초록 ▼

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention allow a user operating on a data processing computer to view geometry of an object model produced by an image generator hosted on an image processing computer by allowing the user to define a zone associated with the

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention allow a user operating on a data processing computer to view geometry of an object model produced by an image generator hosted on an image processing computer by allowing the user to define a zone associated with the object model, slices of each zone, and viewpoints associated with the slices, controlling the graphics image generator to produce geometric images of the object model in accordance with the zone, slices, and viewpoints, and selectively navigating the images in accordance with the zone, slices, and viewpoints.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method in an image processing system for defining and viewing geometry of an object model, the method comprising: displaying at least one view of the object model, wherein displaying at least one view comprises displaying a first view of the object relative to a second view

What is claimed is: 1. A method in an image processing system for defining and viewing geometry of an object model, the method comprising: displaying at least one view of the object model, wherein displaying at least one view comprises displaying a first view of the object relative to a second view of the object model; defining a zone of the object model using the at least one view, wherein defining a zone comprises receiving a plurality of dimensions of the zone corresponding to a first portion of the first view and a first portion of the second view; defining a slice of the object model in relation to the zone; defining a camera viewpoint in association with the slice so that the camera viewpoint has a position and an orientation relative to the zone; and generating, via the a first data processing computer, a command sequence to cause the an image generator to produce a geometric image of the object model in accordance with the camera viewpoint. 2. A method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of dimensions includes a plurality of coordinates that define a size and a position of the zone within a coordinate system associated with the object model. 3. A method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a first window over the first view to reflect the first portion of the first view associated with the zone. 4. A method of claim 3, wherein the first view is a top view of the object model. 5. A method of claim 4, wherein the top view is a top-level geometric image of the object model. 6. A method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a second window over the second view to reflect the first portion of the second view associated with the zone. 7. A method of claim 6, wherein the second view is a side view of the object model. 8. A method of claim 7, wherein the side view is a cross section geometric image of the object model. 9. A method of claim 1, the step of defining a slice comprises receiving a slice selection image boundary associated with a second portion of the second view of the zone, and displaying the slice selection image boundary over the second view to reflect the second portion relative to the zone. 10. A method of claim 9, further comprising generating another command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a cross section geometric image of the object model based on the slice selection image boundary and storing the cross section geometric image in association with a definition of the zone. 11. A method of claim 10, wherein the image processing system includes a second data processing computer connected via a network to the first processing computer, the second data processing computer having a viewer operatively configured to identify the zone definition, to display an identification of the zone based on the zone definition, and to display the cross section geometric image associated with the zone definition in response to selection of the identification. 12. A method of claim 11, further comprising generating a third command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a top-level geometric image of the object model based on the zone definition and storing the cross section geometric image in association with the zone definition, wherein the top-level geometric image reflects geometry of the zone. 13. A method of claim 12, wherein the identification is a name corresponding to the zone. 14. A method of claim 13, wherein the identification is the geometry of the zone. 15. A method of claim 11, wherein the step of defining a slice further comprises setting a first coordinate of the slice along an axis of the zone to correspond to a first distance in front of the zone in response to the selection of a corresponding option. 16. A method of claim 11, wherein the step of defining a slice further comprises setting a first coordinate of the slice along an axis of the zone to correspond to a second distance behind the zone in response to the selection of a corresponding option. 17. A method of claim 11, wherein the slice is one of a pre-determined number of slices to be defined when a corresponding option is selected, and the step of defining a slice further comprises setting a first coordinate of each of the slices so that the slices are equally spaced within and along an axis of the zone. 18. A method of claim 11, wherein the slice is one of a number of slices to be defined with the zone when a corresponding option is selected such that each slice is spaced at a pre-determined interval from an adjacent one of the slices. 19. A method of claim 11, wherein the step of defining a slice further comprises setting a first coordinate of the slice along an axis of the zone to correspond to a third distance from another axis of the zone in response to the selection of a corresponding option. 20. A method of claim 11, wherein the step of defining a slice further comprises defining a position of the slice to include a first slice coordinate along an axis of the zone, and the step of defining a camera viewpoint further comprises receiving a boundary for the slice, the slice boundary being disposed in a plane at the first slice coordinate and encompassing the camera viewpoint. 21. A method of claim 20, further comprising generating a fourth command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a slice geometric image of the object model based on the slice boundary and storing the slice geometric image in association with a definition of the slice. 22. A method of claim 21, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to identify the slice definition, to display a line in association with the cross section geometric image to reflect the position of the slice relative to the zone, and to display the slice geometric image in response to selection of the line. 23. A method of claim 22, wherein the step of defining a camera viewpoint further comprises displaying a third view of the object model corresponding to the slice, and displaying the camera viewpoint in association with the third view to reflect the camera viewpoint position relative to the slice. 24. A method of claim 23, wherein the third view corresponds to the slice geometric image. 25. A method of claim 23, wherein the step of defining a camera viewpoint further comprises receiving a position for a new camera viewpoint relative to the slice, and displaying the new camera viewpoint in association with the third view to reflect the new camera viewpoint position relative to the slice. 26. A method of claim 23, wherein the camera viewpoint is one of a plurality of viewpoints associated with the slice, and the step of defining a camera viewpoint further comprises receiving a selection of one of the plurality of viewpoints and deleting the selected one from the plurality of viewpoints. 27. A method of claim 23, wherein the step of defining a camera viewpoint further comprises receiving a new position for the camera viewpoint relative to the slice and displaying the camera viewpoint in association with the third view to reflect the new camera viewpoint position. 28. A method of claim 23, wherein the position of the camera viewpoint is within a cube having a plurality of sides, and the step of generating, via the first data processing computer, a command sequence further comprises causing the image generator to produce a plurality of geometric images of the object model from the camera viewpoint position and corresponding to the sides of the cube. 29. A method of claim 28, wherein the step of defining a slice further comprises associating a camera orientation designator with a definition of the slice and storing the slice definition in association with the zone definition, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to identify the camera orientation designator and selectively display a first of the plurality of geometric images based on the camera orientation designator. 30. A method of claim 29, wherein the step of defining a camera viewpoint further comprises associating the position of the camera viewpoint with a definition of the camera viewpoint and storing the camera viewpoint definition in association with the slice definition, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to identify the camera viewpoint definition, to display the camera viewpoint in association with the slice geometric image to reflect the camera viewpoint position, and to display the first of the plurality of geometric images in response to a selection of the camera viewpoint. 31. A method of claim 30, wherein the step of defining a slice further comprises associating the position of the camera viewpoint with a definition of the camera viewpoint and storing the camera viewpoint definition in association with the slice definition, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to identify the camera viewpoint definition, to display the camera viewpoint in association with the slice geometric image to reflect the camera viewpoint position, and to display the first of the plurality of geometric images in response to a selection of the camera viewpoint. 32. A method of claim 1, wherein the zone is a first of a plurality of zones of the object model defined using the at least one view. 33. A method of claim 32, wherein each zone definition includes a respective one of a plurality of zone identifiers, a first plurality of coordinates that identify a position of the respective zone in relation to the at least one view, a first plurality of dimensions for deriving a slice selection image boundary relative to the zone, and a second plurality of dimensions for deriving a slice image boundary orthogonal to the slice selection image boundary. 34. A method of claim 33, wherein the slice is a first of a plurality of slices of the object model defined in relation to the first zone. 35. A method of claim 34, wherein each slice definition includes a first coordinate along an axis of the first zone and a second plurality of coordinates that identify a slice camera viewpoint in a plane parallel to the respective slice. 36. A method of claim 35, wherein the camera viewpoint is one of a plurality of camera viewpoints defined in association with the first slice and each camera viewpoint definition includes the position of the respective camera viewpoint relative to the first slice. 37. A method of claim 36, further comprising: generating a second command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a plurality of top-level geometric images of the object model based on the plurality of zone definitions, each top-level geometric image reflects geometry of a respective one of the plurality of zones and is associated with the zone identifier of the respective one of the plurality of zones; generating a third command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a plurality of cross section geometric images of the object model, each cross section geometric image corresponding to the slice selection image boundary in a respective one of the zone definitions; and generating a fourth command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a plurality of slice geometric images of the object model, each slice geometric image corresponding to the slice boundary in a respective one of the zone definitions. 38. A method of claim 37, wherein the image processing system includes a second data processing computer connected via a network to the first processing computer, the second data processing computer having a viewer operatively configured to identify each of the zone definitions, to display each of the zone identifiers, and to display one of the plurality of top-level geometric images corresponding to a selected one of the zone identifiers. 39. A method of claim 38, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to display one of the plurality of cross section geometric images corresponding to the selected one zone identifier when the zone identifier is re-selected. 40. A method of claim 39, wherein, when the selected one zone identifier is the first zone, the viewer is operatively configured to identify each slice defined in relation to the first zone, and to display a plurality of planes in association with the one cross section geometric image such that each plane reflects the first coordinate of in a respective slice definition. 41. A method of claim 40, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to display one of the plurality of slice geometric images corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of planes. 42. A method of claim 41, wherein, when the selected one plane corresponds to the first slice, the viewer is operatively configured to identify each camera viewpoint defined in association with the first slice and to display each camera viewpoint to reflect the position of the respective camera viewpoint relative to the first slice. 43. A method of claim 42, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to display the geometric image of the object model in response to the selection of the first camera viewpoint. 44. An image processing system, comprising: a first data processing computer connected via a network to an image processing computer having an image generator and an object model produced using the image generator; means for displaying at least one view of the object model, wherein displaying at least one view comprises means for displaying a first view of the object relative to a second view of the object model; means for defining a zone of the object model using the at least one view, wherein the means for defining a zone comprises means for receiving a plurality of dimensions of the zone corresponding to a first portion of the first view and a first portion of the second view; means for defining a slice of the object model in relation to the zone; means for defining a camera viewpoint in association with the slice so that the camera viewpoint has a position mid an orientation relative to the zone; and means for generating, via the first data processing computer, a command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a geometric image of the object model in accordance with the camera viewpoint. 45. An image processing system of claim 44, wherein the plurality of dimensions includes a plurality of coordinates that define a size and a position of the zone within a coordinate system associated with the object model. 46. An image processing system of claim 44, further comprising means for displaying a first window over the first view to reflect the first portion of the first view associated with the zone. 47. An image processing system of claim 46, wherein the first view is a top-level geometric image of the object model. 48. An image processing system of claim 44, further comprising means for displaying a second window over the second view to reflect the first portion of the second view associated with the zone. 49. An image processing system of claim 48, wherein the second view is a side view of the object model. 50. An image processing system of claim 49, wherein the side view is a cross section geometric image of the object model. 51. An image processing system of claim 44, the means for defining a slice comprises means for receiving a slice selection image boundary associated with a second portion of the second view of the zone, and means for displaying the slice selection image boundary over the second view to reflect the second portion relative to the zone. 52. An image processing system of claim 51, further comprising means for generating another command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a cross section geometric image of the object model based on the slice selection image boundary and means for storing the cross section geometric image in association with a definition of the zone. 53. An image processing system of claim 52, wherein the image processing system includes a second data processing computer connected via the network to the first processing computer, the second data processing computer having a viewer operatively configured to identify the zone definition, to display an identification of the zone based on the zone definition, and to display the cross section geometric image associated with the zone definition in response to selection of the identification. 54. An image processing system of claim 53, further comprising means for generating a third command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a top-level geometric image of the object model based on the zone definition and means for storing the cross section geometric image in association with the zone definition, wherein the top-level geometric image reflects geometry of the zone. 55. An image processing system of claim 54, wherein the identification is one of a name corresponding to the zone and the geometry of the zone. 56. An image processing system of claim 53, wherein the means for defining a slice further comprises means for setting a first coordinate of the slice along an axis of the zone to correspond to a first distance in front of the zone in response to the selection of a corresponding option. 57. An image processing system of claim 53, wherein the means for defining a slice further comprises means for setting a first coordinate of the slice along an axis of the zone to correspond to a second distance behind the zone in response to the selection of a corresponding option. 58. An image processing system of claim 53, wherein the slice is one of a pre-determined number of slices to be defined when a corresponding option is selected, and the means for defining a slice further comprises means for setting a first coordinate of each of the slices so that the slices are equally spaced within and along an axis of the zone. 59. An image processing system of claim 53, wherein the slice is one of a number of slices to be defined with the zone when a corresponding option is selected such that each slice is spaced at a pre-determined interval from an adjacent one of the slices. 60. An image processing system of claim 53, wherein the means for defining a slice further comprises means for setting a first coordinate of the slice along an axis of the zone to correspond to a third distance from another axis of the zone in response to the selection of a corresponding option. 61. An image processing system of claim 53, wherein the means for defining a slice further comprises means for defining a position of the slice to include a first slice coordinate along an axis of the zone, and the means for defining a camera viewpoint further comprises means for receiving a boundary for the slice, the slice boundary being disposed in a plane at the first slice coordinate and encompassing the camera viewpoint. 62. An image processing system of claim 61, further comprising means for generating a fourth command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a slice geometric image of the object model based on the slice boundary and storing the slice geometric image in association with a definition of the slice. 63. An image processing system of claim 62, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to identify the slice definition, to display a line in association with the cross section geometric image to reflect the position of the slice relative to the zone, and to display the slice geometric image in response to selection of the line. 64. An image processing system of claim 63, wherein the means for defining a camera viewpoint further comprises means for displaying a third view of the object model corresponding to the slice, and displaying the camera viewpoint in association with the third view to reflect the camera viewpoint position relative to the slice. 65. An image processing system of claim 64, wherein the third view corresponds to the slice geometric image. 66. An image processing system of claim 64, wherein the means for defining a camera viewpoint further comprises means for receiving a position for a new camera viewpoint relative to the slice, and displaying the new camera viewpoint in association with the third view to reflect the new camera viewpoint position relative to the slice. 67. An image processing system of claim 64, wherein the camera viewpoint is one of a plurality of viewpoints associated with the slice, and the means for defining a camera viewpoint further comprises means for receiving a selection of one of the plurality of viewpoints and deleting the selected one from the plurality of viewpoints. 68. An image processing system of claim 64, wherein the means for defining a camera viewpoint further comprises means for receiving a new position for the camera viewpoint relative to the slice and displaying the camera viewpoint in association with the third view to reflect the new camera viewpoint position. 69. An image processing system of claim 64, wherein the position of the camera viewpoint is within a cube having a plurality of sides, and the means for generating, via the first data processing computer, a command sequence further comprises means for causing the image generator to produce a plurality of geometric images of the object model from the camera viewpoint position and corresponding to the sides of the cube. 70. An image processing system of claim 69, wherein the means for defining a slice further comprises means for associating a camera orientation designator with a definition of the slice and storing the slice definition in association with the zone definition, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to identify the camera orientation designator and selectively display a first of the plurality of geometric images based on the camera orientation designator. 71. An image processing system of claim 70, wherein the means for defining a camera viewpoint further comprises means for associating the position of the camera viewpoint with a definition of the camera viewpoint and storing the camera viewpoint definition in association with the slice definition, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to identify the camera viewpoint definition, to display the camera viewpoint in association with the slice geometric image to reflect the camera viewpoint position, and to display the first of the plurality of geometric images in response to a selection of the camera viewpoint. 72. An image processing system of claim 71, wherein the means for defining a slice further comprises means for associating the position of the camera viewpoint with a definition of the camera viewpoint and storing the camera viewpoint definition in association with the slice definition, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to identify the camera viewpoint definition, to display the camera viewpoint in association with the slice geometric image to reflect the camera viewpoint position, and to display the first of the plurality of geometric images in response to a selection of the camera viewpoint. 73. An image processing system of claim 44, wherein the zone is a first of a plurality of zones of the object model defined using the at least one view. 74. An image processing system of claim 73, wherein each zone definition includes a respective one of a plurality of zone identifiers, a first plurality of coordinates that identify a position of the respective zone in relation to the at least one view, a first plurality of dimensions for deriving a slice selection image boundary relative to the zone, and a second plurality of dimensions for deriving a slice image boundary orthogonal to the slice selection image boundary. 75. An image processing system of claim 74, wherein the slice is a first of a plurality of slices of the object model defined in relation to the first zone. 76. An image processing system of claim 75, wherein each slice definition includes a first coordinate along an axis of the first zone and a second plurality of coordinates that identify a slice camera viewpoint in a plane parallel to the respective slice. 77. An image processing system of claim 76, wherein the camera viewpoint is one of a plurality of camera viewpoints defined in association with the first slice and each camera viewpoint definition includes the position of the respective camera viewpoint relative to the first slice. 78. An image processing system of claim 77, further comprising: means for generating a second command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a plurality of top-level geometric images of the object model based on the plurality of zone definitions, each top-level geometric image reflects geometry of a respective one of the plurality of zones and is associated with the zone identifier of the respective one of the plurality of zones; means for generating a third command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a plurality of cross section geometric images of the object model, each cross section geometric image corresponding to the slice selection image boundary in a respective one of the zone definitions; and means for generating a fourth command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a plurality of slice geometric images of the object model, each slice geometric image corresponding to the slice boundary in a respective one of the zone definitions. 79. An image processing system of claim 78, wherein the image processing system includes a second data processing computer connected via the network to the first processing computer, the second data processing computer having a viewer operatively configured to identify each of the zone definitions, to display each of the zone identifiers, and to display one of the plurality of top-level geometric images corresponding to a selected one of the zone identifiers. 80. An image processing system of claim 79, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to display one of the plurality of cross section geometric images corresponding to the selected one zone identifier when the zone identifier is re-selected. 81. An image processing system of claim 80, wherein, when the selected one zone identifier is the first zone, the viewer is operatively configured to identify each slice defined in relation to the first zone, and to display a plurality of planes in association with the one cross section geometric image such that each plane reflects the first coordinate of in a respective slice definition. 82. An image processing system of claim 81, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to display one of the plurality of slice geometric images corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of planes. 83. An image processing system of claim 82, wherein, when the selected one plane corresponds to the first slice, the viewer is operatively configured to identify each camera viewpoint defined in association with the first slice and to display each camera viewpoint to reflect the position of the respective camera viewpoint relative to the first slice. 84. An image processing system of claim 83, wherein the viewer is operatively configured to display the geometric image of the object model in response to the selection of the first camera viewpoint. 85. A computer-readable medium containing instructions that cause an image processing system having an image generator controller program and a viewer program to perform a method, the image processing system having a plurality of data processing computers operatively connected to a network and an image processing computer operatively connected to the network, the image processing computer having an image generator and an object model produced by the image generator, the method comprising: displaying at least one view of the object model, wherein displaying at least one view comprises displaying a first view of the object relative to a second view of the object model; defining a zone of the object model using the at least one view, wherein defining a zone comprises receiving a plurality of dimensions of the zone corresponding to a first portion of the first view and a first portion of the second view; defining a slice of the object model in relation to the zone; defining a camera viewpoint in association with the slice so that the camera viewpoint has a position and an orientation relative to the zone; and generating, via a first of the data processing computers, a command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a geometric image of the object model in accordance with the camera viewpoint. 86. A computer-readable medium of claim 85, wherein the zone is a first of a plurality of zones of the object model defined using the at least one view. 87. A computer-readable medium of claim 86, wherein each zone definition includes a respective one of a plurality of zone identifiers, a first plurality of coordinates that identify a position of the respective zone in relation to the at least one view, a first plurality of dimensions for deriving a slice selection image boundary relative to the zone, and a second plurality of dimensions for deriving a slice image boundary orthogonal to the slice selection image boundary. 88. A computer-readable medium of claim 87, wherein the slice is a first of a plurality of slices of the object model defined in relation to the first zone. 89. A computer-readable medium of claim 88, wherein each slice definition includes a first coordinate along an axis of the first zone and a second plurality of coordinates that identify a slice camera viewpoint in a plane parallel to the respective slice. 90. A computer-readable medium of claim 89, wherein the camera viewpoint is one of a plurality of camera viewpoints defined in association with the first slice and each camera viewpoint definition includes the position of the respective camera viewpoint relative to the first slice. 91. A computer-readable medium of claim 90, the method further comprising: generating a second command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a plurality of top-level geometric images of the object model based on the plurality of zone definitions, each top-level geometric image reflects geometry of a respective one of the plurality of zones and is associated with the zone identifier of the respective one of the plurality of zones; generating a third command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a plurality of cross section geometric images of the object model, each cross section geometric image corresponding to the slice selection image boundary in a respective one of the zone definitions; and generating a fourth command sequence to cause the image generator to produce a plurality of slice geometric images of the object model, each slice geometric image corresponding to the slice boundary in a respective one of the zone definitions. 92. A computer-readable medium of claim 91, wherein the viewer program is operatively configured to identify each of the zone definitions, to display each of the zone identifiers, and to display one of the plurality of top-level geometric images corresponding to a selected one of the zone identifiers. 93. A computer-readable medium of claim 92, wherein the viewer program is operatively configured to display one of the plurality of cross section geometric images corresponding to the selected one zone identifier when the zone identifier is re-selected. 94. A computer-readable medium of claim 93, wherein, when the selected one zone identifier is the first zone, the viewer program is operatively configured to identify each slice defined in relation to the first zone, and to display a plurality of planes in association with the one cross section geometric image such that each plane reflects the first coordinate of in a respective slice definition. 95. A computer-readable medium of claim 94, wherein the viewer program is operatively configured to display one of the plurality of slice geometric images corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of planes. 96. A computer-readable medium of claim 95, wherein, when the selected one plane corresponds to the first slice, the viewer program is operatively configured to identify each camera viewpoint defined in association with the first slice and to display each camera viewpoint to reflect the position of the respective camera viewpoint relative to the first slice. 97. A computer-readable medium of claim 96, wherein the viewer program is operatively configured to display the geometric image of the object model in response to the selection of the first camera viewpoint. 98. A method in an image processing system for viewing geometry of an object model, the method comprising: providing a data processing computer with access to a zone definition, slice definitions associated with the zone definition, and viewpoint definitions associated with the slice definitions, wherein the data processing computer is a first of a pluraliw of data processing computers on a network, and each of the plurality of data processing computers is provided access to the zone definition, the slice definitions, and the viewpoint definitions; receiving, via the data processing computer, an indication of a first of the viewpoint definitions associated with one of the slice definitions; identifying, via the data processing computer, a first of the geometric images corresponding to the first viewpoint definition; and displaying the first geometric image on the data processing computer. 99. A method of claim 98, further comprising determining whether a request has been received to rotate geometry in view in a selected direction; when it is determined that a request has been received to rotate geometry in view in a selected direction, identifying a next geometric image corresponding to the first viewpoint definition and consistent with the selected direction; and displaying the next geometric image on the data processing computer. 100. A method of claim 98, further comprising determining whether a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint; when it is determined that a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint, identifying another viewpoint closest to the first viewpoint in the requested direction, the other viewpoint corresponding to another of the viewpoint definitions associated with the one slice definition; identifying a second of the geometric images corresponding to the other viewpoint definition; and displaying the second geometric image on the data processing computer. 101. A method of claim 98, further comprising: determining whether a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint associated with another slice; when it is determined that a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint associated with another slice, identifying another slice adjacent to the first viewpoint in the requested direction, the other slice corresponding to a second of the slice definitions; identifying another viewpoint closest to the first viewpoint, the other viewpoint corresponding to another of the viewpoint definitions associated with the second slice definition; identifying a third of the geometric images corresponding to the other viewpoint definition associated with the second slice definition; and displaying the third geometric image on the data processing computer. 102. A method of claim 98, wherein the step of displaying the first geometric image on the data processing computer further comprises displaying the first geometric image in association with a plurality of slice identifications corresponding to the slice definitions, and further comprising: determining whether one of the slice identifications has been selected; when it is detennined that one of the slice identifications has been selected, identifying a slice geometric image from among the geometric images that corresponds to the selected slice; and displaying the slice geometric image on the data processing computer. 103. A method of claim 102, wherein the step of displaying the slice geometric image further comprises: identifying each viewpoint definition associated with the selected slice; displaying each viewpoint associated with the selected slice to reflect the position of the respective viewpoint relative to the slice geometric image. 104. A method of claim 98, wherein the zone definition is a first of a plurality of zone definitions used to generate a plurality of geometric images, and the step of receiving an indication of a first of the viewpoint definitions further comprises: identifying, via the data processing computer, each zone definition; displaying a plurality of zone identifications associated with the zone definitions; determining whether one of the zone identifications has been selected; when it is determined that one of the zone identifications has been selected, identifying one of the geometric images as a top-level geometric image corresponding to the selected zone identification; and displaying the top-level geometric image on the data processing computer. 105. A method of claim 104, wherein the top-level geometric image reflects geometry of the zone corresponding to the selected zone identification, further comprising: determining whether the geometry of the zone has been selected; when it is determined that the geometry of the zone has been selected, identifying another of the geometric images as a cross-section geometric image corresponding to the selected zone identification; and displaying the cross section geometric image on the data processing computer. 106. A method of claim 104, further comprising: determining whether the selected zone identification has been re-selected; when it is determined that the selected zone identification has been re-selected, identifying another of the geometric images as a cross-section geometric image corresponding to the selected zone identification; and displaying the cross section geometric image on the data processing computer. 107. A method of claim 105, further comprising: determining whether the selected zone identification corresponds to the first zone definition; when the selected zone identification corresponds to the first zone definition, identifying each slice definition associated with the first zone definition; and displaying a plurality of planes in association with the cross section geometric image such that each plane reflects each slice of the first zone. 108. A method of claim 107, further comprising: determining whether one of the planes is selected; when it is detennined that one of the planes is selected, identifying a slice geometric image from among the geometric images that corresponds to the selected plane; and displaying the slice geometric image on the data processing computer. 109. A method of claim 108, wherein the step of displaying the slice geometric image further comprises: identifying each viewpoint definition associated with the selected plane; displaying each viewpoint associated with the selected plane to reflect the position of the respective viewpoint relative to the slice geometric image. 110. A method of claim 108, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a first of the viewpoint definitions further comprises receiving a selection of the displayed first viewpoint. 111. An image processing system, comprising: a storage haying a plurality of zone definitions of an object model produced using an image generator hosted on an image processing computer, a plurality of slice definitions associated with the zone definitions and a plurality of viewpoint definitions associated the slice definitions, the storage further having a plurality of geometric images of the object model produced using an image generator in accordance with the zone definitions, the slice definitions, and the viewpoint definitions; and a data processing computer including a memory having an image viewer program that identifies each zone from the zone definitions, displays a respective identifier for each of the zones, determines whether one of the zone identifiers has been selected; when it is determined that one of the zone identifiers has been selected, identifies one of the geometric images as a top-level geometric image corresponding to the selected zone identifier; and displays the top-level geometric image, the data processing computer further including a processor to run the image viewer program. 112. An image processing system of claim 111, wherein the top-level geometric image reflects geometry of the zone corresponding to the selected zone identifier, and the image viewer program further determines whether the geometry of the zone has been selected, when it is determined that the geometry of the zone has been selected, identifies another of the geometric images as a cross-section geometric image corresponding to the selected zone identifier, and displays the cross section geometric image. 113. An image processing system of claim 111, wherein the image viewer program further determines whether the selected zone identifier has been re-selected, when it is detennined that the selected zone identifier has been re-selected, identifies another of the geometric images as a cross-section geometric image corresponding to the selected zone identifier, and displays the cross section geometric image. 114. An image processing system of claim 113, wherein, when the selected zone identifier has been reselected, the image viewer program further identifies each slice definition associated with the selected zone identifier, and displays a plurality of planes in association with the cross section geometric image such that each plane reflects each slice of the selected zone. 115. An image processing system of claim 114, wherein the image viewer program further determines whether one of the planes is selected, when it is determined that one of the planes is selected, identifies a slice geometric image from among the geometric images that corresponds to the selected plane, and displays the slice geometric image. 116. An image processing system of claim 115, wherein, when it is detennined that one of the planes is selected, the image viewer program further identifies each viewpoint definition associated with the selected plane and displays each viewpoint associated with the selected plane to reflect the position of the respective viewpoint relative to the slice geometric image. 117. An image processing system of claim 116, wherein the image viewer program further determines whether one of the displayed viewpoints associated with the selected plane has been selected, when it is determined that one of the displayed viewpoints has been selected, identifies a first of the geometric images that corresponds to the selected viewpoint, and displays the first geometric image. 118. An image processing system of claim 117, wherein the image viewer program further determines whether a request has been received to rotate geometry in view in a selected direction, when it is determined that a request has been received to rotate geometry in view in a selected direction, identifies a next geometric image corresponding to the selected viewpoint and consistent with the selected direction, and displays the next geometric image. 119. An image processing system of claim 117, wherein the image viewer program further determines whether a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint, when it is determined that a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint, identifies another viewpoint closest to the selected viewpoint in the requested direction, the other viewpoint corresponding to another of the viewpoint definitions associated with the selected plane, identifies a second of the geometric images corresponding to the other viewpoint definition, and displays the-second geometric image. 120. An image processing system of claim 117, wherein the image viewer program further determines whether a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint associated with another slice, when it is determined that a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint associated with another slice, identifies another slice adjacent to the selected viewpoint in the requested direction, the other slice corresponding to a second of the slice definitions, identifies another viewpoint closest to the first viewpoint, the other viewpoint corresponding to another of the viewpoint definitions associated with the second slice definition, identifies a third of the geometric images corresponding to the other viewpoint definition associated with the second slice definition, and displays the third geometric image. 121. An image processing system of claim 117, wherein the image viewer program further displays the first geometric image in association with a plurality of slice identifications corresponding to the slice definitions, determines whether one of the slice identifications has been selected, when it is determined that one of the slice identifications has been selected, identifies another slice geometric image from among the geometric images that corresponds to the selected slice; and displays the other slice geometric image. 122. A computer-readable medium containing instructions that cause an image processing system having a viewer program to perform a method, the image processing system having a plurality of zone definitions of an object model produced using an image generator hosted on an image processing computer, a plurality of slice definitions associated with the zone definitions, a plurality of viewpoint definitions associated the slice definitions, and a plurality of geometric images of the object model produced using an image generator in accordance with the zone definitions, the slice definitions, and the viewpoint definitions, the method comprising: identifying each zone from the zone definitions; displaying a respective identifier for each of the zones; determining whether one of the zone identifiers has been selected; when it is determined that one of the zone identifiers has been selected, identifying one of the geometric images as a top-level geometric image corresponding to the selected zone identifier; and displaying the top-level geometric image. 123. A computer-readable medium of claim 122, wherein the top-level geometric image reflects geometry of the zone corresponding to the selected zone identifier, and the method further comprises: detennining whether the geometry of the zone has been selected, when it is determined that the geometry of the zone has been selected, identifying another of the geometric images as a cross-section geometric image corresponding to the selected zone identifier, and displaying the cross section geometric image. 124. A computer-readable meditun of claim 123, wherein the method further comprises: determining whether the selected zone identifier has been re-selected, when it is determined that the selected zone identifier has been re-selected, identifying another of the geometric images as a cross-section geometric image corresponding to the selected zone identifier; and displaying the cross section geometric image. 125. A computer-readable medium of claim 124, wherein the step of displaying the cross section geometric image further comprises: identifying each slice definition associated with the selected zone identifier; and displaying a plurality of planes in association with the cross section geometric image such that each plane reflects each slice of the selected zone. 126. A computer-readable medium of claim 125, wherein the method further comprises: determining whether one of the planes is selected; when it is determined that one of the planes is selected, identifying a slice geometric image from among the geometric images that corresponds to the selected plane, and displaying the slice geometric image. 127. A computer-readable medium of claim 126, wherein the method further comprises: when it is determined that one of the planes is selected, identifying each viewpoint definition associated with the selected plane, and displaying each viewpoint associated with the selected plane to reflect the position of the respective viewpoint relative to the slice geometric image. 128. A computer-readable medium of claim 127, wherein the method further comprises: determining whether one of the displayed viewpoints associated with the selected plane has been selected, when it is determined that one of the displayed viewpoints has been selected, identifying a first of the geometric images that corresponds to the selected viewpoint, and displaying the first geometric image. 129. A computer-readable medium of claim 128, wherein the method further comprises: determining whether a request has been received to rotate geometry in view in a selected direction, when it is determined that a request has been received to rotate geometry in view in a selected direction, identifying a next geometric image corresponding to the selected viewpoint and consistent with the selected direction, and displaying the next geometric image. 130. A computer-readable medium of claim 128, wherein the method further comprises: determining whether a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint; when it is determined that a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint, identifying another viewpoint closest to the selected viewpoint in the requested direction, the other viewpoint corresponding to another of the viewpoint definitions associated with the selected plane; identifying a second of the geometric images corresponding to the other viewpoint definition; and displaying the second geometric image. 131. A computer-readable medium of claim 128, wherein the method further comprises: determining whether a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint associated with another slice, when it is determined that a request has been received to move in a direction to another viewpoint associated with another slice, identifying another slice adjacent to the selected viewpoint in the requested direction, the other slice corresponding to a second of the slice definitions; identifying another viewpoint closest to the first viewpoint, the other viewpoint corresponding to another of the viewpoint definitions associated with the second slice definition; identifyiiig a third of the geometric images corresponding to the other viewpoint definition associated with the second slice definition; and displaying the third geometric image. 132. A computer-readable medium of claim 128, wherein the method further comprises: displaying the first geometric image in association with a plurality of slice identifications corresponding to the slice definitions; determining whether one of the slice identifications has been selected; when it is determined that one of the slice identifications has been selected, identifying another slice geometric image from among the geometric images that corresponds to the selected slice; and displaying the other slice geometric image.