Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-27
2004-12-07
Zimmerman, Mark (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
C345S427000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06828964
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a display method and display control device for displaying, in accordance with a visual field from a set viewpoint, data objects situated in a three-dimensional virtual space.
2. Description of Related Art
Computers connected to networks, such as the Internet for example, are capable of retrieving massive amounts of diverse information. In addition, as the capacity of storage media increases, even stand-alone information machines have become able to utilize vast amounts of diverse information.
In order to make use of such large amounts of diverse information, GUIs (graphical user interfaces) that employ a desktop metaphor, such as Microsoft Windows™ are being used, as are web browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer™ and Netscape Navigator™. These applications display viewing target informational content arranged on a screen in a static and planar manner; and in order to view the informational-content items in turn, succeeding subject matter must be displayed by replacing the subject matter being displayed in the active window, or must be displayed by changing the active attribute of windows being displayed on the screen in an overlapping manner.
When a plurality of informational items is displayed by switching from one display to another, the sense of continuity on the screen is lost, leading to the problem of a user having trouble understanding how the individual contents are related to each other.
In order to solve such problems, an information display method has been proposed (Japanese Pat. App. No. 2001-162322 [filed May 30, 2001]; Laid-Open No. 2000-172248) wherein concatenatedly linked data objects are arranged in a three-dimensional virtual space, and based on a visual field defined in the virtual space, the data objects are displayed on a display screen; and wherein information can be perused by following along links while the display screen is changed uninterruptedly by changing the visual field smoothly.
A conventional technique of this sort will be explained using
FIGS. 5 and 6
.
FIG. 5
is a conceptual view of a link structure of concatenatedly linked data objects, and
FIG. 6
is example displays of the concatenatedly linked data objects.
In
FIG. 5
, data objects
102
and
103
are represented within data object
101
as links
112
and
113
, respectively, and data objects
104
and
105
are represented within data object
102
as links
114
and
115
, respectively. Data object
106
is represented within data object
104
as link
116
.
In display example
301
at (A) in
FIG. 6
, data object
101
and data objects
102
and
103
linked to data object
101
are displayed.
When a shift-viewpoint instruction is accepted, the display range is changed according to the instruction, transitioning, for example, to the state shown in display example
302
at (B) in FIG.
6
. In this display example
302
, data object
101
, data object
102
linked to data object
101
, and data objects
104
and
105
linked to data object
102
are displayed.
When a further shift-viewpoint instruction is accepted, the state shown in display example
303
at (C) in
FIG. 6
ensues. In this display example
303
, data object
102
, data object
104
linked to data object
102
, and data object
106
linked to data object
104
are displayed.
When a further shift-viewpoint instruction is accepted, the state shown in display example
304
at (D) in
FIG. 6
ensues. In this display example
304
, data object
104
and data object
106
linked to data object
104
are displayed.
In display examples
301
through
304
, the data object that occupies the largest area within the display screen is displayed in detail, and the preceding/following relationships of the data objects are set in correspondence with the link modes and displayed. The fact that the display within the field of view always changes smoothly in response to the shift-viewpoint instructions enables a user to follow the links and view the data objects.
The information display method described above readily enables viewing by following concatenatedly linked information, and enables remedying the problem of losing sight of the interrelationships among the informational-content items. However, this method does not take into consideration such matters as: displaying supplemental information in connection with displayed data objects; displaying information in more detail in connection with displayed data objects; providing means for dialogue with a user in situations where required; or executing application programs linked to the display of information and associated with that information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention offers a configuration that enables viewing a plurality of data objects situated in a virtual space as the visual field defined in the virtual space is changed smoothly; and that at the same time enables: supplemental information in connection with displayed data objects to be displayed; information in connection with displayed data objects to be displayed in more detail; means for dialogue with a user to be provided in situations where required; and application programs linked to the display of information and associated with that information to be executed.
A first aspect of the present invention is a data-object display method for situating a plurality of data objects within a three-dimensional virtual space in which a visual field is defined and displaying, from a set virtual viewpoint, data objects located within the visual field. The data-object display method includes: a step of accepting virtual-viewpoint location changes; a step of continuously changing the visual field based on the virtual-viewpoint location changes, and uninterruptedly changing the display of a data object located within the visual field; a step of distinguishing whether a data object located within the visual field satisfies predetermined geometric conditions for the visual field; and a step of executing, in respect of a data object satisfying the predetermined geometric conditions, a process preset in the data object.
In a second aspect, the invention is the data-object display method according to the first aspect, wherein the process preset in the data object displays a display image different from a virtual-space display image located within the visual field.
A third aspect is the data-object display method according to the second aspect, wherein the a separate image is displayed situated in front of the data object located within the visual field in the virtual space.
In a fourth aspect, the invention is the data-object display method according to the second aspect, wherein a separate image is displayed within a window different from a window in which the data object located within the visual field in the virtual space is displayed.
A fifth aspect of the invention is the data-object display method according to the second aspect, wherein a separate image is displayed within a frame different from, in an identical window with, a frame in which the data object located within the visual field in the virtual space is displayed.
In a sixth aspect, the invention is according to the second aspect, wherein at least one from among a message, a modal dialogue, a modeless dialogue or information related to the data object is displayed.
A seventh aspect of the invention is the data-object display method according to any of the foregoing aspects, wherein the process preset in the data object executes a preset application program.
An eighth aspect of the present invention is an information display device for situating a plurality of data objects within a three-dimensional virtual space in which a visual field is defined and displaying, from a set virtual viewpoint, data objects located within the visual field. The information display device in this aspect of the invention includes: visual-field-data updating means for accepting virtual-viewpoint location changes; object data processing means for continuously changing the visual fie
Fujita Takushi
Kamiwada Toru
Sakamoto Takuya
Fujitsu Limited
Sautiago Enrique L.
Staas & Halsey , LLP
Zimmerman Mark
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