Method and apparatus for a three-dimensional web-navigator

• US 7,685,534 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Kamen, Yakov, Shirman, Leon
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US09/784,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20020105551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,323 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/582, 345/854, 345/851, 345/849, 345/852, 345/737, 345/738, 345/739, 345/836, 715/501.1, 715/738, 715/739, 715/836, 715/848, 715849-851, 715/976, 715/205
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• 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: Y10S 715/976 3-D Icon

Abstract

A three-dimensional browser wherein in an exemplary embodiment, information from a uniform resource locator is converted into at least one texture. The texture is mapped onto a surface of a three-dimensional object located in a virtual three-dimensional space in order to provide a three-dimensional navigation mechanism. In an alternate arrangement an event associated with an image is intercepted and the location of the event in the corresponding geometric surface of the virtual three-dimensional space is computed. This location is converted to a two-dimensional coordinate and thereafter information pertaining to the event is placed on the surface on the three-dimensional object in the virtual three-dimensional space.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

creating a virtual three-dimensional space having a plurality of walls including a first wall and a second wall;

creating in the virtual three-dimensional space a first three-dimensional object with at least two surfaces;

converting information from a first uniform resource locator into a first texture;

mapping the first texture onto a first surface of the first three-dimensional object; and

in response to the first three-dimensional object being selected, displaying information from the first uniform resource locator on less than all of the plurality of walls.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

in response to the first texture being selected, displaying information from the first uniform resource locator on a surface of the first three-dimensional object.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining that a non-texture area of the first three-dimensional object has been selected.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining that an area of the first texture has been selected;

obtaining three-dimensional coordinates of the area; and

transforming the three-dimensional coordinates into two-dimensional coordinates.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating in the virtual three-dimensional space a second three-dimensional object with at least two surfaces;

converting information from a second uniform resource locator into a second texture;

mapping the second texture onto a second surface of the second three-dimensional object; and

in response to the second three-dimensional object being selected, displaying information from the second uniform resource locator on the second wall.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing machine executable instructions, that when executed, cause the apparatus to;

create a virtual three-dimensional space having a plurality of walls including a first wall and a second wall;

create in the virtual three-dimensional space a first three-dimensional object with at least two surfaces;

convert information from a first uniform resource locator into a first texture;

map the first texture onto a first surface of the first three-dimensional object; and

in response to the first three-dimensional object being selected, display information from the first uniform resource locator on less than all of the plurality of walls.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, the memory further storing machine executable instructions, that when executed, cause the apparatus to:

in response to the first texture being selected, display information from the first uniform resource locator on a surface of the first three-dimensional object.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the memory further storing machine executable instructions, that when executed, cause the apparatus to:

determine that a non-texture area of the first three-dimensional object has been selected.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, the memory further storing machine executable instructions, that when executed, cause the apparatus to:

determine that an area of the first texture has been selected;

obtain three-dimensional coordinates of the area; and

transform the three-dimensional coordinates into two-dimensional coordinates.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, the memory further storing machine executable instructions, that when executed, cause the apparatus to:

create in the virtual three-dimensional space a second three-dimensional object with at least two surfaces;

convert information from a second uniform resource locator into a second texture;

map the second texture onto a second surface of the second three-dimensional object; and

in response to the second three-dimensional object being selected, display information from the second uniform resource locator on the second wall.

11. A computer readable media storing computer executable instructions, that when executed, cause an apparatus to perform:

creating a virtual three-dimensional space having plurality of walls, including a first wall and a second wall;

creating in the virtual three-dimensional space a first three-dimensional object with at least two surfaces;

converting information from a first uniform resource locator into a first texture;

mapping the first texture onto a first surface of the first three-dimensional object; and

in response to the first;

three-dimensional object being selected, displaying information from the first uniform resource locator on less than all of the plurality of walls.

12. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perform:

in response to the first texture being selected, displaying information from the first uniform resource locator on a surface of the first three-dimensional object.

13. The computer readable media of claim 12, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perform:

determining that a non-texture area of the first three-dimensional object has been selected.

14. The computer readable media of claim 12, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perform:

determine that art area of the first texture has been selected;

obtaining three-dimensional coordinates of the area; and

transforming the three-dimensional coordinates into two-dimensional coordinates.

15. The computer readable media of claim 11, wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perform:

converting information from a second uniform resource locator into a second texture;

mapping the second texture onto a second surface of the second three-dimensional object; and

in response to the second three-dimensional object being selected, displaying information from the second uniform resource locator on the second wall.