Viewport overlays to expose alternate data representations

• US 8,549,439 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Howard, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustine, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Takele, Meseker
• Application Number:
  US12/286,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 715/848, 715/850, 715/852, 715/721, 715/757, 715/964
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to display (using a 3D graphics application) an overlayed window containing an alternate data representation in a three-dimensional system. A first 3D view of a real world scene (that includes a first set of data layers) is displayed on a display device. The user selects a set of entities that together define an alternate representation of the first 3D view. The alternate representation is a second set of data layers that is different than the first set of data layers. An overlayed window is displayed on top of the first 3D view and displays the alternate representation.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for displaying a window containing an alternate data representation in a three-dimensional system, comprising:

(a) obtaining, in a three-dimensional (3D) graphics application, a real world geospatial scene, wherein the real world geospatial scene comprises multiple data layers;

(b) displaying, using the 3D graphics application, a first 3D view of the real world geospatial scene on a display device, wherein the first 3D view is comprised of a first set of data layers selected from the multiple data layers;

(c) selecting, in the 3D graphics application, a set of entities that together define an alternate representation of the first 3D view, wherein;

(i) the alternate representation comprises a second set of data layers selected from the multiple data layers;

(ii) the second set of data layers is different than the first set of data layers;

(iii) the second set of data layers is comprised of the set of selected entities;

(iv) the selecting is performed as part of a public utility lens feature;

(v) the set of entities are selectable from a panel illustrating public utilities that may be displayed in the first 3D view; and

(vi) the selected set of entities comprises a selected subset of one or more public utilities; and

(d) displaying, using the 3D graphics application, an overlayed lens window on top of the first 3D view, wherein;

(i) the overlayed lens window displays the alternate representation of the real world geospatial scene that comprises a color-coded display of the selected subset of public utilities; and

(ii) the overlaid lens window is precisely lined up over the first 3D view so that it appears as if the first set of data layers is being viewed but the alternate representation comprised of the second set of data layers is displayed within the overlaid lens window instead.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the color-coded display is color-coded based on usage of the selected public utilities.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the public utilities comprise:

gas lines comprised of individual gas lines;

water lines comprised of individual water lines;

waste removal comprised of individual waste removal lines; and

electricity lines comprised of individual electricity lines.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the selected subset comprises a selection of a subset of individual lines from the public utilities.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the overlayed lens window around the 3D view to automatically and dynamically reveal the alternate representation of the real world geospatial scene within the overlayed lens window.

6. An apparatus for displaying a window containing an alternate data representation in a three-dimensional system in a computer system comprising:

(a) a computer having a memory;

(b) a three-dimensional (3D) graphics application executing on the computer, wherein the 3D graphics application comprises a public utility lens feature that is configured to;

(i) obtain a real world geospatial scene, wherein the real world geospatial scene comprises multiple data layers;

(ii) display a first 3D view of the real world geospatial scene on a display device, wherein the first 3D view is comprised of a first set of data layers selected from the multiple data layers;

(iii) select a set of entities that together define an alternate representation of the first 3D view, wherein;

(1) the alternate representation comprises a second set of data layers selected from the multiple data layers;

(2) the second set of data layers is different than the first set of data layers;

(3) the second set of data layers is comprised of the set of selected entities;

(4) the set of entities are selectable from a panel illustrating public utilities that may be displayed in the first 3D view; and

(5) the selected set of entities comprises a selected subset of one or more public utilities; and

(iv) display an overlayed lens window on top of the first 3D view, wherein;

(1) the overlayed lens window displays the alternate representation of the real world geospatial scene that comprises a color-coded display of the selected subset of public utilities; and

(2) the overlaid lens window is precisely lined up over the first 3D view so that it appears as if the first set of data layers is being viewed but the alternate representation comprised of the second set of data layers is displayed within the overlaid lens window instead.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the color-coded display is color-coded based on usage of the selected public utilities.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the public utilities comprise:

gas lines comprised of individual gas lines;

water lines comprised of individual water lines;

waste removal comprised of individual waste removal lines; and

electricity lines comprised of individual electricity lines.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the selected subset comprises a selection of a subset of individual lines from the public utilities.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the application is further configured to move the overlayed lens window around the 3D view to automatically and dynamically reveal the alternate representation of the real world geospatial scene within the overlayed lens window.

11. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of displaying a window containing an alternate data representation in a three-dimensional system, the method steps comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining, in a three-dimensional (3D) graphics application, a real world geospatial scene, wherein the 3D graphics application comprises a public utility lens feature and wherein the real world geospatial scene comprises multiple data layers;

(b) displaying, using the 3D graphics application, a first 3D view of the real world geospatial scene on a display device, wherein the first 3D view is comprised of a first set of data layers selected from the multiple data layers;

(c) selecting, using 3D graphics application, a set of entities that together define an alternate representation of the first 3D view, wherein;

(i) the alternate representation comprises a second set of data layers selected from the multiple data layers;

(ii) the second set of data layers is different than the first set of data layers;

(iii) the second set of data layers is comprised of the set of selected entities;

(iv) the set of entities are selectable from a panel illustrating public utilities that may be displayed in the first 3D view; and

(v) the selected set of entities comprises a selected subset of one or more public utilities; and

(d) displaying, using the 3D graphics application, an overlayed lens window on top of the first 3D view, wherein;

(i) the overlayed lens window displays the alternate representation of the real world geospatial scene that comprises a color-coded display of the selected subset of public utilities; and

(ii) the overlaid lens window is precisely lined up over the first 3D view so that it appears as if the first set of data layers is being viewed but the alternate representation comprised of the second set of data layers is displayed within the overlaid lens window instead.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the color-coded display is color-coded based on usage of the selected public utilities.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the public utilities comprise:

gas lines comprised of individual gas lines;

water lines comprised of individual water lines;

waste removal comprised of individual waste removal lines; and

electricity lines comprised of individual electricity lines.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the selected subset comprises a selection of a subset of individual lines from the public utilities.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the method steps further comprise the step of moving the overlayed lens window around the 3D view to automatically and dynamically reveal the alternate representation of the real world geospatial scene within the overlayed lens window.