Patent ID: 8291345

Claim:
A computer implemented method for displaying a sun and shadow simulation in a three-dimensional system, comprising: displaying, using a three-dimensional (3D) graphics application, a 3D view of a real world scene on a display device; installing a plug-in into the 3D graphics application; receiving input from a user defining, for the plug-in, a calendar period comprising a month, day, and year; displaying, in the 3D view, a timeline arc, wherein the calendar period defines a radius of the arc, and a starting endpoint and a stopping endpoint of the timeline arc define an interval of time during the calendar period, wherein the user defines the calendar period by dragging, using a cursor control device, the timeline arc to modify the radius of the arc; displaying, on the timeline arc, a timeline slider that indicates a time of day; wherein movement of the timeline arc slider on the timeline arc modifies the time of day; and displaying, in the 3D view, a visualization of shadows cast by a sun on objects in the 3D view, wherein a position of the sun in the visualization and the simulated shadows cast are based on the calendar period and the time of day indicated by the timeline arc slider.