Graphical interface for manipulation of 3D models

Abstract

A method comprising analyzing a data file representing a three dimensional object to automatically identify a plurality of views of interest based on at least one observable characteristic of the three dimensional object; and defining an access mechanism to permit the plurality of views to be accessed.

1 . A graphical user interface (GUI) for accessing files of three dimensional objects, the GUI comprising: 
 a selection window to simultaneously display a plurality of adjusted scale views of three dimensional content accessible through the window;    a file access module to pass a selected file to an additional module for further processing.    
     
     
         2 . The GUI of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a rendering module to automatically generate the adjusted scale views.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a rendering module to render a larger size representation of content selected in the selection window.    
     
     
         4 . The GUI of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an animation module to animate a preselected content item within the selection window to reveal alternative views of the item.    
     
     
         5 . The GUI of  claim 4  wherein animation of a content item occurs responsive to a user input.  
     
     
         6 . The GUI of  claim 4  wherein animation occurs automatically in a predefined sequence.  
     
     
         7 . The GUI of  claim 1  wherein the content in the selection window is displayed in a three dimensional array.  
     
     
         8 . The GUI of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an analysis module to identify a characteristic of each file; and    an organizer module to visually arrange the plurality of adjusted scale views based on the characteristic.    
     
     
         9 . The GUI of  claim 8  wherein the analysis module: 
 analyzes the content of the files; and wherein the organizer module changes a spatial arrangement of the adjusted scale views based on the content of corresponding files.    
     
     
         10 . The GUI of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a database of content characteristics to permit organization of content based on the characteristics.    
     
     
         11 . The GUI of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 an attribute extractor to automatically identify characteristics of a new content item; and    populating the database with characteristics of the new content item.    
     
     
         12 . The GUI of  claim 10  wherein a content item is automatically grouped with a category based on a characteristic identified.  
     
     
         13 . The GUI of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an organizer module to associate into a group, a subset of the files within the selection window, based on characteristics of the files in the subset; and    a summary module to automatically generate a single view within the selection window, the single view representative of the group and replacing the plurality of adjusted scale views of the subset.    
     
     
         14 . The GUI of  claim 13  wherein the single view is generated by automatically selecting one of the plurality of adjusted scale views in the subset according to defined criteria.  
     
     
         15 . The GUI of  claim 13  wherein the single view is generated automatically by processing data from the plurality of adjusted scale views in the subset and synthesizing a single composite view reflective of characteristics of the group.  
     
     
         16 . The GUI of  claim 13  wherein the single view is generated by identifying the group as belonging to a known class of three dimensional objects based upon the characteristics, and using a previously defined view as the single view.