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Volumetric data exploration using multi-point input controls

  • US 8,334,867 B1
  • Filed: 03/23/2012
  • Issued: 12/18/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method of enabling visual navigation through a three-dimensional data set on a multi-touch display device, the method comprising:

  • accessing a three-dimensional data set from a computer memory storage device;

    defining a two-dimensional planar bounded surface that intersects the three-dimensional data set, that defines a two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set, and that divides the three-dimensional data set into first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the two-dimensional bounded surface having a normal defining positive and negative directions relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and corresponding to points located on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and the two-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is intersected by the two-dimensional bounded surface;

    rendering, on a multi-touch display device, a three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set while also rendering the two-dimensional bounded surface intersecting the three-dimensional data set, wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set;

    providing a control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface about an axis of the two-dimensional bounded surface defined through a point on the two-dimensional bounded surface, the control being configured to;

    detect engagement by a first input mechanism of a first point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to a point on a plane parallel to and containing the two-dimensional bounded surface,define an axis between the point on the plane parallel to and containing the two-dimensional bounded surface and another point on the two-dimensional bounded surface,detect engagement, while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the first point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the point on the plane parallel to and containing the two-dimensional bounded surface, by a second input mechanism of a second point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the control,track movements of the second input mechanism while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the first point on the multi-touch display device and the second input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch display device,rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface about the axis defined through the point on the plane parallel to and containing the two-dimensional bounded surface and the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the second input mechanism while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the first point on the multi-touch display device to cause the two-dimensional bounded surface to intersect a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and to divide the three-dimensional data set into new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and corresponding to points located on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and the new second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, andupdate the rendering, on the multi-touch display device, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the rotation of the two-dimensional bounded surface about the axis defined through the point on the plane parallel to and containing the two-dimensional bounded surface and the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface, causing at least a portion of the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set to be excluded from the updated three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set to be displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set;

    detecting engagement by a first input mechanism of a first point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to a point on the plane parallel to and containing the two-dimensional bounded surface;

    defining an axis between the point on the plane parallel to and containing the two-dimensional bounded surface and another point on the two-dimensional bounded surface;

    detecting engagement, while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the first point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the point on the plane parallel to and containing the two-dimensional bounded surface, by a second input mechanism of a second point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the control;

    tracking movements of the second input mechanism while the second input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch display device and the first input mechanism remains engaged with the first point on the multi-touch display device;

    rotating the two-dimensional bounded surface about the axis defined through the point on the plane parallel to and containing the two-dimensional bounded surface and the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the second input mechanism while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the first point on the multi-touch display device; and

    updating the rendering, on the multi-touch display device, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the rotation of the two-dimensional bounded surface about the axis defined through the point on the plane parallel to and containing the two-dimensional bounded surface and the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the second input mechanism while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the first point on the multi-touch display device.

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