Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for generating 3D views of 2D images are disclosed. Image data representing a 2D map may be included in an input document in a portable document format, along with embedded geospatial information related to the map. A document-based 3D translator may extract image data and other information from the input document and may translate the image into a map projected on a 3D model of the Earth's surface, using embedded location and/or extent information. Additional information may be projected on the map image or displayed as a height, texture, or color, or as separate, anchored, or floating text. Image data representing the 3D view may be output to the same or a different document file. The methods may be implemented in a system comprising a CPU and/or a GPU, and/or as program instructions, stored on computer-readable media, executable by the CPU and/or GPU.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for user interaction with animated objects displayed in a repeatedly updated 3-D computer simulated environment using 2-D cursor and button input. The invention provides for user manipulation of 3-D objects in a simulation where conflicting goals may be simultaneously applied to the objects and resolved. All goals acting on an object are translated to equivalent information in terms of physical forces, and are applied as forces via a physically based model, where this model has no knowledge as to the source of each force. Each user is treated as an entity in the environment, with a positional presence. The positional presence of a user is represented by a user object displayed in the simulation. The invention provides a unique interface to a real-time simulation that is easy to use, by virtue of mapping a subset of the inputs to actions consistent with the expectation of the user actually being physically present within the environment.