Method for navigating in a multi-scale three-dimensional scene

• US 20030043170A1
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Fleury, Simon G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,190,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images

Abstract

A method for navigating a 3D scene in a viewing area includes associating a point of interest with a reference shape, which is related to the shape of the 3D object, and displaying a scene according to a user-requested action, while keeping the point of interest within the reference shape and within the viewing area. The user-requested action may include translation, rotation, and zooming. The point of interest may include scene information such as a magnification factor, local orientation, and global orientation. The methods for performing a user-requested action in a 2D representation of a 3D object include determining a distance between a point of interest and a viewpoint; determining an amount of movement from a user input; and performing the user-requested action at a rate based on the amount of movement from the user input multiplied by a distance factor based on the distance between the point of interest and the viewpoint. A system for displaying a 3D object includes a 2D display for displaying the 3D object and a computer operatively coupled to the 2D display, the computer having a program to display the 3D object on the 2D display, the program adapted to enable translation, zoom, and rotation of the representation while restricting a point of interest within a reference shape and within a viewing window on the 2D display.

Claims

1. A method for navigating a three-dimensional scene in a viewing area, comprising:

associating a point of interest with a reference shape, the reference shape being related to a three-dimensional object; and

displaying a scene according to a user-requested action while keeping the point of interest within the reference shape and within the viewing area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-requested action comprises one selected from rotation, translation, and zooming.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the point of interest comprises scene information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the scene information comprises at least one selected from scene magnification, global orientation, and local orientation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the point of interest is fixed at a point within the viewing area.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the point is the center of the viewing area.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional object comprises a thread-like object.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the thread-like object comprises a representation of a well trajectory

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reference shape comprises a wire.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the wire runs along a longitudinal axis of the well trajectory.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the reference shape comprises a cylinder.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cylinder has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the well trajectory.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the cylinder has a diameter substantially identical to a diameter of the well trajectory.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the reference shape comprises a cylindrical surface substantially along the well trajectory.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional object comprises a representation of a network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the network comprises pipelines.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the reference shape comprises curves running along the network.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the reference shape comprises cylinders running substantially along the network.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the reference shape comprises cylindrical surfaces running substantially along the network.

20. A method for displaying a three-dimensional scene, comprising:

associating a point of interest with a reference shape, the reference shape being related to a three-dimensional object; and

displaying the point of interest comprising scene information, the scene information comprising at least one selected from scene magnification, global orientation, and local orientation.

21. A method for performing a user-requested action in a two-dimensional representation of a three dimensional object, comprising:

associating a point of interest with a reference shape, the reference shape being related to a three-dimensional object;

determining a distance between the point of interest and a viewpoint;

determining an amount of movement from a user input; and

performing the user-requested action, while keeping the point of interest within the reference shape and within a viewing area, at a rate based on the amount of movement from the user input multiplied by a distance factor based on the distance between the point of interest and the viewpoint.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the distance factor is linearly dependent on the distance between the point of interest and the viewpoint.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the user-requested action comprises one selected from translation, rotation, and zoom.

24. A system for displaying a three dimensional object, comprising:

a two-dimensional display for displaying a two-dimensional representation of the three dimensional object; and

a computer operatively coupled to the two-dimensional display, the computer having a program to display the three dimensional object on the two-dimensional display, the program adapted to enable translation, zoom, and rotation of the representation while restricting a point of interest within a reference shape and within a viewing window on the two dimensional display.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the program can display the point of interest having scene information.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the scene information comprises one selected from magnification factor, global orientation, and local orientation.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the program is capable of performing a user-requested transformation at a rate depending on a scene magnification factor.

28. A system for displaying a three dimensional object, comprising:

means for displaying a two-dimensional representation of the three dimensional object; and

a computer operatively coupled to the displaying means, the computer having a program to display the three dimensional object on the displaying means, the program adapted to enable translation, zoom, and rotation of the representation while restricting a point of interest within a reference shape and within a viewing window on the displaying means.