US 5,694,532 A · Method for selecting a three-dimensional object from a graphical user interface

Abstract

A method for selecting a three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional environment improves a speed and efficiency of a lassoing technique. The method reduces the number of objects that have to be rendered into images in order to determine whether the object is included within an area selected by the lasso. The method selects objects intersected by the lasso using ray picking. These selected objects are not rendered into images. The method determines those objects whose bounding boxes do not intersect a bounding box of the area selected by the lasso. These objects are also not rendered into images. The method renders the remaining objects into images to determine which are included with the area selected by the lasso.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method for selecting one or more items displayed in a three-dimensional environment, the method comprising:

(a) selecting an area in the three-dimensional environment;
(b) indicating, as a selected item, each of the items that is intersected by rays projected from a perimeter of said selected area in a direction parallel to a z-axis of the three-dimensional environment;
(c) indicating, as a potentially selected item, each of the items in the three-dimensional environment that has a bounding box that overlaps a bounding box of said selected area;
(d) projecting each of said potentially selected items not indicated as said selected item into an offscreen plane;
(e) projecting said selected area into said offscreen plane;
and
(f) indicating, as a selected item, each of said projected items that overlaps said projected area in said offscreen plane.

4 more elements

A method for selecting one or more items displayed in a three-dimensional environment, the method comprising:

(a) drawing a lasso in the three-dimensional environment;
(b) projecting rays from an outline of said lasso parallel to a z-axis of the three-dimensional environment;
(c) indicating, as a selected item, each of the items that are intersected by said rays;
and
(d) projecting each of the items in the three-dimensional environment not indicated as said selected item into a plane of said lasso to determine whether any of the items are selected by an area enclosed by said lasso.

2 more elements

A method for selecting one or more items displayed in a three-dimensional environment, the method comprising:

(a) drawing a lasso in the three-dimensional environment;
(b) determining a first set of selected items in the three-dimensional environment that is selected by said lasso, including the steps of:
(1) projecting rays from an outline of said lasso into the three-dimensional environment in a direction parallel to a z-axis of the three-dimensional environment, and
(2) including, in said first set of selected items, each of the items that is intersected by said rays;
(c) determining a second set of selected items in the three-dimensional environment that is selected by said lasso, including the steps of:
(1) indicating, as a potentially selected item, each of the items in the three-dimensional environment not included in said first set that has a bounding box that overlaps a bounding box of said lasso,
(2) projecting each of said potentially selected items into an offscreen plane,
(3) projecting an area of said lasso into said offscreen plane, and
(4) including, in said second set of selected items, each of said projected items that overlaps said projected area in said offscreen plane;
and
(d) indicating, as a item selected by said lasso, each of said items in said first and second set of selected items.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for selecting a three-dimensional object from a graphical user interface

Life of this patent

Method for selecting a three-dimensional object from a graphical user interface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9