Patent ID: 6111578
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A computer-implemented method for navigating through partial hierarchies, the method comprising the steps of:determining a new effective camera position (x,z) within a current partial hierarchy based on a new navigator position;fetching a new partial hierarchy corresponding to said new effective camera position;determining an orientation between said new effective camera position and at least one reference object in said current partial hierarchy;adjusting said new effective camera position to maintain said orientation with the said at least one reference object as found in said new partial hierarchy fetched in said fetching step;converting said adjusted new effective camera position to a new camera position; anddisplaying a display view showing said fetched partial hierarchy layout in a field of view of a camera positioned at said new camera position;wherein said orientation determining step determines an orientation between said new effective camera position and two reference objects in the current partial hierarchy;wherein said orientation determining step comprises the steps of:finding two reference nodes in the current partial hierarchy, determining a point in front of said new effective camera position on a line intersecting said two reference nodes, andcalculating a proportion of the distance between said determined point and one of said two reference nodes; andwherein said adjusting step adjusts an x coordinate of said new effective camera position to maintain said proportion with said one reference node as found in said new partial hierarchy fetched in said fetching step;whereby, a user viewing said current partial hierarchy at said current camera position can navigate in a substantially straight line to a new navigator position.