# US 10,504,285 B2 · Navigation system for a 3D virtual scene > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,504,285 B2 - Document ID: US10504285B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/200,319 - Filed: 2008-08-28 - Published: 2009-04-16 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2007-09-26 - Assignees: Autodesk, Inc. - Applicants: George Fitzmaurice; Justin Matejka; Igor Mordatch; Gord Kurtenbach; Azam Khan - Inventors: George Fitzmaurice; Justin Matejka; Igor Mordatch; Gord Kurtenbach; Azam Khan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10504285B2 ## CPC - G06T 19/00: Manipulating three-dimensional [3D] models or images for computer graphics - G06F 3/04815: 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 - G06T 15/20: Perspective computation - G06F 2203/04806: Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation - G06T 2200/24: involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs] - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A navigation system for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) scene that includes a model or object with which a user can interact. The system accommodates and helps both novice and advanced users. To do this, the system provides allows a user to place a point on a model surface that is used as a focus point for tool operations. The focus point is a geometry sphere that shows orientation and relative position of the view in the scene. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: determining that a user holds a pointing device in an activated state to place a tool in an active state, wherein the pointing device controls a position of a user-controlled cursor; determining that the user-controlled cursor is over a portion of a model within a three-dimensional (3D) scene; in response to determining that the user-controlled cursor is over the portion of the model, automatically displaying a center point sphere that represents a point within the 3D scene that is a projection of the user-controlled cursor onto the model within the 3D scene, wherein the center point sphere comprises a 3D geometric object; and performing one or more operations relative to the point represented by the center point sphere to change the position of a view associated with the 3D scene. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying orientation axial rings on the center point sphere. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the center point sphere as partially transparent where occluding geometry resides in between a camera associated with the 3D scene and the center point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a text descriptor associated with the center point sphere describing a function associated with the one or more operations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the point to a center of the view when the one or more operations are related to a centering function. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising zooming toward the point when the one or more operations are related to a zoom. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising orbiting around the point when the one or more operations are related to an orbiting function. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the view toward the point when the one or more operations are related to a forwarding function. ### Claim 9 A system, comprising: a display; and a processor coupled to the display and configured to: determine that a user holds a pointing device in an activated state to place a tool in an active state, wherein the pointing device controls a position of a user-controlled cursor; determine that the user-controlled cursor is over a portion of a model within a three-dimensional (3D) scene; in response to determining that the user-controlled cursor is over the portion of the model, automatically display a center point sphere that represents a point within the 3D scene that is a projection of the user-controlled cursor onto the model within the 3D scene, wherein the center point sphere comprises a 3D geometric object; and perform one or more operations relative to the point represented by the center point sphere to change the position of a view associated with the 3D scene. ### Claim 10 A non-transient computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to navigate a three-dimensional scene, by performing the steps of: determining that a user holds a pointing device in an activated state to place a tool in an active state, wherein the pointing device controls a position of a user-controlled cursor; determining that the user-controlled cursor is over a portion of a model within a three-dimensional (3D) scene; in response to determining that the user-controlled cursor is over the portion of the model, automatically displaying a center point sphere that represents a point within the 3D scene that is a projection of the user-controlled cursor onto the model within the 3D scene, wherein the center point sphere comprises a 3D geometric object; and performing one or more operations relative to the point represented by the center point sphere to change the orientation or position of a view associated with the 3D scene. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising displaying orientation axial rings on the center point sphere. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising displaying the center point sphere as partially transparent where occluding geometry resides in between a camera associated with the 3D scene and the center point. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising displaying a text descriptor associated with the center point sphere describing a function associated with the one or more operations. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising moving the point to a center of the view when the one or more operations are related to a centering function. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising zooming toward the point when the one or more operations are related to a zoom. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising orbiting around the point when the one or more operations are related to an orbiting function. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising moving the view toward the point when the one or more operations are related to a forwarding function. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the center point sphere is displayed at the point within the 3D scene that is a projection of the user-controlled cursor onto the model within the 3D scene. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The non-transient computer readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising, prior to determining that the user-controlled cursor is over the portion of the model, determining that a tool is in an active state.