3D Interface Selection Logic for Intent Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3D user interfaces fail to ensure that the selected 3D objects correspond to the user's intended selection, particularly in complex scenes with varying object sizes, leading to inconsistencies in selection outcomes.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that calculates a 3D projection of the selection on a display, compares it to predefined thresholds, and iteratively adds or removes objects to ensure the selection matches the user's intent, using processing logic to adjust the selection based on zoom ratios and object sizes, thereby ensuring consistency with the user's intended choice.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If standard selection tools (click/tap) are used to select 3D objects, then the selection process is simple and direct, but the selected object may not correspond to the user's intended selection in complex scenes with varying object sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection process simplicityVSAvoidselection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates the 3D projection of the selected object and compares it with a threshold value to determine whether the selection matches user intent. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically adjust the selection based on the projected size, ensuring that the selected object corresponds to what the user intended to select rather than just what was clicked

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the selection based on the calculated 3D projection parameters. When the projection of the clicked object is smaller than the threshold, the system automatically expands the selection to include parent objects or adjacent objects, thereby adapting the selection to match user intent across different zoom levels and object sizes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the user clicks on a small object in a complex scene, then the selection is precise to the click location, but the selected object is too small to be visible or intended by the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclick precisionVSAvoiduser intent information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback by calculating the 3D projection of the clicked object and comparing it with a threshold. When the projection is too small (below threshold), the system automatically adjusts the selection upward to parent objects or logical groupings, thereby recovering the lost user intent information that the user likely intended to select a larger, visible object

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from 2D screen space selection to 3D object space selection by calculating 3D projections. This dimensional transformation allows the system to understand the true size and spatial relationships of objects, enabling intelligent adjustment of selections based on 3D geometry rather than just 2D click coordinates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If the selection is directly mapped to the click location, then the selection process is fast and efficient, but the selection does not consistently match user intent across different zoom ratios and object sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection speedVSAvoidselection consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes selection behavior based on the calculated 3D projection parameters and threshold comparisons. Depending on whether the projection exceeds the threshold, the system automatically adjusts between selecting the clicked object directly or expanding to parent/grouped objects, ensuring consistent user intent matching across different zoom ratios and scene complexities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The selection mechanism becomes dynamic rather than static. The system automatically adapts the selection scope based on real-time calculation of 3D projections and threshold comparisons, allowing the selection behavior to change appropriately with different zoom levels, object sizes, and scene configurations while maintaining user intent consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3842911B1A 3D interface with an improved object selection
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 DASSAULT SYSTEMES SA
  • EP3842911B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3842911B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3842911B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

The invention relates to the field user interfaces. It relates to an interface that displays 3D objects, receives a selection of an object by the user, and uses a comparison between sizes of objects and thresholds to perform the selection, in order that the selected objects are consistent with the intent of the user.