# US 9,519,396 B2 · Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for placing an asset on a three-dimensional model

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- Number: US 9,519,396 B2
- Document ID: US9519396B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/892,636
- Filed: 2010-09-28
- Published: 2012-03-29
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-28
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Thomas Goossens
- Inventors: Thomas Goossens
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519396B2

## CPC

- G06T 19/20: Editing of three-dimensional [3D] images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
- 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 2200/04: involving 3D image data
- G06T 2200/24: involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
- G06T 2219/2004: Aligning objects, relative positioning of parts
- G06T 2219/2016: Rotation, translation, scaling
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for placing an asset on a three-dimensional model. Each asset can be associated with a pivot point and with an asset normal. A contact point on the surface of a model where an asset is to be positioned may be identified, and a surface normal that may be perpendicular to the surface at the contact point may also be identified. Then, the asset can be placed on the model such that the position of the pivot point of the asset may coincide with the position of the identified contact point on the surface of the model, and such that the orientation of the asset normal may match the orientation of the identified surface normal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for placing an asset on a three-dimensional model, wherein the asset comprises a pivot point and an asset normal, and wherein the model comprises a surface, the method comprising:
displaying the three-dimensional model on an electronic display unit;
identifying a contact point on a an external surface of the model at which to place the asset;
identifying a surface normal extending perpendicular from the surface of the model at the identified contact point;
positioning the pivot point of the asset at the identified contact point such that the asset is positioned external to the model; and
orienting the asset normal of the asset at the identified surface normal, wherein the asset is displayed on the surface of the model;
wherein the pivot point of the asset corresponds to the center of gravity of the asset.

### Claim 2

An electronic device comprising:
an input interface;
a display; and
control circuitry coupled to the input interface and the display, wherein the control circuitry is operative to:
direct the display to display an avatar;
receive from the input interface a selection of an asset to display on an external surface of the avatar, wherein the asset comprises a pivot point and an asset normal;
receive from the input interface an input corresponding to a contact point on the external surface of the avatar;
position the asset on the display by making the pivot point and the contact point coincide; and
orient the asset on the display by matching the asset normal with a surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the contact point, and display the asset on the external surface of the avatar;
wherein
the asset normal comprises a first vector;
the surface normal comprises a second vector; and
the control circuitry is further operative to orient the asset on the display by making the first vector co-linear with the second vector.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:
receive from the input interface a selection of the asset on the display;
receive from the input interface a new input corresponding to a new contact point on the external surface of the avatar; and
re-position the selected asset on the display by making the pivot point and the new contact point coincide.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:
identify a new surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the new contact point; and
re-orient the selected asset on the display by matching the new surface normal with the asset normal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:
identify an intermediate contact point between the contact point and the new contact point;
identify an intermediate surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the intermediate contact point;
re-position the selected asset on the display by making the pivot point and the intermediate contact point coincide; and
re-orient the selected asset on the display by matching the intermediate surface normal with the asset normal.

### Claim 6

An electronic device comprising:
an input interface;
a display; and
control circuitry coupled to the input interface and the display, wherein the control circuitry is operative to:
direct the display to display an avatar;
receive from the input interface a selection of an asset to display on an external surface of the avatar, wherein the asset comprises a pivot point and an asset normal;
receive from the input interface an input corresponding to a contact point on the external surface of the avatar;
position the asset on the display by making the pivot point and the contact point coincide;
orient the asset on the display by matching the asset normal with a surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the contact point;
receive from the input interface a selection of the asset on the display;
receive from the input interface a new input corresponding to a new contact point on the external surface of the avatar;
re-position the selected asset on the display by making the pivot point and the new contact point coincide;
identify a new surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the new contact point;
re-orient the selected asset on the display by matching the new surface normal with the asset normal;
identify an intermediate contact point between the contact point and the new contact point;
identify an intermediate surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the intermediate contact point;
re-position the selected asset on the display by making the pivot point and the intermediate contact point coincide; and
re-orient the selected asset on the display by matching the intermediate surface normal with the asset normal.