Displaying characteristics of a system of interconnected components at different system locations

• US 20070288207A1
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Martin, Jason, Dahl, Jorgen, Backe, Thord Allan, Cheng, Xinsheng
• Application Number:
  US11/451,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288207A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2113/14 Pipes
• 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

Abstract

A combined computer-aided design (CAD) and analysis program includes a system inspector feature in a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows designers to identify a critical path among interconnected sets of components within a piping or a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system and provides pressure characteristics of the elements. This program provides visual feedback in an iterative design process.

Claims

1. A method for displaying characteristics of a system of interconnected components at different system locations, comprising:

detecting a location of a pointing device;

calculating a characteristic of the system at the detected location; and

displaying the calculated characteristic of the system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculated characteristic of the system is a critical path among the interconnected components.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristics comprises a flow rate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristics comprises a loss.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an updated calculated characteristic of the system in response to receiving a change to the system of interconnected components.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the interconnected components comprise a set of components and the change comprises splitting one of the sets of components into at least two sets.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the interconnected components comprise a set of components and the change comprises joining at least two sets of components into one set.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the interconnected components comprise a set of components and one set comprises components with at least one common transmission parameter.

9. A computer-readable medium containing a program which when executed by a processor, performs a method for displaying characteristics of a system of interconnected components at different system locations, the method comprising:

detecting a location of a pointing device;

calculating a characteristic of the system at the detected location; and

displaying the calculated characteristic of the system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the calculated characteristic of the system is a critical path among the interconnected components.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristics comprises a flow rate.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristics comprises a loss.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying an updated calculated characteristic of the system in response to receiving a change to the system of interconnected components.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the interconnected components comprise a set of components and the change comprises splitting one of the sets of components into at least two sets.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the interconnected components comprise a set of components and the change comprises joining at least two sets of components into one set.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the interconnected components comprise a set of components and one set comprises components with at least one common transmission parameter.

17. A method for interacting with a display of interconnected components, comprising:

positioning a pointing device over a first position to cause a display of a first characteristic of the interconnected components at the first position; and

positioning a pointing device over a second position to cause a display of a second characteristic of the interconnected components at the second position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first characteristic of the system is a critical path among the interconnected components.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second characteristic comprises a flow rate.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

making a change to the interconnected components to cause a display of an updated calculated characteristic of the system.