Lightweight three-dimensional display

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving in a web browser one or more user inputs that designate points along a path around a three-dimensional model;

obtaining, for each of the points along the path, a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional model taken from the point along the path;

storing the two-dimensional images in association with the three-dimensional model; and

selecting a number of designated points to ensure a particular difference between the stored two-dimensional images.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating mark-up code for displaying image manipulation controls and for permitting display of the two-dimensional images;

generating a progression of the two-dimensional images in response to a user interaction with the image manipulation controls; and

providing the progression of the two-dimensional images and mark-up code for use by the web browser.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting equally spaced points along the path.

4. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving in a web browser one or more user inputs that designate points along a path around a three-dimensional model;

obtaining, for each of the points along the path, a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional model taken from the point along the path;

storing the two-dimensional images in association with the three-dimensional model;

providing code that when invoked by the web browser, displays a control for a user to choose an axis around which a viewpoint will rotate around the three-dimensional model;

obtaining a progression of two-dimensional images corresponding to the viewpoint; and

providing the progression of two-dimensional images corresponding to the viewpoint for display in the web browser.

5. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving in a web browser one or more user inputs that designate points along a path around a three-dimensional model;

obtaining, for each of the points along the path, a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional model taken from the point along the path;

storing the two-dimensional images in association with the three-dimensional model; and

wherein the designated points are selected to occur on a sphere surrounding the three-dimensional model.

6. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving in a web browser one or more user inputs that designate points along a path around a three-dimensional model;

obtaining, for each of the points along the path, a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional model taken from the point along the path;

storing the two-dimensional images in association with the three-dimensional model;

providing code that when invoked by the web browser, displays a control for a user to scan forward and backward through the two-dimensional images; and

providing a progression of the two-dimensional images corresponding to the user scanning forward and backward through the two-dimensional images for display in the web browser.

7. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving in a web browser one or more user inputs that designate points along a path around a three-dimensional model;

obtaining, for each of the points along the path, a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional model taken from the point along the path;

storing the two-dimensional images in association with the three-dimensional model; and

selecting a number of designated points to ensure a particular difference between the stored two-dimensional images.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

generating mark-up code for displaying image manipulation controls and for permitting display of the two-dimensional images;

generating a progression of the two-dimensional images in response to a user interaction with the image manipulation controls; and

providing the progression of the two-dimensional images and mark-up code for use by the web browser.

9. The system of claim 7 , further comprising selecting equally spaced points along the path.

10. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving in a web browser one or more user inputs that designate points along a path around a three-dimensional model;

obtaining, for each of the points along the path, a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional model taken from the point along the path;

storing the two-dimensional images in association with the three-dimensional model;

providing code that when invoked by the web browser, displays a control for a user to choose an axis around which a viewpoint will rotate around the three-dimensional model;

obtaining a progression of two-dimensional images corresponding to the viewpoint; and

providing the progression of two-dimensional images corresponding to the viewpoint for display in the web browser.

11. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving in a web browser one or more user inputs that designate points along a path around a three-dimensional model;

obtaining, for each of the points along the path, a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional model taken from the point along the path;

storing the two-dimensional images in association with the three-dimensional model; and

wherein the designated points are selected to occur on a sphere surrounding the three-dimensional model.

12. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving in a web browser one or more user inputs that designate points along a path around a three-dimensional model;

obtaining, for each of the points along the path, a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional model taken from the point along the path;

storing the two-dimensional images in association with the three-dimensional model;

providing code that when invoked by the web browser, displays a control for a user to scan forward and backward through the two-dimensional images; and

providing a progression of the two-dimensional images corresponding to the user scanning forward and backward through the two-dimensional images for display in the web browser.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving in a web browser one or more user inputs that designate points along a path around a three-dimensional model;

obtaining, for each of the points along the path, a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional model taken from the point along the path;

storing the two-dimensional images in association with the three-dimensional model; and

wherein the designated points are selected to occur on a sphere surrounding the three-dimensional model.

14. The medium of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating mark-up code for displaying image manipulation controls and for permitting display of the two-dimensional images;

generating a progression of the two-dimensional images in response to a user interaction with the image manipulation controls; and

providing the progression of the two-dimensional images and mark-up code for use by the web browser.

15. The medium of claim 13 , further comprising selecting equally spaced points along the path.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving in a web browser one or more user inputs that designate points along a path around a three-dimensional model;

obtaining, for each of the points along the path, a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional model taken from the point along the path;

storing the two-dimensional images in association with the three-dimensional model; and

selecting a number of designated points to ensure a particular difference between the stored two-dimensional images.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

receiving in a web browser one or more user inputs that designate points along a path around a three-dimensional model;

obtaining, for each of the points along the path, a two-dimensional image of the three-dimensional model taken from the point along the path;

storing the two-dimensional images in association with the three-dimensional model;

providing code that when invoked by the web browser, displays a control for a user to choose an axis around which a viewpoint will rotate around the three-dimensional model;

obtaining a progression of two-dimensional images corresponding to the viewpoint; and

providing the progression of two-dimensional images corresponding to the viewpoint for display in the web browser.