NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR A 3D VIRTUAL SCENE

• US 20090100366A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitzmaurice, George, Khan, Azam, Matejka, Justin, Mordatch, Igor, Kurtenbach, Gord
• Granted Patent: US 10,504,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/767
• 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: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]

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 allows a user to place a point on a model surface that is used as a focus point for tool operations. The focus point is a geometry sphere that shows orientation and relative position of the view in the scene.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting activation; and

allowing use of a tool action focus point in a scene including a model.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the focus point is a geometric object.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the focus point is a geometric object sphere.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying orientation axial rings on the sphere.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising changing sizes and visible details of the sphere and rings as a tool moves a view relative to the sphere.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying the focus point as partially transparent where the model is between the focus point and a scene view.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying a text descriptor associated with the point describing a focus point function responsive to a tool being used.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising performing tool functions relative to the point.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the placing comprises:

determining whether the cursor is over the model;

displaying the point on the model when the cursor is over the model;

displaying the point at a predetermined distance from a view of a scene when the cursor is not over the model and a tool allows the point to be displays off the model surface; and

keeping the point at a previous position when the cursor is not over the model and a tool does not allow the point to be displays off the model surface.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising moving the point to a center of the view when a center tool is active.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising zooming toward the point when a zoom tool is active.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising orbiting around the point when an orbit tool is active.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising moving a view toward the point when a forward tool is active.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the focus point can be moved when a cursor for controlling the focus point is over the model.

15. A method of placing a 3D geometry sphere in a three dimensional model space as a focus point for actions in the space, comprising:

detecting activation of a mouse button;

determining whether a cursor controlled by the mouse is over a model in the space;

determining an intersection of the cursor with the model and displaying the sphere on a surface of the model at the intersection point when the cursor controlled by the mouse is over the model in the space;

determining whether an active tool allows off an model focus point and displaying the sphere a predetermined distance from a view of a scene when the cursor is not over the model;

keeping the point at a previous position when the cursor is not over the model and a tool does not allow the point to be displays off the model surface; and

making the sphere invisible when the button is deactivated.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a display; and

a computer detecting activation, allowing use of a tool action focus point in a scene including a model and allowing the focus point to be moved when a cursor for controlling the focus point is over the model.

17. A computer readable storage for controlling a computer apparatus, comprising:

a program allowing use of a tool action focus point in a scene including a model and allowing the focus point to be moved when a cursor for controlling the focus point is over the model.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a display showing a tool action focus point in a scene including a model and allowing the focus point to be moved when a cursor for controlling the focus point is over the model.