User interface for image-based rendering of virtual tours

Abstract

Under an embodiment of the invention, a computer system includes a user interface (UI) for virtual tours of modeled real estate. The UI includes three ways to navigate the modeled real estate. The first navigation element is a 3D UI element that provides a 3D view of the property and enables the user to freely navigate in the XY plane of the virtual model. The second navigation element is a 2D map of the real property overlaid on a portion of the 3D UI element. The 2D map overlay enables navigation in the XY plane of the virtual model. The third navigation element is a 1D text element of the real property overlaid on a portion of the 3D UI element. The 1D text overlay enables navigation along the Z axis or the XY plane of the virtual model.

1 . A method embodied in a computer system, the method comprising:
 maintaining a web site system that facilitates selection of a real property from a database of real properties;   via the user interface, receiving from a visitor a first selection, the first selection indicating a real property which the visitor would like to virtually tour;   via the user interface, receiving from the visitor a request to initiate a virtual real estate tour;   via the user interface, displaying a 3D viewpoint within a virtual model of the real property;   via the user interface, displaying a 2D map overlay of the real property on a first portion of the user interface; and   via the user interface, displaying a 1D text overlay of the real property on a second portion of the user interface.