NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR A 3D VIRTUAL SCENE

• US 20090079732A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Schmidt, Ryan, Fitzmaurice, George, Matejka, Justin, Mordatch, Igor
• Granted Patent: US 8,314,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• 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 locks a cursor to a model point in a scene during panning and controls panning speed relative to a bounding box size of the scene.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting activation of a trigger;

setting a pan rate of movement speed responsive to a model in a three-dimensional scene; and

panning responsive to cursor motion using the speed.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the setting the pan rate comprises:

determining an intersection point of a cursor with the model and

fixing the intersection point in a view of the scene to the cursor as the cursor is moved

3. A method of panning in a three dimensional scene, comprising:

determining whether a cursor is over a model in the scene when a pan operation is activated;

setting a pan rate of movement speed to a value relative to a model metric when the cursor is not over the model;

determining an intersection point of the cursor on the model when the cursor is over the model;

determining a distance of a view of the scene from the intersection point; and

setting the speed responsive to the distance; and

panning responsive to cursor motion using the speed.

4. An apparatus, comprising:

a display; and

a computer detecting activation of a mouse button, setting a pan rate of movement speed responsive to a model in a scene on the display and panning contents of the display responsive to cursor motion using the speed.

5. A computer readable storage for controlling a computer apparatus comprising a program detecting activation of a mouse button, setting a pan rate of movement speed responsive to a model in a scene and panning responsive to cursor motion using the speed.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a display showing panning of contents of a scene responsive to cursor motion using a speed upon detecting activation of a mouse button setting a pan rate of movement speed responsive to a model in a scene upon the activation.