Navigation system for a 3D virtual scene

• US 8,665,272 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitzmaurice, George, Matejka, Justin, Mordatch, Igor, Kurtenbach, Gord, Khan, Azam
• Primary Examiner(s): McDowell, Jr., Maurice L
• Application Number:
  US12/200,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20090079740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,014 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/427
• US Class Current: 345/427
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• 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: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A navigation system for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) scene that includes a model or object with which a user can interact. The system accommodates and helps both novice and advanced users. To do this, the system provides a zoom tool that allows a user to designate a target point in a scene and zoom relative to that target point.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

designating a zoom for a view in a three-dimensional scene, said designating identifying a visible target point as indicated by a position of a pointer used by the user; and

zooming the view one of toward and away from the visible target point using a current position of the pointer as a center of the three-dimensional scene.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the target point is an intersection point of the cursor with an object when the cursor is over an object and a distance point when the cursor in not over the object where the distance point is determined responsive to a closest point of a model in the scene.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein zoom in stops at the target point and at model boundary.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein zoom travels a predetermined distance relative to the target point.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein zoom direction is controlled by a key.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein zoom travels a distance relative to the target point responsive to cursor dragging.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

allowing a user to define a zoomed view; and

zooming to the zoomed view.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the zoom for the view and the identifying of the visible target point are implemented via a single operation.

9. A method, comprising:

designating a zoom for a view in a three-dimensional scene, said designating identifying a visible target point as indicated by a position of a pointer used by the user; and

zooming the view one of toward and away from the visible target point based on a current position of the pointer, and

wherein the target point is an intersection point of the cursor with an object when the cursor is over an object and a fixed distance point when the cursor in not over the object.

10. A method, comprising:

designating a zoom for a view in a scene and a target point, said designating identifying the target point as indicated by a position that is an intersection point of a cursor with an object when the cursor is over an object and a space point distance from the view when the cursor in not over the object; and

zooming the view one of toward and away from the target point by a predetermined distance along a vector pointing to the point, where zooming stops at the target point and a model boundary based on a current position of the cursor.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a display; and

a computer designating a visible target point in a view of a three-dimensional scene on the display in response to a user input, the user input identifying the visible target point and a position of the pointer, and zooming toward the point, and

where said zooming is performed relative to the visible target point using a current position of the pointer as a center of the three-dimensional scene.

12. A computer configured to communicate with a storage for controlling a computer apparatus, comprising:

the computer executing an operation including;

receiving an input from a user designating a zoom for a view in a scene, said designating identifying a target point as indicated by a position of a pointer used by the user, and

zooming the view one of toward and away from the target point using a current position of the pointer as a center of the three-dimensional scene.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a display showing a view of a three-dimensional scene zooming relative to a visible target point responsive to a user designating zoom, said designating identifying the visible target point as indicated by a position of a pointer by the user,

where a representation of the view relative to the target point is displayed using the target point as a model point on a model in the view on the display, and

where the zoom is implemented using a current position of the pointer as a center of the three-dimensional scene.