Techniques for representing and navigating information in three dimensions

Abstract

Techniques for representing and navigating information in three dimensions are provided. Information content is rendered to at least one side of a three-dimensional representation of a graphical shape. Summary information is link to the information from a top of the shape. The information also links to background information housed on a bottom of the shape. Links can be activated and the shape can be rotated in any direction to navigate the information, the summary information, and the background information within the shape.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 rendering objects present in the real-world to a three-dimensional (3D) representation on a device;   navigating the 3D representation from the device; and   maintaining proximal dependencies between the objects of the real-world within the 3D representation while the 3D representation is being navigated.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising, enforcing security restriction against viewing some of the objects while the 3D representation is being navigated 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising, providing information relevant to the objects while the 3D representation is being navigated. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising, presenting walls in the 3D representation that hides some objects from the real-world. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein presenting further includes removing the walls to present the hidden objects in the 3D representation when conditions are met permitting the hidden objects to be visible in the 3D representation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising, presenting a cabinet in the 3D representation that includes locked objects hidden in the 3D representation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein presenting unlocking the cabinet from the 3D representation permitting the cabinet to be opened and display the locked objects in the 3D representation when conditions are met during navigation of the 3D representation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising, permitting an authorized user to alter the view of some of the objects while the 3D representation is being navigated. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising, permitting a user to manipulate and change objects presented within the 3D representation while navigating the 3D representation. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 rendering objects present in the real-world to a three-dimensional (3D) representation on a device and maintaining proximal dependencies that the object had in the real world within the 3D representation; and   interactively navigating, using a device, the 3D representation.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein interactively navigating further includes hiding a number of the objects represented in the 3D representation until conditions for displaying those objects are satisfied during navigation of the 3D representation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein interactively navigating further includes enforcing security on at least some of the objects represented in the 3D representation until conditions for lifting the security are satisfied during navigation of the 3D representation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein interactively navigating further includes permitting new objects to be represented within the 3D representation that did not exist in the real world while navigating the 3D representation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein interactively navigating further includes permitting at least some objects to be modified within the 3D representation that are not modified in the real world while navigating the 3D representation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein interactively navigating further includes permitting a first user that is not navigating the 3D representation to alter at least some of the objects within the 3D representation while a second user navigates the 3D representation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein interactively navigating further includes permitting at least some objects to be repositioned within the 3D representation in positions that those objects are not in within the real world while navigating the 3D representation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein interactively navigating further includes permitting multiple different simultaneous views of the objects within the 3D representation while navigating the 3D representation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising, permitting collaboration with respect to the objects of the real world while a first user is navigating the 3D representation on the first device and while a second user that navigates a different instance of the 3D representation from a second device. 
     
     
         20 . A system, comprising:
 a device; and   a rendering service configured to: i) execute on the device, ii) render real world objects to a graphical representation on the device maintaining within the graphical representation proximal dependencies that existed between the objects in the real world, and iii) permit a user to navigate the graphical representation from the device.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the rendering service is further configured to one or more of: iv) enforce security on some objects before permitting that object to be viewed within the graphical representation, v) modify one or more of the proximal dependencies for the objects within the graphical representation during user navigation, vi) manage multiple navigations by other users collaborating with the user of the graphical representation, vii) allow new objects to be created during the navigation that does not exist in the real world, viii) allow modification to some of the objects within the graphical representation that do not exists in the real world, viii) allow some objects to be removed from the graphical representation that still exists in the real world, and ix) hide at least some objects from view within the graphical representation until the user meets conditions that allow those objects to be viewed within the graphical representation.