Xerox Corporation

Anthony DeRose

Maureen C Stone

Eric Allan Bier

Kenneth P Fishkin

A user-directed method for operating a processor-controlled machine permits a user to operate on an object-based model data structure from which a first image has been produced in order to produce a second image for display in the spatial context of the first image, and then to interact with objects in the displayed second image. The method is cooperates as cooperating with the functionality of an application program, such as a graphical object editor. The user requests the display of a viewing operation region (VOR) coextensively with a first image segment of the first displayed image. In response to the user's request signal, a viewing operation associated with the VOR operates on the object-based model data structure that produced the first image to produce an output model data structure from which is produced a second view, or image, of the portion of the first image coextensively positioned with the VOR, displaying the second view in the VOR. The second image includes an output object that represents data item in the output model that is mapped from and linked to a first object data item in the original object-based model. Then, the user is permitted to access the first object data item in the original model data by interacting directly with the output display object in the second image via the functionality of the application program that produced the first image. The method provides spatially defined access to information in a complex model in an intuitive and easy to use manner.

User-directed method for operating on an object-based model data

A technique for producing a second image for display in the context of an original image uses a model data structure, in contrast to an image-based data structure, and a model-based operation, called a viewing operation, in contrast to an image-based operation, to produce the second image. The second image is displayed in the spatial context of the original image, as that context is defined by a viewing operation region, or VOR, at the same time as the original image is being displayed, giving the perception to a machine user of providing information related to the original image in the spatial context of the original image. The VOR functions as a type of 'visual filter', binding the second view of the original image to the display area defined by the VOR. In one illustrated embodiment, the method operates within the environment of a rendering application executing in a graphical user interface environment. A machine user moves the VOR over a portion of a rendered image, and in response to the user's movement action, a viewing operation associated with the VOR invokes the renderer that produced the original rendered image to produce a second modified view of the original image using a new value for a global parameter in the scene description. The second image is then clipped to the size and shape of the VOR, and is then presented in the VOR, showing the second modified view.

User interface technique for producing a second image in the spatial

A method for operating a processor-controlled machine, and a machine having a processor, operate on an object-based model data structure from which a first image has been produced in order to produce a second image for display in the spatial context of the first image. A viewing operation region (VOR) is displayed coextensively with a first image segment of the first image in the display area of the machine's display device. The first image segment includes a display object representing a model data item in the object-based model data structure. In response to the display of the VOR, a second image is produced using the model data item in the object-based model data structure. The second image is displayed in the VOR, in the spatial context of the first image, simultaneously with the display of the first image, replacing the first image segment in the display area. The method may operate cooperatively with a graphical object editor application executing in a graphical user interface environment. A machine user moves the VOR over a portion of a graphical object image, and in response to the user's movement action, a viewing operation associated with the VOR operates on the editable object-based model data structure that produced the graphical object image to produce a second modified view of the portion of the graphical object image coextensively positioned with the VOR, displaying the second modified view in the VOR.

Method and apparatus for operating on an object-based model data

A method is disclosed for operating a processor-controlled machine to produce a composite view of an original, or first, image by combining the functions of multiple viewing operations and using the model data structure from which the first image was produced (called the 'FIMDS'.) A first viewing operation region (1VOR) in a first viewing position in the display area of the display device has displayed in the 1VOR a second image produced according to a first viewing operation (VO1), associated with the 1VOR, that maps the FIMDS to image definition data defining the second image. Request signal data is received from a signal source to present a second viewing operation region (2VOR) in the display area coextensive with at least a portion of the 1VOR, forming a composite viewing operation region in the overlapping region. The 2VOR has a second viewing operation (VO2) associated with it for mapping an input model data structure, typically but not necessarily the FIMDS, to image definition data defining a second image for display in the 2VOR (2VOR-SI), providing an alternate view of the FIMDS that is different from that provided by the VO1 associated with the 1VOR. In response to the request signal data, a composite viewing operation, composed from the functions of the VO1 and the VO2, maps the FIMDS to image definition data defining a composite image for display in the composite viewing operation region substantially at the same time as the first image is being displayed in the display area. This gives the perception to the machine user of applying composed viewing operations to information presented in the original image.

Method and apparatus for producing a composite second image in the

A user-directed method for operating a processor-controlled machine allows a user to operate on an object-based model data structure from which a first image has been produced in order to apply any of a number of spatially and temporally bounded changes to the first image in a second image displayed in the spatial context of the first image. The method is implemented as an enhancement to the functionality of an application program, such as a graphical object editor. The user requests the display of a viewing operation region (VOR) coextensively with a first image segment of the first image in the display area of the machine's display device. In response to the user's request signal, a viewing operation associated with the VOR operates on a copy of the object-based model data structure that produced the image to produce a second modified view of the portion of the image coextensively positioned with the VOR, displaying the second, modified view in the VOR. Since the operation on the model data structure is made to a copy of the model only, it permits the previewing of changes to an image before actually applying the changes to the model using the application. Presenting the second, modified image only in the spatial context of the first image provides contextual feedback to the user. The method may thus provide spatially defined access to information in a complex model in an intuitive and easy to use manner.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Anthony DeRose