Information retrieval apparatus

Patent 6084589 Issued on July 4, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 7, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Method and apparatus for generating an image
Patent #: 5682505
Issued on: 10/28/1997
Inventor: Usami, et al.

Method of and apparatus for generating three-dimensional model
Patent #: 5727138
Issued on: 03/10/1998
Inventor: Harada

Virtual reality imaging system with image replay
Patent #: 5751289
Issued on: 05/12/1998
Inventor: Myers

System and method for accurate and efficient geodetic database retrieval
Patent #: 5751612
Issued on: 05/12/1998
Inventor: Donovan, et al.

Three dimensional graphical display of information Patent #: 5751931
Issued on: 05/12/1998
Inventor: Cox, et al.

Inventor

Shima, Mitsuhide

Application

No. 852527 filed on 05/07/1997

US Classes:

345/419Three-dimension

Examiners

Primary: Vo, Cliff N.

International Class

G06F 009/455

Foreign Application Priority Data

1996-10-30 JP

Abstract

In order to obtain an information retrieval apparatus for performing retrieval from an anchor to be set with respect to a virtual three dimensional space, and to enable retrieval over a wide retrieval range through an easy-to-use user interface, a movement anchor generator unit is provided to generate a movement anchor corresponding to a change in viewpoint information. A three dimensional space generator unit generates not only ordinary objects, but also objects representing movement anchors in three dimensional images. A user selects a virtual object, which is a movement anchor, on an image. Linked data regarding the movement anchor is registered in a linked data storage unit. A retrieval unit can perform retrieval, not only with ordinary objects as anchors, but also through the movement anchor. Any application program execution unit for processing the display of a retrieval result can be used, and a wide range of linked information can be handled.