Method for controlling motions of an object in a 3-dimensional virtual environment

1. A method for controlling motions of an object in a 3-dimensional Virtual Environment by a Human Interface Device (HID) of a user browsing said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment, said human interface device (HID) being coupled to a client device (CLD) for accessing said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment, said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment being deployed at, at least one application server (3D-AS), said client device (CLD) and said at least one application server (3D-AS) being coupled over a communication link, wherein said method comprises:

determining a starting point at a 2-dimensional surface by detecting a location of a pointer at said 2-dimensional surface; and

based on said starting point allocating a first area on said surface surrounding said starting point, said first area being associated with a first motion control function, a second area on said surface, surrounding said first area, said second area being associated with a second motion control function, and a third area on said surface, surrounding said second area, said third area being associated with a third motion control function; and

generating an object motion control instruction based on said motion of said pointer and the object motion control function associated with the area wherein said motion is detected.

2. The method for controlling motions of an object in said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment according to claim 1 , wherein:

said first motion control function comprises providing no motion of said object in said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment if said motion of said pointer is detected within said first area; or

said second motion control function comprises said motion of said object in said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment is only an angular motion, where said angular velocity is derived from said motion of said pointer if said motion of said pointer is detected within said second area; and

said third motion control function comprises said motion of said object in said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment is a rotational and/or linear motion where the velocity of said rotational and/or linear motion is derived from said motion of said pointer if said motion of said pointer is detected within said third area.

3. The method for controlling motions of an object in said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment according to claim 1 , wherein said human interface device (HID) is a client device having a touch sensitive surface where said step of determining said starting point at a 2-dimensional surface is detecting a location of said pointer at said 2-dimensional surface of said touch sensitive surface.

4. The method for controlling motions of an object in said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment according to claim 1 , wherein said human interface device (HID) is a computer mouse, said determining said starting point at a 2-dimensional surface comprises detecting an initial starting point of said mouse moving on a 2-dimensional surface by detecting a click of a mouse button.

5. A system for controlling motions of an object in a 3-dimensional Virtual Environment application, said system comprising a human interface device (HID), for browsing said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment, for controlling said motions of said object, and said system further comprising at least one application server (3D-AS) for deploying said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment application, wherein said system comprises:

an initial pointer detection part (IPDP) adapted to determine a starting point at a 2-dimensional surface by detecting a location of a pointer at said 2-dimensional surface; and

a zone allocation part (ZAP), adapted to allocate based on said determined starting point, a first area on said surface surrounding said starting point, said first area being associated with a first motion control function, a second area, on said surface, surrounding said first area, said second area being associated with a second motion control function, and a third area on said surface, surrounding said second area, said third area being associated with a third motion control function; and

an object motion control instruction generating part (IGP), adapted to generate an object motion control instruction based on a motion of the pointer and the object motion control function associated with the area wherein said motion occurs.

6. The system for controlling motions of an object in a 3-dimensional Virtual Environment according to claim 5 , wherein:

said associated first motion control function comprises providing no motion of said object in said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment if said motion of said pointer is detected within said first area; or

said associated second motion control function comprises said motion of said object in said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment is only an angular motion, where said angular motion is derived from said motion of said pointer if said motion of said pointer is detected within said second area; and

said associated third motion control function comprises said motion of said object 3-dimensional Virtual Environment is a rotational and/or a linear velocity where said rotational and/or linear velocity is derived from said motion of said pointer if said motion of said pointer is detected within said third area.

7. An Object Motion control Module (OMCM), for use in a system for controlling motions of an object in a 3-dimensional Virtual Environment, wherein said Object Motion control module (OMCM) comprises:

an initial pointer detection part (IPDP) adapted to determine a starting point at a 2-dimensional surface by detecting a location of a pointer at said 2-dimensional surface;

a zone allocation part (ZAP), adapted to allocate, based on said determined starting point, a first area on said surface surrounding said starting point, said first area being associated with a first motion control function, a second area, on said surface, surrounding said first area, said second area being associated with a second motion control function and a third area on said surface, surrounding said second area, said third area being associated with a third motion control function; and

an object motion control instruction generating part (IGP), adapted to generate an object motion control instruction based on a motion of said pointer and the object motion control function associated with an area of said first, second and third areas wherein said motion occurs.

8. The Object Motion control Module (OMCM), according to claim 7 , wherein:

said associated first motion control function comprises providing no motion of said object in said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment if said motion of said pointer is/detected within said first area; or

said associated second motion control function comprises said motion of said object in said 3-dimensional Virtual Environment is only an angular motion, where said angular motion is derived from said motion of said pointer if said motion of said pointer is/detected within said second area; and

said associated third motion control function comprises said motion of said object 3-dimensional Virtual Environment is a rotational and/or linear motion where said rotational and linear velocity is derived from said motion of said pointer if said motion of said pointer is determined/detected within said third area.

9. A client device (CLD), wherein said client device comprises the object Motion Control module of claim 7 .

10. A Human interface device (HID), wherein said Human Interface Device (HID) comprising the object Motion Control module of claim 7 .