiting, object manipulation technique, ghost copy technique, possession navigation technique, inverse fog technique, inverse scaling technique, and ephemeral world compression. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer implemented method for implementing a 3D virtual environment comprising;
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displaying a plurality of virtual 3D objects within a 3D virtual environment, the 3D virtual environment having an initial viewing context with an initial position and orientation from a virtual body; determining a navigation type, which comprises at least one of speed coupled flying, orbiting, object manipulation technique, ghost copy technique, possession navigation technique, inverse fog technique, inverse scaling technique, and ephemeral world compression; coupling signals associated with actions of a user input device to a state of at least one workspace variable based on the navigation type, the at least one workspace variable being at least one of the plurality of virtual 3D objects, the 3D virtual environment and the virtual body; selecting the at least one workspace variable; changing the state of the at least one workspace variable in response to actions of the user input device; deselecting at least one workspace variable; and changing the position and orientation over time of the viewing context of the viewing context based on the changing of the state of the at least one workspace variable. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system that navigates a virtual body within a 3D virtual workspace for identifying objects within the 3D virtual workspace, the system comprising;
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means for displaying a 3D virtual workspace having a plurality of virtual 3D objects and a viewing context from a virtual body, the viewing context having an initial position and orientation; means for coupling signals associated with actions of a user input device to a state of at least one workspace variable based on a navigation type that comprises at least one of speed coupled flying, orbiting, object manipulation technique, ghost copy technique, possession navigation technique, inverse fog technique, inverse scaling technique, and ephemeral world compression; means for changing the state of the at least one workspace variable in response to actions of the user input device; and means for changing the position and orientation of the viewing context over time based on the changes of the state of the at least one workspace variable.
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Specification