Navigation system for a 3D virtual scene

• US 9,122,367 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitzmaurice, George, Matejka, Justin, Mordatch, Igor, Kurtenbach, Gord, White, Thomas, Khan, Azam
• Primary Examiner(s): RIEGLER, PATRICK F
• Application Number:
  US12/200,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20090083626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,560 Days
• Field of Search: 715/848, 715/849, 715/850, 715/851, 715/716, 715/719, 715/720, 715/721, 345/419, 345/427
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 provides a rewind function where view waypoints are stored as navigation occurs and the user can move the view back to one of the rewind points.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining whether an operation being performed by a three-dimensional (3D) model navigational tool while navigating a 3D scene requires one or more intermediate waypoints, wherein each waypoint comprises a camera view position, a camera orientation, and a thumbnail image of the 3D scene based on the camera view position and the camera orientation;

if the operation requires one or more intermediate waypoints, then;

determining that a threshold period of time has elapsed since last adding to a rewind history, and

generating a new waypoint as an intermediate waypoint by adding state information associated with a current view of the 3D scene to the rewind history and generating a new thumbnail image associated with the current view; and

if the operation does not require one or more intermediate waypoints, then;

waiting for an end of the operation, and

generating a new waypoint that is associated with a view of the 3D scene at the end of the operation.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more intermediate waypoints are generated at equal time intervals.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising discarding at least one of the one or more intermediate waypoints later in time when the at least one of the one or more intermediate waypoints is selected.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining that an element configured to activate a rewind tool has been activated;

determining whether the element has been held down for less than a predetermined threshold period of time; and

if the element has been held down for less than the predetermined threshold period of time, then rewinding one step from a first waypoint associated with the 3D scene to a second waypoint associated with the 3D scene; and

if the element has not been held down for less than the predetermined threshold period of time, then rewinding from the first waypoint to another waypoint associated with the 3D scene based on a location of a cursor that moves from a first thumbnail image associated with the first waypoint to another thumbnail image associated with the another waypoint.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein rewinding from the first waypoint to the another waypoint comprises:

displaying a horizontally displayed set of thumbnail images, wherein each thumbnail image is associated with a different waypoint;

allowing a user to specify a first thumbnail image on the horizontally displayed set of thumbnail images, wherein the first thumbnail image is associated with the another waypoint; and

displaying a view corresponding to the first thumbnail image.

4. An apparatus, comprising:

a hardware-implemented display; and

a processor coupled to the display and configured to execute one or more instructions that cause the processor to;

determine whether an operation being performed by a three-dimensional (3D) model navigational tool while navigating a 3D scene requires one or more intermediate waypoints, wherein each waypoint comprises a camera view position, a camera orientation, and a thumbnail image of the 3D scene based on the camera view position and the camera orientation;

if the operation requires one or more intermediate waypoints, then;

determine that a threshold period of time has elapsed since last adding to a rewind history, and

generate a new waypoint as an intermediate waypoint by adding state information associated with a current view of the 3D scene to the rewind history and generating a new thumbnail image associated with the current view; and

if the operation does not require one or more intermediate waypoints, then;

wait for an end of the operation, and

generate a new waypoint that is associated with a view of the 3D scene at the end of the operation.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the one or more intermediate waypoints are generated at equal time intervals.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the processor further configured to discard at least one of the one or more intermediate waypoints later in time when the at least one of the one or more intermediate waypoints is selected.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that an element configured to activate a rewind tool has been activated;

determine whether the element has been held down for less than a predetermined threshold period of time; and

if the element has been held down for less than the predetermined threshold period of time, then rewind one step from a first waypoint associated with the 3D scene to a second waypoint associated with the 3D scene; and

if the element has not been held down for less than the predetermined threshold period of time, then rewind from the first waypoint to another waypoint associated with the 3D scene based on a location of a cursor that moves from a first thumbnail image associated with the first waypoint to another thumbnail image associated with the another waypoint.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein rewinding from the first waypoint to the another waypoint comprises:

displaying a horizontally displayed set of thumbnail images, wherein each thumbnail image is associated with a different waypoint;

allowing a user to specify a first thumbnail image on the horizontally displayed set of thumbnail images, wherein the first thumbnail image is associated with the another waypoint; and

displaying a view corresponding to the first thumbnail image.

5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to navigate through a three-dimensional (3D) scene, by performing the steps of:

determining whether an operation being performed by a three-dimensional (3D) model navigational tool while navigating a 3D scene requires one or more intermediate waypoints, wherein each waypoint comprises a camera view position, a camera orientation, and a thumbnail image of the 3D scene based on the camera view position and the camera orientation;

if the operation requires one or more intermediate waypoints, then;

determining that a threshold period of time has elapsed since last adding to a rewind history, and

generating a new waypoint as an intermediate waypoint by adding state information associated with a current view of the 3D scene to the rewind history and generating a new thumbnail image associated with the current view; and

if the operation does not require one or more intermediate waypoints, then;

waiting for an end of the operation, and

generating a new waypoint that is associated with a view of the 3D scene at the end of the operation.

12. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 5, wherein the one or more intermediate waypoints are generated at equal time intervals.

13. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 5, further comprising discarding at least one of the one or more intermediate waypoints later in time when the at least one of the one or more intermediate waypoints is selected.

14. A computer-readable storage medium as recited claim 5, further comprising:

determining that an element configured to activate a rewind tool has been activated;

determining whether the element has been held down for less than a predetermined threshold period of time; and

if the element has been held down for less than the predetermined threshold period of time, then rewinding one step from a first waypoint associated with the 3D scene to a second waypoint associated with the 3D scene; and

if the element has not been held down for less than the predetermined threshold period of time, then rewinding from the first waypoint to another waypoint associated with the 3D scene based on a location of a cursor that moves from a first thumbnail image associated with the first waypoint to another thumbnail image associated with the another waypoint.

15. A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 14, wherein rewinding from the first waypoint to the another waypoint comprises:

displaying a horizontally displayed set of thumbnail images, wherein each thumbnail image is associated with a different waypoint;

allowing a user to specify a first thumbnail image on the horizontally displayed set of thumbnail images, wherein the first thumbnail image is associated with the another waypoint; and

displaying a view corresponding to the first thumbnail image.