Object browser with proximity sorting
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for interfacing with objects, comprising:
- displaying, using a computer processor, a computer-implemented three-dimensional (3D) scene on a display device, wherein the scene comprises two or more objects;
accepting user input identifying a viewpoint within the scene, wherein the viewpoint establishes a location and an orientation within a 3D space of the scene to view the two or more objects in the scene;
displaying a two-dimensional (2D) abstraction of the 3D scene, wherein the 2D abstraction comprises a textual list of the two or more objects;
dynamically maintaining a connection between the 2D abstraction and the 3D scene;
using the computer processor, dynamically and independently from additional user actions, determining a proximity of each of the two or more objects from the viewpoint;
dynamically displaying and maintaining, using the computer processor, on the display device, the textual list of the two or more objects, wherein the textual list is dynamically sorted based on the proximity of each of the two or more objects from the viewpoint, and the displayed textual list is dynamically updated in real-time as the viewpoint is moved within the scene; and
accepting user input to custom define a weighting factor that is applied to each of the two or more objects wherein;
the weighting factor defines a weight for sorting the textual list; and
the weighting factor is based on the location, the orientation, and a focal length of the viewpoint.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to interface with objects. A computer-implemented scene having two or more objects is displayed and a corresponding list of the two or more objects is displayed in independent categories called facets and in an ungrouped flat list. A user identifies a viewpoint within the scene that establishes a location and an orientation within a space of the scene from which to view the scene objects. Dynamically and independently from additional user actions, a proximity of each of the two or more objects from the viewpoint is determined. The ungrouped list of the two or more objects is sorted based on the proximities and displayed.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for interfacing with objects, comprising:
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displaying, using a computer processor, a computer-implemented three-dimensional (3D) scene on a display device, wherein the scene comprises two or more objects; accepting user input identifying a viewpoint within the scene, wherein the viewpoint establishes a location and an orientation within a 3D space of the scene to view the two or more objects in the scene; displaying a two-dimensional (2D) abstraction of the 3D scene, wherein the 2D abstraction comprises a textual list of the two or more objects; dynamically maintaining a connection between the 2D abstraction and the 3D scene; using the computer processor, dynamically and independently from additional user actions, determining a proximity of each of the two or more objects from the viewpoint; dynamically displaying and maintaining, using the computer processor, on the display device, the textual list of the two or more objects, wherein the textual list is dynamically sorted based on the proximity of each of the two or more objects from the viewpoint, and the displayed textual list is dynamically updated in real-time as the viewpoint is moved within the scene; and accepting user input to custom define a weighting factor that is applied to each of the two or more objects wherein; the weighting factor defines a weight for sorting the textual list; and the weighting factor is based on the location, the orientation, and a focal length of the viewpoint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 26)
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11. An apparatus for interfacing with objects in a computer system comprising:
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(a) a computer having a processor and memory; and (b) an application executing on the computer, via the processor, wherein the application is configured to; (i) display, using the computer processor, a computer-implemented three-dimensional (3D) scene on a display device, wherein the scene comprises two or more objects; (ii) accept user input identifying a viewpoint within the scene, wherein the viewpoint establishes a location and an orientation within a 3D space of the scene to view the two or more objects in the scene; (iii) display, using the computer processor, a two-dimensional (2D) abstraction of the 3D scene, wherein the 2D abstraction comprises a textual list of the two or more objects; (iv) dynamically maintain, using the computer processor, a connection between the 2D abstraction and the 3D scene; (v) using the computer processor, dynamically and independently from additional user actions, determine a proximity of each of the two or more objects from the viewpoint; (vi) dynamically display and maintain, using the computer processor, on the display device, the textual list of the two or more objects, wherein the textual list is dynamically sorted based on the proximity of each of the two or more objects from the viewpoint, and the displayed textual list is dynamically updated in real-time as the viewpoint is moved within the scene; and (vii) accept user input to custom define a weighting factor that is applied to each of the two or more objects wherein; (1) the weighting factor defines a weight for sorting the textual list; and (2) the weighting factor is based on the location, the orientation, and a focal length of the viewpoint. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 27)
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21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with computer program instructions which when accessed by a computer cause the computer to load the program instructions to a memory therein creating a special purpose data structure causing the computer to operate as a specially programmed computer, executing a method of interfacing with objects, comprising:
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displaying, in the specially programmed computer, a computer-implemented three-dimensional (3D) scene on a display device, wherein the scene comprises two or more objects; accepting, in the specially programmed computer, user input identifying a viewpoint within the scene, wherein the viewpoint establishes a location and an orientation within a 3D space of the scene to view the two or more objects in the scene; displaying a two-dimensional (2D) abstraction of the 3D scene, wherein the 2D abstraction comprises a textual list of the two or more objects; dynamically maintaining a connection between the 2D abstraction and the 3D scene; dynamically and independently from additional user actions determining, in the specially programmed computer, a proximity of each of the two or more objects from the viewpoint; dynamically displaying and maintaining, in the specially programmed computer, on the display device, a textual list of the two or more objects, wherein the textual list is dynamically sorted based on the proximity of each of the two or more objects from the viewpoint, and the displayed textual list is dynamically updated in real-time as the viewpoint is moved within the scene; and accepting user input to custom define a weighting factor that is applied to each of the two or more objects wherein; the weighting factor defines a weight for sorting the textual list; and the weighting factor is based on the location, the orientation, and a focal length of the viewpoint. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 28)
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Specification