Method for aiding space design using network, system therefor, and server computer of the system

• US 20020032546A1
• Filed: 09/12/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Matsushita Electric Works Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukushima, Ryuji, Nishimori, Yasunori, Tsuda, Yasushi, Nakanishi, Hiroyasu, Imamura, kayo, Aoi, katsuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design

Abstract

Provided is an environment which enables a user to implement 3D space design on a computer accessible to a server computer via a network. The server computer includes a layout design program which is operable on a screen activated by a browser of the client computer to enable the user to implement space design of a layout in the terms of a 2D image, an object database which stores object data used for layout design for retrieval and extraction, and a 3D display program which is operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed space in the terms of a 3D image. The client computer is equipped with the browser capable of executing programs of the layout design program and the 3D display program. Upon receiving the layout design program and the 3D display program from the server computer via the network, the programs of the layout design program and the 3D display program are executable on the browser screen.

Claims

1. A method for aiding space design on a computer accessible to a server computer via a network, the server computer storing a layout design program operable on a screen activated by a browser of a client computer to enable an user to implement space design of a layout in the terms of a 2D image, an object database storing object data used in the layout design for retrieval and extraction, and a 3D display program operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed space in the terms of a 3D image, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing the server computer from the browser of the client computer;

transmitting the layout design program and the 3D display program to the browser of the client computer from the server computer via the network; and

transmitting the object data stored in the object database from the server computer via the network in response to a request from the layout design program which is being activated on the browser screen of the client computer.

2. A system for computerizedly aiding space design, the system comprising a server computer, and a client computer accessible to the server computer via a network, wherein the server computer stores:

a layout design program which is operable on a screen activated by a browser of the client computer to enable the user to implement space design of a layout in the terms of a 2D image,

an object database which stores object data used in layout design for retrieval and extraction, and

a 3D display program which is operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed space in the terms of a 3D image, and

the server computer is so configured as to transmit the layout design program, the object data stored in the object database, and the 3D display program to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the network;

the client computer is provided with a browser capable of activating the layout design program and the 3D display program, and is so configured as to activate the layout design program and the 3D display program on the browser screen upon receiving the layout design program and the 3D display program from the server computer via the network; and

the layout design program has a function of obtaining the object data from the object database of the server computer via the network during activation of the layout design program on the browser screen of the client computer for utilization in layout design.

3. A server computer for use in a space design aiding system which aids a space design on a client computer accessible to the server computer via a network, the server computer stores:

a layout design program which is operable on a screen activated by a browser of the client computer to enable the user to implement space design of a layout in the terms of a 2D image,

an object database which stores object data used in layout design for retrieval and extraction, and

a 3D display program which is operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed space in the terms of a 3D image;

the server computer being so configured as to transmit the layout design program, the object data stored in the object database, and the 3D display program to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the network; and

the layout design program having a function of obtaining the object data from the object database of the server computer via the network during activation of the browser of the client computer for utilization in layout design.

4. The server computer according to claim 3, wherein the layout design program executes layout design by combining formation of a room by inversely displaying a region corresponding to a certain number of squares defined by grid lines provided on a browsed screen in the terms of a 2D image and arrangement of an object representing the room in the terms of a 2D image.

5. The server computer according to claim 3, wherein the layout design program executes layout design by depicting an outline of the room along a grid line provided on browsed screen in the terms of a 2D image.

6. The server computer according to claim 3, wherein the 3D display program executes transformation of 2D images of a designed layout into 3D images for 3D image display.

7. The server computer according to claim 6, wherein the 3D display program executes display of a designed space in the terms of a 3D image after the layout design is completed by the layout design program.

9. The server computer according to claim 6, wherein the 3D display program executes transformation of 2D images of a designed layout into 3D images for 3D image display each time the layout design about one object is completed by the layout design program.

10. The server computer according to claim 9, wherein the 3D display program executes display of 2D images in the terms of a 3D image each time the layout design about one object is completed by the layout design program.

11. The server computer according to claim 3, wherein the layout design program executes revision of a layout in the terms of a 3D image, and display of the revised layout in the terms of a 2D image.

13. The server computer according to claim 12, wherein the layout design program executes automatic linking of stairs linking a lower floor and a middle floor and stairs linking the middle floor and an upper floor in the case where there are displayed the stairs linking the lower floor and the middle floor and the stairs linking the middle floor and the upper floor within a plane representing the middle floor at the time of designing a layout of the middle floor.

14. The server computer according to claim 3, wherein the layout design program executes storing of space information of a designed layout in a predetermined storage region of either of the client computer and the server computer.

15. The server computer according to claim 14, wherein the layout design program executes reading of space information from the predetermined storage region to revise the layout based on the read-out space information.

16. The server computer according to claim 15, wherein the layout design program executes reading of space information from the predetermined storage region, and display of a space corresponding to the read-out space information and a space of a layout which is being revised.

17. The server computer according to claim 3, wherein the server computer stores an interior simulator program which enables the user to implement interior simulation by jointly displaying interior-related objects including interior commodity having fixture, and is so configured as to transmit the interior simulator program to the client computer via the network upon receiving a request from the client computer,

the interior simulator program execute obtaining of interior-related object data representing interior-related objects via the network firm an interior-related object database which stores the interior-related object data for retrieval and extraction during activation of the browser of the client computer so as to enable the user to implement the interior simulation.

18. The server computer according to claim 17, wherein the interior simulator program executes specifying of a position for jointly displaying interior-related objects selected in the space designed of a layout along with information which specifies interior-related objects selected in the interior simulation to store the position along with the interior-related information in a predetermined storage region of either of the client computer and the server computer.

19. The server computer according to claim 17, wherein the interior-related object database includes a commodity database which stores data relating to the interior commodity including the furniture created by a dealer selling the interior commodity.

20. The server computer according to claim 3, wherein the layout design program executes setting of a site based on which space design of a layout is implemented.

21. The server computer according to claim 3, wherein the layout design program executes obtaining of information relating to a frame of a house constructed according to a skeleton-infill technique from a frame information database which stores the frame information including information relating to a pillar, a beam, and a plumbing to implement layout design within constraint accompanied by the layout design based on the obtained frame information.

22. The server computer according to claim 3, further comprising an information provider database which is so configured as to store information relating to a space designed of a layout which is supplied from a first client computer and to provide a second client computer with he stored space information.

23. The server computer according to claim 22, wherein the information provider database includes a Land information database which is so configured as to enable the first client computer to register information relating to a site based on which space design is implemented of a layout, the site being a construction area within which a house is authorized to be built according to a construction regulation, along with information relating to a land to be sold by the first client computer and to provide the second client computer with land information along with the site information, the first client computer including a seller of the land or an agency dealing with sales of the land, and the second client computer being a prospective purchaser who plans to purchase the land.

24. The server computer according to claim 22, wherein the information provider database include a design information database which is so configured as to receive registration of information relating to a plurality of layouts designed by the first client computer on the first client computer and to provide the second client computer with the plurality of layout information, the first client computer including a plurality of designers, and the second client computer including a customer who plans to place order of building a house.

25. The server computer according to claim 22, wherein the information provider database includes a rental housing information database which is so configured as to receive registration of information relating to a layout of a rental housing and to enable the second client computer to browse the layout information of the rental housing, the first client computer being provided for a lender of the rental housing, and the second client computer being provided for a prospective lessee of the rental housing.

26. The server computer according to claim 25, wherein the rental housing information database is so configured as to enable the first client computer to register information relating to a rental housing along with the layout information of the rental housing.

27. The server computer according to claim 3, wherein the server computer includes a contractor administration database for discriminating whether the user reached an agreement of utilization of the system, and is so configured as to restrict utilization of the object data from the object database by the user in the case where it is judged that the user has not reached the agreement.

8. The server computer according to aim 7, wherein the 3D display program executes transformation of 2D images of a designed layout into 3D images for 3D image display after the layout design is completed by the layout design program.

12. The server computer according to aim 3, wherein the layout design program executes display of a layout of an upper floor over a layout of a lower floor in a superimposed manner as a perspective view in the terms of a 2D image when design is implemented for the layout of the upper floor.

28. A system for computerizedly aiding space design, the system comprising a server computer, and a client computer accessible to the server computer via a network, wherein the server computer stores:

an object database which is operable on a screen activated by a browser of the client computer and stores object data used in layout design for retrieval and extraction in Cation with an operation of a layout design program which enables the user to implement space design of a layout in the terms of a 2D image; and

a 3D display program which is operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed space in the terms of a 3D image;

the server computer is so configured as to transmit the object data stored in the object database and the 3D display program to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the network;

the client computer is provided with a layout design program and a browser capable of activating the layout design program and the 3D display program, and is so configured as to activate the 3D display program on the browser screen upon receiving the 3D display program from the server computer via the network; and

the layout design program executes obtaining of the object data from the object database of the server computer via the network during activation of the browser of the client computer for utilization in layout design.

29. A system for computerizedly aiding space design, the system comprising a server computer, and a client computer accessible to the server computer via a network, wherein the server computer stores:

a layout design program which is operable on a screen activated by a browser of the client computer to enable the user to implement space design of a layout in the terms of a 2D image; and

an object database which stores object data used in layout design for retrieval and extraction;

the server computer is so configured as to transmit the layout design program and the object data stored in the object database to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the network;

the client computer is provided with a browser capable of activating the layout design program, equipped with a 3D display program which is operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed space in the terms of a 3D image, and is so configured as to activate the layout design program on the browser screen upon receiving the layout design program via the network from the sever; and

the layout design program executes obtaining of the object data from the object database via the network during activation of the layout design program on the browser screen of the client computer utilization in layout design.

30. A system for computerizedly aiding space design, the system comprising a server computer, and a client computer accessible to the server computer via a network, wherein the server computer stores:

a layout design program which is operable on a screen activated by a browser of the client computer to enable the user to implement space design of a layout in the terms of a 2D image; and

a 3D display program which is operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed space in the terms of a 3D image,

the server computer is so confined as to transmit the layout design program and the 3D display program to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the network;

the client computer is provided with a browser capable of activating the layout design program and the 3D display program, equipped with an object database which stores object data used in layout design for retrieval and extraction, and is so configured as to activate tho layout design program and the 3D display program on the browser screen upon receiving the layout design program and the 3D display program via the network from the sever; and

the layout design program executes obtaining of the object data from the object database via the network during activation of the layout design program on the browser screen of the client computer for utilization in layout design.