Apparatus and method for manipulating the orientation of an object on a display device

Abstract

A method of manipulating a three-dimensional object displays a first view of a three-dimensional object on a touchscreen. The touchscreen has three-dimensional views associated with at least one pre-specified visually undelineated portion of the touchscreen. The method receives a touch input on the touchscreen in a visually undelineated portion, and determines a second view of the three-dimensional object based on the view assigned to the visually undelineated portion that received the touch input. The method displays the second view of the three-dimensional object on the touchscreen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manipulating a three-dimensional object, the method comprising:
 displaying a first view of a three-dimensional object on a touchscreen, the touchscreen being configured to display a three-dimensional view associated with at least one pre-specified visually undelineated portion of the touchscreen;   receiving a touch input on the touchscreen in the at least one visually undelineated portion;   determining a second view of the three-dimensional object based on the view assigned to the at least one visually undelineated portion receiving the touch input; and   displaying the second view of the three-dimensional object on the touchscreen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one visually undelineated portion is free of visual indicia related to manipulation of the three-dimensional object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein no more than part of the touchscreen has visually undelineated portions with associated views. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the second view based on the touch input comprises:
 determining the second view based on a location on the touchscreen of the touch input. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein determining the second view based on the touch input comprises:
 determining the second view based on a location on the touchscreen of a three-finger tap. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein determining the second view based on the location on the touchscreen of the touch input comprises:
 determining one of a plurality of standard views based on the location on the touchscreen of the touch input. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein determining one of the plurality of standard views comprises:
 determining one of a northwest isometric view, a northeast isometric view, a southwest isometric view, a southeast isometric view, a rear elevation view, a left elevation view, a right elevation view, a front elevation view, and a top plan view, based on the location on the touchscreen of the touch input. 
 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product including a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer code thereon for manipulating a three-dimensional object, the computer code comprising:
 program code for displaying a first view of a three-dimensional object on a touchscreen, the touchscreen being configured to produce a three-dimensional view associated with at least one pre-specified visually undelineated portion of the touchscreen;   program code for receiving a touch input on the touchscreen in the at least one visually undelineated portion;   program code for determining a second view of the three-dimensional object based on the view assigned to the at least one visually undelineated portion receiving the touch input; and   program code for displaying the second view of the three-dimensional object on the touchscreen.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the program code for receiving the touch input comprises program code for receiving the touch input on the at least one visually undelineated portion that is free of visual indicia related to manipulation of the three-dimensional object. 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the program code for determining the second view comprises program code for determining the second view based on a location on the touchscreen of the touch input. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 10  wherein the program code for determining the second view further comprises program code for determining the second view based on a location on the touchscreen of a three-finger tap. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11  wherein the program code for determining the second view further comprises program code for determining one of a plurality of standard views based on the location on the touchscreen of the touch input. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12  wherein the program code for determining one of the plurality of standard views comprises program code for determining one of a northwest isometric view, a northeast isometric view, a southwest isometric view, a southeast isometric view, a rear elevation view, a left elevation view, a right elevation view, a front elevation view, and a top plan view based on the location on the touchscreen of the touch input. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional object, the apparatus comprising:
 a touchscreen for displaying a plurality of views of a three-dimensional object, the touchscreen being configured to have a plurality of undelineated touchscreen portions when displaying the three-dimensional object;   a sensor operatively coupled with the touchscreen, the sensor being configured to detect and determine selection of the undelineated portions of the touchscreen in response to touch input; and   a view controller operatively coupled with the sensor, the view controller being configured to associate each undelineated portion with one of a plurality of different views of the three-dimensional object,   the view controller also being configured to cause the touchscreen to display, after selection of one of the undelineated portions, the view of the three-dimensional object associated with the selected undelineated portion.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 14  wherein the touchscreen comprises a smartphone, a tablet, or a portable computer. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 14  wherein the visually undelineated portions are free of visual indicia related to manipulation of the three-dimensional object. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 14  wherein no more than part of the touchscreen has visually undelineated portions with associated views. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 14  wherein the sensor is configured to detect touch by two or more fingers on a single undelineated portion of the touchscreen. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 14  wherein the touchscreen has nine undelineated portions. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 14  wherein the touchscreen forms a three-by-three matrix of undelineated portions.