Maintaining 3d labels as stable objects in 3d world

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016371852-A1
Application number	US-201615255842-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 2, 2016
Priority date	Nov 14, 2013
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Architecture that enables the preservation of label readability in a scene (e.g., map, map tiles, graphical background, etc.) by way of label orientation relative to a fixed heading on a plane or curved surface. After identifying an initial fixed heading, movement of the camera (e.g., zoom-in, zoom-out, position change, etc.) in the scene along that heading without changing the camera heading as measured relative to a fixed point does not alter label orientation. In a mapping implementation, after identifying an initial fixed camera heading over terrain of the Earth, movement of the camera (e.g., zoom-in, zoom-out, position change, etc.) in the scene without changing the camera heading as measured relative to some fixed point does not change label orientation. The orientation of labels may be changed if the heading of the camera is altered, but this change is delayed until camera movement quiesces.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A method for rendering a three-dimensional object on a map output on a display of an electronic device, comprising:
displaying the three-dimensional object in a first orientation on the map, wherein the first orientation is based, at least in part, on a virtual camera angle in a Z axis; receiving input that changes the angle of the virtual camera in the Z axis; and changing an orientation of the three-dimensional object from the first orientation to a second orientation based, at least in part, on the changed angle of the virtual camera in the Z axis.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the three-dimensional object is animated.

23 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising receiving input that changes the angle off the virtual camera in the Y axis.

24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising changing the three-dimensional object from one of the first orientation or the second orientation to a third orientation based, at least in part, on the changed angled of the virtual camera in the Y axis.

25 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising animating text associated with the three-dimensional object.

26 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the map is rendered as a three-dimensional map.

27 . The method of 21 , wherein changing the orientation off the three-dimensional object from the first orientation to a second orientation comprises continuously changing the orientation from the first orientation to the second orientation.

28 . A computer-readable storage medium encoding computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, performs a method for rendering three-dimensional objects on a mapping application, comprising:
determining an elevation of a virtual camera associated with the mapping application; rending a three-dimensional object in the mapping application, wherein an orientation of the three-dimensional object is based, at least in part, on the determined elevation. receiving input that alters the elevation of the virtual camera from a first elevation to a second elevation; and changing the orientation of the three-dimensional object from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein the second orientation is associated with the second elevation.

29 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 , further comprising instructions for providing periodic animations to the three-dimensional object.

30 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 , further comprising receiving input that rotates the mapping application about an axis.

31 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 30 , further comprising instructions for changing the orientation of the three-dimensional object from the first orientation or the second orientation to a third orientation.

32 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 , further comprising associating text with the three-dimensional object.

33 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32 , wherein the text is periodically animated.

34 . An electronic device, comprising:
a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: render a plurality of three-dimensional objects on a three-dimensional map that is rendered on a display of the electronic device; determine an initial orientation of each of the plurality of three-dimensional objects based on a viewing angle and a viewing elevation of a virtual camera associated with the three-dimensional map; receiving input that changes the viewing angle and the viewing elevation of the virtual camera; and updating the initial orientation of each of the plurality of three-dimensional objects based, at least in part, on the received input, wherein updating the initial orientation of each of the plurality of three dimensional objects comprises continuously updating the initial orientation to a new orientation as long as at least one of the viewing angle and the viewing elevation is altered by the received input.

35 . The electronic device of claim 34 , further comprising instructions for periodically animating at least a portion each of the plurality of three-dimensional objects.

36 . The electronic device of claim 34 , further comprising instructions for associating text with each of the plurality of three-dimensional objects.

37 . The electronic device of claim 36 , further comprising instructions for altering a viewing angle of the text based, at least in part, on the received input.

38 . The electronic device of claim 34 , wherein each of the plurality of three-dimensional objects move in unison in response to the received input.

39 . The electronic device of claim 34 , further comprising altering the initial orientation of each of the plurality of three-dimensional objects based, at least in part, on a heading associated with the virtual camera.

40 . The electronic device of claim 34 , wherein the received input is touch input.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Kunen Isaac Kenneth
• Gunning Brenton
• Dole Daniel
• Candelas Gonzalez Juan Pablo
• Barnett Donald A
• Impas Romualdo
• Buerer David

Classifications

• G06T2219/2004

  Aligning objects, relative positioning of parts · CPC title

• G06T7/285

  using a sequence of stereo image pairs · CPC title

• G06T17/00 Primary

  Three-dimensional [3D] modelling for computer graphics · CPC title

• G06T7/70

  Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) · CPC title

• G06T19/20 Primary

  Editing of three-dimensional [3D] images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts · CPC title