Geometric modeling system with intelligent configuring of solid shapes

• US 20050188348A1
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ironcad, LLC (IronNet, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ironcad, LLC (IronNet, Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Yawei, Cargill, Bryan, Han, Tao-Yang
• Granted Patent: US 7,479,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/10 Constructive solid geometry [CSG] using solid primitives, e.g. cylinders, cubes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]

Abstract

A computer program product (190), and a geometric modeling system which executes the program, provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object upon a display device (158). The program (190) detects insertion of a generic movant solid shape into a scene for relating the movant sold shape to a target or host solid shape. Upon detection of insertion, the program configures data representative of one of the movant solid shape and the target solid shape. The representative data is configured so that one of the solid shapes of the relation is depicted on the display device as having a particular attribute(s) in accordance with (1) an attribute of the solid shape with which it relates; and/or (2) one or more predetermined rules. The program can configure the representative data of the movant solid shape in accordance with an attribute of the target solid shape in various ways (e.g., as having a particular size or dimension for compatibility with the target solid shape, or as having a particular position or physical orientation relative to the target solid shape). The predetermine rule(s) by which the program can configure the movant solid shape can be based on diverse criteria (e.g., as a particular member of a class of solid shapes represented by a generic solid shape, as a preferred procurement item). In an example implementation, configuration of the movant solid shape, and in some situations the target solid shape, is facilitated by the program allocating a part object for each of solid shape, with each part object having one or more connector objects conceptually associated with corresponding physical locations on the respective solid shape.

Claims

1. A computer program product which provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object upon a display device, the program comprising computer readable coded instructions stored in a memory, the computer readable coded instructions being executable on a processor to which information is input via a user input device, wherein when executed the computer program:

detects insertion of a movant solid shape into a context including a target solid shape; and

configures the movant solid shape as having a particular attribute in accordance with an attribute of the target solid shape.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the program configures representative data of the movant solid shape as having a particular attribute in accordance with an attribute of the target solid shape.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the program configures the movant solid shape as having a particular size or dimension for compatibility with the target solid shape.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the program configures the movant solid shape as having a particular position relative to the target solid shape.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the program configures the movant solid shape as having a particular physical orientation relative to the target solid shape.

6. A computer program product which provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object upon a display device, the program comprising computer readable coded instructions stored in a memory, the computer readable coded instructions being executable on a processor to which information is input via a user input device, wherein when executed the computer program:

detects insertion of a movant solid shape into a context including a target solid shape; and

configures the movant solid shape as having a particular attribute in accordance with a predetermined rule.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer program configures representative data of the movant solid shape as having a particular attribute in accordance with a predetermined rule.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the predetermined rule is used to configure the movant solid shape as a particular member of a class of solid shapes represented by a generic solid shape.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the program uses the predetermined rule to configure the movant solid shape as a preferred procurement item.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program uses the predetermined rule to configure the movant solid shape as a preferred procurement item supplied by a preferred vendor.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program uses the predetermined rule to configure the movant solid shape as a preferred procurement item in accordance with inventory or availability.

12. A computer program product which provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object upon a display device, the program comprising computer readable coded instructions stored in a memory, the computer readable coded instructions being executable on a processor to which information is input via a user input device, wherein when executed the computer program:

allocates a connector object for each of plural solid shapes, each connector object being conceptually associated with a physical location on the respective solid shape, the connector object including configuration information pertaining to how its solid shape is to be configured relative to another solid shape;

determines an affinity of a connector object of a movant solid shape and a connector object of a target solid shape;

in positioning and displaying the movant solid shape and the target solid shape relative to one another, configures one of the movant solid shape and the target solid shape in accordance with the configuration information of at least one of the respective connector objects.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the program configures representative data of one of the movant solid shape and the target solid shape in accordance with the configuration information.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the configuration information includes connector affinity eligibility information, and wherein in determining the affinity of the connector object for the movant solid shape and the connector object for the target solid shape the program uses the connector affinity eligibility information to determine one or more connector objects of the target solid shape that are eligible for pairing with the connector object for the movant solid shape.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the connector object includes a connector name field, and wherein the connector affinity eligibility information is derived from the name field.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein when the program determines plural connector objects of the target solid shape can be paired with the connector object for the movant solid shape, the program invokes a predetermined rule for choosing one of the plural connector objects of the target solid shape to be paired with the connector object for the movant shape.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the predetermined rule is to choose from the plural connector objects of the target solid shape, for pairing with the connector object for the movant shape, a connector object having an associated physical location which is nearest a physical drop location of the connector object of the movant solid shape as displayed on the display device.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the configuration information includes positional information;

and wherein the program utilizes the positional information to determine how the target solid shape and the movant solid shape are to be oriented relative to one another at the physical locations associated with paired connector objects.

19. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the configuration information includes geometry dependency information which enables the program to determine at least one physical parameter of one of the target solid shape and the movant solid shape.

20. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the configuration information includes procurement information which enables the program to determine a procurement item for the movant solid shape.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the procurement information indicates multiple candidate vendors for the movant solid shape;

and wherein the program determines a preferred vendor for the movant solid shape.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the program determines a preferred vendor for the movant solid shape based on predetermined criteria.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the procurement information indicates multiple candidate procurement items for the movant solid shape;

and wherein the program determines a preferred procurement item for the movant solid shape.

24. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the program determines a preferred procurement item for the movant solid shape based on predetermined criteria.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the predetermined criteria is inventory or availability.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the predetermined criteria is vendor.

27. A three dimensional geometric modeling system comprising:

a processor which executes a program comprising set of coded instructions stored in a memory;

a display device upon which, when executed, the program provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object comprising at least one solid shape,

a user input device for inputting information to the processor;

wherein, in response to communication via the user input device of insertion of a movant solid shape into a context including a target solid shape, the processor in executing the program configures the movant solid shape as having a particular attribute in accordance with an attribute of the target solid shape.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the program configures representative data of the movant solid shape as having a particular attribute in accordance with an attribute of the target solid shape

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the program configures the movant solid shape as having a particular size or dimension for compatibility with the target solid shape.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the program configures the movant solid shape as having a particular position relative to the target solid shape.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the program configures the movant solid shape as having a particular physical orientation relative to the target solid shape.

32. A three dimensional geometric modeling system comprising:

a processor which executes a program comprising set of coded instructions stored in a memory;

a display device upon which, when executed, the program provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object comprising at least one solid shape,

a user input device for inputting information to the processor;

wherein, in response to communication via the user input device of insertion of a movant solid shape into a context including a target solid shape, the processor in executing the program configures the movant solid shape as having a particular attribute in accordance with a predetermined rule.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the program configures representative data of the movant solid shape as having a particular attribute in accordance with a predetermined rule.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the predetermined rule is used to configure the movant solid shape as a particular member of a class of solid shapes represented by a generic solid shape.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the program uses the predetermined rule to configure the movant solid shape as a preferred procurement item.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the program uses the predetermined rule to configure the movant solid shape as a preferred procurement item supplied by a preferred vendor.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the program uses the predetermined rule to configure the movant solid shape as a preferred procurement item in accordance with inventory or availability.

38. A three dimensional geometric modeling system comprising:

a processor which executes a program comprising set of coded instructions stored in a memory;

a display device upon which, when executed, the program provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object comprising at least one solid shape,

a user input device for inputting information to the processor;

wherein, in executing the program, the processor;

allocates a connector object for each of plural solid shapes, each connector object being conceptually associated with a physical location on the respective solid shape, the connector object including configuration information pertaining to how its solid shape is to be configured relative to another solid shape;

determines an affinity of a connector object of a movant solid shape and a connector object of a target solid shape;

in positioning and displaying the movant solid shape and the target solid shape relative to one another, configures one of the movant solid shape and the target solid shape in accordance with the configuration information of at least one of the respective connector objects.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the program configures representative data of one of the movant solid shape and the target solid shape in accordance with the configuration information.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the configuration information includes connector affinity eligibility information, and wherein in determining the affinity of the connector object for the movant solid shape and the connector object for the target solid shape the program uses the connector affinity eligibility information to determine one or more connector objects of the target solid shape that are eligible for pairing with the connector object for the movant solid shape.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the connector object includes a connector name field, and wherein the connector affinity eligibility information is derived from the name field.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein when the program determines plural connector objects of the target solid shape can be paired with the connector object for the movant solid shape, the program invokes a predetermined rule for choosing one of the plural connector objects of the target solid shape to be paired with the connector object for the movant shape.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the predetermined rule is to choose from the plural connector objects of the target solid shape, for pairing with the connector object for the movant shape, a connector object having an associated physical location which is nearest a physical drop location of the connector object of the movant solid shape as displayed on the display device.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the configuration information includes positional information;

and wherein the program utilizes the positional information to determine how the target solid shape and the movant solid shape are to be oriented relative to one another at the physical locations associated with paired connector objects.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein the configuration information includes geometry dependency information which enables the program to determine at least one physical parameter of one of the target solid shape and the movant solid shape.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein the configuration information includes procurement information which enables the program to determine a procurement item for the movant solid shape.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the procurement information indicates multiple candidate vendors for the movant solid shape;

and wherein the program determines a preferred vendor for the movant solid shape.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the program determines a preferred vendor for the movant solid shape based on predetermined criteria.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the procurement information indicates multiple candidate procurement items for the movant solid shape;

and wherein the program determines a preferred procurement item for the movant solid shape.

50. The system of claim 38, wherein the program determines a preferred procurement item for the movant solid shape based on predetermined criteria.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the predetermined criteria is inventory or availability.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the predetermined criteria is vendor.