Patent · US Expired

Avatar pointing mode

US6091410A · kind A · utility

181Cited by
4References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 26, 1997
Grant dateJul 18, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 26, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0481
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of interacting with one or more objects in a virtual reality (VR) space. A user input establishes a pointing mode, whereupon a visual indicator, such as a pointer, is displayed on the user's viewing device, and the visual indicator is moved on the viewing device to refer to an object in the VR space, in response to actuation of a pointing device such as a mouse, joystick or pen. An image of the user's avatar may also be displayed in the VR space, and the avatar may have an appendage or pointing appliance to point to a target in the 3-D space. A user can point in this manner with high precision, as well as draw illustrations, etc. Other users (viewers) of the same VR space can see the first user's avatar pointing to the target. Another viewer's display can be dynamically adjusted to present an appropriate perspective of the VR space to show the target.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.