Automated viewpoint selection for 3D scenes

A system for automated viewpoint selection for 3D scenes comprising:

• a bounding surface calculator for receiving a set of objects of a 3D scene and for restricting degrees of freedom available through use of a viewpoint sphere;
• and
• a viewpoint calculator connected to said bounding surface calculator for generating viewpoints through varying degrees of automation including one of automated calculation of viewpoints, semi-automated selection, and free navigation around a restricted viewpoint space wherein said viewpoint calculator comprises:
• an automatic viewpoint generator connected to said bounding surface calculator wherein said automatic viewpoint generator comprises:
• an initializer for initializing a set of selected viewpoints, an index for a set of predefined viewpoints positioned on a unit reference sphere, and a current viewpoint;
• and
• an output set calculator for calculating an output set of viewpoints where said current viewpoint is set equal to said set of predefined viewpoints positioned on a unit reference sphere, said current viewpoint in respect to a viewpoint sphere radius is set equal to said viewpoint sphere radius and said current viewpoint is added to said set of selected viewpoint.

A system for automated viewpoint selection for 3D scenes comprising:

• a bounding surface calculator for receiving a set of objects of a 3D scene and for restricting degrees of freedom available through use of a viewpoint sphere;
• and
• a viewpoint calculator connected to said bounding surface calculator for generating viewpoints through varying degrees of automation including one of automated calculation of viewpoints, semi-automated selection, and free navigation around a restricted viewpoint space wherein said viewpoint calculator comprises:
• a semi-automatic viewpoint generator connected to said bounding surface calculator wherein said semi-automatic viewpoint generator comprises:
• definition means for defining a sequence of tour rings along a surface of said viewpoint sphere that slice said viewpoint sphere along an axes at regular intervals.

A system for automated viewpoint selection for 3D scenes comprising:

• a bounding surface calculator for receiving a set of objects of a 3D scene and for restricting degrees of freedom available through use of a viewpoint sphere;
• and
• a viewpoint calculator connected to said bounding surface calculator for generating viewpoints through varying degrees of automation including one of automated calculation of viewpoints, semi-automated selection, and free navigation around a restricted viewpoint space wherein said viewpoint calculator comprises:
• a free navigation viewpoint generator connected to said bounding surface calculator wherein said free navigation viewpoint generator comprises:
• navigation means for allowing a user to navigate freely about said viewpoint sphere.

A system for automated viewpoint selection for 3D scenes comprising:

• a bounding surface calculator for receiving a set of objects of a 3D scene and for restricting degrees of freedom available through use of a viewpoint sphere;
• and
• a viewpoint calculator connected to said bounding surface calculator for generating viewpoints through varying degrees of automation including one of automated calculation of viewpoints, semi-automated selection, and free navigation around a restricted viewpoint space wherein said viewpoint calculator comprises:
• an automatic viewpoint generator connected to said bounding surface calculator;
• a semi-automatic viewpoint generator connected to said bounding surface calculator;
• and
• a free navigation viewpoint generator connected to said bounding surface calculator.

A method for automated viewpoint selection for 3D scenes comprising the steps of:

• receiving a set of objects of a 3D scene;
• restricting degrees of freedom available through use of a viewpoint sphere;
• and
• generating viewpoints through varying degrees of automation including one of automated calculation of viewpoints, semi-automated selection, and free navigation around a restricted viewpoint space wherein generating viewpoints through automation comprises the step of:
• allowing a user to navigate freely about said viewpoint sphere.

A method for automated viewpoint selection for 3D scenes comprising the steps of:

• receiving a set of objects of a 3D scene;
• restricting degrees of freedom available through use of a viewpoint sphere;
• and
• generating viewpoints through varying degrees of automation including one of automated calculation of viewpoints, semi-automated selection, and free navigation around a restricted viewpoint space wherein generating viewpoints through automation comprises the steps of:
• initializing a set of selected viewpoints, an index for a set of predefined viewpoints positioned on a unit reference sphere, and a current viewpoint;
• and
• calculating an output set of viewpoints where said current viewpoint is set equal to said set of predefined viewpoints positioned on a unit reference sphere, said current viewpoint in respect to a viewpoint sphere radius is set equal to said viewpoint sphere radius and said current viewpoint is added to said set of selected viewpoints.

A method for automated viewpoint selection for 3D scenes comprising the steps of:

• receiving a set of objects of a 3D scene;
• restricting degrees of freedom available through use of a viewpoint sphere;
• and
• generating viewpoints through varying degrees of automation including one of automated calculation of viewpoints, semi-automated selection, and free navigation around a restricted viewpoint space wherein generating viewpoints through automation comprises the step of:
• generating viewpoints semi-automatically which comprises the step of:
• defining a tour path that traverses a surface of said viewpoint sphere.

A method for automated viewpoint selection for 3D scenes comprising the steps of:

• receiving a set of objects of a 3D scene;
• restricting degrees of freedom available through use of a viewpoint sphere;
• and
• generating viewpoints through varying degrees of automation including one of automated calculation of viewpoints, semi-automated selection, and free navigation around a restricted viewpoint space wherein generating viewpoints through automation comprises the steps of:
• generating viewpoints automatically;
• generating viewpoints semi-automatically;
• and
• generating viewpoints through free navigation.

A method for automated viewpoint selection for 3D scenes comprising the steps of:

• receiving a set of objects of a 3D scene;
• restricting degrees of freedom available through use of a viewpoint sphere;
• and
• generating viewpoints through varying degrees of automation including one of automated calculation of viewpoints, semi-automated selection, and free navigation around a restricted viewpoint space wherein generating viewpoints through automation comprises the steps of:
• generating viewpoints automatically;
• and
• generating viewpoints semi-automatically.

A method for automated viewpoint selection for 3D scenes comprising the steps of:

• receiving a set of objects of a 3D scene;
• restricting degrees of freedom available through use of a viewpoint sphere;
• and
• generating viewpoints through varying degrees of automation including one of automated calculation of viewpoints, semi-automated selection, and free navigation around a restricted viewpoint space wherein generating viewpoints through automation comprises the steps of:
• generating viewpoints semi-automatically;
• and
• generating viewpoints through free navigation.