WO2012150375A1

WO2012150375A1 - 3d object based information model, information network and social media

Info

Publication number: WO2012150375A1
Application number: PCT/FI2012/000023
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tuomas Philip VALTONEN
Original assignee: Valtonen Tuomas Philip
Priority date: 2011-05-04
Filing date: 2012-05-03
Publication date: 2012-11-08
Also published as: FI20110155A0

Abstract

A method for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content is presented. The method comprises: a) associating items of the digital content and metadata related to the items with virtual 3D objects capable of being shown on a display so that a visual expression of three- dimensionality is provided to a user, b) interlinking at least two of said virtual 3D objects by matching the metadata associated with these virtual 3D objects according to given criteria, c) controlling the display to show the interlinked virtual 3D objects, d) determining functionality on the basis of the metadata matching the given criteria and causing the at least two of the virtual 3D objects being interlinked, and e) controlling the user interface to carry out the determined functionality.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

3D OBJECT BASED INFORMATION MODEL, INFORMATION NETWORK

AND SOCIAL MEDIA

The field of invention relates generally to an information model based upon three-dimensional objects, and in particular to utilizing said model in modeling and presenting complex information structures, relationships between various information and information networks. The field of the invention also relates to social media at least in part based upon said information model and networks. More particularly, the invention relates to a user interface. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method, a controller, and a computer program for controlling a user interface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the Internet era, the concept of "public domain" has emerged. Content published on a website for a specific purpose can easily be copied onto the personal computer of a viewer and again distributed further, often in different context than originally intended by the publisher. A typical application or website is designed to serve a pre-determined purpose and implement given functionality. Content has traditionally been inputted into such a system exclusively for use within that system. It is common belief that content published on the Internet will "live forever" - once sent to the public domain, it can not be deleted with certainty, as any number of copies may exist on any number of computers.

The ability of viewers to download, modify, replicate and redistribute digital content has shaped the business models of content producers, such as the music and film industry. After stringent efforts aimed at prohibiting viewers from exploiting content for purposes other than originally intended, producers have sought new revenue models taking into account that viewers will continue to download, modify, replicate and redistribute content in any case.

Such disputes have arisen because the World Wide Web is not a general-purpose repository for storing and publishing content per se; it is rather a network of websites containing content published for specific purposes. As the content is downloaded, potentially modified, replicated and redistributed, it effectively becomes part of the so-called "public domain".

These Internet user behavior patterns suggest a latent demand for an infrastructure that serves as a general-purpose content repository more effectively than a network of websites created for purposes other than acting the role of "public domain".

The applications and websites are implemented with modern programming languages whose roots lie in 3rd generation programming languages of the 1950's, such FORTRAN, LISP and COBOL. Although 4th and 5th-generation programming languages, e.g. C, C++, C# and Java, and scripting languages, e.g. Perl, introduced new concepts, such as structured programming and modularity, the core process of creating a computer application remains unchanged: one defines required functionality and implements this functionality by writing programming code.

3rd-generation computer languages were exclusively used for numerical processing tasks and running mathematical algorithms, due to which the languages comprised a variety of mathematical functions and control structures. Newer generations, including popular web development language Java, have inherited these features and have further been extended with methods for isolating and managing increasing masses of code.

Today very few people use the Internet to perform mathematical analysis or numerical proc- essing tasks. More typically, users seek content, view content, produce or modify content, replicate content and distribute content. In this sense, the Internet is more a click-and-view or type- and-send medium than an actual computing environment in its original form.

Creating fixed functionality via programming languages, originally designed for complex computational tasks, is a less than optimal means for defining which basic interactions are of- fered to users under various circumstances and in various contexts: a minimal instruction set of e.g. 10-15 different actions would be adequate for this purpose. On the contrary, when an application or website is implemented by writing 100, 1000, one million, or more, lines of code, modifications or additions to the existing set of functionality require extensive reprogramming work.

The amount of programming code required to perform given functionality tends to grow over time and there are currently no signs of direction change in the horizon. On the contrary, in the name of "user friendliness", user interfaces are growing increasingly elaborate and complex, effectively also increasing the amount and complexity of programming code within the user interfaces. In other words, the functionality of user interfaces implemented via the traditional define and implement -methodology is becoming more inflexible over time.

Internet users are essentially interested in content, and not in application or website structures themselves. However, content is physically stored in files, file systems and databases, from which content is typically not directly accessible and which are organized unintelligibly to outsiders. It would be very difficult for an Internet user to search through file systems of 3rd-party servers to locate files containing a certain type of content.

Today applications and websites with intelligible user interfaces serve as bridges between users and content. User interfaces have grown increasingly graphical and animated with user friendliness a major design priority. As the functionality of such interfaces is defined and fixed by system developers using programming and scripting languages, the "user friendliness" of a user interface depends exclusively upon the extent to which the developer understands and respects present and future user needs.

Hence, users cannot directly determine the manners in which content can be accessed, exploited and shared; these decisions are made by system developers and often ultimately by the management of provider companies. The options for the user community to influence such issues are limited to sending feedback to developers or moving on to another service.

Consequently, Internet users typically navigate between five, ten or more different applications and websites, each implemented to provide one dedicated service, when managing day-today content seeking, viewing and sharing, as well as communications and networking needs. Us- ers would benefit from one non-restrictive service allowing to freely decide how, when and where content can be sought, accessed, managed, sent or shared. A service of such could offer the functionalities of many existing applications and websites, as well as enable users themselves to modify existing and create new functionalities and services.

As mentioned, content is stored in the files, file systems and databases on the servers of con- tent publishers and is typically inaccessible or organized unintelligibly to outsiders. Hence, the user is restricted to working via fixed user interfaces provided by service providers when e.g. seeking, accessing, sending or sharing content.

Even those skilled in the art fail to realize that programming fixed user interfaces to manage content is not the only or most effective means of providing content to Internet users in an intel- ligible or "user friendly" manner; it is merely an outdated development methodology from the early days of computing that hasn't been changed despite the fact that the world and user needs have. For example, content could be published together with auxiliary categorization information, in which case any set of basic interactions could be implemented via one non-restrictive, general-purpose, self-organizing user interface. Several examples relating to this type of model are described later in this disclosure.

In the early days of computing, systems were used by a limited group of professionals with well-known data processing needs. Today computers and the Internet have become everyday tools for masses of non-technical, non-professional users. Consequently, a growing number of applications and websites have emerged aiming at fulfilling the varying and diverse needs of bil- lions of users from all cultures and nearly all age groups.

As mentioned, functionality provided to users is typically decided upon by company management and system developers, and specifically not by the users themselves. Hence, the range of existing functionality available today likely portrays only a limited subset of all functionality desired by, or that could prove beneficial to, users worldwide. And user needs tend to vary and evolve rapidly.

Today's approach, in which masses of service providers each define and implement limited functionality for specific user groups and user needs, has its limitations: (a) development re- sources are limited, due to which distinct needs of individual users or smaller users groups can not all be identified or fulfilled, and (b) development projects tend to trail demand, i.e. once a new trend or need emerges, it may take months before an existing or new service provider can offer the required functionality. For example, if a new unprecedented requirement emerges within a small user group for only the next 5 days, the need would likely remain unserved.

Websites are still structured in a static format and content is typically updated only upon the user's request. Search engines display results in an uncategorized 1 -dimensional list of links, often only in text format. Social networks are portrayed as a list of names and images, possibly with limited categorization options defined by the service provider. In video sharing websites, content is typically categorized by a single string of keywords given by the publisher.

In general, websites have changed little since the early days of the World Wide Web; there is more graphics and moving content, but content is still organized into static-format web pages and the usage pattern is essential the same; scroll page and view content, click on links or menus to navigate further, etc.

In real life, people are accustomed to dealing with 3-dimensional objects that can be viewed from several angles and shifted closer, further away or from one position to another. Objects comprise semantics, such as a name, a purpose, a value, etc. Objects are also related to other objects in various ways. Most importantly, each person administers a distinct set of semantics for objects; e.g. the name, purpose or value of an object may vary from one person to another.

Today most existing content is still presented in 1 -dimensional sequential lists. Possible cate- gorizations are typically limited to one string of keywords, given either by the content producer or service provider. Complex categorizations and relationships between various content are rarely supported, nor is functionality allowing users to manage and publish individual sets of categorizations for content. Only a small portion of websites comprise content that is automatically updated in real-time, and interactive 3D user interfaces are scarce.

In summary, several disadvantages can be identified when seeking, accessing, managing, sending and sharing content via modern-day applications and websites: (a) there is no common general-purpose content repository representing the "public domain"; (b) user interfaces for facilitating basic interactions are implemented with programming languages designed for complex numeric calculation, due to which creating or modifying functionality requires unnecessary ef- fort; (c) although users are interested in content, not programming code, the only viable means of seeking, accessing, managing, sending and sharing content is via functionality of fixed user interfaces created with and restricted by programming code; (d) due to b and c, users themselves cannot modify the manners in which content is used, or create new manners, beyond the manners defined and implemented by the developer of the service in consideration; (e) as functionality cannot be created by users, diverse needs of individuals and small user groups are likely unserved, as it is commercially unviable to commit development resources to serve very small target groups; (f) service providers cannot respond to unprecedented new needs at very short notice, and likely also would not respond if the need was valid for only a short time period; (g) content is mostly offered to users via 1 -dimensional sequential lists rather than more intuitive three- dimensional objects, and (h) content categorization and models for describing relationships between different content are oversimplified in comparison with real-world categorization and relationships.

State of the Art United States Patent Application no. 2003/0184601 " 1st known technology" discloses a pattern generation model and method of representing a network of relationships. A first embodiment of said 1 st known technology implies a model representing at least a portion of a first regular polyhedron and at least a portion of a second regular polyhedron that are reorientable with respect to one another about a common center. A second embodiment of said 1st known technology im- plies a hand manipulatable physical model. A third embodiment of said 1st known technology implies a method of representing a network of relationships, comprising a step of orienting a first regular polyhedron relative to a second regular polyhedron in an orientation corresponding to at least one shared axis of symmetry.

United States Patent Application no. 2008/0250355 "2nd known technology" discloses an automatic 3D object generation and deformation for representation of data files based on taxonomy classification, in which (a) a primary classifier adapted to access an electronic file having a plurality of properties, to determine a first set of said properties and to generate a particular three-dimensional object to represent said file based on said first set, and (b) a secondary classifier in communication with said primary classifier and adapted to access said file and to deter- mine a second set of said properties and to deform said three-dimensional object in a particular manner based on said second set, are implied.

Australian Patent Office Application no. 2002258007 "3rd known technology" discloses a method and apparatus for the presentation of data from a database, in which (a) a database com- prising multiple records with at least two common data field, the database comprising multiple data elements in the common data fields, is implied. In said 3rd known technology it is further implied that (b) the data elements from the common data fields are associated to visible geometrical objects and (c) geometrical objects associated to the data elements of the same data field are arranged in clusters.

United States Patent no. 6,731,314 "4th known technology" discloses a network-based three- dimensional multiple-user shared environment apparatus and method, in which (a) a step of implementing a modification of a lower-level component of a computer program, and (b) a step of interacting a first user object with a third object in response to a first interactional input from a first user, are implied.

United States Patent no. 6,734,884 "5th known technology" discloses a viewer interactive three-dimensional objects and two-dimensional images in virtual three-dimensional workspace, in which (a) at least one planar two-dimensional image of a three-dimensional virtual object and (b) means for user interactive input to said displayed two-dimensional image are implied.

United States Patent Application no. 2008/0243778 "6th known technology" discloses a computer-implemented method for displaying results of a search query, the method comprising: (a) receiving a query, (b) obtaining documents that satisfy the query, (c) constructing a facet hierarchy based on documents that satisfy the query, (d) creating a cube structure based on the facet hierarchy, and (e) displaying a multi-dimensional search interface based on the cube structure. United Kingdom patent application no. 2,354,920 "7th known technology" discloses a three or more dimensional representational interface together with a visual language interface to identify, classify, store and use patterns in the information representation, together with the ability to abstract or expand the information into a multitude of documents, and views together with a means to interact with these documents or views, as an individual, as a member of a group, and/or as a member of a local or global community.

United States Patent Application no. 2006/0156228 "8th known technology" discloses a computer implemented method of outputting information via one or more cells arranged geometrically in a cellular environment, the method comprising: (a) receiving an indication of a zoom state in the cellular environment; (b) for a cell that is visible in the cellular environment at the indicated zoom state (bl) determining a content reference associated with the cell at the zoo state, and (b2) resolving the content reference to obtain content, wherein the content includes a visual representation associated with the zoom state; and (c) outputting the content via the cell.

United States Patent Application no. 2008/0266289 "9th known technology" discloses a method of controlling display information in a wireless mobile terminal, the method comprising: (a) displaying a polyhedron structure on a display wherein the polyhedron structure comprises a plurality of facets, each facet configured to display content obtained from remote servers; and (b) rotating the polyhedron structure in a direction associated with a first external user input to display a different facet of the polyhedron structure.

The above-mentioned known technologies can remove or reduce many of the disadvantages that can be identified when seeking, accessing, managing, sending and sharing content via modern-day applications and websites. However, there is still a need for new technologies for further eliminating or reducing the disadvantages.

DEFINITIONS The following definitions apply in this disclosure:

The term "time" relates to time of day alone and/or time of day and date collectively, depending on the context of use.

The term "client apparatus" relates to any electronic apparatus capable of displaying digital images and accepting user input, including but not limited to desktop and laptop computers, per- sonal digital assistants, tablet personal computers, wearable computers, smart phones, set top boxes, with or without television signal reception capabilities, and digital signage apparatus with touch screen capability or operable via other user input mechanism, as well as any combinations of the above-mentioned.

The term "functionality" relates to actions that can be taken by a user within a given service and tasks that can be carried out by said service either in response to one or more said actions, or unprovoked.

The term "service" relates to an entity that provides functionality to users.

The term "external service" relates to a third-party service not conforming to the present invention.

The term "application" relates to a service typically situated in, operated from and provided by a local client apparatus.

The term "website" relates to a service typically situated in and operated from a remote server and provided via the Internet or other communication network and a local client apparatus.

The term "user interface" relates to a means via which a service provides functionality to a user.

The term "internal user interface" relates to a user interface conforming to at least one embodiment of the present invention.

The term "external user interface" relates to a user interface of an external service. The term "user", when not in the context of "user interface", or "Internet user" relates to a typical person that uses functionality of at least one application or website via at least one client apparatus and said person is not skilled in the art of system design and/or programming to the extent that he or she could modify existing programming code and/or lacks the access rights, ap- paratus and/or other means required for said modification of said code.

In the context of the present invention, the term "user" more precisely relates to a user, as defined above, using a service conforming to at least one embodiment of the present invention.

The term "fixed" in the context of a user interface or functionality relates to the characteristic of not being modifiable by a user beyond the extent originally decided upon and implemented. The term "non-restrictive" in the context of a user interface or functionality relates to the characteristic of being modifiable by a user in various manners, such as but not limited to: adding items, removing items, re-organizing items, modifying criteria for items to be displayed, modifying the order or grouping of items, modifying relationships between items and/or modifying the behavior of items in response to user action or unprovoked, in which the quantity and ex- tent of said modifications are not restricted by design or implementation factors and an item may constitute any type of 3D object or detached content conforming to the present invention.

The term "content" or "digital content" refers to any type of information or data in digital format, such as but not limited to character data, such as text documents; numeric data, such as CAD or spreadsheet files; image data, both still and moving, recorded and live; reference data, such as hyperlinks; markup data, such as HTML files; 3rd-party applications or other computer- executable code, as well as any combination of the aforementioned.

The term "basic interaction" relates to a single action of a user, such as but not limited to: publishing, seeking, accessing, organizing, managing, sending and/or sharing content.

The terms "3D object" and "virtual 3D object" relate to a virtual 3D object which is capable of being shown on a display so that a visual expression of three-dimensionality is provided to a user.

The term "given criteria" in the context of matching metadata or a metadata entry relates to one or more constraints or thresholds used to determine whether said metadata or metadata entry constitutes a match with a second entity, such as but not limited to constraints regarding: accept- able numerical distance or distance in time, e.g. the absolute value of a first numerical value subtracted by a second numerical value or the difference in days between two dates; acceptable distance between character strings, e.g. the distance between "metadata" and "mtadta" is 2; an acceptable value determined by a metadata class, e.g. the name of a metadata class, e.g. "New York" for metadata class !New York; an acceptable pattern for a character string, e.g. "Londo*"; equal metadata classes, e.g. !New York and !New York; association of metadata classes with another common metadata class, e.g. !San Francisco and !Los Angeles both associated with !Cali- fornia; and association of metadata classes with a common metadata category, e.g. !New York and ! London both associated with #city. In the above description, the prefix "!" symbolizes a metadata class and "#" a metadata category.

One should note that although the terms "vertex", "vertices", "edge" and "edges" may according to certain embodiments of the present invention relate to a vertex, vertices, an edge and edges of a polyhedron, respectively, said terms may according to other embodiments of the present invention comprise different semantics, as described in the detailed description of the inven- tion.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a new controller for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content. The controller according to the invention comprises processing elements configured to:

- associate items of the digital content and metadata related to the items of the digital content with virtual 3D objects capable of being shown on a display so that a visual expression of three-dimensionality is provided to a user, each of the virtual 3D objects being associated with metadata and one or more items of the digital content,

- interlink at least two of said virtual 3D objects by matching the metadata associated with these at least two virtual 3D objects according to given criteria,

- control the display to show the interlinked virtual 3D objects on the display,

- determine functionality on the basis of the metadata matching the given criteria and causing the at least two of the virtual 3D objects being interlinked, and

- control the user interface to carry out the determined functionality.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided also a new user interface capable of displaying digital content. The user interface according to the invention comprises a display and a controller according to the invention connected to the display. The above-described user interface according to the present invention is capable of providing a content oriented repository because the interlinking between the virtual 3D objects, each of which being associated with one or more items of the digital content, is based on the metadata associated with the virtual 3D objects.

In conjunction with many known technologies, user interfaces implemented with fixed programming code serve as bridges between users and content in modern-day applications and websites. In conjunction with user interfaces according to an advantageous exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the current megatrend of coding fixed-functionality user interfaces is rejected and a completely different approach taken.

When storing, organizing and offering content to Internet users, we identify two main alternatives: (a) store content in an file system or database not accessible to and/or organized in a manner unintelligible to outsiders, in which case the content of each service provider is accessed via a dedicated programmed user interface exhibiting fixed functionality, or (b) store the content in a repository directly accessible to and organized in an manner that is intelligible to outsiders, in which case content can be sought, accessed, managed, sent and shared via a dynamic, non- restrictive user interface. The former alternative relates to the manner in which digital content has been managed and accessed to date, and the latter to the manner in which digital content has been managed and accessed with user interfaces according to an advantageous exemplifying embodiment of the invention.

According to an advantageous exemplifying embodiment of the present invention, instead of attempting to fulfill each distinct user need by programming individual user interfaces exhibiting fixed functionality for accessing and managing otherwise inaccessible or unintelligibly organized content, content is stored in an accessible and intelligibly organized manner, enabling users to directly exploit the content without said programmed user interfaces exhibiting fixed functional- ity.

According to an advantageous exemplifying embodiment of the present invention, when content is made directly accessible and organized in an intelligible manner, users themselves can create and modify user interfaces and functionality in a non-restrictive manner.

According to another advantageous exemplifying embodiment of the present invention, when functionality can be determined dynamically and content is organized in an intelligible manner, user interfaces and functionality can be formed and modified dynamically in a fully or partially self-organizing manner.

According to another advantageous exemplifying embodiment of the present invention, when content is organized in a dynamic and intelligible manner, said content may be present in multi- pie contexts and as part of multiple user interfaces and functionalities comprising various content from multiple sources; hence, the contexts, user interfaces and/or functionalities in which said content will be present in the future need not necessarily be known or defined by the publisher and/or at the time of publication. Notes on the Inventiveness:

It should be noted that the technological enablers for creating non-restrictive, dynamic user interfaces and functionality have existed and been available to the global developer community for at least 20-30 years. Nevertheless, the global information technology industry has abode to elementary design and implementation principles originating from the early days of computing, creating one fixed-programmed user interface and set of functionality after another, without comprehending that said principles are today effectively outdated and inadequate to serve the diverse and rapidly evolving needs of the vast and diverse community of modern-day users.

The fact that - despite the significant number of system designers and developers in the global developer community and broad availability of required technological enablers - those skilled in the art have failed to understand the opportunities and benefits of dynamic, non- restrictive user interfaces and functionality and thus also failed to revise the abovementioned design principles from effectively outdated fixed-programmed user interfaces and functionality towards said dynamic, non-restrictive user interfaces and functionality, highlights the exceptionally inventive nature of exemplifying embodiments of the invention presented in this disclosure, which takes a completely different approach in comparison with the manner in which digital content has been managed and accessed to date.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided also a new method for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content. The method according to the invention comprises:

- associating items of the digital content and metadata related to the items of the digital content with virtual 3D objects capable of being shown on a display so that a visual expression of three-dimensionality is provided to a user, each of the virtual 3D objects being associated with metadata and one or more items of the digital content,

- interlinking at least two of said virtual 3D objects by matching the metadata associated with these at least two virtual 3D objects according to given criteria,

- controlling the display to show the interlinked virtual 3D objects on the display,

- determining functionality on the basis of the metadata matching the given criteria and causing the at least two of the virtual 3D objects being interlinked, and - controlling the user interface to carry out the determined functionality.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided also a new computer program for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content. The computer program according to the invention comprises computer executable instructions for controlling a programmable processing system to:

- control the user interface to carry out the determined functionality.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided also a new computer program product for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content. The computer program product according to the invention comprises a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program according to the invention.

A number of non-limiting exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are described in the appended dependent claims.

In this document, the verbs "to comprise" and "to include" are used as open limitations which neither exclude nor require the existence of also non-recited technical features. The technical features recited in the dependent claims are freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Illustrations FIG. 1-10 relate to certain examples of certain exemplifying embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 1-2 are illustrations of an example of a virtual 3D object, and more specifically a virtual 3D object in the shape of a regular tetrahedron.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an example of a virtual 3D object, and more specifically a virtual 3D object in the shape of a cube. FIG. 4 is an illustration of an example of a virtual 3D object, and more specifically a broken 3D object, described later in this disclosure, in the general shape of a cube.

FIGS. 5-6 are illustrations of an example of a virtual 3D object, and more specifically a virtual 3D object in the shape of a sphere comprising several vertices, edges and faces.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an example of a virtual 3D object cluster, and more specifically a virtual 3D object cluster comprising virtual 3D objects in the shapes of cubes interlinked according to the fixed-face and adjacent virtual 3D object models.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an example of a virtual 3D object cluster, and more specifically a virtual 3D object cluster comprising virtual 3D objects in the shapes of cubes interlinked accord- ing to the fixed-face and non-adjacent virtual 3D object models.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an example of a virtual 3D object cluster, and more specifically either a virtual 3D object cluster according to the vertex-tetrahedron, dynamic-face and adjacent virtual 3D object models, or alternatively a virtual 3D object cluster according to the vertex- modified-tetrahedron, fixed-face and adjacent virtual 3D object models.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an example of a virtual 3D object cluster, and more specifically a virtual 3D object cluster according to the vertex-tetrahedron, fixed-face and non-adjacent virtual 3D object models. For clarity, hidden features are omitted from this drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In this description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention, the fact that a 3D object is a virtual 3D object is not always mentioned. Therefore, also the term "3D object" means a virtual 3D object capable of being shown on a display so that a visual expression of three- dimensionality is provided to a user.

A method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content is described below. The method comprises the fol- lowing actions:

- controlling the display to show the interlinked virtual 3D objects on the display, - determining functionality on the basis of the metadata matching the given criteria and causing the at least two of the virtual 3D objects being interlinked, and

- controlling the user interface to carry out the determined functionality.

A method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises associating the metadata of said virtual 3D objects with at least a portion of the vertices of said 3D objects.

A method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises using poly- hedra as at least a portion of said virtual 3D objects.

A method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises using tetra- hedra as at least a portion of said virtual 3D objects.

A method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises using shortened tetrahedra as at least a portion of said virtual 3D objects.

A method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises constructing a virtual 3D object cluster comprising at least two of the virtual 3D objects so that:

- a feature of said virtual 3D objects is one of a vertex, an edge or a face,

- at least two of the features of each of said virtual 3D objects are associated with the metadata associated with this virtual 3D object,

- a first point or region, "gravity point", in a virtual three-dimensional space capable of being shown on a display is associated with a first set of criteria "gravity point criteria", and

- each of said virtual 3D objects is positioned around said first point in such a manner that a feature of said virtual 3D object associated with the best matching metadata with respect to said first set of criteria is adjacent to or close to said first point or region, the feature associated with the best matching metadata being a primary feature.

A method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises modifying the shape of a virtual 3D object upon inclusion into a virtual 3D object cluster.

A method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises positioning said virtual 3D objects in such a manner that features associated with metadata other than said primary features are situated adjacent to or close to one another, the features associated with metadata other than said primary features being secondary features.

A method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises positioning said virtual 3D objects in such a manner that at least two of said virtual 3D objects comprising secondary features associated with metadata constituting a better match with one another by given criteria are granted higher priority during positioning than at least two of said virtual 3D objects comprising secondary features associated with metadata constituting a poorer match with one another by given criteria. A method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises positioning the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having the higher priority prior to positioning the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having lower priority.

A method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises allowing re- positioning or removal of the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having the lower priority when positioning the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having the higher priority.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, content inputted into a repository is appended with auxiliary metadata, i.e. auxiliary classification information, by the publishing party.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, content is organized using metadata to form non-restrictive user interfaces. Said interfaces need not be permanent and the composition of these may vary according to various factors, such as but not limited to: time, user identity, user characteristics, content type, context or purpose of use, in which said user may e.g. relate to the creator, publisher, viewer and/or exploiter of said content. The user characteris- tics can be e.g. location, culture, language, demographics, etc.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, published content is logically organized as 3D objects, the vertices, edges and/or faces of which represent metadata associated with said content. FIGS. 1-2 show one example of a 3D object in the shape of a regular tetrahedron. Said metadata may be associated with the vertices 001, edges 002 and/or faces 003 of said 3D object.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, said 3D objects are organized so that the vertices, edges and/or faces with adequately matching metadata by given criteria are interlinked.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a 3D object together with metadata of said 3D object does not simply constitute a virtual model representing the three-dimensional shape and characteristics of a known physical object.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of 3D objects are polyhedra, of which at least a portion may be regular polyhedra.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of 3D objects constitute any type of three-dimensional shape, either closed or open, comprising at least one edge and at least two faces as defined below.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of 3D objects constitute a set of partially or fully separated surfaces that can despite full or partial gaps between said surfaces be perceived to constitute a single three-dimensional shape "broken 3D object". FIGS. 3-4 show examples of two 3D objects, both of which can be perceived to be in the general shape of a cube. The 3D object in FIG. 3 is in the exact shape of a cube and the 3D object in FIG. 4 is a broken 3D object in the general shape of a cube. The shapes of said two 3D objects are considered logically equivalent when interlinking and/or interlinked with other 3D objects.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of faces are planar facets of a polyhedron.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least of portion of faces constitute an open surface of any shape, or a portion of a surface if said surface comprises at least two logically inequivalent regions "sub-surface" where "logically inequivalent" signifies that information and/or functionality associated with said sub-surfaces is mutually inequivalent.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of edges relate to straight edges of a polyhedron.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of edges constitute curves of any shape that are situated on the boundary of at least one surface and/or at least two sub-surfaces.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of edges constitute curves of any shape that are situated on the boundary of one or two surfaces or on the boundary of two sub-surfaces ("split-edge model"). FIGS. 5-6 show an example of a 3D object, and more specifically a 3D object in the shape of a sphere. Said 3D object comprises two vertices 001 , four edges 002 and four faces 003 according to said split-edge model.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a set of adjacent and/or neighboring edges that can be perceived as constituting a single continuous edge regardless of minor detail are combined, modified and/or simplified in such a manner that said minor detail is disregarded and said set of edges is replaced by a curve representing one continuous edge and possible now unnecessary vertices are removed.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the case that a 3D object comprises vertices, edges and/or faces the primary purpose of which can be considered visual appeal of said 3D object, and which do not significantly affect the general perceived shape of said 3D object and do not affect the logical characteristics and/or functionality of said object, such as but not limited to vertices, edges and/or faces due to rounding, truncating, beveling and/or chamfering of surface areas near the boundaries of faces of said 3D object "insignificant components", said insignificant components are considered not to constitute vertices, edges and/or faces of said 3D object. In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the case of a broken 3D object in which neighboring surfaces are fully or partially separated by a gap, an edge is considered to constitute a curve situated along the middle of said gap, in which case said edge is considered to be between said neighboring surfaces and said neighboring surfaces are considered adjacent to each other, said edge and possible vertices within said edge.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of vertices relate to vertices of a polyhedron.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of vertices constitute points on the surface of a 3D object situated at intersections of at least two distinct edges.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the case of a broken 3D object and the end points of neighboring edges are separated by a gap, a vertex is considered to constitute a point situated halfway between said end points.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the bounding curve of a face is a collective set of all edges situated on the boundary of said face.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, two faces of different 3D objects and with an equal number of vertices are interlinked.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, two faces of different 3D objects and with an equal number of edges are interlinked.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, two faces of separate 3D objects are interlinked if the bounding curve of first said face is exactly or approximately similar to the bounding curve of second said face.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, two faces of separate 3D objects are interlinked if the bounding curve of first said face is exactly or approximately similar to a mirrored bounding curve of second said face.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, two faces of separate 3D objects are interlinked if the shape of first said face is exactly or approximately similar to the shape of second said face.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, two faces of separate 3D objects are interlinked if the shape of first said face is exactly or approximately similar to the mirrored shape of second said face.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, faces that can be positioned in such a manner that the position of each vertex of the first interlinked face is equal to the position of one vertex of the second interlinked face and/or the position of each edge of the first interlinked face is equal to the position of one edge of the second interlinked face are interlinked; "fixed-face model".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the dimensions and/or shapes of the edges and/or faces are modified in such a manner that the position of each vertex of the first interlinked face is equal to the position of one vertex of the second interlinked face and/or the position of each edge of the first interlinked face is equal to the position of one edge of the second interlinked face, and after which said first and second faces are interlinked; "dynamic-face model".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, 3D objects with in- terlinked faces are positioned in such a manner that the position of each vertex of the first interlinked face is equal to the position of one vertex of the second interlinked face and/or the position of each edge of the first interlinked face is equal to the position of one edge of the second interlinked face, and said 3D objects are not overlapping; "adjacent 3D object model".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, 3D objects are ap- proximately positioned as according to the adjacent 3D object model, but a full gap or partial gap may left between 3D objects that would be adjacent according to the adjacent 3D object model and said 3D objects may also be partially overlapping, in which "full gap" relates to positioning where 3D objects are not touching or overlapping and "partial gap" to positioning where 3D objects are touching at at least one location, but are not fully adjacent, and possibly also partially overlapping. The opposite edges and/or faces of a full or partial gap need not necessarily be positioned in parallel with respect to one another; "non-adjacent 3D object model".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, 3D objects are interlinked to form clusters. Such interlinking may at least in part depend upon the metadata associated with the 3D objects in consideration. For example, a cluster may be formed around a given point or region, "gravity point", within a virtual three-dimensional space. In this case, a number of 3D objects fulfilling given criteria will appear, or for example be shifted in an animated manner, around or close to the gravity point. Depending on the geometric shapes of the 3D objects, the cluster may appear as a single larger object or as a group of individual 3D objects.

In the case that the geometric features of 3D objects are associated with metadata, the relative and position orientation of the 3D objects in a cluster may at least in part depend upon the metadata of the 3D objects. For example, a 3D object in the form of a regular tetrahedron may be associated with four different types of metadata: A, B, C, and D, of which one type is associated with each vertex of the tetrahedron. A cluster is formed by creating a gravity point within a virtual three-dimensional space associated with metadata type A. In this case, a maximum of twenty tetrahedra gather around the gravity point in such a manner that the vertex of each tetrahedron associated with metadata type A would be situated at the gravity point. A cluster of such could appear, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

The cluster of regular tetrahedra could further be formed in such a manner that the metadata associated with the remaining three vertices are matched according to given criteria. In FIG. 10 vertices that are close to one another constitute cluster intersections 005. In the above example, the metadata associated with vertices at certain cluster intersections could be of type B; "tyP^e B intersection", and of type C at other cluster intersections. By means of cluster intersections the user may be informed of contexts and relationships between displayed content items that were previously unknown.

Cluster intersections can also be used to narrow or otherwise modify the criteria based upon which the cluster was formed. In the above example, if the user activates, e.g. clicks the left mouse button when the mouse pointer is at an intersection, or taps on the image of an intersection displayed via a touch input enabled display, a type B intersection, the gravity point associ- ated with the 3D object cluster in consideration could be modified to include new secondary criteria regarding type B metadata, in addition to the original primary criteria regarding type A metadata. Preferably the new secondary criteria for the gravity point regarding type B metadata would be defined by the metadata values of the vertices at the activated intersection. As a result, all tetrahedra in the cluster that no longer comply with the modified gravity point criteria would be removed and replaced with other compliant tetrahedra not originally present in the cluster. This mechanism allows a new form of context-aware browsing; i.e., the user can move deeper into e.g. search results by following newly discovered contexts and relationships portrayed by cluster intersections.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the position of a gravity point or 3D object within a virtual three-dimensional space can be expressed in the form of three numeric coordinates, for example x, y and z, where x represents distance in a left-to- right direction, y represents distance in an up-to-down direction and z represents distance in a forward-to-backward direction, from a fixed origin in said virtual three-dimensional space, and a vector indicating any of the three aforementioned directions is perpendicular to vectors indicat- ing the other two directions.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the position of an existing gravity point within a virtual three-dimensional space can vary over time, which may further affect the positions of one or more 3D objects associated with said gravity point. In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, activation of multiple intersections is allowed; "multiactivation". Multiactivation could take place by activating each intersection sequentially, e.g. by clicking the right mouse button when the mouse pointer is at an intersection to be activated, and repeating this step, or concurrently, e.g. holding one's fingers on top of images of the intersections, displayed via a multiple touch input enabled display, that are to be activated. Multiactivation could be used for many purposes, including modification of the criteria, primary or secondary, of the gravity point associated with the 3D object cluster in consideration. In this case, new criteria for the gravity point regarding type B metadata could preferably be defined by the metadata values of the vertices at all of the activated intersections.

During multiactivation, a user could also initiate an action by e.g. holding down the left mouse button with the mouse pointer at one of the active intersections and then moving the mouse cursor, or e.g. via moving one of more fingers that are on top of images of intersections, displayed via a multiple touch input enabled display. Such actions could for example, remove 3D objects from the 3D object cluster that are adjacent to all activated intersections, modifying the criteria, primary or secondary, of the gravity point associated with the 3D object cluster in consideration, or create one or more new 3D object clusters based upon metadata associated with vertices at activated intersections.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, each vertex, edge and/or face of a 3D object represents a distinct category of information, "metadata category", such as but not limited to: time, identity, location and type of content.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the metadata and metadata category represented by one vertex, edge or face of a 3D object are swapped with the metadata and metadata category represented by another vertex, edge or face of said 3D object, respectively.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, metadata associated with a 3D object consists of multiple distinct pieces of information; "metadata entries".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a metadata entry is in the form of a character string.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a metadata entry is in the form of at least one numeric value.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a metadata entry is in the form of at least one value representing time.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a metadata entry is in the form of a class definition; "metadata class". In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a metadata category comprises further definitions for said metadata category, "metadata subcategories", and each metadata subcategory may further comprise one or more other metadata subcategories. For example, the metadata category of "location" could comprise metadata subcategories "location of origination of content" and "location of publisher", each further comprising metadata subcategories "continent", "nation", "city" and "name of building".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, each metadata class is associated with one or more metadata categories and/or metadata subcategories. For example, metadata classes "Europe", "United Kingdom", "London" and "Westminster Abbey" could be associated with metadata category "location" and metadata subcategory "location of origination of content", as well as with metadata subcategories "continent", "nation", "city" and "name of building" respectively.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a position or region "gravity point" is defined within a 3-dimensional space. The gravity point relates to one primary metadata category "gravity point primary category".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, other metadata categories "gravity point secondary categories" are also appended to the gravity point, in addition to the gravity point primary category of said gravity point "gravity point secondary categories".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one set of primary criteria is appended to the gravity point; "gravity point primary criteria".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, other criteria "gravity point secondary criteria" may also be appended to the gravity point, in addition to the gravity point primary criteria of said gravity point.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of possible criteria constitutes the continuously advancing current time; "latest time".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, 3D objects with vertices, edges and/or faces that comprise a metadata category "comparison metadata category" equal to the gravity point primary category and that also comprise metadata associated with said comparison metadata category "comparison metadata" that with respect to given criteria ade- quately matches the gravity point primary criteria "matching 3D objects" are positioned to form a 3D object cluster or other formation around the gravity point "clustering".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the case that the gravity point primary category and/or comparison metadata category of a 3D object comprise metadata subcategories, for said 3D object to be considered a matching 3D object, all or a portion of said subcategories must also be equal.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the case that the gravity point primary criteria and/or comparison metadata criteria of a 3D object comprise mul- tiple metadata entries, for said 3D object to be considered a matching 3D object, all or a portion of said entries must also adequately match with respect to given criteria.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the case that all matching 3D objects cannot be positioned in the intended formation around a gravity point without overlapping, according to the adjacent 3D object model, or without the overlapping volume exceeding given criteria, according to the non-adjacent 3D object model, the gravity point is duplicated, after which matching 3D objects that could not originally be positioned around said gravity point are positioned in a similar formation around said duplicate gravity point. This step is repeated until all matching 3D objects are positioned around an appropriate gravity point. In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the order in which 3D objects are positioned around gravity points is determined by several factors, such as but not limited to: order of discovery during clustering procedure; time of creation, e.g. most recent 3D objects could be positioned first; the extent that the metadata of a 3D object matches the primary and/or secondary criteria of a gravity point according to given criteria; and user preferences, user interface layout preferences, or other context-related factors.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a 3D object cluster formed around gravity point may comprise locations adjacent to, according to the adjacent 3D object model, or close to, according to the non-adjacent 3D object model, vertices, edges and/or faces of multiple 3D objects; "cluster intersections".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, during clustering the positions of 3D objects are at least in part determined by cluster intersections that would be formed when positioning a 3D object adjacent to, according to adjacent 3D object model, or close to, non-adjacent 3D object model, other 3D objects of the same 3D object cluster; "intersection formation".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, intersection forma- tion is determined in part or in whole by the metadata, metadata categories and/or metadata subcategories of vertices, edges and/or faces to be positioned at a given cluster intersection. For example, 3D objects may be organized to form cluster intersections at which vertices, edges and/or faces comprise similar metadata categories. 3D objects could also further be organized to form cluster intersections at which the metadata of vertices, edges and/or faces is adequately matching by given criteria.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, cluster intersections comprise a level of attraction "gravity level" for each vertex, edge and/or face, which represents the extent to which the metadata of said vertex, edge and/or face, respectively, matches the metadata of other vertices, edges and/or faces at said cluster intersection by given criteria. Said gravity level could e.g. be represented by a positive or negative number, in which case greater positive values would indicate a stronger match and greater negative values a stronger mismatch.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, minimum thresholds "gravity thresholds" for gravity levels permitted at cluster intersections may be associated with a gravity point, due to which a 3D object with a vertex, edge and/or face that would create an adequately strong mismatch at a cluster intersection could not be positioned with said vertex, edge and/or face at said cluster intersection.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a 3D object cluster need not be permanent and its composition is varied according to various factors, such as but not limited to: time; arbitrary removal and/or addition of 3D objects; modification of gravity point categories and/or criteria, primary and/or secondary, and/or subcategories; modification of gravity thresholds of said gravity point; and discovery of 3D objects not initially considered when forming said 3D object cluster.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, when a 3D object with a vertex, edge and/or face that would create an adequately strong mismatch at a cluster intersection is positioned in such a manner that said vertex, edge and/or face is situated at said intersection, one or more other 3D objects are removed from said intersection.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a 3D object cluster is split into two or more segments.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a 3D object cluster is split along a path of neighboring cluster intersections that comprise strong mismatches.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, an action is directed at a cluster intersection of a 3D object cluster; "intersection action".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of intersection action on a 3D object cluster removes all or a portion of 3D objects in said cluster and/or splits said cluster into at least two segments. In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of intersection action on a 3D object cluster "original cluster" creates at least one new 3D object cluster from a set of 3D objects, some of which may or may not be from said original cluster.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of intersec- tion action on a 3D object cluster appends all or a portion of metadata categories and/or related subcategories of vertices, edges and/or faces adjacent to, according to the adjacent 3D object model, or close to, according to the non-adjacent 3D object model, the intersection in consideration, "intersection metadata categories", into the gravity point secondary categories and/or related subcategories of the gravity point "current gravity point" related to said 3D object cluster. In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of intersection action on a 3D object cluster removes all or a portion of the intersection metadata categories from the gravity point secondary categories and/or related subcategories of the current gravity point.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of intersec- tion action on a 3D object cluster appends all or a portion of the metadata of vertices, edges and/or faces adjacent to, according to the adjacent 3D object model, or close to, according to the non-adjacent 3D object model, the intersection in consideration "intersection metadata" into the gravity point secondary criteria of the current gravity point.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of intersec- tion action on a 3D object cluster removes all or a portion of intersection metadata from the gravity point secondary criteria of the current gravity point.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of intersection action on a 3D object cluster replaces the gravity point primary category and/or all or a portion of related subcategories of the current gravity point with all or a portion of the intersection metadata categories.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of intersection action on a 3D object cluster replaces the gravity point primary criteria of the current gravity point with all or a portion of the intersection metadata.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, an action is directed at a 3D object; "content action".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, several types of content actions relate to seeking, accessing, modifying, organizing, managing, sending and/or sharing content, and/or exploiting content for other purposes, via an internal user interface. In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of content action initiates an external service.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, several types of content actions relate to seeking, accessing, modifying, organizing, managing, sending and/or shar- ing content, and/or exploiting content for other purposes, via at least one external user interface.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of content action terminates an external service.

According to one exemplifying implementation of the non-adjacent 3D object model, 3D objects are, in addition to other forms of transformation and/or positioning mentioned in this dis- closure, continuously or periodically transformed, moved and/or rotated to a limited extent; "lively 3D object model^**.

According to one exemplifying implementation of the lively 3D object model, said transformation, movement and/or rotation has limited or no impact on existing interlinks of, and/or possible interlinks for, a 3D object.

According to another exemplifying implementation of the lively 3D object model, said transformation, movement and/or rotation has limited or no impact on the metadata, metadata categories, metadata subcategories, functionality and/or other logical characteristics of said 3D object.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, all 3D objects are situated in one common repository; "global space".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a subset of all 3D objects in the global space constitutes a logical group of 3D objects "cloud", and several clouds may simultaneously exist within the global space.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, clouds are allowed to overlap, i.e. a 3D object may simultaneously belong to several clouds.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a cloud is fully accessible to all users, i.e. all 3D objects of the cloud are allowed to be sought, accessed, exploited, modified, organized, managed, sent and shared by any user, and new 3D objects are allowed to be published into said cloud by any user; "open cloud".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, restrictions concern- ing publishing, seeking, accessing, exploiting, modifying, organizing, managing, sending and sharing 3D objects of a cloud are applied according to various factors, such as but not limited to: time, user identity, user characteristics, e.g. language, culture, demographic factors, membership and/or status of the user in user groups or communities, location of the user, characteristics of publishers of 3D objects in cloud, e.g. language, culture, demographic factors, and cloud charac- teristics, e.g. type of content and/or metadata categories within 3D objects of cloud, purpose of cloud, type of functionality enabled by cloud, and age of cloud.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, an action is directed at the global space and/or at least one cloud; "general action".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of general action creates at least one new gravity point.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of general action modifies the gravity point primary category and/or one or more related subcategories; the gravity point primary criteria; one or more gravity point secondary categories and/or one or more related subcategories; the gravity point secondary criteria; and/or other characteristics of at least one existing gravity point.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of general action creates at least one duplicate of at least one existing gravity point.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of general action removes at least one existing gravity point.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of general action instigates at least one intersection action directed at least one 3D object cluster.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, one type of general action instigates at least one content action directed at least one 3D object.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a metadata category, subcategory and/or class is common to and available in the entire global space.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a metadata category, subcategory and/or class is common to and available in one or more clouds.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a metadata category, subcategory and/or class is available to all users.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a metadata category, subcategory and/or class is available to a portion of all users or user groups.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, metadata subcategories and/or classes are organized and presented to users in a variety of manners, such as but not limited to: lists, tables, tree hierarchies and/or semantic networks.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, all users or a portion of all users are allowed to organize, modify and/or remove metadata subcategories and/or classes, and/or create new metadata subcategories and/or classes. In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the publication, modification and/or removal of 3D objects by a user is subject to moderation before taking effect.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the creation, modifi- cation and/or removal of a metadata subcategory and/or class by a user is subject to moderation before taking effect.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the global space and/or clouds serve as a form of social media, in which users act both as publishers and exploiters of content.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a 3D object published or a metadata subcategory or class created, collectively "asset", by a user "asset owner" remains the property of said user in the global space.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least one grade is assigned to an asset by a user, indicating the opinion of said user concerning said asset "user grade". Said grade may be expressed e.g. in the form of a positive or negative number, a positive number indicating a level of appreciation of said asset by said user and a negative number a level of disappreciation of said asset by said user, or in another form.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, very negative levels of a user grading scale indicate a severely disappreciated asset, such as but not limited to: an il- legal asset, an abusive asset, spam, a highly inappropriate asset and/or a highly incorrect asset.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, an asset is assigned multiple user grades by multiple users, which are in part or in whole used to define an overall grade for said asset; "asset grade".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, when determining the asset grade for an asset, user grades assigned to said asset need not necessarily be valued equally and are weighted according to various factors, such as but not limited to: the perceived reliability of a user, the user ranking of a user as defined below, the known or perceived quality of prior user grades assigned by a user and/or the correlation of a specific user grade with other user grades assigned to said asset.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the asset grade of an asset is in part or in whole determined by the known or perceived usefulness of said asset "asset value".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the case that the asset is a 3D object, the asset value is in part or in whole determined by factors such as but not limited to the frequency and/or total number of occurrences in which: said 3D object is discovered, said 3D object is interlinked with other 3D objects, said 3D object is subject to a content action, and/or metadata of said 3D object is exploited in conjunction with an intersection action ("3D object activity").

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the case that the asset is a metadata class, the asset value is in part or in whole determined by factors such as but not limited to the frequency and/or total number of occurrences in which: said metadata class is utilized by publishers and/or said metadata class is utilized when seeking, accessing, exploiting, organizing, managing, sending and/or sharing 3D objects; "metadata class activity".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the case that the asset is a metadata subcategory, the asset value is in part or in whole determined by factors such as but not limited to the collective metadata class activity of metadata classes associated with said metadata subcategory; "metadata subcategory activity".

Collectively 3D object activity, metadata class activity and metadata subcategory activity are hereafter referred to as "asset activity".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the significance of asset activity caused by the asset owner, and optionally also by other users affiliated with said asset owner according to given criteria "asset stakeholders", regarding assets that are the property of said asset owner in the global space "owned assets" differs from the significance of asset activity caused by users other than asset stakeholders when determining the asset value of an owned asset.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, asset activity caused by asset stakeholders is completely disregarded or taken into account only to a limited extent.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least one indicator is associated with a user, indicating the known or perceived appreciation of said user "user score". The user score may be expressed e.g. in the form of a positive or negative number, a positive number indicating a level of appreciation of said user and a negative number a level of disappreciation of said user, or in another form.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the user score of a user is in whole or in part determined by the collective asset value of owned assets of said user.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the user score of a user is in whole or in part determined by the collective asset activity of owned assets of said user. In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the user score of a user is in whole or in part determined by the quantity and/or perceived or known quality of user grades given by said user to owned assets of other users.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, users are continu- ously or periodically placed into at least one ranking order according to user scores in such a manner that users with higher user scores are situated above users with lower ranking scores within said ranking order; "user ranking".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a given number of highest-ranking users are periodically rewarded with benefits, such as but not limited to: author- ity over activities of other users and real-world monetary rewards.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the intangible and/or tangible value of a reward given to a user varies according to the user ranking of said user.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the identity of a user constitutes the content affiliated with a 3D object.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the vertices of a 3D object relate to the metadata, metadata categories and metadata sub-categories of a 3D object; "vertex-centric model". In this embodiment, which for obvious reasons only applies to 3D objects comprising at least one vertex, metadata is referred to as "vertex metadata" and metadata category as "vertex category".

According to an exemplifying implementation of the vertex-centric model, during clustering around a gravity point matching 3D objects are positioned in such a manner that (a) the position of a vertex with its vertex category equal to the gravity point primary criteria, "matching vertex", is equal to the position of said gravity point and that no 3D objects are overlapping, according to the adjacent 3D object model, or (b) within a short distance of said gravity point and the over- lapping volume per 3D object does not exceed a given threshold, according to the non-adjacent 3D object model, thus forming a 3D object cluster around said gravity point.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the edges of a 3D object relate to the metadata, metadata categories and metadata sub-categories of a 3D object.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the faces of a 3D ob- ject relate to the metadata, metadata categories and metadata sub-categories of a 3D object.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, 3D objects and/or 3D object clusters are displayed to the user via an internal user interface.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least portions of the vertices, edges and/or faces of 3D objects are marked and/or highlighted according to associ- ated metadata categories and/or metadata subcategories by various means when displayed to the user via an internal user interface, such as but not limited to marking said portions with an opaque or semitransparent color, gradient, pattern and/or texture overlay, in which case said portions of said vertices, edges and/or faces associated with different metadata categories and/or metadata subcategories are marked distinctly from one another.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least one face of a 3D object shows at least a portion of the content associated with said 3D object when displayed to the user via an internal user interface, in which case said content is presented either in original size and format or in a size and/or format modified to meet one or more characteristics of said face. Furthermore, moving content may be transformed into one or more items of still content, and vice versa.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, under given circumstances, such as but not limited to upon user request, a representation of at least one 3D object or 3D object cluster is presented to the user via an internal user interface in planar two-dimensional format.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, under given circumstances, such as but not limited to upon user request, a representation of at least one 3D object or 3D object cluster is presented to the user via an internal user interface as planar images by means of rotating, shifting and/or transforming at least a portion of the faces of the 3D objects in con- sideration in such a manner that at least a portion of said faces of said objects can be viewed simultaneously or in part sequentially via a scrolling means of said user interface. In such cases, interlinks between vertices, edges and/or faces may be e.g. indicated with arrows or other drawing symbols.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the position of 3D objects and/or 3D objects clusters are capable of being modified via an internal user interface.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, 3D objects and/or 3D object clusters are capable of being rotated via an internal user interface.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, 3D object clusters are capable of, in part or in whole, being formed, modified and/or broken apart via an internal user interface.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, content related to a 3D object is capable of being sought, accessed, viewed, modified, organized, managed, sent, shared and/or exploited for other purposes via an internal user interface and/or external service. In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, intersection actions are capable of being instigated upon a 3D object cluster via an internal user interface.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, content actions are capable of being instigated upon a 3D object via an internal user interface.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, general actions are capable of being instigated via an internal user interface.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, commercial content, such as but not limited to text-format messages, logos and advertisements, from one or more third parties are displayed or otherwise brought forth via said internal user interface; "commer- cial content".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, said internal user interface is implemented in part by means of 3 -dimensional display technology or other 3- dimensional user interface apparatus, in which "3-dimensional" refers to providing a visual expression of three-dimensionality to a user via special techniques for creating a more intense and realistic sense of three-dimensional space than conventional digital display technology.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, said internal user interface is used in a client apparatus.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, said internal user interface is in part or in whole a graphical user interface.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, said graphical user interface is in part or in whole an animated user interface.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of content presented via said graphical user interface is fully or to a limited extent independent of at least a portion of other content presented via said graphical user interface and possible animation of said other content; "detached content".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of said detached content presented via said graphical user interface is shown in front of or behind at least a portion of other content presented via said graphical user interface.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at least of portion of detached content presented via said graphical user interface is commercial content.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, a means is provided for reverting to one or more prior compositions and/or arrangements of 3D objects and/or 3D object clusters, such as but not limited to compositions and/or arrangements at any prior time within the currently active session of a user, and/or compositions and/or arrangements at any prior time within the existence of a service according to the present invention.

According to an exemplifying implementation of the vertex-centric model, all or a portion of 3D objects are regular tetrahedra, "vertex-tetrahedron model".

According to an exemplifying implementation of the vertex-tetrahedron model, the dynamic- face model and the adjacent 3D object model, a 3D object cluster comprising twenty tetrahedra forms the shape of a regular icosahedron after minor adjustment to the dimensions of three faces and three edges of said tetrahedra adjacent to the gravity point of said 3D object cluster; dy- namic-icosahedron-cluster model. FIG. 9 shows an example of a 3D object cluster around grav- ity point 004 in accordance with the abovementioned composition, comprising twelve cluster intersections 005.

According to an exemplifying implementation of the vertex-tetrahedron model, the fixed-face model and the non-adjacent 3D object model, a 3D object cluster comprising twenty regular tetrahedra forms the general shape of a regular icosahedron with minor gaps between outer faces of said 3D object cluster. FIG. 10 shows an example of a 3D object cluster in accordance with the abovementioned composition, where hidden features are omitted for clarity. The regions in which visible cluster intersections 105 are situated are indicated with circles.

According to an exemplifying implementation of the vertex-centric model, all or a portion of 3D objects are tetrahedra modified in such a manner that three edges adjacent to one vertex of a tetrahedron are slightly shorter than the three remaining edges of said tetrahedron; said 3D object being referred to as "shortened tetrahedron", and said exemplifying implementation being referred to as "vertex-modified-tetrahedron model".

According to an exemplifying implementation of the vertex-modified-tetrahedron model, the fixed-face model and the adjacent 3D object model, a 3D object cluster comprising twenty short- ened tetrahedra forms the shape of a regular icosahedron when all three of the shorter edges are adjacent to the gravity point of said 3D object cluster; "fixed-icosahedron-cluster model". FIG. 9 shows an example of a 3D object cluster around gravity point 004 in accordance with the abovementioned composition, comprising twelve cluster intersections 005.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the dynamic- icosahedron-cluster model or fixed-icosahedron-cluster model a 3D object belonging to a 3D object cluster is modified in such a manner that the face and edges of said 3D object that are not adjacent to the gravity point, "outer face" and "outer edges", are curved, the curvature corresponding to the curvature of a sphere, "bounding sphere", with a radius equal to the length of any of the three edges of said 3D object that are adjacent to said gravity point; "sphere-icosahedron- cluster-model". As an example, in a 3D object cluster comprising twenty 3D objects modified in the abovementioned manner, the surface formed by joining the outer faces of said twenty 3D objects would be equal to the bounding sphere of said 3D object cluster.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, in the sphere- icosahedron-cluster model the bounding sphere is not an exact sphere, but is a near-spherical shape that can generally be perceived as representing a sphere and/or a ball.

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, all or a portion of 3D objects are cuboids, such as but not limited to cubes; "cuboid model".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, all or a portion of 3D objects are octahedra, "octahedron model".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, all or a portion of 3D objects are dodecahedra, "dodecahedron model".

In a method according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, all or a portion of 3D objects are icosahedra, "icosahedron model".

It is to be noted that the above-presented exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are also expressible in terms of devices and computer programs.

A controller according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content is described below. The controller comprises processing elements configured to:

- control the user interface to carry out the determined functionality. In a controller according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the processing elements are configured to associate the metadata with at least a portion of the vertices of said 3D objects.

In a controller according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the processing elements are configured to use polyhedra as at least a portion of said virtual 3D objects. In a controller according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the processing elements are configured to use tetrahedra as at least a portion of said virtual 3D objects.

In a controller according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the processing elements are configured to use shortened tetrahedra at least a portion of said virtual 3D objects. In a controller according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the processing elements are configured to construct a virtual 3D object cluster comprising at least two of the virtual 3D objects so that:

- a feature of said virtual 3D objects is one of a vertex, an edge or a face,

- at least two of the features of each of said virtual 3D objects are associated with the meta- data associated with this virtual 3D object,

- a first point or region "gravity point" in a virtual three-dimensional space capable of being shown on a display is associated with a first set of criteria "gravity point criteria", and

In a controller according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the processing elements are configured to modify the shape of a virtual 3D object upon inclusion into a virtual 3D object cluster.

In a controller according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the processing elements are configured to position said virtual 3D objects in such a manner that features associated with metadata other than said primary features are situated adjacent to or close to one another, the features associated with metadata other than said primary features being secondary features.

In a controller according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the processing elements are configured to position said virtual 3D objects in such a manner that at least two of said virtual 3D objects comprising secondary features associated with metadata constituting a better match with one another by given criteria are granted higher priority during positioning than at least two of said virtual 3D objects comprising secondary features associated with meta- data constituting a poorer match with one another by given criteria.

In a controller according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the processing elements are configured to position the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having the higher priority prior to positioning the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having lower priority. In a controller according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the processing elements are configured allow repositioning or removal of the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having the lower priority when positioning the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having the higher priority.

The processing elements of the controller can be, for example, implemented with one or more processor circuits, each of which can be a programmable processor circuit provided with appropriate software, a dedicated hardware processor such as, for example, an application specific integrated circuit "ASIC", or a configurable hardware processor such as, for example, a field programmable gate array "FPGA".

A user interface according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises a controller according to one or more of the above described embodiments of the invention and a display connected to the controller. The display can be, for example but not necessarily, a liquid crystal display "LCD".

A computer program according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises software modules for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content. The software modules comprise computer executable instructions for controlling programmable processing system to:

- control the user interface to carry out the determined functionality.

The software modules can be e.g. subroutines or functions implemented with a suitable programming language and with a compiler suitable for the programming language and the pro- grammable processor.

A computer program product according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention comprises a computer readable medium, e.g. a compact disc "CD", encoded with a computer program according to an embodiment of invention. A signal according to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention is encoded to carry information defining a computer program according to an embodiment of invention.

It is to be noted that in addition to abovementioned 3D objects and 3D object clusters, 3D objects of many shapes may be organized in various manners at least in part by means of metadata, metadata categories and/or metadata subcategories of said 3D objects, with or without the presence of one or more gravity points per formation, to from a virtually unlimited variety of different three-dimensional formations, such as but not limited to formations that can be perceived to constitute the general shapes of cuboids, straight or curved pipes, toroids and combinations of the aforementioned.

It is further to be noted that the abovementioned embodiments represent only some examples of the all possible embodiments of the present invention and that two or more of the abovementioned embodiments of the present invention may be combined to form further embodiments of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS Embodiments of the present invention are applicable to a variety of application areas in the Internet domain, wireless communication networks and beyond. As according to embodiments of the present invention basic interactions are provided in a non-restrictive manner, the functionalities of a number of today's applications and websites accessed via programmed user interfaces with fixed functionality can be offered per se.

According to one preferred application of embodiments of the present invention, text content can be published to the entire public domain or to one or more users and/or user groups - functionality that is today provided by websites such as Twitter. As embodiments of the present invention allows for extensive categorization of content, said invention would provide more versatile means of subscribing to various categories of content. Furthermore, publishable content is not restricted to text format only.

According to another preferred application of embodiments of the present invention, still and moving image content, both recorded and live, can be published to the entire public domain or to one or more users and/or user groups - functionality that is today provided by websites such as Flickr and Youtube. As according to embodiments of present invention all published content is extensively categorized, said invention would provide more accurate means of seeking various categories of content. Image content can also be directly exploited as part of various user interfaces and maintained up-to-date in real time as new content is published. Furthermore, publishable content is not restricted to still and moving image formats only. According to another preferred application of embodiments of the present invention, content can be sought from the public domain - functionality that is today provided by websites such as Google. As according to embodiments of the present invention, all published content is extensively categorized upon publication, said invention would provide more accurate and complete search results than services that randomly browse through text on web pages. Search results can be directly exploited as part of various user interfaces and maintained up-to-date in real time.

According to another preferred application of embodiments of the present invention, 3D objects affiliated with user identities can be interlinked to form and manage social networks, and content can be sent and shared within said networks - functionality that is today provided by websites such as Facebook. As embodiments of the present invention allows unrestricted categorization and organization of 3D objects, the diversity and complexity of social networks may be modeled more realistically than with one or a few one-dimensional lists. Social networks may also be more intuitively explored via cluster intersections of 3D clusters comprising user identities.

As one example of possible social network browsing functionality in one exemplifying embodiment of the present invention, one cluster intersection of a 3D object cluster could comprise 3D objects affiliated with user identities of friends of a user "friends" e.g. living in a specific city, and when said user selects said intersection, friends from other cities could be removed from said cluster, more friends from said city could be added to said cluster and all friends in the modified cluster could be reorganized to form new cluster intersections. Said modified cluster could then comprise two new cluster intersections comprising friends with "marital/dating" status "single" and another comprising friends with "evening plans" status "going out tonight", either of which said user could select in order to explore in further detail.

As in the example above, according to an exemplifying embodiment of the present invention, cluster intersections of 3D object clusters constitute a straightforward means for organizing and browsing content in a context-aware manner. After reaching an initial set of content, the user can comprehend the context of and further relationships within said content, and proceed towards further content that potentially more accurately matches the target of said user. Today such refining is typically carried out by repeating searches and adding and/or modifying keywords in a more or less random manner. The abovementioned feature is seen as beneficial to the user in all potential application areas.

According to other preferred applications of embodiments of the present invention, many other day-to-day routines such as but not limited to sending messages, including but not limited to e-mails, text messages (SMS) and multimedia messages (MMS), organizing and viewing said messages, calendar events and tasks, browsing online content, sharing content, and following real time news feeds, can be managed by means of embodiments of the present invention. It is also possible to create static 3D object clusters that provide global visibility in a manner similar to that of websites today.

According to another exemplifying embodiment of the present invention, not all content needs to be situated within the global space. As content can also comprise external references, e.g. hyperlinks to URLs, said invention would also prove an effective means of categorizing content situated on existing websites. For example, content in services such as Youtube that provide direct URLs to published content could be categorized and sought via said invention and once located, an external service could be launched for actual viewing and/or exploitation of said content.

According to another exemplifying embodiment of the present invention, the abovementioned applications and/or functionalities may be, without any programming or re-engineering, modified or removed, and new applications and/or functionalities created, by any user given permis- sion to perform the abovementioned.

According to another exemplifying embodiment of the present invention, content in user interfaces of all of the abovementioned applications may be maintained up-to-date in real-time by means of the 'latest time' criteria.

It is to be noted that a 3D object mentioned above is a representation of a logical entity com- prising certain associations with certain content and metadata, and an entity of such can be interpreted to persist as the same entity even if the visually displayed dimensions and/or shape of the 3D object, and/or other features influencing its visual appearance, were modified. The above- mentioned can also apply when associations of a first 3D object are replicated into a second 3D object and said second 3D object is then used in place of said first 3D object, in which case said first 3D object can be interpreted to persist effectively as the same entity, regardless of whether the original or its replicate is used.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the abovementioned applications and functionalities represent only some examples of the all possible applications and functionalities of embodiments of the present invention and that two or more of the abovementioned applications and/or functionalities may be combined to form further preferred applications and/or functionalities for embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS What I claim as my invention is:

1. A controller for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content, characterized in that the controller comprises processing elements configured to: - associate items of the digital content and metadata related to the items of the digital content with virtual 3D objects capable of being shown on a display so that a visual expression of three-dimensionality is provided to a user, each of the virtual 3D objects being associated with metadata and one or more items of the digital content,

- control the user interface to carry out the determined functionality.

2. A controller as recited in claim 1, wherein said processing elements are configured to associate the metadata with at least a portion of the vertices of said 3D objects.

3. A controller as recited in claim 1 , wherein said processing elements are configured to use polyhedra as at least a portion of said virtual 3D objects.

4. A controller as recited in claims 2 and 3, wherein said processing elements are configured to use tetrahedra as at least a portion of said virtual 3D objects.

5. A controller as recited in claims 2 and 3, wherein said processing elements are configured to use shortened tetrahedra as at least a portion of said virtual 3D objects.

6. A controller as recited in any of claims 1-5, wherein said processing elements are configured to construct a virtual 3D object cluster comprising at least two of the virtual 3D objects so that: - a feature of said virtual 3D objects is one of a vertex, an edge or a face,

- a first point or region in a virtual three-dimensional space capable of being shown on a display is associated with a first set of criteria, and - each of said virtual 3D objects is positioned around said first point in such a manner that a feature of said virtual 3D object associated with the best matching metadata with respect to said first set of criteria is adjacent to or close to said first point or region, the feature associated with the best matching metadata being a primary feature.

7. A controller as recited in claim 6, wherein said processing elements are configured to modify the shape of a virtual 3D object upon inclusion into a virtual 3D object cluster.

8. A controller as recited in claim 6 or 7, wherein said processing elements are configured to position said virtual 3D objects in such a manner that features associated with metadata other than said primary features are situated adjacent to or close to one another, the features associated with metadata other than said primary features being secondary features.

9. A controller as recited in claim 8, wherein said processing elements are configured to position said virtual 3D objects in such a manner that at least two of said virtual 3D objects comprising secondary features associated with metadata constituting a better match with one another by given criteria are granted higher priority during positioning than at least two of said virtual 3D objects comprising secondary features associated with metadata constituting a poorer match with one another by given criteria.

10. A controller as recited in claim 9, wherein said processing elements are configured to position the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having the higher priority prior to positioning the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having lower priority.

1 1. A controller as recited in claim 9, wherein said processing elements are configured allow repositioning or removal of the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having the lower priority when positioning the at least two of said virtual 3D objects having the higher priority.

12. A user interface for displaying digital content, the user interface comprising a controller as recited in any of claims 1-1 1 and a display connected to the controller.

13. A method for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content, characterized in that the method comprises:

- associating items of the digital content and metadata related to the items of the digital content with virtual 3D objects capable of being shown on a display so that a visual expression of three-dimensionality is provided to a user, each of the virtual 3D objects being associ- ated with metadata and one or more items of the digital content, - interlinking at least two of said virtual 3D objects by matching the metadata associated with these at least two virtual 3D objects according to given criteria,

- determining functionality on the basis of the metadata matching the given criteria and causing the at least two of the virtual 3D objects being interlinked, and

- controlling the user interface to carry out the determined functionality.

14. A computer program for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content, characterized in that the computer program comprises computer executable instructions for controlling a programmable processing system to: - associate items of the digital content and metadata related to the items of the digital content with virtual 3D objects capable of being shown on a display so that a visual expression of three-dimensionality is provided to a user, each of the virtual 3D objects being associated with metadata and one or more items of the digital content,

- control the user interface to carry out the determined functionality.

15. A computer program product for controlling a user interface capable of displaying digital content, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program as recited in claim 14.