JP2000011209A - System and method for three-dimensional information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it easier to precisely grasp the position of each information object in a three-dimensional information space displayed by three-dimensional graphics. SOLUTION: The three-dimensional graphics in a three-dimensional information space 1 where plural information objects 5 are arranged are displayed on a display. Next, in order to remove the information object unnecessary for a user from an observation object, it is made possible to set an area to be noticed in the three-dimensional space. A tool on a reference plane in a parallel position relation to a specified plane is projected in a normal direction of the reference plane and is displayed on plural specified planes that the notice area has. Also, a coordinate value of a vertex which the area to be considered has is displayed. Moreover, a two-dimensional plane the user sets is installed in the three-dimensional space 1, the information object 5 is made to move towards this two-dimensional plane, and is mapped on the two-dimensional plane.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a graphical user interface using three-dimensional graphics.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent advances in computer technology, various databases have been prepared, computer networks have been expanded, and the amount of information stored and consumed has been increasing year by year. On the other hand, the user interface used by the user to operate information has also evolved, and recently, a user interface using three-dimensional graphics has been proposed. In particular, in applications that deal with geographic information, various types of information scattered on a map are used. Therefore, visualization using three-dimensional graphics (hereinafter, referred to as three-dimensional visualization) is useful. Complicated information other than geographic information
It is expected that visualization using three-dimensional graphics will facilitate bird's-eye view. Geographic information systems are introduced in Jeffrey Starr and John Estes, Okabe, Sadahiro, Imai translation, "Introductory Geographical Reporting System", Kyoritsu Shuppan, 1992. An introduction to visualization using 3D graphics is given by Masato Hirakawa and Michiaki Yasumura, "Visual Interface", Kyoritsu Shuppan, 1996.

[0003] In the three-dimensional visualization, three attributes are selected from attribute values of a target information object, assigned to x, y, and z axes of a three-dimensional space, and the information object is set in the space. A method of mapping and displaying according to the rules described above is generally used. For example, if there is location information on buildings and information on building age, as shown in Fig. 1, the latitude of the location information is assigned to the x-axis, longitude is assigned to the y-axis, and time (age) is assigned to the z-axis. An information space 1 is formed, and the three-dimensional information space 1 can be displayed on a display. Generally, when a certain plane (xy plane in the example of FIG. 1) corresponds to a conventionally used tool (map 3 in the example of FIG. 1), user convenience is improved by attaching the tool to the plane. Is performed. By mapping each information object (building in the example of FIG. 1) 5 to the three-dimensional space 1 and displaying it on a display using three-dimensional graphics, the user can obtain many information objects 5
Can be listed. In addition, by moving the viewpoint interactively by animation, it is possible to access the information object 5 in more detail.

[0004]

In the conventional three-dimensional visualization, it has been pointed out that the problem is that the user's cognitive load increases as the number of displayed objects increases. In this case, in general, the viewpoint (that is, the position of the camera that is capturing the space of interest) is brought closer to the partial space of interest, or the viewpoint direction (that is, the direction of the camera) is adjusted. By zooming in and out, unnecessary objects are pushed out of the field of view to reduce the cognitive load. However, it is pointed out that the viewpoint control is difficult as another problem of the three-dimensional visualization, and it is not easy to precisely set a region of interest.

As a conventional method of setting a region of interest, there is a method in which a user interactively adjusts the position and direction of a viewpoint, checks an animation reflected on a display, and gives feedback to the adjustment. However, it is difficult to recognize the depth direction of the three-dimensional space, and it is necessary to repeat trial and error, which is not an efficient method.

[0006] In addition, there is a method of inputting the range of the subspace of interest using numerical information. However, it is difficult to understand the relationship between the change in the numerical value and the change on the display,
Similarly, it is necessary to repeat trial and error, which is not an efficient method.

As described above, it is sometimes difficult to select a region of interest when transitioning from global outline to local detail in three-dimensional visualization.

Further, in the conventional three-dimensional visualization, a visual expression in which information objects are randomly arranged in a three-dimensional space is complicated and difficult to recognize in a depth direction, and it is difficult for a user to obtain useful information. There is also a problem that there is. In general, in computer graphics, a two-dimensional plane obtained by photographing a three-dimensional space with a camera, that is, projection of the three-dimensional space onto a viewing plane, is displayed on a display. A flat plane having a contour perpendicular to the direction and cut by the viewing angle of the camera, also called a viewport). In that case, it is said that the perspective projection method can express a sense of depth, but it is difficult for the perspective projection method to allow a user to grasp an accurate position of an object in a three-dimensional space. In addition, what introduced about the projection method of general computer graphics, Koichi Minakami,
"Computer Graphics: Information Society and Video", Asakura Shoten, 1989.

In the conventional three-dimensional visualization, there is also a method of linking between objects as shown in FIG. However, it is difficult to separate the depth information and the information in the horizontal and vertical directions from the screen, and it is difficult to grasp the exact layout of the object in the three-dimensional space.

[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate accurate positioning of information in a three-dimensional space.

[0011]

The three-dimensional information display system of the present invention includes a display device and a reference plane,
3 of 3D information space where information objects are arranged in 3D
A three-dimensional visualization device for generating three-dimensional graphics and displaying the generated three-dimensional graphics on the display device.
Furthermore, a region of interest can be set in a three-dimensional space in order to exclude an information object unnecessary for a user from an observation target. Then, a tool on a reference plane having a fixed positional relationship with respect to each of the predetermined planes is projected and displayed on one or a plurality of predetermined planes of the region of interest. This allows the user to interactively set the space of interest with the three-dimensional visualization device in a three-dimensional space where it is difficult to perceive depth.

In a preferred embodiment, a predetermined plane of the region of interest and a reference plane in the three-dimensional information space have a parallel positional relationship. Then, the tool on the reference plane is projected and displayed on the predetermined plane in the normal direction of the reference plane.

In a preferred embodiment, the coordinates of the vertices of the region of interest may be displayed. Further, a two-dimensional plane set by the user is set in the three-dimensional space, and the information object is moved toward the two-dimensional plane and mapped on the two-dimensional plane. By viewing the two-dimensional plane on which the information object is mapped, the user can easily grasp the exact position of the information object in the three-dimensional space, and particularly easily recognize the depth in the three-dimensional space.

The present invention is typically implemented by a computer, and a computer program therefor includes:
It can be installed or loaded into a computer through various means such as a disk-type storage, a semiconductor memory, and a communication network.

[0015]

FIG. 3 shows the overall processing flow of an embodiment of the present invention. This processing can be typically realized by software using a computer, but it is not necessary to do so, and part or all of this processing can be performed by dedicated hardware. . Also, when realizing by software,
Not only when it is implemented as one application program on one machine, but also when it is implemented as a set of multiple application programs or multiple programs such as applications and operating systems, and when it is realized by the cooperation of multiple machines. It goes without saying that there are various implementation variations.

In FIG. 3, first, a process of setting an arbitrary three-dimensional region (hereinafter, referred to as a region of interest) in a three-dimensional space by a user's cursor operation is performed.

In the start point setting S1, a process is performed in which the user sets an arbitrary point in the three-dimensional space as a start point of setting the region of interest. In the corresponding area display S2, a process of projecting and displaying a tool on a reference plane having a fixed positional relationship with respect to a predetermined plane of a target area which fluctuates in accordance with a cursor operation performed by a user on the predetermined plane. I do. Typically, the predetermined plane and the reference plane are in a parallel positional relationship. In the numerical display S3, a process of displaying the coordinate values of the start point and the end point of the attention area setting is performed. In the attention area setting end determination S4, it is determined whether or not the user has completed the attention area setting operation. When the user continues the setting operation, the process returns to the corresponding area display S2. When the space of interest desired by the user is displayed and the setting operation is completed, the process proceeds to viewpoint setting S5.

In the next viewpoint setting step S5, a process for causing the user to set the viewpoint (that is, the position of the camera) for viewing the area of interest is performed. In the following two-dimensional plane setting S6, a process of causing the user to set a two-dimensional plane at an arbitrary position in the three-dimensional space by a force sol operation is performed. In the next two-dimensional plane mapping processing S7, the viewpoint is moved so that the viewing plane matches the plane set in the two-dimensional plane setting S6 (that is, the 2nd plane).
While moving the camera to the position to look straight at the two-dimensional plane), animate the change in the view during the movement of the viewpoint, and at the same time, in a space narrowed by the two-dimensional plane and the area of interest Mapping the information object to the two-dimensional plane (that is, moving the information object toward the two-dimensional plane and pasting it on the two-dimensional plane) while performing the mapping operation (that is, the two-dimensional plane of the information object) Animation).

In the final setting end determination step S8, processing is performed to prompt the user to determine whether or not to end mapping on the two-dimensional plane (ie, whether the mapping result of the two-dimensional plane mapping process S4 is good). If the result is “continuation” (that is, if the mapping result is not good and redo), the information object is re-mapped to the three-dimensional space in the relocation S9 to the three-dimensional space (that is,
After returning to the display before performing the two-dimensional plane mapping process S7), the process returns to the viewpoint setting S5. On the other hand, when the result of determination S8 is “end” (that is, when the mapping result is good)
Ends this processing (that is, finalizes the two-dimensional mapping result).

Hereinafter, each of the above-described processing steps S1 to S8
Will be described with reference to a three-dimensional space 1 generated by assigning latitude to the x-axis, longitude to the y-axis, and time to the z-axis as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, in the three-dimensional space 1, a map 3 is drawn on an xy plane, and a plurality of information objects 5 having three attributes of latitude, longitude, and time are arranged at corresponding spatial positions. The entire space 1 is displayed in three-dimensional graphics.

First, the purpose of the processing from the initial start point setting S1 to the attention area setting end judgment S4 is that the user sets an arbitrary partial space in the three-dimensional space 1 as the attention space 7 as shown in FIG. To set. (During this setup process,
Although the information object 5 in the three-dimensional space 1 is actually displayed, the illustration of the information object 5 is omitted in FIG. 4 for convenience of explanation). In the example of FIG. 4, the coordinate origin (0,
A rectangular parallelepiped having a vertex at (0, 0) and having sides parallel to the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis is set as the space of interest 7. Such a rectangular solid may be the most typical shape of the space of interest in the rectangular coordinate system as in the example of FIG. On the other hand, when adopting another coordinate system, for example, when adopting a cylindrical coordinate system in which the xy plane is a polar coordinate, a cylindrical body or a cylindrical body having a z-axis as a central axis, and in the case of a spherical coordinate system A sphere or spherical shell centered on the origin will be the typical shape of the space of interest. When setting a typical shape body suitable for such a coordinate system in the attention space, a method using a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball can be adopted as the simplest setting method.

First, in the start point setting S1, the user depresses (clicks) a mouse or the like at the start point to set the start point. Thereafter, when the user moves the cursor while clicking (drag), the attention space 7 fluctuates freely according to the movement of the cursor. Then, in the attention area setting end judgment S4, the user releases the click at the end point where the desired attention space 7 is considered to be obtained, and sets the attention area 7. In the case of FIG. 4, by dragging the cursor from the start point 71 to the end point 73, a rectangular parallelepiped attention space 7 in which the start point 71 is one vertex and the end point 73 is a diagonal vertex is displayed. It is not always necessary to set the space of interest by designating the start point and the end point on the diagonal line as described above. For example, the center point of the rectangular parallelepiped may be the start point, and the end point may be one vertex.

As shown in FIG. 5, the space of interest 7 is generally displayed as a wire frame or a solid having a translucent surface. Then, the corresponding area display S
2, the upper or lower surface (that is, a surface parallel to the xy plane) of the space of interest 7 displayed in this manner is xy
The map 3 on the xy plane is projected and displayed in the normal direction of the plane. Next, in the numerical display S3, the coordinate values of the start point 71 and the end point 73 are displayed as shown in FIG. These processes are repeatedly performed at high speed in accordance with the change of the attention space 7 due to the user's cursor operation. Therefore, the map 3 on the xy plane is projected on the upper surface or the lower surface of the fluctuating space of interest 7 while the user moves the cursor to fluctuate the space of interest 7, and the start point 71 and the end point 73 coordinate values are displayed. Accordingly, in a three-dimensional space where it is difficult to recognize the depth, the user can interact with the three-dimensional visualization apparatus and refer to the map 3 on the xy plane projected on the space of interest 7. 7 can be set. Further, the user can set the attention space 7 more precisely by referring to the display of the coordinate values of the start point and the end point of the attention space 7. In this embodiment, an example in which the map 3 is projected on the xy plane has been described.
It is also possible to select and project a tool on the yz plane and the xz plane, and to simultaneously project these tools on a plurality of planes on a plurality of surfaces of the space of interest 7. . Further, if there is a tool on any plane or curved surface existing in the three-dimensional space, the tool is not limited to the three planes (xy plane, yz plane, xz plane), and may be projected. Further, it is not always necessary to project on the plane of the space of interest 7, and the projected view may be visually displayed on a screen different from the three-dimensional space visualization. Regarding the display of coordinate values, absolute coordinates defined by the x-coordinate, y-coordinate, and z-coordinate of the start point and the end point may be displayed, or only the start point is displayed in absolute coordinates, and the end point is a relative coordinate with respect to the start point. May be displayed. Further, the unit of the coordinate value may be changed. For example, when the z-coordinate is dated, it may be displayed in both the Christian and Japanese calendars, and when the x-coordinate is distanced, it may be displayed in kilometers, miles, or latitude (longitude). In addition, not only the start point and the end point, but also other vertices of the space of interest may be displayed, or the coordinate value of an arbitrary point in the space of interest (for example, the center point of a rectangular parallelepiped) is displayed. You may make it. Also,
It is also possible for the user to set not only a rectangular parallelepiped but also other free-form attention spaces as the attention space 7, in which case, various modeling methods used in the three-dimensional modeling are used. (For example, enlargement / reduction and movement of a primitive (preformed basic shape body), rotation or sweep of a two-dimensional plane, etc.) can be adopted as a method of setting the space of interest.

In the next area of interest setting end determination S4, it is determined whether or not the user has finished setting the area of interest. When the user continues the setting operation, the process returns to the corresponding area display S2. The space of interest desired by the user is displayed,
When the setting operation is completed, the process proceeds to viewpoint setting S5. When the space of interest 7 is set, only the information objects 5 in the space of interest 7 are to be subjected to the subsequent two-dimensional mapping. It is possible to exclude them outside. From this viewpoint, at the point in time when the attention space 7 is set, the information objects 5 outside the attention space 7 are switched to non-display, translucent display, wire frame display, or the like so as not to hinder the visual recognition of the attention space 7. Is also good. It should be noted that the entire three-dimensional coordinate space 1 is set as a default space of interest, and unless the user specifically sets an area (or always does not allow the user to set), this default space of interest is It may be used.

Next, in viewpoint setting S5, the user sets a viewpoint for viewing the set attention space 7. In computer graphics, since a two-dimensional plane obtained by photographing a three-dimensional space with a camera is displayed on a display, the viewpoint is the camera, and the viewpoint is changed by moving the camera. By appropriately setting the viewpoint, it is easy to grasp the position of the information object on the three-dimensional graphics, and it is easy to set an appropriate two-dimensional plane in the subsequent two-dimensional plane setting S6. The effect of animation display in the plane mapping S7 is also improved.

In the next two-dimensional plane setting S6, the viewpoint setting S
By keeping the viewpoint set in step 5 fixed and interactively setting parameters sequentially in the space of interest 7,
A process for setting a dimensional plane is performed. FIG. 7 shows a processing flow of the two-dimensional plane setting S6.

First basic parameter setting S11 shown in FIG.
Now, determine the parameters to be fixed when setting the two-dimensional plane,
That is, the reference region and the reference axis in the space of interest 7 are determined. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the xy plane of the space of interest 7 is determined as the reference region 9, and the z axis is determined as the reference axis 11. In this case, the reference area 9 represents a map which is a conventional tool,
The reference axis 11 indicates time information. Accordingly, in steps S5 and S6 to be described later, the user interactively sets a desired map range on the reference area 9 and a desired time range on the reference axis 11, thereby obtaining the desired range. A two-dimensional plane that maps the information that exists in is set. As can be seen from the above, the reference area 9 and the reference axis 11 provide a basic viewpoint for specifying the range of the information attribute that the user wants to pay attention to. Therefore, it should be appropriately determined on a case-by-case basis according to the coordinate system used, the attribute assigned to each coordinate axis, the purpose of information access, and the like. It should be noted that a default reference area and reference axis are prepared, and the default reference area and reference axis are used unless otherwise set by the user (or always set by the user). It may be.

In the next reference region upper position setting S12, a plan view of the previously set reference region 9 is displayed on a display, and the user sequentially sets any two points on the reference region 9; Reference area 9 cut by the line connecting these two points
Is displayed with a translucent mask. That is,
As shown in FIG. 6, the user specifies a start point 91 and an end point 93 on the plan view of the reference area 9. For example, it is specified by a method of dragging a cursor from a start point 91 to an end point 93 with a pointing device. Then, as shown in FIG.
A line segment 95 connecting the start point 91 and the end point 93 is formed (this line segment 95
Means the projection of the two-dimensional plane to be set onto the reference area 9), this line segment 95 and straight lines 97 and 99 perpendicular to this line segment 95 (two straight lines passing through the start point 91 and the end point 93, respectively) Is the area 101 to be cut from the reference area 9 (from the start point 91 to the end point 9 of the line segment 95)
The area on the right hand side toward 3) is covered with a translucent mask (hereinafter, referred to as a mask area) and displayed. At this time, a process of defining the surface on the mask region 101 side (right hand) of the plane to be set as the front surface and defining the surface on the opposite side (left hand) as the back surface is also performed. Also, the coordinate values of the start point 91 and the end point 93 are displayed. In the above-described reference region upper position setting S12, since the user specifies the coordinates on the reference region 9, it is easy to grasp the depth information. In this setting process, not only the plan view of the reference area 9 shown in FIG. 8 but also the three-dimensional graphics as shown in FIG.
If the 93, the line segment 95, the mask area 101, and the like are displayed three-dimensionally, it becomes easier to grasp the positional relationship between the setting object plane and the information object.

Next, in the on-reference-axis position setting S13, the user sequentially sets two points on the previously set reference axis 11, and sets two points parallel to a line segment 95 on the reference area 9 extending from these two points. A process of setting a two-dimensional plane by a straight line and two straight lines extending from two points 91 and 93 set on the reference area 9 and parallel to the reference axis 11 is performed. In this setting process, a special view (for example, a view in which the reference area 9 and the reference axis 11 are viewed obliquely as shown in FIG. 9) is displayed on the display so that the position in the direction of the reference axis 11 is easy to see. Or you can use this special figure and figure
4 may be performed by displaying both of the three-dimensional graphics as shown in FIG. 4, or when the reference axis 11 is sufficiently visible on the three-dimensional graphics as in the example of FIG. 4, The display may be performed by displaying only the three-dimensional graphics. In this specification, the setting process will be described with reference to the drawing of FIG. 9 for easy understanding.
First, a line segment 111 parallel to the reference axis 11 is displayed from the end point 93 of the line segment 95 previously set in the reference region 9, and the user sets the start point 113 and the end point 115 by, for example, dragging on the line segment 111. I do. Then, two line segments 117 and 119 extending parallel to the line segment 95 from the start point 113 and the end point 115, and two line segments extending parallel to the reference axis 11 from the start point 91 and the end point 93 of the line segment 95 A flat two-dimensional plane 123 is defined by 111 and 121, and this two-dimensional plane 123 is used for mapping an information object.
Set as a dimensional plane.

The two-dimensional plane 123 thus set is a coordinate plane in which the horizontal axis is assigned to longitude and latitude, and the vertical axis is assigned to time.
This will have the same expression function as the chronology of the conventional tool. As can be seen from this example, setting a 2D plane for mapping means creating a tool that can more accurately grasp details of information that is difficult to grasp with 3D graphics. I do. Therefore,
By skillfully setting the two-dimensional plane on a case-by-case basis, the best tool for each case's information access purpose can be obtained. From this point of view, in the present embodiment, only a flat plane parallel to the z-axis can be set. However, the coordinate system adopted in each application, the information attribute assigned to the coordinate axis, the possibility of variation for the purpose of information access, etc. are taken into consideration. If necessary, a function for setting a two-dimensional plane facing a free direction with respect to the coordinate axes, a function for setting a curved two-dimensional plane, and the like may be added. To set such a free 2D plane,
For example, various modeling techniques employed in three-dimensional graphics applications can be used.

When the setting of the two-dimensional plane 123 is completed as described above, three-dimensional graphics of the three-dimensional space 1 in which the two-dimensional plane 123 is arranged as shown in FIG. 10 are displayed on the display (FIG. 10). Actually, the information object 5 is also displayed, but is not shown in FIG. 10). FIG. 10 illustrates a case where the two-dimensional space 123 is set parallel to the xz plane. However, when the two-dimensional plane 123 is set diagonally to the xz plane as in the example of FIG. Needless to say, the two-dimensional plane 123 in the oblique direction is also displayed in FIG. Subsequently, the two-dimensional plane mapping processing S7 shown in FIG.
Is performed. The two-dimensional plane mapping processing S7 has a flow as shown in FIG.

In the viewpoint movement S21 in FIG. 11, the previously set
A process of moving the viewpoint to a position where the two-dimensional plane 123 is viewed from the front is performed. That is, the viewpoint (camera) is moved so that the viewing plane (viewport) is located at a position parallel to (or completely coincident with) the two-dimensional plane 123. The change of the view due to the movement of the viewpoint is displayed by animation. For example,
At first, if the user views the two-dimensional plane 123 from an oblique direction, the view is animated until the user goes around the two-dimensional plane 123 and looks at the front. At the stage when the viewpoint movement has been completed, the user completely
It will be visually recognized as a two-dimensional space.

In parallel with the viewpoint movement S21, a moving object extraction S22 and an object movement S23 are also performed.
In the moving object extraction S22, a process of setting an information object included in the partial space set in the space of interest 7 as a moving object is performed. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the dividing planes 131, 133, 135, and 137 are extended from each side of the two-dimensional plane 123 perpendicular to the plane 123 (formed in the surface direction of the two-dimensional plane 123), and the divided planes are formed. 131, 133, 13
The information object 5 included in a space (referred to as a mapping area) 141 in which 5, 137 is cut out from the space of interest 7 is set as a moving object.

Subsequently, in the object movement 203, an animation generation process for moving the transfer object to the two-dimensional plane 123 is performed. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the moving object 151 is moved along the perpendicular 153 drawn from the two-dimensional plane to the intersection of the perpendicular 153 and the two-dimensional plane 123. At this time, the moving object 151 is displayed as an animation. Since this object movement is performed in parallel with the above-described viewpoint movement, the whole view changes as the viewpoint moves, and the moving object 5
Will be displayed on the display. By watching this animation, the user can easily grasp the positional relationship of the moving object 5 in the three-dimensional space 1. In particular, it is possible to easily grasp depth information that was difficult to understand only by viewing the three-dimensional space 1 from one viewpoint. If all moving objects 151 move at the same speed, the two-dimensional plane 123 of each moving object 151
It is easier to understand the difference between the distances, so that it is easier to grasp the positional relationship. When this animation is completed, the mapped two-dimensional plane 12 of the moving object 5
The front view of 3 will be displayed on the display. From the front view of the two-dimensional plane 123, as described above, the user can accurately grasp the details of the moving object 151.

As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described.
The present embodiment is merely an example for describing the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention to only the present embodiment. The present invention can be embodied in other various forms without departing from the gist thereof. Coordinate system to be used, information attributes to be assigned to coordinate axes, shape / size / direction of target area that can be set and its setting method, shape / size of two-dimensional plane that can be set and its setting method, mapping area setting for two-dimensional plane Many variations are conceivable as to how to move the object at the time of mapping and how to move the viewpoint and how to animate the movement of the object. For example, in the embodiment, an area extending vertically from the two-dimensional plane is set as a mapping area, and objects in the area are vertically moved on the two-dimensional plane and mapped. However, as another form, the x-axis is moved from the two-dimensional plane. Alternatively, an area extending in the y-axis direction is set as a mapping area, and objects included in the area are set along the x-axis or the y-axis.
When the object is moved to the two-dimensional plane, the object is mapped to the two-dimensional plane while keeping its latitude or longitude information, so that it is possible to accurately grasp the latitude or mildness.
Alternatively, the user may arbitrarily specify the selection of the mapping area, the moving direction of the object at the time of mapping, and the like. When using cylindrical coordinates as the coordinate system, set a cylindrical or cylindrical mapping area and move the object in the direction along its radius, circumference or central axis to map it on a two-dimensional plane, or use spherical coordinates When using, the mapping area is set to a sphere or spherical shell shape, and the object is moved in the direction along its radius, meridian or parallel, and mapped on a two-dimensional plane, such as in the characteristics of the coordinate system. Arrangements are also possible. Further, in the above embodiment, the animation is displayed by performing the viewpoint movement and the object movement simultaneously and in parallel at the time of the two-dimensional mapping, but the viewpoint is moved after the object is moved first and the two-dimensional mapping is performed. This series of movements may be displayed as an animation. After the two-dimensional mapping is completed, the user may arbitrarily change the viewpoint so that the user can view the two-dimensional plane after the mapping from a desired direction. The position may be displayed at the same time, and the position and the object on the two-dimensional plane may be displayed by being linked by a line along the movement path.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above-described embodiment is an exemplification for describing the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to this embodiment. Without departing from the spirit of the invention, those skilled in the art
The present invention can be implemented in various other forms in which various modifications, improvements, modifications, simplifications, and the like are added to the above-described embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of three-dimensional graphics in a three-dimensional space in which a large number of information objects are arranged.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of three-dimensional graphics in which objects are linked and displayed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an entire process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the setting of a space of interest, a reference region, and a reference axis.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating projection of a map on an xy plane into a space of interest.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating display of coordinate values of a start point and an end point of a space of interest.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating setting of a position on a reference area on a two-dimensional plane.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a two-dimensional plane setting process.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the setting of a position on a reference area on a two-dimensional plane.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of three-dimensional graphics in a three-dimensional space in which a two-dimensional plane is arranged.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of three-dimensional graphics in a three-dimensional space in which a two-dimensional plane is arranged.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the setting of a mapping area.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating movement of an object.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 3D space 3 Map 5 Information object 7 Space of interest 9 Reference area 11 Reference axis 123 2D space 151 Moving object

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A display device, comprising: a display device; and a reference plane.
And a three-dimensional visualization device that generates three-dimensional graphics of a three-dimensional information space in which information objects are three-dimensionally arranged and displays the three-dimensional graphics on the display device, wherein the three-dimensional visualization device includes: A region-of-interest setting means for arranging a region of interest set by a user in a space; and, on one or a plurality of predetermined planes of the region of interest, a predetermined positional relationship with each of the predetermined planes. Two-dimensional projection means for projecting and displaying a tool on a reference plane, whereby a user can interactively set the region of interest with the three-dimensional visualization device. . 2. The two-dimensional projection means, wherein the predetermined plane and the reference plane are in a parallel positional relationship, and the two-dimensional projection means places a tool on the reference plane on the predetermined plane in a direction normal to the reference plane. 3. The three-dimensional information display system according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional information display system projects and displays. 3. The three-dimensional visualization device: a coordinate value display unit that displays a coordinate value of a vertex of the region of interest; and a two-dimensional plane set by a user in the three-dimensional space. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a two-dimensional plane setting unit; and a two-dimensional mapping unit that moves the information object in the region of interest to the two-dimensional plane and maps the information object on the two-dimensional plane. 4. A process of generating and displaying three-dimensional graphics of a three-dimensional information space including a reference plane and in which information objects are three-dimensionally arranged, and a focus set by a user in the three-dimensional space. Generating and displaying three-dimensional graphics in which regions are arranged; and, on one or a plurality of predetermined planes of the region of interest, the reference plane having a fixed positional relationship with each of the predetermined planes Projecting and displaying the tool
Dimension information display method. 5. The step of projecting and displaying a tool of the reference plane on the predetermined plane, wherein the predetermined plane and the reference plane are in a parallel positional relationship. 5. The three-dimensional information display method according to claim 4, wherein a tool on a reference plane is projected and displayed in a direction normal to the reference plane. 6. A process of displaying coordinate values of vertices of the region of interest, a process of generating and displaying a three-dimensional graphic in which a two-dimensional plane set by a user is added in the three-dimensional space, 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: moving the information object in the region of interest to the two-dimensional plane to generate and display three-dimensional graphics mapped on the two-dimensional plane. 7. An information object including a reference plane and 3
Generating and displaying three-dimensional graphics of a three-dimensionally arranged three-dimensional information space; and generating and displaying three-dimensional graphics in which a region of interest set by a user is arranged in the three-dimensional space. Projecting and displaying, on one or a plurality of predetermined planes of the region of interest, a tool of the reference plane having a fixed positional relationship with respect to each of the predetermined planes.
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute dimensional information display. 8. A process of generating and displaying three-dimensional graphics in a three-dimensional information space including information objects, and generating three-dimensional graphics in which a region of interest set by a user is arranged in the three-dimensional space. Displaying the coordinate values of the vertices of the region of interest; and generating and displaying a three-dimensional graphic in which a two-dimensional plane set by a user is added to the three-dimensional space. Moving the information object in the region of interest to the two-dimensional plane to generate and display three-dimensional graphics mapped on the two-dimensional plane. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the program.