Patent ID: 8223145

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for large scale spatial positioning of a three-dimensional (3D) virtual object in a 3D virtual scene, computer implemented method comprising: in a first computer process implemented on a computer, attaching an object controller to the 3D virtual object, the object controller moving the 3D virtual object in the 3D virtual scene along an axis or across a movement plane in response to a user input; and in a second computer process implemented on the computer, displaying a guide plane attached to the 3D virtual object, the guide plane passing through a center of the 3D virtual object and being translucent, the guide plane indicating lines and curves of intersection between the guide plane and other objects of the 3D virtual scene which intersect with the guide plane, such that the guide plane demarcates portions of the 3D virtual object and the 3D virtual scene on either side of the guide plane; wherein, when moving the 3D virtual object along the axis, determining a normal of the guide plane to be parallel to the axis and passing through the center of the 3D virtual object, and moving the guide plane with the movement of the 3D virtual object; wherein, when moving the 3D object across the movement plane, determining a normal of the guide plane to be parallel to a normal of the movement plane, and holding the guide plane static; and attaching a plurality of guide lines to the object controller of the 3D virtual object indicating relative distance of the 3D virtual object from a center of the 3D virtual scene, including: displaying a guide line connecting a center of the 3D virtual scene to a center of the 3D virtual scene projected onto the guide plane; and displaying a rectangle having one corner fixed to a center of the 3D virtual scene projected onto the guide plane, and a diagonal corner fixed to a center of the 3D object.