THREE-DIMENSIONAL ANNOTATION FACING

• US 20140047313A1
• Filed: 02/13/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Patterson, Eric W., da Veiga, Alexandre, Wood, Ian Patterson
• Granted Patent: US 9,996,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/230
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2477 Temporal data queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 : Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/00 : Animation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 : 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/10 : Geometric effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 : Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

Concepts and technologies are described herein for providing a three-dimensional (“3D”) annotation facing tool. In accordance with some concepts and technologies disclosed herein, the 3D annotation facing tool provides a way for a user to control the orientation of annotations associated with productivity data in a 3D environment. The 3D annotation facing tool can provide a user with the ability to lock the orientation of the annotation along one or more directional axes. The 3D annotation facing tool can also provide a user with the ability to maintain an orientation of the annotation in a camera facing view.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to

receive data to be rendered in a 3D environment,

receive at least one annotation associated with the data,

render the data in a first orientation in the 3D environment,

render the at least one annotation in a second orientation in the 3D environment,

receive an input to change the first orientation,

determine if the at least one annotation receives a special annotation orientation in relation to input to change the first orientation,

if the at least one annotation does not receive the special annotation orientation in relation to the input to change the first orientation, change the first orientation and the second orientation based on the input to change the first orientation, and

if the at least one annotation does receive the special annotation orientation in relation to the input to change the first orientation,

apply the special annotation orientation to the at least one annotation,

change the first orientation based on the input to change the first orientation, and

change the second orientation based on the input to change the first orientation and the special annotation orientation.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the input to change the first orientation comprises an input to zoom in, zoom out, pan or tilt.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein the special annotation orientation comprises a camera facing view, wherein the second orientation is maintained constant relative to the input to change the first orientation.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the special annotation orientation comprises locking the second orientation along at least one axis of rotation.

5. The computer of claim 4, wherein locking the second orientation along at least one axis of rotation comprises maintaining the at least one axis of rotation of the second orientation constant relative to the input to change the first orientation.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein the special annotation orientation comprises increasing or decreasing an amount of information rendered in the at least one annotation.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein an amount of information rendered in the at least one annotation is increased if the input to change the first orientation is to zoom in on the data and decreased if the input to change the first orientation is to zoom out on the data.

8. The computer of claim 1, further comprising computer-executable instructions that cause the processor to change at least one aspect of the data based on the input to change the first orientation.

9. The computer of claim 8, wherein the at least one aspect of the data comprises changing a height of the data or an orientation of the data.

10. A method for providing a user interface to search for and obtain content, the method comprising:

receiving data to be rendered in a 3D environment;

receiving at least one annotation associated with the data;

rendering the data in a first orientation and the at least one annotation in a second orientation in the 3D environment;

receiving an input zoom in on the data, to zoom out on the data, to pan the first orientation, or to tilt the first orientation;

determining if the at least one annotation receives a special annotation orientation in relation to the input;

if the at least one annotation does not receive the special annotation orientation in relation to the input, changing the first orientation and the second orientation based on the input;

if the at least one annotation does receive the special annotation orientation in relation to the input,

applying the special annotation orientation to the at least one annotation,

changing the first orientation based on the input,

changing the second orientation based on the input and the special annotation orientation; and

changing at least one aspect of the data based on changing the first orientation, the aspect comprising a height of the data or an orientation of the data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the special annotation orientation comprises a camera facing view, wherein the second orientation is maintained constant relative to the input to change the first orientation.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the special annotation orientation comprises locking the second orientation along at least one axis of rotation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein locking the second orientation along at least one axis of rotation comprises maintaining the at least one axis of rotation of the second orientation constant relative to the input.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the special annotation orientation comprises increasing or decreasing an amount of information rendered in the at least one annotation.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising increasing an amount of information rendered in the at least one annotation if the input is zoom in on the data and decreasing the amount of information rendered in the at least one annotation if the input is zoom out on the data.

16. A computer-readable storage medium in communication with a processor, the computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to

receive data to be rendered in a 3D environment,

receive at least one annotation associated with the data,

render the data in a first orientation and the at least one annotation in a second orientation in the 3D environment,

receive an input to change the first orientation,

determine if the at least one annotation receives a special annotation orientation in relation to the input to change the first orientation, the special annotation orientation comprising a camera facing view, wherein the first orientation is maintained constant relative to the input to change the first orientation or locking the second orientation along at least one axis of rotation, wherein locking the second orientation along at least one axis of rotation comprises maintaining the at least one axis of rotation of the second orientation constant relative to the input to change the first orientation,

if the at least one annotation does not receive the special annotation orientation in relation to the input to change the first orientation, change the first orientation and the second orientation based on the input to change the first orientation, and

if the at least one annotation does receive the special annotation orientation in relation to the input to change the first orientation,

apply the special annotation orientation to the at least one annotation,

change the first orientation based on the input to change the first orientation, and

change the second orientation based on the input to change the first orientation and the special annotation orientation.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the input to change the first orientation comprises an input to zoom in, zoom out, pan or tilt.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the data comprises geocoding data to render the data and annotations in a map.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising computer-executable instructions that cause the processor to change at least one aspect of the data based on the input to change the first orientation.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the at least one aspect of the data comprises changing a height of the data or an orientation of the data.