Localized thumbnail preview of related content during spatial browsing

• US 8,584,044 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wong, Curtis Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): ITURRALDE, ENRIQUE W
• Application Number:
  US11/941,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20090132952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,188 Days
• Field of Search: 715705-714, 715764-767, 715/771, 715/779, 715/781, 715786-787, 715/802, 715/810, 715817-821, 715/823, 715/825, 715835-838, 715850-855
• US Class Current: 715/851
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range

Abstract

Technologies, systems, and methods for exploring a virtual space without cluttering or obscuring a field of view of the virtual space with overlaid names, labels, symbols, markers, and the like. Instead, a user may select objects of interest presented in a context bar to locate them in the field of view. Further, the user can make use of various forms of selection to zoom in on objects or points in the field of view and access information regarding the virtual space and objects without adding persistent clutter to the field of view.

Claims

1. A method performed on a computing device, the method for exploring a virtual space, the method comprising:

presenting, via a field of view, a portion of the virtual space;

presenting, via the field of view, representations of objects in the portion of the virtual space, where the presenting is based on the objects being located within the portion of the virtual space;

presenting, in a context bar that is located outside of the field of view, thumbnail images of the objects that are distinct from the presented representations of the objects in the field of view, where the context bar is configured for presenting other thumbnail images of other objects presented in a changed field of view;

highlighting one object of the objects in response to a corresponding image of the images of the objects being selected via a first type of user input, the highlighting being removed in response to the corresponding image of the images of the objects being de-selected;

centering the field of view on, and zooming in on, the one object of the objects in response to the corresponding image of the images of the objects being selected via a second type of user input;

centering the field of view on, and cross-fading in on, the one object of the objects in response to the corresponding image of the images of the objects being selected via a third type of user input;

highlighting a closest object of the objects relative to a point in the virtual space presented via the field of view in response to the point being selected via a fourth type of user input, the highlighting removed in response to the point being de-selected;

presenting information related to the closest object of the objects relative to the point in the virtual space presented via the field of view in response to the point being selected via a fifth type of user input; and

centering the field of view on, and zooming in on, the point in the virtual space presented via the field of view in response to the point being selected via a sixth type of user input.

2. The method of claim 1 where the virtual space represents outer space.

3. The method of claim 1 where the virtual space represents a landscape.

4. The method of claim 1 where the presenting the portion of the virtual space includes presenting an actual image of a spatial environment represented by the virtual space.

5. The method of claim 1 where the corresponding image is a thumbnail image.

6. The method of claim 5 where the thumbnail image is presented along with identification information.

7. The method of claim 1 where the highlighting includes presenting identification information.

8. A computing device and at least one program module together configured for exploring a virtual space based on actions comprising:

presenting, via a field of view, a portion of the virtual space;

presenting, via the field of view, representations of objects in the portion of the virtual space, where the presenting is based on the objects being located within the portion of the virtual space;

presenting, in a context bar that is located outside of the field of view, thumbnail images of the objects that are distinct from the presented representations of the objects in the field of view, where the context bar is configured for presenting other thumbnail images of other objects presented in a changed field of view;

highlighting one object of the objects in response to a corresponding image of the images of the objects being selected via a first type of user input, the highlighting being removed in response to the corresponding image of the images of the objects being de-selected;

centering the field of view on, and zooming in on, the one object of the objects in response to the corresponding image of the images of the objects being selected via a second type of user input;

centering the field of view on, and cross-fading in on, the one object of the objects in response to the corresponding image of the images of the objects being selected via a third type of user input;

highlighting a closest object of the objects relative to a point in the virtual space presented via the field of view in response to the point being selected via a fourth type of user input, the highlighting removed in response to the point being de-selected;

presenting information related to the closest object of the objects relative to the point in the virtual space presented via the field of view in response to the point being selected via a fifth type of user input; and

centering the field of view on, and zooming in on, the point in the virtual space presented via the field of view in response to the point being selected via a sixth type of user input.

9. The computing device and the at least one program module of claim 8 where the virtual space represents outer space.

10. The computing device and the at least one program module of claim 8 where the virtual space represents a landscape.

11. The computing device and the at least one program module of claim 8 where the presenting the portion of the virtual space includes presenting an actual image of a spatial environment represented by the virtual space.

12. The computing device and the at least one program module of claim 8 where the corresponding image is a thumbnail image.

13. The computing device and the at least one program module of claim 8 where the thumbnail image is presented along with identification information.

14. The computing device and the at least one program module of claim 8 where the highlighting includes presenting identification information.

15. At least one computer storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method of exploring a virtual space, the method comprising:

presenting, via a field of view, a portion of the virtual space;

presenting, via the field of view, representations of objects in the portion of the virtual space, where the presenting is based on the objects being located within the portion of the virtual space;

presenting, in a context bar that is located outside of the field of view, thumbnail images of the objects that are distinct from the presented representations of the objects in the field of view, where the context bar is configured for presenting other thumbnail images of other objects presented in a changed field of view;

highlighting one object of the objects in response to a corresponding image of the images of the objects being selected via a first type of user input, the highlighting being removed in response to the corresponding image of the images of the objects being de-selected;

centering the field of view on, and zooming in on, the one object of the objects in response to the corresponding image of the images of the objects being selected via a second type of user input;

centering the field of view on, and cross-fading in on, the one object of the objects in response to the corresponding image of the images of the objects being selected via a third type of user input;

highlighting a closest object of the objects relative to a point in the virtual space presented via the field of view in response to the point being selected via a fourth type of user input, the highlighting removed in response to the point being de-selected;

presenting information related to the closest object of the objects relative to the point in the virtual space presented via the field of view in response to the point being selected via a fifth type of user input; and

centering the field of view on, and zooming in on, the point in the virtual space presented via the field of view in response to the point being selected via a sixth type of user input.

16. The computer storage device of claim 15 where the virtual space represents outer space.

17. The computer storage device of claim 15 where the virtual space represents a landscape.

18. The computer storage device of claim 15 where the presenting the portion of the virtual space includes presenting an actual image of a spatial environment represented by the virtual space.

19. The computer storage device of claim 15 where the corresponding image is a thumbnail image.

20. The computer storage device of claim 15 where the thumbnail image is presented along with identification information, or where the highlighting includes presenting identification information.