Navigation system for a 3D virtual scene

• US 9,280,257 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitzmaurice, George, Matejka, Justin, Kurtenbach, Gord, Khan, Azam
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin, Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUERTAS TORRES, AYESHA E
• Application Number:
  US12/200,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20090083678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,749 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 cursor wrapping around the view id the 3D scene with continued motion of the cursor in the direction of movement by the user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining whether a cursor has moved to an out-of-view position beyond a view boundary located inside an edge of a three-dimensional scene; and

re-positioning the cursor on an opposite side of the out-of-view position in a new position within the view boundary when the determining indicates the cursor as having moved beyond the view boundary, and

where the view boundary is enabled to be set as a boundary of an object in the three-dimensional scene when determining the cursor is positioned on the object.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the new position is axially aligned with the out-of-view position.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising continuing cursor motion from the new position in a same direction as cursor motion at the out-of-view position.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

comparing x axis cursor position value to view width;

comparing x axis cursor position value to zero;

comparing y axis cursor position value to view height; and

comparing y axis cursor position value to zero.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the positioning comprises:

setting x axis cursor position value to zero when the x axis cursor position value is greater than view width;

setting x axis cursor position value to view width when the x axis cursor position value is less than zero;

setting y axis cursor position value to zero when the y axis cursor position value is greater than view height; and

setting y axis cursor position value to view height when the x axis cursor position value is less than zero.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein auxiliary information moves with cursor.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the view boundary inside the three dimensional scene configured to change other than by zooming on the three dimensional scene.

8. A method, comprising:

defining a view boundary inside edges of a display screen;

determining whether a cursor has exited the view boundary; and

re-positioning the cursor on an opposite side of the out-of-view position at a new position corresponding with a value set by a user for the cursor at an another side of the view boundary, when the determining indicates the cursor as having exited the view boundary within the edges of the display screen, and

where the view boundary is enabled to be set as a boundary of an object in a three-dimensional scene displayed on the display screen when determining the cursor is positioned on the object.

9. A method of three dimensional scene cursor wrapping, comprising:

wrapping a cursor around a view when the cursor moves beyond a boundary located inside an edge of a three dimensional scene, said wrapping including;

setting x axis cursor position value to zero when the x axis cursor position value is greater than view width;

setting x axis cursor position value to view width when the x axis cursor position value is less than zero;

setting y axis cursor position value to zero when the y axis cursor position value is greater than view height; and

setting y axis cursor position value to view height when the x axis cursor position value is less than zero, and where said wrapping includes re-positioning the cursor within the view boundary when determining that the cursor is beyond the view boundary, and

where the boundary is enabled to be set as a boundary of an object in the three-dimensional scene when determining the cursor is positioned on the object.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a display; and

a computer determining whether a cursor has moved to an out-of-view position beyond a view boundary located inside an edge of a three-dimensional scene, and repositioning the cursor on an opposite side of the out-of-view position in a new position within the view boundary when the determining indicates the cursor as having moved beyond the view boundary, and

where the boundary is enabled to be set as a boundary of an object in the three-dimensional scene when determining the cursor is positioned on the object.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage for controlling a computer apparatus having a program to execute an operation, comprising:

determining whether a cursor has moved to an out-of-view position beyond a view boundary located inside an edge of a three-dimensional scene; and

repositioning the cursor on an opposite side of the out-of-view position in a new position within the view boundary when the determining indicates the cursor as having moved beyond the view boundary, and

where the boundary is enabled to be set as a boundary of an object in the three-dimensional scene when determining the cursor is positioned on the object.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a display showing repositioning of a cursor on an opposite side of an out-of-view position in a new position when determining that the cursor has moved to the out-of-view position beyond a view boundary inside an edge of a three-dimensional scene, where the view boundary is enabled to be set as a boundary of an object in the three-dimensional scene when determining the cursor is positioned on the object.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the cursor is determined to be beyond the view boundary when the cursor is moved within the display outside the boundary of the object set as the view boundary.