System and Method For Providing Three-Dimensional Graphical User Interface

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for providing an improved three-dimensional graphical user interface. In one embodiment, the method generally comprises: receiving an input from an end user and capturing computing output from at least one computer source in response to the received end-user input. The computing output can be presented as two or more objects within a three-dimensional virtual space displayed to the end user. In one embodiment, the method further comprises mapping an interaction with one of the objects to a corresponding function, said function being used to alter the appearance of said object. Methods and systems for providing an improved graphical user interface. In one embodiment, the method generally comprises: displaying a first item in a first portion of a virtual space, where the first portion is initially visible on a screen, allowing a user to move to a second portion of the virtual space where a second item is displayed, and displaying a map (e.g., on the screen) that includes icons that identify the first and second items (i.e., both displayed and non-displayed items). In one embodiment, the space is immersive, allowing a user to move seamlessly from the first portion of the virtual space (where the first item is displayed) to the second portion (where the second item is displayed). For example, as the first item moves off the screen, the second item may move onto the screen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for using an immersive space to display a plurality of items to a user via a screen on a mobile computing device, where each one of said plurality of items can be interacted with to acquire additional information, said immersive space including a first virtual space that is initially visible to said user and a second virtual space that is initially not visible to said user, comprising:
 displaying at least a first one of said plurality of items in said first virtual space, wherein said first one of said plurality of items can be interacted with to receive corresponding information;   displaying a map in said first virtual space, said map identifying said first one of said plurality of items and at least a second one of said plurality of items, wherein said second one of said plurality of items is not displayed in said first virtual space;   moving through said immersive space from said first virtual space to said second virtual space, said second one of said plurality of items being displayed in said second virtual space;   wherein moving through said immersive space from said first virtual space to said second virtual space results in movement of said first one of said plurality of items off of a first side of said screen and movement of said second one of said plurality of items onto a second side of said screen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said immersive space is a three-dimensional (“3D”) immersive space and said first one of said plurality of items is displayed in a foreground of said 3D immersive space. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first one of said plurality of items comprises a stack, wherein said stack can be interacted with to receive information on each item within said stack. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein first information on a first item within said stack is presented to said user in said immersive space and second information on a second item within said stack is presented to said user by moving said first information off of said screen and moving said second information onto said screen. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said immersive space is a three-dimensional (“3D”) immersive space, said first information is presented to said user in a foreground of said 3D immersive space, and said second information is presented to said user by moving said second information from a background of said 3D immersive space to said foreground of said 3D immersive space. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein moving said second information to said foreground of said 3D immersive space results in said first information being moved to said background of said 3D immersive space. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said map identifies said first and second objects via a plurality of icons arranged with respect to locations of said first and second ones of said plurality of items in said immersive space. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein interacting with a second one of said plurality of icons results in moving through said immersive space from said first virtual space to said second virtual space. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said map remains visible on said screen regardless of whether said first or second virtual space is visible to said user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying a navigator in said first virtual space, wherein said step of moving through said immersive space is a result of said user interacting with said navigator. 
     
     
         11 . A system for using an immersive space to display a plurality of items to a user on a mobile computing device, where each one of said plurality of items can be interacted with to acquire additional information, said space including a first virtual space that is initially visible to said user and a second virtual space that is initially not visible to said user, comprising:
 a display device;   at least one processor module; and   a memory device comprising executable code for:
 displaying at least a first one of said plurality of items in said first virtual space on said display device, wherein said first one of said plurality of items can be interacted with to receive corresponding information; 
 displaying a map in said first virtual space on said display device, said map identifying said first one of said plurality of items and at least a second one of said plurality of items, wherein said second one of said plurality of items is not displayed in said first virtual space; 
 moving through said immersive space from said first virtual space to said second virtual space, said second one of said second plurality of items being displayed in said second virtual space; 
   wherein moving through said immersive space from said first virtual space to said second virtual space results in movement of said first one of said plurality of items off of a first side of said display device and movement of said second one of said plurality of items onto a second side of said display device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said immersive space is a three-dimensional (“3D”) immersive space and said first one of said plurality of items is displayed in a foreground of said 3D immersive space. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first one of said plurality of items comprises a stack, wherein said stack can be interacted with to receive information on each item within said stack. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein first information on a first item within said stack is presented to said user in said immersive space and second information on a second item within said stack is presented to said user by moving said first information off of said display device screen and moving said second information onto said display device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said immersive space is a three-dimensional (“3D”) immersive space, said first information is presented to said user in a foreground of said 3D immersive space, and said second information is presented to said user by moving (i) said second information from a background of said 3D immersive space to said foreground of said 3D immersive space and (ii) said first information from said foreground of said 3D immersive space to said background of said 3D immersive space. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said map identifies said first and second objects via a plurality of icons arranged with respect to said first and second objects' locations within said immersive space. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein interacting with a second one of said plurality of icons results in changing said user's perspective by moving through said immersive space from where said first one of said plurality of items is displayed to where said second one of said plurality of items is displayed. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said map remains on said display device regardless of which virtual space is visible to said user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said executable code is further configured to display a navigator in said first virtual space, wherein said step of moving through said immersive space is a result of said user interacting with said navigator. 
     
     
         20 . A system for using a virtual space to display a plurality of items to a user on a mobile computing device, said virtual space including a first portion that is initially visible to said user and a second portion that is initially not visible to said user, comprising:
 a display device;   at least one processor; and   a memory device comprising executable code for:
 displaying at least a first one of said plurality of items in said first portion, wherein said first one of said plurality of items can be interacted with to receive corresponding information; 
 displaying a map on said display device, said map including a plurality of icons corresponding to said plurality of items, wherein a second one of said plurality of items is not displayed in said first portion, but is instead displayed on said second portion; 
 moving through said virtual space from said first portion to said second portion; 
 wherein moving through said virtual space from said first portion to said second portion results in movement of said first one of said plurality of items off of said display device and movement of said second one of said plurality of items onto said display device.