Patent ID: 6097393
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A graphical resource management process executed by programmed instructions of a general purpose computer in response to input information; the general purpose computer including a memory in which the programmed instructions are recorded, an input device to supply input information for interaction with the programmed instructions, and a display device for displaying information created by the programmed instructions and the input information, said graphical resource management process comprising the steps of:creating a display of a three-dimensional environment in a main window of the display device;representing a plurality of resources available for use through the computer by a plurality of corresponding resource icons;establishing predetermined different positions for each of the resource icons within the three-dimensional environment;establishing a user's point of view within the three-dimensional environment;displaying within the main window a field of view of the environment from the user's point of view;displaying within the main window each of the resource icons which are visible within the field of view;moving the user's point of view in three dimensions through incremental steps in response to input information correlated to a local set of axes defined by the user's point of view in the main window; andselecting a resource icon visible within the field of view through manipulation of the input device to activate the resource represented by the resource icon.