Three-dimensional operations based on planar projections in graphic user interfaces

1. A system comprising:

a memory storing computer executable instructions for execution by a processor;

a display; and

the processor for executing the computer executable instructions;

wherein the computer executable instructions configure the processor to:

execute a graphical software application;

render a graphical user interface (GUI) upon the display relating to the software application;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional object onto a projection plane;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional reference object onto the projection plane;

receive a user input relating to a selection of a region of the object;

establish with the processor geometric information related to the user input; and

render within the GUI an indication of the established geometric information;

wherein establishing geometric information related to the user input comprises:

automatically establishing with the processor geometric information related to the region of the object;

automatically determining based upon the established geometric information a spatial orientation of the selected region of the object relative to the projection plane; and

automatically rotating the reference object such that a predetermined plane of the reference object is aligned parallel to the selected region of the object; and

wherein rendering the indication of the established geometric information comprises re-rendering within the GUI a projection of the reference object in its rotated position onto the projection plane.

2. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the processor to:

define a canvas surface in dependence upon receiving a further user input relating to selection of a plane of the reference object;

receive additional user input relating to a drawing to be added to the canvas surface generated by the graphical software application;

add the drawing added to the canvas surface to the region of the object; and

render the modified object within the GUI.

3. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the processor to:

define a canvas surface in dependence upon receiving a further user input relating to selection of a plane of the reference object;

render the canvas surface to the user within the GUI;

receive additional user input relating to a drawing to be added to the canvas surface generated by the graphical software application;

render the added drawing within the canvas surface;

add the drawing added to the canvas surface to the region of the object; and

render the modified object within the GUI; and

wherein the canvas surface presents a view of the object with the user's viewpoint perpendicular to a region of the object parallel to the selected plane of the reference object.

4. A system comprising:

a memory storing computer executable instructions for execution by a processor;

a display; and

the processor for executing the computer executable instructions;

wherein the computer executable instructions configure the processor to:

execute a graphical software application;

render a graphical user interface (GUI) upon the display relating to the software application;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional object onto a projection plane;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional reference object onto the projection plane;

receive a user input relating to a selection of a region of the object;

establish with the processor geometric information related to the user input; and

render within the GUI an indication of the established geometric information; and

wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the processor to:

establish the geometric information related to the user input by a sub-process comprising:

automatically establishing with the processor geometric information related to the region of the object,

automatically determining based upon the established geometric information a spatial orientation of the selected region of the object relative to the projection plane,

automatically rotating the reference object such that a predetermined plane of the reference object is aligned parallel to the selected region of the object, and

re-rendering within the GUI a projection of the reference object in its rotated position onto the projection plane;

receive a request to render a drawing window to the user within the GUI;

receive additional user input relating to a drawing to be added to the drawing window where the drawing is generated by the graphical software application;

render the added drawing within the drawing window together with a pointer;

add the drawing added to the canvas surface to either the primary canvas or a secondary canvas; and

render the modified object within the GUI;

wherein the pointer indicates to the user how the added drawing is to be positioned within the primary canvas or the second canvas;

wherein the primary canvas is selected for the drawing to be added to where received further user input relates to selection of a first plane of the reference object; and

wherein the secondary canvas is selected for the drawing to be added to where the received further user input relates to selection of a second plane of the reference object.

5. A system comprising:

a memory storing computer executable instructions for execution by a processor;

a display; and

the processor for executing the computer executable instructions;

wherein the computer executable instructions configure the processor to:

execute a graphical software application;

render a graphical user interface (GUI) upon the display relating to the software application;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional object onto a projection plane;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional reference object onto the projection plane;

receive a user input relating to a selection of a region of the object;

establish with the processor geometric information related to the user input; and

render within the GUI an indication of the established geometric information; and

wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the processor to establish the geometric information related to the user input based upon a sub-process comprising:

determining whether a one-parameter geometric shape is present within the selected region of the object;

upon determining the one-parameter geometric shape is presented within the selected region of the object:

determine a pair of first vectors of the one-parameter geometric shape relative to the projection plane;

determine a pair of second vectors in dependence upon the pair of first vectors, and

determine an orientation of the selected region of the object in dependence upon a cross-product of the pair of second vectors.

6. A system comprising:

a memory storing computer executable instructions for execution by a processor;

a display; and

the processor for executing the computer executable instructions;

wherein the computer executable instructions configure the processor to:

execute a graphical software application;

render a graphical user interface (GUI) upon the display relating to the software application;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional object onto a projection plane;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional reference object onto the projection plane;

receive a user input relating to a selection of a region of the object;

establish with the processor geometric information related to the user input; and

render within the GUI an indication of the established geometric information; and

wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the processor to establish the geometric information related to the user input based upon a sub-process comprising:

determining whether a two-parameter geometric shape is present within the selected region of the object;

upon determining the two-parameter geometric shape is presented within the selected region of the object:

determine a pair of first vectors of the two-parameter geometric shape relative to the projection plane;

determine a pair of second vectors in dependence upon the pair of first vectors; and

determine an orientation of the selected region of the object in dependence upon a cross-product of the pair of second vectors.

7. A system comprising:

a memory storing computer executable instructions for execution by a processor;

a display; and

the processor for executing the computer executable instructions;

wherein the computer executable instructions configure the processor to:

execute a graphical software application;

render a graphical user interface (GUI) upon the display relating to the software application;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional object onto a projection plane;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional reference object onto the projection plane;

receive a user input relating to a selection of a region of the object;

establish with the processor geometric information related to the user input; and

render within the GUI an indication of the established geometric information; and

wherein the computer executable instructions further configure the processor to establish the geometric information related to the user input based upon a sub-process comprising:

determining a plane defined by a plurality of points associated with the selected region of the object;

determining a pair of first vectors of the plane in dependence upon the plurality of points relative to the projection plane;

determining a pair of second vectors in dependence upon the pair of first vectors; and

determining an orientation of the selected region of the object in dependence upon a cross-product of the pair of second vectors.

8. A system comprising:

a memory storing computer executable instructions for execution by a processor;

a display; and

the processor for executing the computer executable instructions;

wherein the computer executable instructions configure the processor to:

execute a graphical software application;

render a graphical user interface (GUI) upon the display relating to the software application;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional object onto a projection plane;

render within the GUI a projection of a three-dimensional reference object onto the projection plane;

receive a user input relating to a selection of a region of the object;

establish with the processor geometric information related to the user input; and

render within the GUI an indication of the established geometric information; and

wherein the geometric information related to the region of the object is established in dependence upon:

receiving from the user another user input relating to a selection of a boundary between the selected region of the object and a second region of the object also rendered within the projection of the object onto the projection plane; and

receiving from the user a further user input relating to a geometric relationship between the selected region of the object to the second region of the object also rendered within the projection of the object onto the projection plane.