User Interface Elements for Use within a Three Dimensional Scene

Abstract

Improved user interface elements for use within a 3D scene. The 3D scene may be presented by at least one display, which includes displaying at least one stereoscopic image of the 3D scene by the display(s). The 3D scene may be presented according to a first viewpoint. One or more user interface elements may be used. The 3D scene may be updated in response to the use of the user interface elements.

1 . A method for interacting with a three dimensional (3D) scene, comprising:
 presenting the 3D scene by at least one display, wherein said presenting the 3D scene comprises displaying at least one stereoscopic image of the 3D scene by the at least one display, wherein the 3D scene is presented according to a first viewpoint;   presenting a 3D menu within the 3D scene, wherein the 3D menu comprises a plurality of menu items, wherein the 3D menu is presented at an angle that is different than the angle of the at least one display relative to the first viewpoint;   receiving user input selecting a menu item in the 3D menu; and   automatically updating the 3D scene based on the user input selecting the menu item.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a second viewpoint; and   wherein said automatically updating the 3D scene is based on the second viewpoint.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viewpoint corresponds to an eyepoint of a user, wherein said presenting the 3D menu is performed based on the eyepoint of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said presenting is performed based on a user designated position of a user interface device within the 3D scene, wherein the user designated position corresponds to a physical position of the user interface device, and wherein the physical position of the user interface device is controlled by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said presenting the 3D menu comprises presenting the 3D menu as a pop-up 3D menu which appears gradually in an animated fashion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said updating the 3D scene comprises removing the 3D menu from the 3D scene, wherein said removing the 3D menu is performed gradually in an animated fashion. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said presenting the 3D menu comprises presenting the 3D menu from a plane presented within the 3D scene. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a second viewpoint;   wherein said automatically updating the 3D scene presents an alternate presentation of the 3D menu, wherein presenting the alternate presentation of the 3D menu allows a user to look around the 3D menu.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said automatically updating the 3D scene comprises presenting a submenu based on the selected menu item, wherein the submenu is presented as an expansion from the 3D menu. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the presented 3D menu is presented with a thickness, wherein the thickness is proportional to length and width of the 3D menu. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for utilizing a 3D menu in a three-dimensional (3D) scene, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:
 present the 3D scene by at least one display, wherein said presenting the 3D scene comprises displaying at least one stereoscopic image of the 3D scene by the at least one display, wherein the 3D scene is presented according to a first viewpoint;   present the 3D menu within the 3D scene, wherein the 3D menu comprises a plurality of menu items, wherein the 3D menu is presented at an angle that is different than the angle of the at least one display relative to the first viewpoint;   receive user input selecting a menu item in the 3D menu; and   automatically update the 3D scene based on the user input selecting the menu item.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of  claim 11 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
 receive a second viewpoint; and   wherein said automatically updating the 3D scene is based on the second viewpoint.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of  claim 11 , wherein the viewpoint corresponds to an eyepoint of a user, wherein said presenting the 3D menu is performed based on the eyepoint of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of  claim 11 , wherein said presenting is performed based on a user designated position of a user interface device within the 3D scene, wherein the user designated position corresponds to a physical position of the user interface device, and wherein the physical position of the user interface device is controlled by the user. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of  claim 11 , wherein said presenting the 3D menu comprises presenting the 3D menu as a pop-up menu which appears gradually in an animated fashion. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of  claim 11 , wherein said updating the 3D scene comprises removing the 3D menu from the 3D scene, wherein said removing the 3D menu is performed gradually in an animated fashion. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of  claim 11 , wherein said presenting the 3D menu comprises presenting the 3D menu from a plane presented within the 3D scene. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of  claim 11 , wherein the angle is selected by a user. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of  claim 11 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
 receive user input positioning a pointing device in a first manner; and   scrolling the 3D menu in response to the user input positioning the pointing device in the first manner.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of  claim 11 , wherein said presenting the 3D menu comprises presenting the plurality of menu items in an arc. 
     
     
         21 . A system for utilizing user interface elements in a dimensional (3D) scene, comprising:
 a processor;   an input device configured to provide information to the processor indicating a current viewpoint of the user;   at least one display coupled to the processor;   a memory medium coupled to the processor which stores program instructions executable to:
 present the 3D scene by at least one display, wherein said presenting the 3D scene comprises displaying at least one stereoscopic image of the 3D scene by the at least one display, wherein the 3D scene is presented according to a first viewpoint; 
 present the 3D menu within the 3D scene, wherein the 3D menu comprises a plurality of menu items, wherein the 3D menu is presented at an angle that is different than the angle of the at least one display relative to the first viewpoint; 
 receive user input selecting a menu item in the 3D menu; and 
 automatically update the 3D scene based on the user input selecting the menu item. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
 receive a second viewpoint; and   wherein said automatically updating the 3D scene is based on the second viewpoint.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said presenting is performed based on a user designated position of a user interface device within the 3D scene, wherein the user designated position corresponds to a physical position of the user interface device, and wherein the physical position of the user interface device is controlled by the user. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said presenting the 3D menu comprises presenting the 3D menu as a pop-up menu which appears gradually in an animated fashion. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said presenting the 3D menu comprises presenting the 3D menu from a plane presented within the 3D scene.