# US 2014/0195963 A1 · Method and apparatus for representing 3d thumbnails > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0195963 A1 - Document ID: US20140195963A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/717,620 - Filed: 2012-12-17 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: Gehry Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Jim Chi-Kwan CHEUNG; Dennis SHELDEN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195963A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 30/00: Computer-aided design [CAD] - G06F 30/10: Geometric CAD - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method and related system are disclosed for generating a rotatable thumbnail representation of a 3D model of an object stored in a CAD file. Method steps include translating content of the CAD file into a neutral graphics format, converting the translated file content into a succession of views of the object, each successive view presenting a different perspective of the object as it rotates about a common axis, converting the successive views to a sequence of thumbnail-sized images, associating the sequence with a single thumbnail representation of the CAD file, and configuring the thumbnail representation to enable a user to preview the CAD file on a graphical user interface by displaying the thumbnail-sized images according to the sequence to simulate rotation of the object about the common axis. The resulting 3D thumbnail is universally viewable, for example, in a browser, without opening application software used to create the 3D model. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for generating a rotatable thumbnail representation of a three-dimensional (3D) model of an object stored in a computer-aided design (CAD) file, comprising: translating content of the CAD file into a neutral graphics format; converting the translated file content into a succession of views of the object, each successive view presenting a different perspective of the object as it rotates about a common axis; converting the successive views to a sequence of thumbnail-sized images; associating the sequence with a single thumbnail representation of the CAD file; and configuring the thumbnail representation to enable a user to preview the CAD file on a graphical user interface by displaying the thumbnail-sized images according to the sequence to simulate rotation of the object about the common axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the common axis is a vertical axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein each of the successive views is displaced from adjacent views by a common angle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the angle is 30 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the single thumbnail representation comprises one of the successive views. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the thumbnail representation is configured to enable the preview in response to a cursor hovering over the thumbnail representation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the thumbnail representation is configured for display in a file directory window on the graphical user interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the thumbnail representation is configured for preview by displaying the thumbnail-sized images on the graphical user interface in a preview window separate from the file directory window. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the thumbnail representation enables the user to simulate the rotation by dragging a cursor within the preview window. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the thumbnail representation enables the user to simulate the rotation by selecting a rotation arrow displayed within the preview window. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the thumbnail representation is configured to enable the user to preview the CAD file in an expanded view that is rotatable about multiple axes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 embodied as a series of processor-executable steps stored in a computer readable medium. ### Claim 13 A system for generating a rotatable thumbnail representation of a three-dimensional (3D) model of an object stored in a computer-aided design (CAD) file, comprising: at least one processor; a computer readable medium that is operatively coupled to the processor; and logic that executes at least in part in the processor from the computer readable medium and that, when executed, causes generation of the rotatable thumbnail representation by at least: translating contents of the CAD file into a neutral graphics format; converting the translated file content into a succession of views of the object, each successive view presenting a different perspective of the object as it rotates about a common axis; converting the successive views to a sequence of thumbnail-sized images; associating the sequence with a single thumbnail representation of the CAD file; and configuring the thumbnail representation to enable a user to preview the CAD file on a graphical user interface by displaying the thumbnail-sized images according to the sequence to simulate rotation of the object about the common axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the common axis is a vertical axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein each of the successive views is displaced from adjacent views by a common angle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein the angle is 30 degrees. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the single thumbnail representation comprises one of the successive views. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the thumbnail representation is configured to enable the preview in response to a cursor hovering over the thumbnail representation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the thumbnail representation is configured for display in a file directory window on the graphical user interface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the thumbnail representation is configured for preview by displaying the thumbnail-sized images on the graphical user interface in a preview window separate from the file directory window. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20 wherein the thumbnail representation enables the user to simulate the rotation through placement of a cursor within the preview window. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the thumbnail representation is configured to enable the user to preview the CAD file in an expanded view that is rotatable about multiple axes.