3D MODELLING AND REPRESENTATION OF FURNISHED ROOMS AND THEIR MANIPULATION

Abstract

A computer implemented method for producing a visualisation, comprising the steps of a. obtaining i. a first element set, wherein the first element set has a first volume, ii. a second element set, wherein the second element set has a second volume; b. displaying i. a primary representation of a three-dimensional space, ii. the first element set at a first position in the primary representation, iii. displaying the second element set at a second position in the primary representation, wherein a distance between the first position and the second position has a first length; c. moving the first element set from the first position to a further position in the primary representation, wherein i. the moving of the first element set causes the second element set to move from the second position to an even-further position in the primary representation, ii. the distance between the further position and the even-further position has a further length, wherein the first length and the further length vary with less than 5% with respect to each other, iii. wherein less than 5% of the first volume overlaps with the second volume.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for producing a visualisation, comprising the steps of a. obtaining i. a first element set, wherein the first element set has a first volume, ii. a second element set, wherein the second element set has a second volume; b. displaying i. a primary representation of a three-dimensional space, ii. the first element set at a first position in the primary representation, iii. displaying the second element set at a second position in the primary representation, wherein a distance between the first position and the second position has a first length; c. moving the first element set from the first position to a further position in the primary representation, wherein i. the moving of the first element set causes the second element set to move from the second position to an even-further position in the primary representation, ii. the distance between the further position and the even-further position has a further length, wherein the first length and the further length vary with less than 5% with respect to each other, iii. wherein less than 5% of the first volume overlaps with the second volume.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the even-further position is determined by calculating at least one or all of the following: at least one force, at least one energy, at least one mass, at least one distance, at least one orientation, and at least one hierarchy.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the even-further position is determined by calculating at least one or all of the following: a. a repulsive force; b. a first attractive force.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one or all of the following is determined by calculating a further attractive force: the first position, the second position, the further position, and the even-further position.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of establishing a relationship between the first element set and the second element set.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the visualisation is produced on at least one or all of the following: a. a device of a user; b. a server.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the visualisation is produced on the server if the visualisation fails to be produced within a specified time limit on the device of the user.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the visualisation is produced using at least one or all of the following: a. a game engine; b. an application programming interface (API).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the visualisation is produced using augmented reality software.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises at least one or all of the following steps: a. changing the resolution of the visualisation, b. calculating an illumination of the visualisation.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the visualisation is displayed via a display device selected from the group consisting of a screen, a video projector, a holographic projection device, an augmented reality device, a virtual reality device, or a combination of two or more thereof.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one element represents at least one physical item.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting data about at least one or all of the following: the first element set, the second element set, at least one further element set, and a combination of at least two or more thereof.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of analysing the collected data to obtain analysed data.

15. A visualization obtainable by the method according to claim 1.

16. A data processing device comprising means for carrying out the method according to claim 1, wherein the data processing device comprises at least one or all of the following: a. at least one processing unit; b. at least one display device; c. at least one network card; d. at least one input device; e. at least one graphics processing unit; f. at least one storage medium.

17. A computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, causes the computer to carry out the method according to claim 1.

18. A computer-readable data carrier having stored thereon the computer program of claim 17.

19. A first method for producing a space comprising at least one physical item, wherein the position of the at least one physical item in the space is determined using the method for producing a visualisation according to claim 1.

20. A second method for producing a space comprising at least one physical item, wherein the method comprises the steps of a. obtaining i. a first element set, ii. a second element set; b. displaying i. a primary representation of the space, ii. the first element set in the primary representation, and iii. the second element set in the primary representation; c. collecting further data about at least one or all of the following: i. the first element set, ii. the second element set; d. analysing the collected further data to obtain analysed further data; e. producing the space; wherein either a position, at least one characteristic, or both, of the at least one physical item in the space is determined by the analysed further data.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

[0369] FIG. 1: an illustration of a visualisation.

[0370] FIG. 2a: a first example of the method for producing a visualisation.

[0371] FIG. 2b: a second example of the method for producing a visualisation.

[0372] FIG. 3: diagram showing the steps comprised in the method for producing a visualisation.

[0373] FIG. 4: a schematic illustration showing the determined positions of element sets in the primary representation.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0374] FIG. 1 shows an illustration of a visualisation 100. The visualisation 100 is displayed in a visualisation area 101, such as a computer window. The visualisation 100 comprises a primary representation 102 that represents a dining room. Positioned in the primary representation 102 at a first position is a first element set 103 that comprises one first element. The first element represent a dining room table. Positioned in the primary representation 102 at a second position is a second element set 104 that comprises six second elements. Each second element represent a dining room chair. The first elements set 103 has a first interactive component 109, and the second element set 104 has a second inter active component 110. A human operator can interact with the interactive component by, e.g., by clicking with a mouse on the interactive component 110. This results in an information panel 111 being shown to the human operator. The information panel contains information about the item represented by the element, e.g., colour, dimensions, or price. While FIG. 1 only shows two interactive components, the primary representation 201 can contain any number of interactive components.

[0375] FIG. 1 further show s that the visualisation 100 has an options panel 105 that is neighbouring the primary representation 102. This options panel has a list panel 106 that contains a list of furniture items that can be represented in the primary representation 102. The list panel 106 allows, e.g., a human operator to change the dining room table being, represented by the first element set 103. The options panel 105 also has a purchase panel 107 allowing a human operator purchase any of the items represented in the primary representation 102. The options panel 105 also has sliders 108, allowing a human operator to adjust, e.g., the resolution or viewing angle of the primary representation 102. The options panel 105 can also contain additional panels for, e.g., messaging.

[0376] FIG. 2 shows two examples of the method for producing a visualisation 200. The visualisation 200 has a primary representation 202 that represent a dining room viewed from above. Positioned in the primary representation 202 at a first position is a first element set 203 that comprises one first element. The first element represent a first dining room table. Positioned in the primary representation 202 at a second position is a second element set 204 that comprises six second elements. Each second element represent a dining room chair. The second element set 204 has a second interactive component 210. FIGS. 2.1a and 2.2a show that the second elements are arranged around the first element, and that a distance between each second element and the first element has a first length D.

[0377] In FIG. 2.1b, the first dining room table that was represented by the second element set 203 in FIG. 2.1a has been replaced so that the second element set 203 represents a second dining room table that is larger than the first dining room table. This replacement is defined as moving the first element set 203 from the first position to a further position. As a result of the replacement, the first element of the first element set 203 partially overlaps two second elements of the second element set 204. Furthermore, the second interactive component 210 is not visible in FIG. 2.1b. This is not the desired visualisation 202. Note that even if the viewing angle of the visualisation is changed, the first element will still obscure the aforementioned two second elements.

[0378] Using the method for of the present invention, the desired visualisation 202 is obtained as shown in FIG. 2.1c. Here the second elements have been rearranged around the first element so that the distance between each second element and the first element has the further length D. The first length and the further length are thus equal. Furthermore, the second element set 204 has been moved from the second position to an even-further position.

[0379] In FIG. 2.2b the second element of the second element set 203 has been moved from a first position to a further position. As a result, the first element from the first element set 203 overlaps one second element from the second element set 204. Note that even if the viewing angle of the visualisation is changed, the first element will still obscure the aforementioned second element.

[0380] Using the method for of the present invention, the desired visualisation 202 is obtained as shown in FIG. 2.2c. Here the second elements have been rearranged around the first element so that the distance between each second element and the first element has a further length D. The first length and the further length are thus equal. Furthermore, the second element set 204 has been moved from the second position to an even-further position.

[0381] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the steps comprised in the method for producing a visualisation 300. In step 301 a first element set and a second element set is obtained. In step 302 a primary representation of a three-dimensional space is displayed. The first element set is displayed at a first position in the primary representation, while the second element set is displayed at a second position in the primary representation. In step 303, the first element set is moved from the first position to a further position in the primary representation. This causes the second element set to move from the second position to an even-further position in the primary representation. FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of the determined positions of element sets in the primary representation 400. In FIG. 4, the primary representation 402 represents a living room. Although FIG. 4 shows the primary representation 402 in two dimensions, this is only for illustrative purposes. The primary representation 402 can be viewed from any angle, e.g., as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 further shows that the primary representation 402 is confined by a boundary 412, which represents the walls of the living room.

[0382] FIG. 4 further shows that the primary representation 402 comprises a further element set 415 that represents a door. An exclusion zone 416 is placed around the further element set 415, wherein no element sets are positioned. Any element sets placed by the human operator in the exclusion zone 416 is determined to be outside the exclusion zone 416, i.e., the element set is moved without requiring input from the human operator.

[0383] FIG. 4a shows that the primary representation 402 has a first element set 403, representing a couch, and a second element set 404, representing a coffee table. An orientation of the first element set 403 was used to determine its position. I.e., the front of the first element set 413 is not against the boundary 412. A relationship was also established between the first element set 403 and the boundary 412, and the rear of the first element set 414 is adjacent to the boundary.

[0384] In FIG. 4a, a relationship has also been established between the first element set 403 and the second element set 404. Furthermore, an optimal distance was determined between the first element set 403 and the second element set 404. The relationship and the optimal distance between the first element set 403 and the second element set 404 was used to determine the position of the first element set 403 and the second element set 404.

[0385] FIG. 4a also shows that the element sets 403 and 404, each have a volume 417 that is larger than the volume of the physical item that is represented by the element set. For each of the aforementioned element sets, the volume 417 is a cuboid (a rectangle in the two-dimensional schematic illustration). The volume 417 is thus not determined by the shape of the element set, or the physical item represented by the element set. E.g., The element set 404 is oval shape, while the volume 417 is a cuboid.

[0386] FIG. 4b shows how the element set-sizes are used to determine the position of the element sets in the primary representation 402. The total size of the element sets in the primary representation 402 is less than a size of the primary representation 402. The primary representation is divided into five areas. Area I has a seating functionality, and includes e.g., element sets that represent a couch and a coffee table. Area II has an entertainment functionality, and includes e.g., an element set that represents a television. Area III has a storage functionality, and includes e.g., an element set that represents a bookshelf. Area IV has a decorative functionality, and includes e.g., an element set that represents a potted plant. FIG. 4b also show % s the unshaded Area V. This Area V is clear of any element sets, and represent e.g., the space between furniture items that allows a mammal to move between the furniture items.

[0387] Test Methods

[0388] Unless otherwise stated, all test methods are performed at a temperature of 25° C. and a pressure of 101 325 Pa.

[0389] The hardware performance of a computer was measured using the CAM monitoring software. This software is commercially available from NZXT, Inc., USA. This software was used to monitor the load on the RAM. CPU. GPU, as well as the temperature of the CPU and the GPU.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0390] In the below example the visualisation produced according to method of the present invention is compared with producing a visualisation according to prior art. The prior art is the interior design platform Homestyler that is commercially available from Alibaba.com, China.

[0391] A primary representation representing a dining room is displayed. Positioned in the primary representation at a first position is a First element set consisting of one first element, wherein the first element represents a first dining room table. Positioned at a second position is a second element set consisting of six second element. Each second element represents a dining room chair. The second elements are arranged around the first element, thus representing the dining room chairs arranged around a first table top of the first dining room chair. Furthermore, the dining room chairs are arranged such that an average distance between the first table top and a back of every chair is 15 cm.

[0392] Next, a human operator chooses to replaces the first element, thereby representing the replacement of the first dining room table with a second dining room table. Furthermore, a second table top of the second dining room table is larger than the first table top. With the method for producing a visualisation according to the present invention, the second elements are rearranged around the new first element, thus representing that the dining room chairs are arranged around the second table top. Furthermore, the dining room chairs are arranged such that the average distance between the second table top and a back of every chair is 14.97 cm.

[0393] In order to produce the same visualisation using a method according to the prior art, the human operator first has to switch to a further visualisation showing a floor plan of the dining room. In this floor plan, the first element is removed, creating an empty area between the second elements. The latter then have to be moved individually in order to enlarge the empty area. The first element, now representing the second dining room table, is added to the floor plan. The second elements then have to be arranged individually around the first element. Once this is completed, the visualisation of the room can be produced using the updated floor plan. Note that if the empty area is not enlarged, then the replacement of the first element will lead to the first element at least partially covering the second elements so that these elements appear to be part of each other.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 advantages of the present invention over the prior art. Present Prior invention art Time needed to produce 2 600 visualisation (seconds) Elements are obscured (e.g. overlap) No Yes Visualisation updated in real time Yes No Viewing angle of visualisation Yes No can be changed Resolution of visualisation 4096 × 4096 2560 × 1440 Training required to No Yes produce visualisation How accurate is the visualisation Very high High compared to room represented Energy consumption Less More Computer resource usage Low Moderate Production material wasted Less More Productivity of physical items More Less Production speed Higher Lower

[0394] In the above table. “energy consumption” refers to the electricity used by computer when the visualisation is produced. This consumption is reflected in the heat generated by the CPU or GPU. The “computer resource usage” refer to the load on the CPU, RAM, and GPU.

[0395] The visualisation can also be used to provide producers of items, such as furniture and decorative items, an idea of the type and number of items they should produce. Therefore less “production material” is wasted as less unwanted products are produced. Furthermore, the number of items also allows a producer to optimise the production process to produce items that are in higher demand, thereby increasing the number of items that can be produced (“productivity”), as well as the “production speed”.

Example 2

[0396] Data is collected from previous users that interact with a visualisation. This data includes the types of physical items, e.g., chairs, tables, and plants, that are chosen by the users for display in the primary representation. This data also includes further information regarding the types of physical items, e.g., the colour of the item, the material that the item is made off, the size of the item, chosen by the users for display in the primary representation. This data also includes the position where a user chooses to display the physical items in the primary representation. This data also includes the combination of physical items that the user chooses to display in the primary representation. This data also includes the combination of the positions of the physical items, as chosen by the user for display in the primary representation.

[0397] The collected data is analysed to obtain analysed data. Based on the analysed data, any of the following is suggested to the user for display in the primary representation: physical items, combinations of physical items, physical items that have specific characteristics, combinations of physical items that have specific characteristics. Based on the analysed data, any of the following is also suggested to the user: the physical items (or their element representations) are placed at positioned determined by the analysed data.

[0398] When the user modifies or accepts the suggestions, this is collected as further data. For example, the user may move an element from a suggested position in the primary representation to another position in the primary representation. Or a user may add an additional element that was not suggested. The collected further data is then analysed, together with the collected data, to obtain analysed further data. The analysed further data is then used to make suggestions to further users that interact with the visualisation.

[0399] Producing a visualisation according to the invention, wherein analysed data and analysed further data is used to produce the visualisation, has many technical advantages over not using data for producing a visualisation. E.g., by pre-rendering or pre-loading item popularly selected by user for display in the primary representation, the amount of CPU, memory and network resources are reduced.

[0400] Producing a space according to the invention, wherein analysed data and analysed further data is used to produce the space, has many technical advantages over not using data for producing a space. Examples of a space are furniture showroom or a storage space of retailers. Examples of the advantages are the following: producers of items, such as furniture and decorative items, are provided an idea of the type and number of items they should produce. Less production material is thus wasted as less unwanted products are produced. Furthermore, a producer can optimise the production process to produce items that are in higher demand, thereby increasing the number of items that can be produced, as well as the production speed. Furthermore, the usage of the available space in, e.g., a storage space, can be optimised. Furthermore, when producing a space, more popular items can be arranged in larger areas, and less popular items in smaller areas. This improves the safety of the people in the space, as a congestion of people in an area can be avoided.

REFERENCE LIST

[0401] 100 Example of a visualisation [0402] 101 Visualisation area [0403] 102 Primary representation [0404] 103 First element set [0405] 104 Second element set [0406] 105 Options panel [0407] 106 List panel [0408] 107 Purchase panel [0409] 108 Sliders [0410] 109 First interactive component [0411] 110 Second interactive component [0412] 11 Information panel [0413] 200 Example of the method for producing a visualisation [0414] 202 Primary representation [0415] 203 First element set [0416] 204 Second element set [0417] 210 Second interactive component [0418] 300 Method for producing a visualisation [0419] 301 Obtain first element set and second element set [0420] 302 Display primary representation, first element set, and second element set [0421] 303 Move first element set [0422] 400 Determined position of element sets in primary representation [0423] 402 Primary representation [0424] 403 First element set [0425] 404 Second element set [0426] 412 Boundary [0427] 413 Front of first element set [0428] 414 Rear of first element set [0429] 415 Further element set [0430] 416 Exclusion zone [0431] 417 Volume of element set