`Rothschild
`
`US006101534A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,101,534
`Aug. 8,2000
`
`[54] INTERACTIVE, REMOTE, COMPUTER
`INTERFACE SYSTEM
`
`Primary Examiner—Mark H. Rinehart
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Malloy & Malloy, PA.
`
`[76] Inventor: Leigh M. Rothschild, 777 Brickell
`Ave. #1112, Miami, Fla. 33131
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/922,926
`[22]
`Filed:
`Sep. 3, 1997
`
`[51] Int. Cl.7 ........................... .. G06F 13/38; G06F 15/17
`[52] US. Cl. ........................ .. 709/217; 709/219; 709/225;
`709/229
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 709/217, 218,
`709/219, 225, 228, 229; 713/201; 340/825.34
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6/1987 Alsberg.
`4,672,572
`5,694,546 12/1997 Reisman.
`5,805,442
`9/1998 Crater et a1. .......................... .. 709/219
`5,922,045
`7/1999 Hanson ................................. .. 709/228
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Heylighen, F.;“World—Wide Web: a distributed paradigm for
`global networking”; Proceeding SHARE Europe Spring
`Conference; pp. 355—368; Apr. 18, 1994.
`Igbal, MS et al.; “A Simplied and an Efficient Packet Level
`Internet Access Control Scheme”; ICCS/ISITA ’92; Sin
`gapore; IEEE Publications; 1992; pp. 963—967.
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An interactive, remote, computer interface system having a
`remote server assembly including a quantity of primary site
`data and at least one primary site address that contains at
`least a portion of the primary site data and is distinct so as
`to identify a location thereof on a computer network. The
`system further includes a local processor assembly coupled
`in data transmitting and receiving communication With the
`remote server assembly and structured to access the primary
`site address so as to achieve the data transmitting and
`receiving communication With the remote server assembly.
`At least one data storage assembly is associated With the
`local processor assembly and contains a quantity of auxiliary
`site data thereon, the auxiliary site data being associated
`With the primary site data. Further the data storage assembly
`including a compact, portable and interchangeable computer
`readable medium having a plurality of remotely accessible,
`auxiliary site addresses encoded therein, each of said
`remotely accessible, auxiliary site addresses including select
`portions of the quantity of auxiliary site data, and being
`structured to be remotely accessed by the remote server
`assembly so as to initiate utilization of select portions of the
`auxiliary site data by the local processor assembly in con
`junction With the primary site data.
`
`22 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`F..._._._____
`
`50
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 1
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 8,2000
`
`6,101,534
`
`36
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 2
`
`
`
`1
`INTERACTIVE, REMOTE, COMPUTER
`INTERFACE SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to an interactive, remote,
`computer interface system preferably used With a real estate
`display system structured to permit the remote exhibition of
`a real estate space, Whether the real estate space if fully
`constructed or in a planning stage, and in a manner Which
`gives a substantially realistic and comprehensive demon
`stration of the real estate space, either for prospective
`purchase purposes or for directional and guiding purposes.
`Further, the system provides selectivity betWeen self
`contained, on-site display and program generation, and
`remotely accessed display, the system being structured such
`that even in a remotely accessed display substantially real
`time, continuous movement, inter-activity and image gen
`eration is achieved through the utiliZation of a speci?c
`interactive, remote computer interface system. The interface
`system itself relates to a system of substantially enhancing
`the effectiveness of interactive “online” capabilities, espe
`cially as they relate to video and audio.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Real estate sales and development is a multi-million
`dollar industry based on the impact and appealability of a
`particular real estate space to a prospective consumer. While
`in many circumstances, an actual real estate space Which is
`being offered is physically available for a preferred, personal
`“Walk-through” by a prospective purchaser or investor,
`sometimes such circumstances are not available or are not
`practical. For example, if a purchaser or investor is at a
`location remote from the precise real estate space, it may be
`inconvenient and time consuming for that individual to
`make a special trip just to vieW one or more speci?c real
`estate spaces. Along these lines, if a number of real estate
`spaces are to be vieWed, a substantial amount of time is spent
`merely travelling from one location to another, and a vieWer
`is never truly able to make a comparison While the images
`are fresh in his/her mind. Moreover, and perhaps of even
`more signi?cant, especially in the ?eld of real estate
`development, a particular real estate space may not be
`physically available for vieWing because it is still under
`construction or is in the developmental stages. In such a
`circumstance, prospective purchasers or investors must rely
`on static artist sketches of a particular real estate space, or
`must vieW a similar real estate space. Unfortunately, these
`methods and existing systems do not truly provide a pro
`spective purchaser or investor With a realistic perspective of
`a speci?c real estate space.
`For example, even With existing video systems, a pro
`spective purchaser or investor is not truly able to capture the
`feel of user controlled, independent movement from one
`room to another or of exploring the surrounding environ
`ment of the real estate space, such as examining a speci?c
`vieW from a WindoW or balcony, and exploring options
`relating to elevation and orientation changes of a particular
`real estate space. As such, it Would be highly bene?cial to
`provide a system Which can provide a prospective purchaser
`or investor a complete and highly realistic vieW of a speci?c
`real estate space, even When direct vieWing of the real estate
`space is not available for any of a variety of reasons.
`With the advent of technology, more and more individuals
`have sought to develop technical systems to provide some
`sort of representation of the vieW of real estate space. While
`a depiction of ?oor plans and artist draWings may sometimes
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6,101,534
`
`2
`be available, most systems Which claim to be interactive
`merely provide a series of ?xed dimension and orientation,
`static images strung together. Indeed, any systems Which
`claim to provide a user With a “Walk-through” type vieWing
`environment are typically very limited in the vieWs Which
`they provide, are substantially erratic, as they do not seek to
`provide any image continuity beyond merely stringing static
`images together, and typically only provide a moving ref
`erence point for vieWing the same image rather than pro
`viding a user With an actual feel for a speci?c real estate
`space. In fact, these systems are truly linear displays of ?les
`on a video tape or laser disc, and provide no user
`interactivity, indeed, a user of conventional systems is
`merely permitted to “sit and Watch” Without control, beyond
`conventional forWard, reWind and/or selection of a ?le to be
`displayed.
`As such, it Would be highly bene?cial to provide a real
`estate display system Which can provide a user With a highly
`interactive, ?rst person perspective, “Walk-through” type
`experience, giving the user complete freedom of mobility so
`as to turn around, look up, doWn or at any location desired,
`substantially giving that user the impression of an actual
`presence in the real estate space. Moreover, such a system
`should be capable of interlacing audio and video information
`regarding the speci?c real estate space, such as vieWs from
`a balcony or a WindoW, and/or presentations regarding
`options, such as different ?ooring or Wall coverings, or other
`amenities so as to anticipate vieWs a user at the actual space
`Would normally seek to see, and indeed, providing some
`vieWs and information Which could not be as readily avail
`able in a standard, physical “Walk-through”.
`In addition to the needs associated With the sale and
`demonstration of a speci?c real estate space to prospective
`purchasers, it is also seen that signi?cant needs are associ
`ated With the requirements of individuals attempting to
`navigate large, complex real estate spaces, such as office
`buildings, cruise ships, collage campuses, recreational
`facilities, hospital facilities, convention centers and the like.
`In such circumstances, and often because of the generally
`limited display space available for directional/navigational
`information, individuals seeking to navigate a speci?c real
`estate space must generally rely upon tWo dimensional maps
`to provide some maneuvering guidance. Such maps,
`hoWever, do not provide any true frame of reference for an
`individual attempting to navigate a speci?c area, such as by
`pointing out landmarks and generally providing an indi
`vidual With the knoWledge of “What they are looking for” as
`they actually proceed through the real estate space. Along
`these lines, it Would be highly bene?cial to have a system for
`the display of real estate space Which can effectively and
`realistically guide an individual through a large complex real
`estate space, providing that individual With substantially
`realistic and accurate representations of What that individual
`Will see as they seek to arrive from one location to another.
`Moreover, such a system should be capable of providing
`additional and immediate information regarding particular
`locations, sites, or points of interest along the Way, thereby
`further assisting the individual in their navigation through
`the real estate space. Although a typical map display should
`also be available for such a system, it Would be bene?cial to
`provide some reference betWeen that typical map display
`and an actual ?rst person image of What Will be seen as
`certain areas are navigated, alloWing the user complete
`control and freedom of movement in order select a location
`to Which they Would seek to go and a manner in Which they
`Would like to arrive at that location, While still providing a
`complete and accurate representation of the navigation
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 3
`
`
`
`3
`course. Unfortunately, the prior art is de?cient in providing
`such a system capable of achieving such result and provid
`ing such effective information to an individual seeking to
`navigate or otherWise vieW a real estate space. Moreover,
`such system are pre-set in the guided path and do not let an
`individual explore and/or select their oWn path that guides
`them by other desired locations and can provide information
`regarding unfamiliar locations at the users option. Indeed,
`the system of the present invention uniquely seeks to pro
`vide an effective, accurate and easy to use solution to the
`problems Which remain in the related art.
`Furthermore, it is noted that With the advent of on-line
`technology, such as internet navigation, it is often desirous
`for various types of information, including real estate space
`display information, to be accessed through a remote on-line
`connection. Such types of connections are indeed quite
`valuable as they enable large quantities of information to be
`stored on dedicated remote server assemblies, permitting
`individuals, With perhaps less poWerful computer systems to
`access the vast array of information. A signi?cant problem
`associated With the use of such on-line technology, hoWever,
`involves the substantial amount of time required to doWn
`load various images and information. Such is particularly
`the case With any kind of animated three dimensional images
`or With video and/or audio information. Typically, the doWn
`load time for such types of information is in the range of
`many minutes, making any kind of seamless and/or con
`tinuous presentation of an animated nature substantially
`impossible. Indeed, even With the advent of broadband
`technology and higher speed computers, substantial limita
`tions still exist With regard to the speed in Which video and
`audio is provided in an accessible and effectively utiliZable
`means for a person at a local access site. Accordingly, it
`Would be highly bene?cial to provide a system Which is
`capable of substantially, easily and economically, but sig
`ni?cantly enhancing the interactive capabilities of an on-line
`“Web” site, especially in the ?eld of continuous motion
`video or graphical displays, and extensive audio signals
`associated With those displays. Furthermore, such a system
`should not violate the security requirements commonly
`associate With internet technology by unnecessarily access
`ing information stored on a user’s computer hard-drive
`and/or other sensitive areas. The system should also be
`capable of seamlessly and quickly providing a variety of
`supplemental and auxiliary information, Which can signi?
`cantly enhance the on-line experience, by achieving sophis
`ticated and generally lengthy audio and video segments
`Without the requisite, extended doWn-load times, and in a
`manner Which can be effectively interactive and modi?able
`during display.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is directed toWards a real estate
`display system for the remote exhibition of real estate space,
`such as for purposes of display and purchase, or for purposes
`of assisting navigation and/or demonstration of the physical
`space to one or more individuals. Speci?cally, the display
`system of the present invention includes a display assembly
`structured to visually display a three-dimensional image
`thereon, and having the capabilities to display continuous
`motion images such as video or continuous three dimen
`sional graphics, audio and animated ?les.
`Further, the display system of the present invention
`includes a data storage assembly. The data storage assembly
`is structured to store a quantity of data corresponding the
`plurality of three dimensional images Which may be dis
`played on the display assembly. Of course, the plurality of
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6,101,534
`
`4
`three dimensional images are preferably directly associated
`With the real estate space to be displayed by the display
`system. To be used at least partially in conjunction With the
`data storage assembly, the display system also includes a
`data entry assembly. Speci?cally, the data entry assembly of
`the present display system is structured to at least partially
`input the quantity of data corresponding the three dimen
`sional images into the data storage assembly.
`The system of the present invention further includes a
`processor assembly, the processor assembly including pref
`erably both an overlay processor and a direct vieW processor
`as a part thereof. In particular, the overlay processor is
`structured to generate a ?oor plan display of the three
`dimensional/real estate space. This ?oor plan display is
`generated from the quantity of data contained at least in part
`by the data storage assembly, With the ?oor plan display
`being structured for display on the display assembly in
`preferably complete form. Conversely, the direct vieW pro
`cessor is structured to generate a three dimensional, Walk
`through display of the three dimensional space. The three
`dimensional Walk through display is generated by the direct
`vieW processor from the quantity of data corresponding the
`plurality of three dimensional images and is structured to
`generate and provide a substantially realistic, ?rst person
`illustration of the real estate space to be displayed on the
`display assembly. While both the three dimensional, Walk
`through display and the ?oor plan display may be shoWn on
`the display assembly at the same time, the display system
`preferably includes a display selection means. The display
`selection means are structured to selectively display the
`three dimensional display and/or the ?oor plan display on
`the display assembly according to the speci?c needs of the
`user. As such, the display selection means is structured to
`control the sWitching betWeen displays, preferably at any
`time desired by the user.
`In order to facilitate maneuvering and movement through
`out one or more of the various displays, the present system
`further includes a reference beacon. The reference beacon is
`structured to be recogniZed by the processor assembly and to
`thereby direct the processor assembly to generate and dis
`play a particular portion of a selected one of the displays.
`That particular portion of the selected display is structured
`to speci?cally correspond a spacial position and spacial
`attitude of the reference beacon, thereby alloWing control
`and modi?cation of the spacial position and attitude of the
`reference beacon to likeWise control the display generated
`for depiction on the display assembly. To assist this function,
`the present display system includes an attitude control
`assembly. The attitude control assembly is structured to
`selectively change the spacial attitude of the reference
`beacon generally along vertical and horiZontal plains,
`thereby alloWing a user to effectively “look” up and doWn,
`left and right, and/or any combination thereof. Similarly, a
`position control assembly is provided. The position control
`assembly is structured to selectively change the spacial
`position of the reference beacon relation to the portion of the
`display being generated by the processor assembly and
`being shoWn on the display assembly. Such a position
`control assembly effectively provides for movement
`throughout a speci?c, select display being generated and
`shoWn. Along these lines, the processor assembly is speci?
`cally structured to substantially continuously and seamlessly
`modify the portion of the display being generated thereby
`and being displayed on the display assembly. These con
`tinuous modi?cations correspond those changes in the spa
`cial position and spacial attitude of the reference beacon and
`thereby provide realistic transitions betWeen the vieWing of
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 4
`
`
`
`6,101,534
`
`5
`a particular area to the viewing of another particular area as
`directed by the user. Also, the processor assembly is struc
`tured to continuously correlate the spacial position of the
`reference beacon in the three dimensional Walk-through
`display With its spacial position in the ?oor plan display, and
`vise-a-versa. As such, by coordinating the spacial positions
`With one another and also preferably by coordinating a
`horiZontal spacial attitude, When the display selection means
`sWitch betWeen the displays, the portion of the display being
`shoWn on the display assembly, Whether the three
`dimensional, Walk-through display or the ?oor plan display
`Will alWays remain consistent. Such correlation alloWs
`effectively toggling betWeen the various displays, and/or
`permits simultaneous illustration of both displays in order to
`provide a more effective overall picture of a speci?c real
`estate space being vieWed thereby.
`Additionally, the present invention relates to an
`interactive, remote computer interface system Which enables
`the utiliZation of the real estate display system through an
`“online” medium. Preferably, the interface system of the
`present invention includes a remote server assembly Which
`contains quantities of primary site data. Moreover, the
`remote server assembly also includes at least one primary
`site address in Which at least a portion of the primary site
`data is stored. Preferably, that primary site address is distinct
`and unique, thereby identifying a particular location thereof
`on a computer netWork, and alloWing remote access to that
`primary site address from another location.
`Additionally, the interface system includes a local pro
`cessor assembly, such as the processor assembly of the real
`estate display system. The local processor assembly and the
`remote server assembly are connected in data transmitting
`and receiving communication With one another, such as
`through a typical on-line connection. Moreover, the local
`processor assembly is structured to access the primary site
`address in order to achieve the data transmitting and receiv
`ing communication With the remote server assembly, and in
`particular, so as to be able to access the primary site data
`contained at the primary site address.
`The local processor assembly further includes at least one
`data storage assembly associated thereWith. While the data
`storage assembly may include only a ?xed/hard drive of the
`local processor assembly, preferably the data storage assem
`bly of the interface system includes at least one compact,
`portable and interchangeable computer readable medium.
`This interchangeable computer readable medium is struc
`tured to contain a quantity of auxiliary site data thereon, that
`auxiliary site data being associated With the primary site
`data. Furthermore, the interchangeable computer readable
`medium preferably includes a plurality of remotely
`accessible, auxiliary site addresses encoded therein. Each of
`the auxiliary site addresses includes a select portion of the
`quantity of auxiliary site data and is structured to be
`remotely accessed by the remote server assembly. The
`remote access by the remote server assembly is structured to
`initiate utiliZation of the select portions of the auxiliary site
`data by the local processor assembly, preferably in conjunc
`tion With the primary site data and in a manner Which is
`continuous and Well integrated. In this regard, and relating
`to the preferred embodiment Wherein the local processor
`assembly is utiliZed as part of a real estate space display
`system, the auxiliary site data may include a plurality of
`operating instructions Which Will Work in conjunction With
`a quantity of data, such as the auxiliary site data stored on
`the interchangeable computer readable medium or other
`stored data, in order to instruct the local processor assembly
`to generate various display images, such as a three dimen
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6
`sional display or overlay display. In this manner, a user at the
`local processor assembly need not Wait for the doWnloading
`of substantial quantities of information and images in order
`to provide a substantially interactive, continuous and effec
`tive display on the display assembly associated thereWith.
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a display
`system capable of giving a user a true and complete per
`spective of a speci?c three dimensional space, such as a real
`estate space.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide a
`display system Wherein a display image is continuously
`updated to provide seamless movement in a three dimen
`sional environment.
`Also an object of the present invention is to provide a
`display system Which is structured to have various quantities
`of video and audio information readily available for imme
`diate utiliZation so as to enhance the display experience and
`provide further information to a user.
`Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
`display system capable of effectively and interactively guid
`ing a user through a large real estate space, such as a cruise
`ship, a college campus, a factory, an office complex, a
`hospital, a recreational facility, and the like.
`Still another object of the present invention is to provide
`a display system capable of guiding a user through a large
`real estate space in a manner Which permits the user to de?ne
`a desired path as they are being guided through the space,
`and Which makes additional information regarding speci?c
`areas readily available to the user in an effective format such
`as full motion video.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`display system capable of providing furnished and unfur
`nished images of an area being displayed, and selective
`elevations and corresponding vieWs from the selected eleva
`tions.
`An added object of the present invention is to provide a
`display system capable of permitting a user to selectively
`choose a variety of options, such as different ?oor and Wall
`coverings, and thereby obtain a more complete image of
`their preferred version of the real estate space.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide a
`display system Which can be utiliZed through an on-line
`connection, in connection With a remove server assembly, so
`as to provide substantially updated information and an
`interactive display Without excessive doWn-load time
`delays.
`An added object of the present invention is to provide an
`interface system Wherein a user is able to access a remote
`server assembly and can vieW and utiliZe graphical images,
`video images and audio signals of substantially volumes, in
`a rapid, real-time basis Without extensive doWn-load times,
`but in a manner Which is substantially interactive With the
`information provided at the remote server assembly.
`Also another object of the present invention is to provide
`a computer interface system Which substantially enhances
`the capability of a Website by permitting the effective,
`coordinated utiliZation of high content data such as full
`motion video.
`Also an object of the present invention is to provide a
`computer interface system Which is capable of being
`remotely upgraded, either through an on-line connection or
`other transmission type connection, and can contain a sub
`stantial quantity of information in a readily and effectively
`usable manner.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide a
`computer interface system Which substantially enhances the
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 5
`
`
`
`6,101,534
`
`7
`display capabilities of a remote site, but Which does not
`violate security protocols regarding remote access to a local
`processor assembly.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`computer interface system Which substantially enhances the
`display capabilities of a remote site in a substantially seam
`less and continuous manner regardless of the remote or local
`location of the data being utiliZed and or displayed.
`These and other objects Will become apparent upon
`revieWing the folloWing detailed description and recited
`claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present
`invention, reference should be had to the folloWing detailed
`description taken in connection With the accompanying
`draWings in Which:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic of the system for the display of a
`three dimensional space of the present invention in its
`preferred embodiment; and
`FIG. 2 is an alternative embodiment of the system for the
`display of a three dimensional space, and included as part of
`an interactive, remote, computer interface system.
`Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the
`several vieWs of the draWings.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`ShoWn in schematic throughout the Figures, the present
`invention is directed toWards a system for the display of a
`three dimensional space, generally 10, and preferably, a real
`estate display system 10 structured to provide for the remote
`exhibition of real estate space. Speci?cally, the real estate
`space may be any physical space such as a home, apartment,
`resort, university, cruise ship, of?ce, retail plaZa, stadium,
`arena or any other physical space Wherein it Would be
`bene?cial for a user to vieW and/or identify and locate
`various areas from a single location. Indeed, such a display
`system 10 is structured to effectuate the display of a real
`estate space, even before it is built and at any remote
`location near or far from the actual location of the real estate
`space, all in a substantially clear, interactive, precise and
`effective manner.
`The display system 10 of the present invention includes a
`display assembly 20. The display assembly 20 may include
`a computer monitor, television monitor, or any other type of
`video or graphic display type assembly. Moreover, the
`display assembly 20 Will preferably have substantially high
`color resolution so as to signi?cantly enhance the realism
`and clarity of three dimensional images Which the display
`assembly 20 is structured to visually display thereon.
`Further includes as part of the display system 10 is at least
`one data storage assembly 30. Preferably, the data storage
`assembly 30 includes a computer readable medium, and in
`the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 preferably includes a
`computer hard drive or other ?Xed data storage assembly
`Wherein a large quantity of data may be stored and con
`tained. As Will be described in further detail subsequently,
`hoWever, the data storage assembly may also include por
`table and/or interchangeable assemblies such as compact
`discs or other such Writable and non-Writable assemblies and
`the accompanying drives. Preferably, the data storage
`assembly 30 is structured to store a substantial quantity of
`data corresponding a plurality of the three dimensional
`images Which the display assembly 20 is capable of visually
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`8
`displaying thereon. Furthermore, those three dimensional
`images associated With that quantity of data are preferably
`also associated With the real estate space to be eXhibited by
`the display system 10. Along these lines, it is noted that a
`variety of different real estate spaces may be visually eXhib
`ited by the same display system 10, hoWever, for purposes
`of clarity, the folloWing discussion Will focus on a display
`system including only a single real estate space to be
`displayed thereby.
`In order to at least partially input the quantity of data
`corresponding the plurality of three dimensional images of
`the real estate space into the data storage assembly 30, the
`display system further includes a data entry assembly.
`Indeed, the data entry assembly can take on any of a number
`of conventional con?gurations such as a computer keyboard
`42, a doWn-loadable computer readable medium 36, such as
`a compact disk or tape, and indeed may include a
`transmitter/receiver type connection 60 Wherein data is
`doWn-loaded utiliZing the data entry assembly into the data
`storage assembly 30 from a remote site.
`The display system 10 of the present invention further
`includes a processor assembly, generally 25. The processor
`assembly 25 preferably includes a computer CPU capable of
`manipulating a quantity of data and generating/rendering the
`necessary displays. Of course, a generally higher poWer,
`high speed computer is preferred, as such Will enhance the
`effectiveness of the display system 10 of the present inven
`tion. In the display system 10 of the present invention, the
`processor assembly 25 is seen to incorporate at least a direct
`vieW processor, but preferably both a direct vieW processor
`and an overlay processor, each of Which is structured to
`generate separate and distinct images for display on the
`display assembly 20. Of course, it is noted that a single
`processor assembly 25 is preferably utiliZed and is struc
`tured to perform the function of both the overlay and the
`direct vieW processor.
`Looking ?rst to the overlay processor, it is structured to
`generate a ?oor plan display of the three dimensional space
`utiliZing the quantity of data stored in the data storage
`assembly 30. The ?oor plan display Will preferably be a
`conventional map-type display of a speci?c real estate space,
`thereby substantially easily providing a user With an overall
`perspective of their vieWing location relative to other loca
`tions of the real estate space being displayed. Conversely,
`the direct vieW processor is structured to generate a three
`dimensional, Walk-through display of the three dimensional
`space utiliZing the quantity of data that corresponds the three
`dimensional images. Speci?cally, the direct vieW processor
`incorporates a series of three dimensional images and pro
`vides for continuous updating and modi?cation and seam
`less transitions from a particular portion of the three dimen
`sional display to other portions of the three dimensional
`display. Such a direct vieW processor typically incorporates
`a three dimensional, graphic image build engine, such as that
`Which may be utiliZed in some of the more modern three
`dimensional gaming technology, With the added enhance
`ments of inter-activity With the ?oor plan display and
`various