Navigation method in 3D computer-generated pictures by hyper 3D navigator 3D image manipulation

• US 6,774,914 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maurice Benayoun
• Original Assignee: ZA Production
• Inventors: Benayoun, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pillai, Namitha
• Application Number:
  US09/658,940
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 345/848, 345/782, 345/851, 345/653, 345/650, 345/419, 345/976, 345/850
• US Class Current: 345/650
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• 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

Abstract

A method of selecting and displaying an item on a display screen uses a pointing and selecting device including a control button. Displayed, on the screen, are (i) a multifaceted three dimensional object having a fixed center and having at least one side including at least a representative window of a first item to select and display, and (ii) a fixed pointer. The representative window includes a link to the item to be selected and displayed. The three dimensional object is rotated on the screen about the fixed center with respect to three free orthogonal axes, by the manipulation of the pointing device. The representative window of the item to be selected and displayed is superimposed with the displayed pointer at the center of the three dimensional object, for the selection and display on the display screen of the item to be selected and displayed by pushing the control button of the pointing device.

Claims

1. A method of selecting and displaying an item on a display screen, using a pointing and selecting device including a control button, comprising:

displaying, on said screen, (i) a multifaceted three dimensional object having a fixed center and having, of which at least one side including at least a representative window of a first item to select and display, said representative window including a link to said item to be selected and displayed, and (ii) a fixed pointer;

rotating the three dimensional object on the screen about the fixed center with respect to three free orthogonal axes, by the manipulation of said pointing device; and

superimposing said representative window of said item to be selected and displayed with said displayed pointer at the center of said three dimensional object, for the selection and display on said display screen of said item to be selected and displayed by pushing said control button of said pointing device.

2. A method of selecting and displaying an item according to claim 1, wherein said three dimensional object is a six sided cube.

3. A method of selecting and displaying an item according to claim 1, wherein said at least one representative window is a fixed image, a succession of 35 animated images, a graphical object, or text.

4. A method of selecting and displaying an item according to claim 1, wherein said item to be selected and displayed is a second three dimensional object of the same type as the one in claim 1, and having the same functions as the one in claim 1, at least one side of which includes at least one representative window of a second item to select and display, said representative window including a link with said second item to select and display.

5. A method of selecting and displaying an item according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the item is stored so as to enable electronic determination of the users preferences and to reorganize the representative windows'"'"' contents on said three dimensional object with respect to the user'"'"'s preferences.

6. A method of selecting and displaying an item according to claim 1, wherein one of the said items to select and display is a video file whose images activate only when its representative window is superimposed with the said fixed pointer.

7. A method of selecting and displaying an item according to claim 1, wherein said fixed pointer at the center of the three dimensional object is displayed at the center of the display screen.

8. A selection and display device for the implementation of the selection and display method for an item according to claim 1, comprising:

a display screen; and

a pointing and selecting device having a control button enabling the selection and display of said item by superimposing its representative window on the fixed pointer at the center of said three dimensional object.

9. A selection and display device according to claim 6, wherein the pointing device is a mouse, joystick, or trackball.

10. A method of selecting and displaying an item on a display screen, comprising:

displaying, on the display screen, a first multifaceted three dimensional object centered on a displayed pointer, and having a first window representing a first item on one of the multiple facets of the displayed first multifaceted three dimensional object;

entering a first user input to rotate the displayed first multifaceted three dimensional object on the display screen about the displayed pointer to thereby superimpose the first window on the displayed pointer; and

with the first window superimposed on the displayed pointer, selecting the first item.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first window includes a link to the first item, and further comprising:

activating the link to the first item, based on the superimposing of the first window on the displayed pointer and prior to selecting the first item, to thereby display the first item on the display screen within the first widow.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

displaying the first item on the entire display screen, based on the selection of the first item.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

displaying, on the display screen and based on the selection of the first item, a second multifaceted three dimensional object centered on the displayed pointer, and having a second window representing a second item on one of the multiple facets of the displayed second multifaceted three dimensional object;

entering a second user input to rotate the displayed second multifaceted three dimensional object on the display screen about the displayed pointer with respect to the three orthogonal axes to superimpose the second window on the displayed pointer; and

with the second window superimposed on the displayed pointer, selecting the second item.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the displayed first multifaceted three dimensional object and the displayed second multifaceted three dimensional object are concentrically nested.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the pointer is displayed independent of the display of the first multifaceted three dimensional object and at a fixed location on the display screen.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

the first window is one of multiple windows on the one facet of the displayed first multifaceted three dimensional object; and

each of the multiple windows represents one of multiple different items.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first window is superimposed on the displayed pointer from a user point of view.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

the first item is selected by entering a second user input.

19. A system for selecting and displaying an item, comprising:

a monitor, having a display screen, for displaying a first multifaceted three dimensional object centered on a displayed pointer and having a first window representing a first item on one of the multiple facets of the displayed first multifaceted three dimensional object; and

a user input device for entering (i) a first user input to rotate the displayed first multifaceted three dimensional object on the display screen about the displayed pointer to thereby superimpose, from the point of view of the user, the first window on the displayed pointer, and (ii) with the first window superimposed on the displayed pointer, a second user input to select the first item.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein:

the monitor displays the first item on the display screen within the first window, based on the superimposing of the first window on the displayed pointer and prior to entering the second user input.