Constraint-based method of designing a route for a transport element
First Claim
1. A method of designing a route for a second transport element at least partially based upon the route for a first transport element, the method comprising:
- establishing at least one constraint that limits possible routes for the second transport element, wherein establishing the at least one constraint comprises establishing at least one inequality constraint which limits the possible routes for the second transport element without fixing the position of any portion of the second transport element, wherein establishing the at least one constraint further comprises establishing at least one constraint object based upon the route for the first transport element;
establishing an overall cost function for evaluating the possible routes for the second transport element; and
automatically defining the route for the second transport element in accordance with the at least one constraint and pursuant to the overall cost function, wherein automatically defining the route for the second transport element comprises defining the route for the second transport element to include straight segments that are non-orthogonal relative to one another.
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Abstract
An improved method for designing the route of a transport element, such as a tube, is provided. The method preferably designs the route automatically and, by utilizing constraint objects in the design of the route, as opposed to during a post design check, ensures that the resulting route complies with the various constraint objects. In addition, the method of the present invention may establish an overall cost function to evaluate a plurality of feasible routes of the transport element that each comply with the constraint objects such that a preferred or optimal route may be designed. Constraints may be based upon the routing of the transport element in relation to another transport element, an additional constraint, or a relaxed constraint.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of designing a route for a second transport element at least partially based upon the route for a first transport element, the method comprising:
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establishing at least one constraint that limits possible routes for the second transport element, wherein establishing the at least one constraint comprises establishing at least one inequality constraint which limits the possible routes for the second transport element without fixing the position of any portion of the second transport element, wherein establishing the at least one constraint further comprises establishing at least one constraint object based upon the route for the first transport element;
establishing an overall cost function for evaluating the possible routes for the second transport element; and
automatically defining the route for the second transport element in accordance with the at least one constraint and pursuant to the overall cost function, wherein automatically defining the route for the second transport element comprises defining the route for the second transport element to include straight segments that are non-orthogonal relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of designing a route for a transport element comprising:
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establishing at least one constraint object that limits possible routes for the transport element, wherein establishing the at least one constraint object comprises establishing at least one inequality constraint which limits the possible routes for the transport element without fixing the position of any portion of the transport element, wherein establishing the at least one constraint further comprises establishing at least one additional constraint selected from the group of an additional constraint object and a cost function;
establishing an overall cost function for evaluating the possible routes for the transport element; and
automatically defining the route for the transport element in accordance with the at least one constraint object and pursuant to the overall cost function, wherein automatically defining the route comprises defining the route for the transport element to include straight segments that are non-orthogonal relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of designing a route for a transport element between a pair of endpoints comprising:
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establishing at least a first constraint object that limits possible routes for the transport element;
attempting to automatically define the route for the transport element in accordance with at least the first constraint object;
determining that a route satisfying at least the first constraint object is infeasible;
relaxing at least the first constraint object, whereby at least the first constraint object is replaced by a cost function, thereby defining at least a first cost function;
automatically defining the route for the transport element in accordance with at least the first cost function; and
providing an indication for the route of the variance between at least the first constraint object and at least the first cost function of the automatically defined route. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification