US6765567B1 — Method and apparatus for providing and accessing …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 126 words

A method for generating an interface in a personal computer system having a display, a primary input device, and a secondary input device, the method comprising: displaying a primary view of a three-dimensional environment from the perspective of a virtual body positioned in the three-dimensional environment; displaying an animated change in the three-dimensional environment shown in the primary view to correspond to movement of the virtual body as the user manipulates the primary input device; and displaying a tool space by view by displaying an animated movement of a three-dimensional tool space into view based on a user manipulation of the secondary input device, the three-dimensional tool space being hidden from the primary view for all positions and orientations of the vehicle in the three-dimensional environment.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 126 words

A method for generating an interface in a personal computer system having a display, a primary input device, and a secondary input device, the method comprising: displaying a primary view of a three-dimensional environment from the perspective of a virtual body positioned in the three-dimensional environment; displaying an animated change in the three-dimensional environment shown in the primary view to correspond to movement of the virtual body as the user manipulates the primary input device; and displaying a tool space by view by displaying an animated movement of a three-dimensional tool space into view based on a user manipulation of the secondary input device, the three-dimensional tool space being hidden from the primary view for all positions and orientations of the vehicle in the three-dimensional environment.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a tool space view comprises displaying an animated rotation that changes the view of the three-dimensional environment.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a tool space view comprises displaying a tool space associated with the virtual body such that the same tool space is displayed at a plurality of virtual body positions in the three-dimensional environment.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a primary view comprises displaying a three-dimensional object in the three-dimensional environment and wherein displaying a tool space view comprises displaying a tool space associated with the three-dimensional object in the primary view.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 4 wherein displaying a tool space view comprises displaying a tool space associated with the virtual body when the virtual body is positioned away from a three-dimensional object and displaying a tool space associated with the three-dimensional object when the virtual body is proximate the three-dimensional object.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 4 wherein displaying a tool space view comprises displaying a tool space associated with a first three-dimensional object in the three-dimensional environment when the virtual body is positioned near the first three-dimensional object and displaying a tool space associated with a second three-dimensional object in the three-dimensional environment when the virtual body is positioned near the second three-dimensional object.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 4 wherein displaying a tool space view comprises displaying a tool space associated with the three-dimensional object as being attached to the three-dimensional object.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 4 wherein displaying a tool space view comprises displaying a tool space associated with the three-dimensional object as moving with the three-dimensional object.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a tool space view comprises displaying an animated movement of a fixed amount such that the user does not control where the tool space appears in the view.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1 further comprising re-displaying the primary view by displaying an animated movement of the three-dimensional tool space out of view.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional tool space contains two-dimensional objects.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional tool space contains three-dimensional objects.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 12 wherein displaying a primary view further comprises displaying a an object in the three-dimensional environment as the user selects the object and wherein displaying a tool space view comprises displaying an animated rotation of the object into the three-dimensional tool space.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 13 wherein displaying the animated movement of the object into the three-dimensional tool space further comprises changing a property of the object during the animated movement.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 14 wherein changing a property of the object comprises changing the appearance of the object.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 77 words

The method of claim 14 further comprising: redisplaying the primary view of the three-dimensional environment; displaying an animated change in the three-dimensional environment shown in the primary view to correspond to movement of the virtual body as the user manipulates the primary input device; redisplaying the tool space view; displaying an object in the tool space as the user selects the object; displaying an animated movement of the object into the three-dimensional environment from the tool space.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 12 wherein displaying a tool space view further comprises displaying an object in the three-dimensional tool space as the user selects the object and wherein the method further comprises displaying an animated movement of the object into the three-dimensional environment from the tool space.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 12 wherein displaying a tool space view further comprises displaying a an object in the three-dimensional tool space as the user selects the object and moving the object in the three-dimensional tool space based on the user's manipulation of the primary pointing device.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 142 words

A computer-readable medium having instructions for performing computer-executable steps related to a computer-generated three-dimensional environment, the computer-generated three-dimensional environment including a computer-generated view of the three-dimensional environment, the steps comprising: creating a tool space programming object having a position property that describes the position of a three-dimensional tool space in the three-dimensional environment, the position property set to an initial position; changing the view in response to an input value from a primary input device so that the view is directed toward the initial position of the three-dimensional tool space; updating the position property of the tool space while the view is changing toward the initial position such that a majority of the three-dimensional tool space remains out of the computer-generated view; bringing the three-dimensional tool space into the computer-generated view in response to an input value from a secondary input device.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 142 words

A computer-readable medium having instructions for performing computer-executable steps related to a computer-generated three-dimensional environment, the computer-generated three-dimensional environment including a computer-generated view of the three-dimensional environment, the steps comprising: creating a tool space programming object having a position property that describes the position of a three-dimensional tool space in the three-dimensional environment, the position property set to an initial position; changing the view in response to an input value from a primary input device so that the view is directed toward the initial position of the three-dimensional tool space; updating the position property of the tool space while the view is changing toward the initial position such that a majority of the three-dimensional tool space remains out of the computer-generated view; bringing the three-dimensional tool space into the computer-generated view in response to an input value from a secondary input device.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 45 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the step of bringing the three-dimensional tool space into the computer-generated view comprises changing the view so that the view is directed toward the position of the three-dimensional tool space while maintaining the position of the tool space.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 35 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the step of bringing the three-dimensional tool space into the computer-generated view comprises changing the position of the three-dimensional tool space to a position within the computer-generated view.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 36 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the step of bringing the three-dimensional tool space into the computer-generated view comprises gradually bringing the three-dimensional tool space into the computer-generated view such that a user perceives movement.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 45 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 19 comprising instructions for performing further steps of changing an origination point for the computer-generated view and updating the position of the tool space such that the tool space is kept in the same position relative to the origination point.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 42 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 20 wherein bringing the three-dimensional tool space into the computer-generated view comprises changing the computer-generated view by a fixed amount such that the user does not control where the three-dimensional tool space appears in the three-dimensional view.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 55 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 19 comprising instructions for performing further steps comprising: creating a tool programming object having a position property that identifies the position of a three-dimensional tool in the three-dimensional environment; and setting the position property of the tool programming object such that the three-dimensional tool appears in the three-dimensional tool space.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 71 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 25 comprising instructions for performing further steps comprising: moving a displayed cursor over a three-dimensional tool that appears in a three-dimensional tool space; linking the three-dimensional tool to the displayed cursor based on an input from the primary input device such that the three-dimensional tool moves with the cursor; and moving the cursor and the three-dimensional tool in response to input from the primary input device.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein moving the cursor and the three-dimensional tool comprises moving the cursor and the three-dimensional tool within the tool space.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 32 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein moving the cursor and the three-dimensional tool comprises moving the cursor and the three-dimensional tool out of the tool space and into the three-dimensional environment.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 32 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 28 comprising instructions for performing a further step comprising changing a property of the three-dimensional tool as it moves from the tool space into the three-dimensional environment.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein changing a property comprises changing an appearance property of the three-dimensional tool.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 89 words

A method for generating an interface in a personal computer system having a display and a primary input device, the method comprising: displaying a two-dimensional computer-generated view of a screen; shifting the computer-generated view to display a tool space containing graphical items, the tool space being hidden from the computer-generated view of the screen; moving a cursor over a graphical item based on input values from the primary input device; and moving the graphical item and the cursor together based on an additional input from the primary input device.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 89 words

A method for generating an interface in a personal computer system having a display and a primary input device, the method comprising: displaying a two-dimensional computer-generated view of a screen; shifting the computer-generated view to display a tool space containing graphical items, the tool space being hidden from the computer-generated view of the screen; moving a cursor over a graphical item based on input values from the primary input device; and moving the graphical item and the cursor together based on an additional input from the primary input device.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 31 wherein moving the graphical item and the cursor comprises moving the graphical item and the cursor within the tool space.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 31 wherein moving the graphical item and the cursor comprises moving the graphical item and the cursor from the tool space to the screen.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 33 wherein moving the graphical item and the cursor from the tool space to the screen comprises changing a property of he graphical item as it is moved from the tool space to the screen.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 74 words

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps related to a display, the steps comprising: displaying a view of a two-dimensional screen; shifting the view of the two-dimensional screen to reveal a tool space containing a graphical item; moving a cursor over the graphical item in response to an input from an input device; and moving the graphical item and the cursor together in response to an additional input from the input device.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 74 words

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps related to a display, the steps comprising: displaying a view of a two-dimensional screen; shifting the view of the two-dimensional screen to reveal a tool space containing a graphical item; moving a cursor over the graphical item in response to an input from an input device; and moving the graphical item and the cursor together in response to an additional input from the input device.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 26 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 35 wherein moving the graphical item and the cursor comprises moving the graphical item and the cursor within the tool space.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 29 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 35 wherein moving the graphical item and the cursor comprises moving the graphical item and the cursor from the tool space to the screen.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 40 words

The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein moving the graphical item and the cursor from the tool space to the screen comprises changing a property of the graphical item as it is moved from the tool space to the screen.

Claim 43

Independent Claim 89 words

A method of generating an interface in a personal computer having a display, the method comprising: displaying a primary view of an environment, the primary view comprising at least one graphical object; moving a cursor over the graphical object in response to input values from an input device; the cursor and the graphical object together toward a tool space outside of the primary view in response to input values from an input device; and changing a property of the graphical object as it is moved toward the tool space.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 89 words

A method of generating an interface in a personal computer having a display, the method comprising: displaying a primary view of an environment, the primary view comprising at least one graphical object; moving a cursor over the graphical object in response to input values from an input device; the cursor and the graphical object together toward a tool space outside of the primary view in response to input values from an input device; and changing a property of the graphical object as it is moved toward the tool space.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 39 wherein moving the cursor and the graphical object together toward a tool space comprises shifting the primary view to reveal the tool space.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 39 wherein the environment is a three-dimensional environment.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 41 wherein the tool space is a three-dimensional object in the three-dimensional environment.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 42 wherein changing a property of the graphical object comprises changing the appearance of the graphical object.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 43 wherein changing the appearance of the graphical object comprises changing the appearance of the graphical object from a three-dimensional object to a two dimensional object.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 43 wherein changing the appearance of the graphical object comprises changing the appearance of the graphical object from a three-dimensional object to text.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 90 words

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps related to a display, the steps comprising: displaying a primary view of an environments, the primary view comprising at least one graphical object; moving a cursor over the graphical object in response to input values from an input device; moving the cursor and the graphical object together toward a tool space outside of the primary view in response to input values from an input device; and changing the appearance of the graphical object as it is moved toward the tool space.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 90 words

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps related to a display, the steps comprising: displaying a primary view of an environments, the primary view comprising at least one graphical object; moving a cursor over the graphical object in response to input values from an input device; moving the cursor and the graphical object together toward a tool space outside of the primary view in response to input values from an input device; and changing the appearance of the graphical object as it is moved toward the tool space.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-07-20	2008-01-19	2008-07-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-07-20	2012-01-19	2012-07-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-07-20	2016-01-19	2016-07-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for providing and accessing hidden tool spaces

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag