Three-dimensional model look-at-point rotation and viewport modes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10496239-B2
Application number	US-201715713392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2017
Priority date	May 1, 2017
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A three-dimensional model can be presented in a two-dimensional digital canvas on a computer display. User input directed at the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas can be received. The three-dimensional model can be manipulated in response to the user input. A two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model can be displayed. Corresponding data structures for the model, the canvas, and the two-dimensional objects in the data structure can be maintained and updated. One or more additional techniques can also be utilized in a computer system, such as continuous user-controlled model rotation in a two-dimensional canvas; viewport autofit and non-autofit modes; rotating the model around a camera look-at point; ghosting outside the viewport; normalizing modeling units and values; preset buttons with on-button previews; user-defined view presets; and/or two-dimensional image substitution.

First claim

We claim:

1. A computer system comprising:
at least one processor; and
memory comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by at least one processor cause at least one processor to perform acts comprising:
maintaining a two-dimensional digital canvas data structure in a computer system, with the canvas data structure representing a two-dimensional digital canvas;
maintaining one or more data structures representing one or more two-dimensional objects in the two-dimensional canvas;
maintaining a three-dimensional model data structure representing a three-dimensional model located in the two-dimensional canvas;
presenting the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas on a computer display;
receiving user input directed at the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas;
manipulating the three-dimensional model in response to the user input;
updating the three-dimensional model data structure to represent the manipulating in response to the user input;
displaying a two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas using a three-dimensional scene after the manipulating of the three-dimensional model;
updating the canvas data structure to represent the manipulating in response to the user input; and
switching between a viewport autofit mode and a viewport non-autofit mode.

2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the updating of the three-dimensional model data structure comprises rotating the three-dimensional model around a point that is co-located with a look-at point of a modeled camera in the three-dimensional scene for the three-dimensional model.

3. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein the displaying of the two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model comprises maintaining the look-at point of the modeled camera at a fixed point on a viewport through which the three-dimensional model is displayed in the two-dimensional canvas.

4. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein the fixed point is at a center of the viewport.

5. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the acts further comprise performing the following while in the viewport autofit mode:
presenting the three-dimensional model in a viewport in the two-dimensional canvas on a computer display;
receiving first user input directed at the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas;
performing a first manipulation of the three-dimensional model in response to the first user input;
automatically resizing the viewport to fit the three-dimensional model in response to the first manipulation;
updating the three-dimensional model data structure to represent the first manipulation in response to the first user input;
displaying a two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas after the first manipulation; and
updating the canvas data structure to represent the first manipulation in response to the first user input.

6. The computer system of claim 5 , wherein the acts further comprise performing the following while in the viewport non-autofit mode:
performing a second manipulation of the three-dimensional model in response to a second user input, with the second manipulation comprising changing an overall size of a view of the three-dimensional model in the viewport in response to the second manipulation, without automatically resizing the viewport to fit the three-dimensional model in response to the second user input;
updating the three-dimensional model data structure to represent the second manipulation in response to the second user input;
displaying a two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas after the second manipulation of the three-dimensional model; and
updating the canvas data structure to represent the second manipulation in response to the second user input.

7. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model comprises displaying a view of the three-dimensional model in a viewport in the two-dimensional canvas after the manipulating, with the viewport being smaller than the two-dimensional canvas.

8. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the displaying of the two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model after the manipulating comprises hiding portions of the three-dimensional model in the displayed view that are located outside the viewport.

9. The computer system of claim 7 , wherein the acts comprise the computer system responding to the manipulation by resizing the viewport to fit the view of the three-dimensional model after the manipulating.

10. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
maintaining a two-dimensional digital canvas data structure in a computer system, with the canvas data structure representing a two-dimensional digital canvas;
maintaining one or more data structures representing one or more two-dimensional objects in the two-dimensional canvas;
maintaining a three-dimensional model data structure representing a three-dimensional model located in the two-dimensional canvas;
presenting the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas on a computer display;
receiving user input directed at the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas;
manipulating the three-dimensional model in response to the user input;
updating the three-dimensional model data structure to represent the manipulating in response to the user input;
displaying a two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas using a three-dimensional scene after the manipulating of the three-dimensional model;
updating the canvas data structure to represent the manipulating in response to the user input; and
switching between a viewport autofit mode and a viewport non-autofit mode.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the updating of the three-dimensional model data structure comprises rotating the three-dimensional model around a point that is co-located with a look-at point of a modeled camera in the three-dimensional scene for the three-dimensional model, and wherein the method further comprises maintaining the look-at point of the modeled camera at a fixed point on the viewport while switching between the viewport autofit mode and the viewport non-autofit mode.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
performing the following while in the viewport autofit mode:
presenting the three-dimensional model in a viewport in the two-dimensional canvas on a computer display;
receiving first user input directed at the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas;
performing a first manipulation of the three-dimensional model in response to the first user input;
automatically resizing the viewport to fit the three-dimensional model in response to the first manipulation;
updating the three-dimensional model data structure to represent the first manipulation in response to the first user input;
displaying a two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas after the first manipulation; and
updating the canvas data structure to represent the first manipulation in response to the first user input; and

performing the following while in the viewport non-autofit mode:
performing a second manipulation of the three-dimensional model in response to a second user input, with the second manipulation comprising changing an overall size of a view of the three-dimensional model in the viewport in response to the second manipulation, without automatically resizing the viewport to fit the three-dimensional model in

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Le Doux Adam Ross
• Gueniot Alexandre
• Ahuja Bharat Kumar
• Li Jie
• Krissi Jordan
• Kernek Matthew William
• Fuller Michael Alexander
• Onder Onur
• Tridandapani Ramya
• Gervais Constance Worsfold
• Brown Garrett William
• Gilmore Michael Jay
• Adams Tyler Robert
• Mignone Thomas R
• Horn Stephanie Lorraine
• Gao Eric Minghai
• Alekson Heather Joanne
• Welman Chris
• Nhan Thomas

Classifications

• G06T2210/62

  Semi-transparency · CPC title

• G06T2219/2024

  Style variation · CPC title

• G06T2200/24

  involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs] · CPC title

• G06F3/04845

  for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour · CPC title

• G06F3/04815 Primary

  Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object · CPC title