Hotlinks between an annotation window and graphics window for interactive 3D graphics

Abstract

A computer graphics system includes a graphics processing engine for processing and displaying graphics data representing three-dimensional objects in a first portion of a display. A text processing engine displays text in a second portion of the display. Embedded in the text is a command or hotlink for controlling operation of the graphics processing engine. In response to user selection of first data displayed in the second portion of the display, a supervisory controller analyzes the first data to determine if the first data includes at least one hotlink command. Upon determining that the first data includes at least one hotlink command, the supervisory controller identifies the hotlink command included in the first data and controls operation of the graphics processing engine to perform at least one graphics function according to the hotlink command included in the first data. The graphics function may be associated with at least one of the three-dimensional objects, a three-dimensional markup, a predefined view point, or a predefined animation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.