Methods, apparatus and data structures for providing a user interface to objects, the user interface exploiting spatial memory and visually indicating at least one object parameter
First Claim
1. A man-machine interface method for permitting a user to act on thumbnails, each thumbnail representing an associated object containing information, for use with a machine having a video display device and a user input device, the man-machine interface method comprising:
- generating a three-dimensional environment to be rendered on the video display device, the three-dimensional environment comprising an object manipulation and display field having surfaces including a bottom, a transparent front wall, a rear wall and side walls;
determining a two-dimensional location and a depth of each of the thumbnails in the three-dimensional environment, wherein, for each of the thumbnails;
the depth is a function of at least one parameter of the object associated with the thumbnail; and
the two-dimensional location and the depth is determined that prevents total occlusion of the thumbnail by one or more other of the thumbnails in the three-dimensional environment;
generating the thumbnails within the three-dimensional environment, at the determined two-dimensional locations and depths, to be rendered on the video display device;
accepting inputs from the user input device;
determining a selected viewing point, two-dimensional location, depth and direction based on the accepted inputs; and
generating, as visible, a portion of the three-dimensional environment and those thumbnails that are in front of the selected viewing point to be rendered on the video display device, wherein those thumbnails that are in back of the selected viewing point are not visible and cast corresponding shadows on the at least one of the surfaces.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical user interface in which object thumbnails are rendered in a three-dimensional environment and which exploits spatial memory. The objects may be moved, continuously, with a two-dimensional input device. Pop-up title bars may be rendered over active objects. Intelligent help may be provided to the user, as visual indicators, based on proximity clustering or based on matching algorithms. The simulated location of the object thumbnails in a direction orthogonal to the surface is based on function, such as a linear, polynomial, or exponential function for example, of one or more object properties, such as number of mouse clicks since selected, age, size, etc.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A man-machine interface method for permitting a user to act on thumbnails, each thumbnail representing an associated object containing information, for use with a machine having a video display device and a user input device, the man-machine interface method comprising:
-
generating a three-dimensional environment to be rendered on the video display device, the three-dimensional environment comprising an object manipulation and display field having surfaces including a bottom, a transparent front wall, a rear wall and side walls; determining a two-dimensional location and a depth of each of the thumbnails in the three-dimensional environment, wherein, for each of the thumbnails; the depth is a function of at least one parameter of the object associated with the thumbnail; and the two-dimensional location and the depth is determined that prevents total occlusion of the thumbnail by one or more other of the thumbnails in the three-dimensional environment; generating the thumbnails within the three-dimensional environment, at the determined two-dimensional locations and depths, to be rendered on the video display device; accepting inputs from the user input device; determining a selected viewing point, two-dimensional location, depth and direction based on the accepted inputs; and generating, as visible, a portion of the three-dimensional environment and those thumbnails that are in front of the selected viewing point to be rendered on the video display device, wherein those thumbnails that are in back of the selected viewing point are not visible and cast corresponding shadows on the at least one of the surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. One or more volatile or nonvolatile memory devices storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, configure the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
-
generating a three-dimensional environment for rendering thumbnails on a video display device, the three-dimensional environment comprising surfaces that bound the three-dimensional environment; determining a two-dimensional location and a depth of each of the thumbnails in the three-dimensional environment, wherein for each of the thumbnails; the depth is a function of at least one parameter associated with the associated thumbnail; and the two-dimensional location and the depth is determined that prevents total occlusion of the thumbnail by one or more other of the thumbnails in the three-dimensional environment; employing a matching algorithm for determining related thumbnails of the thumbnails; in response to selection of one of the related thumbnails, generating a visual halo that encompasses the related thumbnails for rendering on the video display device; accepting inputs from the user input device; determining a selected viewing point at a depth in the three-dimensional environment, a two-dimensional location of the selected viewing point and a viewing direction based on the accepted inputs; and generating, as visible, a portion of the three-dimensional environment and those thumbnails that are in front of the selected viewing point to be rendered on the video display device, wherein those thumbnails that are in back of the selected viewing point are not visible and cast corresponding shadows on the at least one of the surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
-
22. An apparatus comprising:
one or more processors and memory having stored therein computer executable instructions, and the computer executable instructions upon execution by the one or more processors configuring the apparatus to perform acts comprising; generating a three-dimensional environment for rendering thumbnails on a video display device, the three-dimensional environment comprising surfaces that bound the three-dimensional environment; determining a two-dimensional location and a depth of each of the thumbnails in the three-dimensional environment, wherein for each of the thumbnails; the depth of the thumbnail is a function of at least one parameter associated with the thumbnail; and the two-dimensional location and the depth of the thumbnail is determined that prevents total occlusion of the thumbnail by one or more other of the thumbnails in the three-dimensional environment; generating the thumbnails within the three-dimensional environment, at the determined two-dimensional locations and depths, to be rendered on the video display device; accepting inputs from the user input device; determining a selected viewing point at a depth in the three-dimensional environment, a two-dimensional location of the selected viewing point and a viewing direction based on the accepted inputs; and generating, as visible, a portion of the three-dimensional environment and those thumbnails that are in front of the selected viewing point to be rendered on the video display device, wherein those thumbnails that are in back of the selected viewing point are not visible and cast corresponding shadows on the at least one of the surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (23)
Specification