Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-04
2001-08-07
Huynh, Ba (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271842
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to user interactive computer supported display technology and particularly to such user interactive systems and methods which are user friendly, i.e. provide even non-computer-literate users with an interface environment which is easy to use and intuitive.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
The 1990's decade has been marked by a societal technological revolution driven by the convergence of the data processing industry with the consumer electronics industry. This advance has been even further accelerated by the extensive consumer and business involvement in the internet over the past two years. As a result of these changes, it seems as if virtually all aspects of human endeavor in the industrialized world requires human-computer interfaces. As a result of these profound changes, there is a need to make computer directed activities accessible to a substantial portion of the world's population which, up to a year or two ago, was computer-illiterate, or at best computer indifferent. In order for the vast computer supported market places to continue and be commercially productive, it will be necessary for a large segment of computer indifferent consumers to be involved in computer interfaces. Thus, the challenge of our technology is to create interfaces to computers which are as close to the real world as possible.
Industry has been working towards this challenge and there is presently a relatively high degree of realism possible in interfaces. This presents a need and an opportunity for even more realistic interaction techniques to better match the visual metaphors used and to achieve a higher level of ease of use for computer systems. We are striving towards the representation of object as photo realistic, three-dimensional (3D) models rather than as the icons and two-dimensional desktops of conventional computer technology.
Some examples of current technology for the creation of virtual three-dimensional workspace display interfaces are copending application Ser. No. 08/813,891, filed Mar. 7, 1997, entitled “VIEWER INTERACTIVE OBJECT IN VIRTUAL THREE-DIMENSIONAL WORKSPACE” and Ser. No. 08/813,848, filed Mar. 7, 1997, entitled “VIEWER INTERACTIVE OBJECT WITH MULTIPLE SELECTABLE FACE VIEWS IN VIRTUAL THREE-DIMENSIONAL WORKSPACE”, assigned to the Assignee of the present application.
A 3D virtual workspace display environment is also described in an article entitled, “RAPID CONTROLLED MOVEMENT THROUGH A VIRTUAL 3D WORKSPACE”, Jock Mackinlay et al.,
Computer Graphics Publication
, Vol. 24, No. 4, August 1990, pp. 171-175, as well as in its related U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,785.
It is clear that current technology in virtual three-dimensional workspaces has provided environments which are user friendly, i.e. make the casual computer user feel more comfortable and at home with the interface. However, researchers in human factors have found downsides to three-dimensional virtual reality displays. Because of the many choices that the user has in wandering down various “streets and roads” or visiting a wide variety of “buildings or stores” or going through many possible “doors”, the user may wander through this reality and perhaps get lost from the track or goal he is pursuing.
The present invention addresses this problem, i.e. that of helping the interactive user in three-dimensional graphic environments to stay focused and relate to the objects he is seeking to relate to in the manner he is seeking to relate to such objects even when these objects are arranged in 3D space in what appears to be infinite configurations. The invention facilitates the user's navigation in the 3D space so that the user may easily and quickly continue or change the navigational path.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is understood that in order to navigate through three-dimensional space, view the space or relate to objects within the space, a viewpoint is determined within that space. That viewpoint is the virtual position of the viewer or person who is navigating within the three-dimensional space. The viewpoint is commonly defined by its position and its orientation or viewing direction. For purposes of describing this invention, we will use the metaphor of a camera to understand the viewpoint. The camera's position and orientation are where it is and which way it is pointing. Let us refer to another property of a viewpoint which is “field of view”; this is effectively the resulting view from a given viewpoint. A key need of a viewer navigating through virtual three-dimensional space is to stay focused on the direction in which the viewer or user is interactively navigating and to choose the user's path as well as branches in the path as easily and quickly as possible.
The present invention provides a solution of the user navigation need by providing a display of virtual three-dimensional objects within a three-dimensional workspace. The viewer or user is provided with an interactive viewpoint to the display. There are two types of objects in the display: functional objects and navigational objects. The functional objects are interactive objects which the viewer may select by appropriate pointing means to provide any conventional functions generally provided by three-dimensional objects or icons in past two-dimensional displays, e.g. providing access to menus, spreadsheets, libraries, graphics, animation, etc. In addition there are provided navigational objects, which when selected by the viewer perform the navigational function of changing the viewpoint of the user. These navigational objects are preferably environmental objects such as floors, walls, ceilings or columns in interior 3D workspaces or trees, fountains, towers or pathways in exterior landscapes. Thus, means are provided such as conventional pointing means, e.g. mouse systems, for the user to select or click onto an environmental object. When this is done, the user's viewpoint will automatically be moved to a point associated with the environmental object. For example, clicking on a tower might move a user to an aerial view of the land below or clicking on a wall in an art museum might move the user to a viewpoint from which a collection of paintings on the wall could be viewed together. In this manner, a viewer navigating through a workspace may traverse relatively large apparent distances along a path while still maintaining his most optimum or desirable path through the complexities of the three-dimensional workspace.
In accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, while functional objects may be moved using means known in the art and described in the above referenced patents and patent applications, it is desirable that environmental objects remain stationary and not readily moveable by the viewer. In this manner, an environmental stability is maintained in the workspace which makes navigation easier and less confusing and the workspace configuration easier to memorize.
As will be hereinafter described in greater detail, it is preferable to provide means for maintaining environmental or navigational objects in stationary positions relative to moveable functional objects, when such functional objects are moved by the viewer.
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Bardon Didier Daniel Claude
Berry Richard Edmond
Isensee Scott Harlan
Roberts David John
Emile Volel
Huynh Ba
International Business Machines - Corporation
Kraft J. B.
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