IP Library Granted Patent US 9,519,396
Granted Patent B2
US 9,519,396 · App. 12/892,636 · Granted Dec 13, 2016

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for placing an asset on a three-dimensional model

Inventor: Thomas Goossens (Paris, FR)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
G06F3/04815G06T19/20G06T2219/2004
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,519,396
App. No.
12/892,636
Granted
Dec 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for placing an asset on a three-dimensional model. Each asset can be associated with a pivot point and with an asset normal. A contact point on the surface of a model where an asset is to be positioned may be identified, and a surface normal that may be perpendicular to the surface at the contact point may also be identified. Then, the asset can be placed on the model such that the position of the pivot point of the asset may coincide with the position of the identified contact point on the surface of the model, and such that the orientation of the asset normal may match the orientation of the identified surface normal.

Claims (50)

1. A method for placing an asset on a three-dimensional model, wherein the asset comprises a pivot point and an asset normal, and wherein the model comprises a surface, the method comprising:

displaying the three-dimensional model on an electronic display unit;

identifying a contact point on a an external surface of the model at which to place the asset;

identifying a surface normal extending perpendicular from the surface of the model at the identified contact point;

positioning the pivot point of the asset at the identified contact point such that the asset is positioned external to the model; and

orienting the asset normal of the asset at the identified surface normal, wherein the asset is displayed on the surface of the model;

wherein the pivot point of the asset corresponds to the center of gravity of the asset.

2. An electronic device comprising:

an input interface;

a display; and

control circuitry coupled to the input interface and the display, wherein the control circuitry is operative to:

direct the display to display an avatar;

receive from the input interface a selection of an asset to display on an external surface of the avatar, wherein the asset comprises a pivot point and an asset normal;

receive from the input interface an input corresponding to a contact point on the external surface of the avatar;

position the asset on the display by making the pivot point and the contact point coincide; and

orient the asset on the display by matching the asset normal with a surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the contact point, and display the asset on the external surface of the avatar;

wherein

the asset normal comprises a first vector;

the surface normal comprises a second vector; and

the control circuitry is further operative to orient the asset on the display by making the first vector co-linear with the second vector.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

receive from the input interface a selection of the asset on the display;

receive from the input interface a new input corresponding to a new contact point on the external surface of the avatar; and

re-position the selected asset on the display by making the pivot point and the new contact point coincide.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

identify a new surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the new contact point; and

re-orient the selected asset on the display by matching the new surface normal with the asset normal.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

identify an intermediate contact point between the contact point and the new contact point;

identify an intermediate surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the intermediate contact point;

re-position the selected asset on the display by making the pivot point and the intermediate contact point coincide; and

re-orient the selected asset on the display by matching the intermediate surface normal with the asset normal.

6. An electronic device comprising:

an input interface;

a display; and

control circuitry coupled to the input interface and the display, wherein the control circuitry is operative to:

direct the display to display an avatar;

receive from the input interface a selection of an asset to display on an external surface of the avatar, wherein the asset comprises a pivot point and an asset normal;

receive from the input interface an input corresponding to a contact point on the external surface of the avatar;

position the asset on the display by making the pivot point and the contact point coincide;

orient the asset on the display by matching the asset normal with a surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the contact point;

receive from the input interface a selection of the asset on the display;

receive from the input interface a new input corresponding to a new contact point on the external surface of the avatar;

re-position the selected asset on the display by making the pivot point and the new contact point coincide;

identify a new surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the new contact point;

re-orient the selected asset on the display by matching the new surface normal with the asset normal;

identify an intermediate contact point between the contact point and the new contact point;

identify an intermediate surface normal extending perpendicularly from the external surface at the intermediate contact point;

re-position the selected asset on the display by making the pivot point and the intermediate contact point coincide; and

re-orient the selected asset on the display by matching the intermediate surface normal with the asset normal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2010
From: GOOSSENS, THOMAS
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 025058/0089 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120079377A1 · Mar 29, 2012