苹果及时3D界面专利赢得了奠基

铁锹 3D打印店铺

Apple Wins a Foundational 3D Interface Patent that Might be Timely





On February 28, 2012, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a granted patent from Apple that could be considered a foundational 3D interface patent. The patent describes a new "transition engine" that will be added to OS X and iOS. This new engine will allow a user to choose a tiny object on their new 3D desktop and zoom it out to see what it is or to read a filed PDF or view a photo or video and then allow it to zoom back to the position on their desktop with a cross fading effect in play. It could also transition using an animated effect. So instead of clicking on the object to open it, the user will have the ability to simply zoom an image or app in and out with ease. When you think about it awhile, it's one of the coolest and most refreshing ideas that I've read about in some time.  



As Processing Power Dramatically Increases, Apple Wants to Take the Desktop Metaphor to the Next Level

A graphical user interface allows a large number of graphical objects or items to be displayed on a display screen at the same time. Leading personal computer operating systems such as Apple's OS provide user interfaces in which a number of graphical representations of system objects, such as windows, visualization objects representative of files, widgets, hyperlinks, peripherals, applications, and other representations of system objects can be displayed according to the interactions of the user. Taskbars, menus, virtual buttons, a mouse, a keyboard, and other user interface elements provide mechanisms for accessing and/or activating the system objects corresponding to the displayed representations.

The graphical objects and access to the corresponding system objects and related functions, however, should be presented in a manner that facilitates an intuitive user experience. The use of metaphors that represent concrete, familiar ideas facilitates such an intuitive user experience. For example, the metaphor of file folders can be used for storing documents; the metaphor of a file cabinet can be used for storing information on a hard, disk; and the metaphor of the desktop can be used for an operating system interface.

As the capabilities of processing devices progress, however, so do the demands placed on the graphical user interface to convey information to the users in an intuitive manner.

A Future Apple OS will introduce a new Component Called the "Transition Engine"

Apple's granted patent is indeed about a next generation operating system that will include a display environment engine, an interface engine and an all new transition engine. The display environment engine will generate a display environment for a user, including one or more object items disposed within the display environment. The interface engine will receive input from the user including a selection of an object item from the display environment.

The new transition engine will provide a graphical transition of the selected object item to an instance of an executing object associated with the selected object item, the transition retaining the aspect ratio of the object item through one or more successive transition states between a first transition state and a final transition state.

A New 3D Interface

According to Apple, although the patent figures are geared toward the desktop via OS X, the fact is that Apple will also have this next generational 3D interface integrated into iOS as well. A new 3D Eye-Tracking Interface patent application relating to the iPhone was posted earlier this month.

Apple's patent FIG. 2 is a screen shot illustrating an example of a display environment 200 (e.g., a multi-dimensional desktop) for a device which could include visualization objects, a visualization object receptacle, and stack items. An example implementation of a visualization object receptacle 300 is the "Dock" user interface in OS X.




The three-dimensional user interface in some examples, could include two side wall representations 205, 210, a ceiling representation 215, a floor (or desk) representation 220, and a back-wall representation 222. Similarly to a real-life workspace which enables the user to store documents or files on his/her desk, the three-dimensional user interface could enable a user to place application stems (e.g., visualization objects, visualization object receptacle, and stacked items such as, e.g., document representations, file representations, etc.) on a desk representation.

Application items 225e-m could also be linked to the side wall representations and/or the back-wall representation 225 to provide a similar appearance to a paper being thumbtacked to a bulletin board. The application items 225e-m could include visualization objects which represent a particular application associated with a file (e.g., a text document, picture file, movie file, music file, drawing file, etc.).

The transition engine is basically taking something on the desktop that starts off as a representative of a photo or file. When the user which to take a closer look at such photo or file, the transition takes place like a form of zoom effect going from very tiny to full a full size file. Apple describe that such an effect could take on a cross fading transition effect. Examples of this are illustrated below.
Apple's patent FIG. 3A shown above is a screen shot illustrating an example of a display environment having an object transition; FIG. 3B is a screen shot illustrating an example of a display environment having an object transition from a stack representation;

Apple's patent FIG. 3C shown below is a screen shot illustrating another example of a display environment having an object transition from a stack representation; Apple's patent FIG. 3D is a screen shot illustrating an example of a display environment having an object transition accompanied by an animation. In the example of FIG. 3D, the application item 360 is encrypted and can include, for example, a lock representation overlaying the application item.




Patent Credits and Some Closing Thoughts

Apple's patent application was originally filed in June 2007 as the iPhone was being unveiled, by inventors John Louch, Imran Chaudhri, Christopher Hynes, Timothy Bumgarner and Eric Peyton.

Apple has a number of patent applications on the subject of 3D interfaces and you could check out ourArchives to view some of them. As we pointed out earlier in our report, we covered a new patent on the matter only weeks ago. It's without a doubt a real trend. And with the advances made to next generation processors and more advanced batteries, Apple sees the day when users will be able to use a 3D interface at all times – while allowing a user to switch back to a standard 2D to conserve energy when needed.

Earlier this month we posted a report titled "Apple's Macroscalar Architecture: Will it Take iOS to the Next Level?" The report was based on and inspired by the fact that out of nowhere, Apple decided to file for the "Macroscalar" trademark in Europe, the US and China. The trademark was associated with a patent Apple has on record for a Macroscalar Processor. The key to that patent was the clue concerning parallelism. Where did we hear that before? Well, it's interconnected with Apple's OpenCL.

The clue is that it's a processor dealing with instruction-level parallelism (ILP). Apple developed an advanced language for instruction-level parallelism called OpenCL which is now an Open Standard via the Khronos Group. OpenCL debuted on OS X Snow Leopard in June 2009.

Wikipedia states that OpenCL is analogous to the open industry standards OpenGL and OpenAL, for 3D graphics and computer audio, respectively. Khronos Group states that OpenGL is the most widely adopted 2D and 3D graphics API in the industry, bringing thousands of applications to a wide variety of computer platforms. It's beneficial to markets such as CAD, content creation, energy, entertainment, game development, manufacturing, medical, and virtual reality.

Now imagine a processor designed to ignite all things OpenCL? Yes, that's where a 3D user interface is likely to come into play. Does that mean it will be a part of Apple's A6 or A7 processors? I don't know. But Apple didn't trademark Macroscalar for nothing and the timing is starting to look very good. With a little patience, I think a 3d interface just might be on the horizon. And the building evidence that we're seeing on the horizon would strongly suggest that it's not a mirage. Then again, time will tell.


在线中文翻译：



2012年2月28日，美国专利和商标局公布了从苹果公司的专利授权，可被视为一项基本的3D界面专利。该专利描述了一种新的“转型引擎”将被添加到OS X和iOS。这种新的引擎将允许用户选择他们的新3D桌面上的微小物体和放大出来看看它是什么或读提交的PDF或查看照片或视频，然后允许他们放大的位置桌面与跨发挥衰落的影响。它也可以过渡使用的动画效果。因此，用户点击打开它的对象，而不是将有能力，只是放大图像或应用程序和轻松。当你想想看一段时间，这是最酷和最令人耳目一新的想法，我读过一段时间约之一。  



由于处理能力大大提高，苹果希望以一个新的水平桌面隐喻

图形用户界面，允许大量的图形对象或将同时在显示屏上显示的项目。领先的个人电脑，如苹果公司的OS作业系统的用户在图形表示系统对象，如窗口，可视化对象的文件，部件，超链接，外设，应用程序和系统对象的其他陈述的代表，可以将显示接口根据用户的交互。任务栏，菜单，虚拟按键，鼠标，键盘，和其他用户界面元素提供访问和/或激活相应的系统对象显示的申述机制。

然而，图形对象，并获得相应的系统对象和相关职能，应提交的方式，有利于直观的用户体验。使用隐喻，代表具体的，熟悉的想法，有利于这样一个直观的用户体验。例如，文件夹的比喻，可用于存储文件，文件柜的比喻可以用于硬盘，磁盘上的存储信息;和桌面比喻可以使用的操作系统界面。

然而，由于加工设备的能力进步，这样做的图形用户界面上放置用户以直观的方式来传达信息的要求。

未来的苹果操作系统将引入一个新的组件，叫做“转型引擎”

有关下一代操作系统将包括显示环境引擎，接口引擎和一个新的过渡引擎的确是苹果的专利授权。显示环境引擎会生成一个用户，包括一个或多​​个对象的显示环境内弃置物品的显示环境。接口引擎将收到来自包括显示环境的选择对象的项目，从用户的输入。

新的过渡发动机将提供图形过渡到一个选定的对象项目的执行对象与所选对象的项目，保留对象项目的宽高比之间的过渡状态，通过一个或多个连续的过渡态过渡的一个实例最后的过渡状态。

一种新的3D界面

据苹果公司称，尽管该专利的数字正朝着面向通过OS X桌面上，但事实是，苹果公司也将有这下代3D接口，以及集成的iOS。一个新的3D眼跟踪界面的专利申请有关的iPhone本月早些时候发布的。

苹果的专利图。2 是一个屏幕截图，显示设备，其中可能包括可视化对象，可视化对象的容器，和栈项目200显示环境（例如，多维桌面）的例子。示例实现了一个可视化对象的容器300“码头”在OS X的用户界面




在一些例子的三维用户界面，可以包括两个侧壁交涉205，210，天花板代表215，地面（或服务台）代表220，和后墙的代表性222。现实生活中的工作空间，使用户能够保存他/她的办公桌上的文件或文件类似，三维用户界面可以使用户将应用茎（如可视化对象，可视化对象的容器，堆放物品等因为，例如，陈述文件，文件表示，在桌子上表示）。

也可以申请项目225e-M与侧墙的陈述和/或后墙代表225纸被thumbtacked公告板提供了一个类似的外观。225e-M中的应用项目，包括可视化对象代表一个特定的应用程序文件（例如，一个文本文件，图片文件，电影文件，音乐文件，图形文件等）。

过渡引擎基本上为代表的照片或文件，开始在桌面上的东西。当用户要仔细看看，在这样的照片或文件，像一个从非常微小的变焦效果要完全一个完整大小的文件的形式过渡的地方。苹果公司介绍，这样的效果可能需要上的交叉淡入淡出的过渡效果。这方面的例子说明如下。



苹果的专利图。3A以上显示的是一个屏幕快照说明显示对象过渡的环境，例如，图。3B是一个屏幕截图说明显示环境有一个对象从一个堆栈表示过渡的一个例子;

苹果的专利图。所示3C是一个屏幕截图说明从堆栈表示显示对象过渡的环境的另一个例子;苹果的专利图。3D是一个屏幕截图说明显示，伴随着动画的对象过渡环境的一个例子。在图的例子。3D应用项目360是加密的，可以包括，例如，锁表示，叠加的应用项目。


苹果有一个3D界面主题的专利申请数量，你可以看看我们的档案查看其中的一些。正如我们指出，早在我们的报告中，我们介绍了关于此事的新的专利，只有几个星期前。毫无疑问，这是一个真正的趋势。与下一代处理器和更先进的电池的进展，苹果看到了一天，当用户将能够在任何时候都使用的3D界面  - 同时允许用户切换回标准的2D，以节约能源，在需要的时候。



本月早些时候，我们发布了一份报告题为“苹果的Macroscalar建筑：会采取的iOS到一个新的水平？”该报告是根据的事实，凭空，苹果决定向在欧洲，美国和中国的商标为“Macroscalar”的启发。商标与专利苹果为Macroscalar处理器纪录。该专利的关键是关于并行的线索。在哪里，我们听到之前呢？嗯，它与苹果的OpenCL的互联。



线索是，这是一个处理器处理指令级并行（ILP）。苹果开发指令级并行的高级语言OpenCL的，现在是一个开放标准通过Khronos集团。  OpenCL的首次亮相于2009年6月在OS  X雪豹。



维基状态，OpenCL是开放的工业标准的OpenGL和OpenAL，三维图形和计算机音频，分别类似于。  Khronos  Group的OpenGL是最广泛采用的二维和三维图形在同行业中的API，使成千上万的应用到各种计算机平台。这是有益的，如CAD，内容创作，能源，娱乐，游戏开发，制造，医疗，和虚拟现实的市场。



现在想象点燃所有的东西OpenCL的一个处理器？是的，这是一个3D用户界面是可能开始发挥作用。这是否意味着这将是苹果的A6或A7处理器的一部分吗？我不知道。但是，苹果没有商标的任何Macroscalar和计时开始看起来非常好。有一点耐心，我觉得只是一个3D界面可能是在地平线上。和建设的证据表明，我们在地平线上看到的强烈建议，这不是海市蜃楼。话又说回来，时间会告诉我们。web3D纳金网www.narkii.com