System and method of integrated spatial and temporal navigation

Abstract

The system displays an image portraying a virtual space as viewed by a virtual camera at a first location on a spatially navigable camera surface within the virtual space. A user begins a drag operation. Based on the dragging, the virtual camera is spatially translated from the first location on the spatially navigable region to a second location on the spatially navigable region. The orientation of the virtual camera at the second location may be automatically set to either point towards the pre-defined look-at point or to point in a direction normal to the spatially navigable region at the second location. The system then displays an image portraying the virtual space in accordance with the location and orientation of the virtual camera at the second location in the spatially navigable camera surface. While the drag operation continues, the system determines that further translating the virtual camera would place the virtual camera beyond the spatially navigable region. In response, the system begins displaying a transition, which may be an interpolated animation of the virtual camera, an animation semi-transparently blended with a slate, a pre-authored animation of the virtual camera, or other visual effect. While further continuing to drag, and based on the same, the system either advances display of the transition, reverses display of the transition, or otherwise temporally controls the display of the transition.