3D Object Selection via 2D Viewport Bounding Boxes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in accurately interacting with 3D virtual environment elements due to challenges in selecting specific objects obscured by others or positioned in complex orientations, leading to cumbersome interactions that detract from the experience.
Innovation Solution
A projection component projects bounding boxes onto a 2D plane based on the avatar's viewport and orientation, allowing selection of 3D objects through 2D interaction, activated by a toggle signal via keyboard, gamepad, or mobile device controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users interact with 3D virtual environment elements using traditional 3D control methods, then the virtual experience maintains immersion and realism, but users face difficulties in accurately selecting specific objects obscured by others or positioned in complex orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent projects 3D bounding boxes onto a 2D plane (the viewport) to create an overlay interface. This dimensionality reduction allows users to select 3D objects by interacting with 2D representations, making obscured or distant objects easily selectable without requiring precise 3D navigation. The 2D projection maintains spatial relationships while eliminating depth-related selection difficulties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces bounding boxes as an intermediary layer between the user and the 3D virtual environment. These bounding boxes serve as mediators that represent 3D objects in a simplified 2D format, allowing users to interact with objects indirectly through the bounding box interface rather than directly manipulating 3D coordinates or navigating complex spatial relationships.
2Measurement precision
If the system projects bounding boxes for all visible objects, then selection accuracy improves, but computational overhead and rendering complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and projects bounding boxes for objects based on the avatar's current viewport and orientation. By performing the projection operation in advance and only for visible objects, the system avoids complex real-time calculations during interaction, reducing computational overhead while maintaining accurate selection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies bounding box projection selectively based on local conditions - specifically, only for objects that are currently visible within the avatar's viewport and meet certain orientation criteria. This localized approach avoids the computational burden of projecting all objects in the scene, reducing rendering complexity while maintaining selection accuracy for relevant objects.
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations described herein relate to methods, systems, and computer-readable media for 2D control over a 3D virtual environment. A method may include providing a 3D virtual experience, receiving first indication that the avatar is within a threshold distance of at least one interactive displayed graphical element and second indication that the at least one interactive displayed graphical element is within a viewport, receiving an activation signal to activate a 2D interaction mode, automatically providing a projection of the at least two portions onto a 2D plane within the viewport associated with the avatar responsive to the activation signal and the indications, receiving a selection of one or more of the bounding box representations, and performing a function associated with the selection, the function identical to an associated function of the at least one interactive graphical element.