Patent ID: 7755620
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: A63H,G06F,G06T

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of manipulating a three-dimensional virtual building block model by means of two-dimensional cursor movements, the virtual building block model including a plurality of virtual building blocks each including a number of connection elements for connecting the virtual building block with another virtual building block according to a set of connection rules indicating whether said virtual building block is connectable with a connection element of said another virtual building block, the method comprising providing a digital representation of a structure comprising a number of said virtual building blocks in a three-dimensional coordinate system; positioning, by means of cursor movements in a two-dimensional computer display area representing a projection of said structure, a two-dimensional projection of a first virtual building, block, to be connected to the structure, resulting in two-dimensional position coordinates; determining, from the two-dimensional position coordinates, a number of three-dimensional candidate positions of the first virtual building block in the three-dimensional coordinate system, each of the candidate positions being, consistent with the two-dimensional position coordinates of the aforementioned step; selecting one of said candidate positions based on the connection rules and a predetermined set of position rating rules, wherein the position rating rules result in respective ratings of said candidate positions and selection comprises selecting a candidate position having a highest rating; connecting the first building block to said structure at the selected candidate position; determining a number of candidate connection elements of said structure, each of the candidate connection elements having a projection in the two-dimensional display area within a redetermined neighborhood around a projection of a connection element of the first virtual building block; selecting one of said candidate connection elements based on the connection rules and the predetermined set of position rating rules; and if a connection between the first virtual building block and said structure is valid according to the set of connection rules, connecting the first virtual building block with the structure via at least the selected candidate connection element.