Method for manipulating a computer aided design (CAD) model, computer program product and server therefore

• US 10,169,493 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bricsys NV (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: Bricsys NV (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Clarysse, Pieter, Garud, Shivdeep, De Backer, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Thai Q
• Application Number:
  US14/909,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20160179986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,973 Days
• Field of Search: 703 2, 703 22, 345157, 345619, 715782, 715769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

The disclosed method for manipulating a computer aided design (CAD) model includes the computer-implemented steps of a user determining one or more entities in a CAD model with a cursor, determining a set of adequate user action(s) to execute on the entities and providing a suggestion menu which contains the set of adequate user actions, partly determined by previously executed user actions. A second method for manipulating a CAD model includes the computer-implemented steps of a user determining one or more entities with a cursor, determining a set of adequate user actions to execute on the entities and providing a suggestion menu which contains the set of adequate user actions, partly determined by a geometric analysis on any of the entities in an area within a predetermined proximity of the cursor. A computer program product and server for manipulating a CAD model are also described.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating a computer aided design (CAD) model, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

a) determining one or more entities in a CAD model that are associated with a cursor controlled by a user;

b) determining a set of one or more adequate user actions to execute on said one or more entities;

c) providing a suggestion menu comprising said set of one or more adequate user actions;

characterized in, that said set of one or more adequate user actions is partly determined by previously executed user actions by said user, wherein each one of the previously executed user actions is a CAD action previously executed on said one or more entities in the CAD model.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said set of one or more adequate user actions is partly determined by frequently executed user actions by said user.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said set of one or more adequate user actions is partly determined by frequently executed sequences of user actions by said user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said set of one or more adequate user actions is partly determined by a geometric analysis on any of one or more entities in an area within a predetermined proximity of the cursor, wherein said geometric analysis comprises analyzing neighboring entities and their mutual geometric relationship and position.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein step c is performed by:

c1) providing a first suggestion menu, comprising one adequate user action;

c2) providing a second suggestion menu, comprising said set of one or more adequate user actions.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said set of one or more adequate user actions is ordered in groups of related adequate user actions.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step a is performed by:

a1) determining a first entity of a CAD model;

a2) hovering the cursor on or within a predetermined proximity of a second entity of said CAD model.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein step a1 is performed by selecting said first entity.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said first entity may be two or more entities.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein step a1 is performed by said hovering of the cursor in step a2, wherein said hovering of the cursor is on or within a predetermined proximity of said second entity.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein said first and/or said second entity is a subentity.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein said first or second entity is not part of a same entity as of said second or first entity respectively.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said set of one or more adequate user actions is determined by a weighed prioritization based on geometrical analysis, execution recentness, execution frequency and sequence execution frequency of one or more adequate user actions determined for one or more possible combinations of said one or more entities in an area within a predetermined proximity of the cursor.

14. A method for manipulating a computer aided design (CAD) model, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

a) determining one or more entities in a CAD model that are associated with a cursor controlled by a user;

b) determining a set of one or more adequate user actions to execute on said one or more entities;

c) providing a suggestion menu, comprising said set of one or more adequate user actions;

characterized in that said set of one or more adequate user actions is partly determined by a geometric analysis on any of one or more entities in an area within a predetermined proximity of the cursor, wherein said geometric analysis comprises analyzing neighboring entities and their mutual geometric relationship and position.

15. A computer program product for manipulating a computer aided design (CAD) model, said computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising instructions for:

a) determining one or more entities in a CAD model that are associated with a cursor controlled by a user;

b) determining a set of one or more adequate user actions to execute on said one or more entities;

c) providing a suggestion menu, comprising said set of one or more adequate user actions;

characterized in that said set of one or more adequate user actions is partly determined by previously executed user actions by said user, wherein each one of the previously executed user actions is a CAD action previously executed on said one or more entities in the CAD model.

17. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein said set of one or more adequate user actions is determined by a weighed prioritization based on geometrical analysis, execution recentness, execution frequency and sequence execution frequency of one or more adequate user actions determined for one or more possible combinations of said one or more entities in an area within a predetermined proximity of the cursor.

16. A server for manipulating a computer aided design (CAD) model using a computing device connected to the server via a network, the server comprising:

an input receiving module, the input receiving module configured to receive determination of one or more entities in a CAD model set forth by the user;

at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to;

a) determine one or more entities in a CAD model that are associated with a cursor controlled by a user;

b) determine a set of one or more adequate user actions to execute on said one or more entities;

c) provide a suggestion menu, comprising said set of one or more adequate user actions;

characterized in that said set of one or more adequate user actions is partly determined by previously executed user actions by said user, wherein each one of the previously executed user actions is a CAD action previously executed on said one or more entities in the CAD model.

18. The server according to claim 16, wherein said set of one or more adequate user actions is determined by a weighed prioritization based on geometrical analysis, execution recentness, execution frequency and sequence execution frequency of one or more adequate user actions determined for one or more possible combinations of said one or more entities in an area within a predetermined proximity of the cursor.