Visual metaphor for shortcut navigation in a virtual world
US5982372A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F16/94
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique for providing enhanced intuitive navigation in a virtual world. User selectable hot spots are provided within a virtual world that users may select to automatically be moved to predetermined move-to coordinates within the virtual world. The user may be transported directly to the move-to coordinates or the user may have its motion controlled by the virtual world to in essence walk the user to the move-to coordinates within the virtual world. The selectable hot spot may become inactive following selection of the hot spot by a user until the user moves off of the move-to coordinates, or a plurality of move-to coordinates may be provided such that the hot spot remains active until all of the move-to coordinates are occupied by users. Additionally, the hot spot may be visually enhanced to make it easier to be seen and selected when the user is more than a predetermined distance from the hot spot within the virtual world.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.