Importance

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Abstract

Method and apparatus are provided for rotating a displayed object, the displayed object appearing on a screen of a display device of a three dimensional computer graphics system. When displayed object object appears on the display screen, a user input device (e.g., mouse) prompts the additional display of an object movement reference frame on the display screen. The object movement reference frame preferably takes the form of a spherical contour line and various 'handles' which provide a user-friendly three dimensional spherical depiction. The object movement reference frame is preferably superimposed with respect to the displayed object. The 'handles' of the object movement reference frame include a plurality of object image handles which are generally classified as planar handles and knob handles. A 'handle set' is comprised of paired or connected object image handles, such as a knob handle connected by a radial connector to a planar handle. The 'handles' of the object movement reference frame also include frame handles. The frame handles facilitate, among other things, movement of the sphere relative to the displayed object.

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First Claim