3D VR Object Selection via Tree Hierarchy Tracing

The patent introduces a tree management structure that adds a hierarchical dimension to object selection. Instead of relying solely on two-dimensional screen coordinates, the system organizes objects into a hierarchical tree structure where parent nodes represent combined objects and leaf nodes represent individual objects. This hierarchical dimension enables accurate selection of objects that are shaded or enclosed by other objects, as the ray casting algorithm can traverse through the hierarchy to identify the correct target object regardless of its visual occlusion status.

The patent introduces the tree management structure as an intermediary between the ray casting detection and the final object selection. When an object is clicked, the system uses the tree structure to mediate the selection process by traversing from the clicked object's node upward through parent nodes to determine the appropriate selection scope. This intermediary mechanism enables the system to select not only the directly clicked object but also parent combined objects or leaf node objects based on the hierarchical relationships, thereby achieving versatile selection scope without being limited by visual occlusion.

The patent implements dynamic selection behavior based on the clicked object's position in the hierarchy. When a non-leaf node (combined object) is clicked, the system dynamically determines whether to select the combined object itself or to traverse to its child nodes based on the selection scope parameters. This dynamic approach allows the system to adaptively switch between selecting individual leaf objects and combined parent objects, providing both precise individual selection and versatile combined object selection capabilities within a unified framework.