Systems and methods for computational design and modeling of buildings
First Claim
1. A computer-assisted method of automatically generating a design for a building that comprises structurally supportive building panels of sheet material, at least some of said building panels including curved sections, and for generating a three-dimensional image of said design, said method comprising:
- receiving first building information via a first graphical user interface of a computer, said first building information comprising a length, a width, a total height and a wall height of a building to be designed;
determining whether said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and a selectable building shape comprising at least one curved portion yield a valid set of building parameters, said selectable building shape being either computer-specified or user-specified;
if the set of building parameters is valid, generating with a first software module at said computer a design of said building, wherein said first software module is configured to generate said design of said building, including wall portions and a roof portion, using minimum information consisting of said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and said selectable building shape;
generating a first image of said design;
performing a structural analysis of said design;
determining whether said structural analysis satisfies one or more requirements;
communicating said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and said selectable building shape to a second software module at said computer;
generating a second three-dimensional image of said building using said second software module, the second three-dimensional image being different from the first image; and
displaying said second three-dimensional image at a second graphical user interface at said computer, said second user interface configured to permit a user to modify said three-dimensional image to include one or more predefined building elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system generates a building design and a three-dimensional image thereof. First building information comprising a length, width, total height and wall height of a building is received via a first graphical user interface. If the length, width, total height, wall height, and a selectable building shape yield a valid set of building parameters, a design of said building is generated at a first software module, which is configured to generate the design, including wall portions and a roof portion, using minimum information consisting of the length, width, total height, wall height, and selectable building shape. A first image and a structural analysis of the design are generated. A second software module generates a second three-dimensional image of the building, which is different from the first image. A second graphical user interface permits a user to modify the second image to include predefined building elements.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A computer-assisted method of automatically generating a design for a building that comprises structurally supportive building panels of sheet material, at least some of said building panels including curved sections, and for generating a three-dimensional image of said design, said method comprising:
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receiving first building information via a first graphical user interface of a computer, said first building information comprising a length, a width, a total height and a wall height of a building to be designed; determining whether said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and a selectable building shape comprising at least one curved portion yield a valid set of building parameters, said selectable building shape being either computer-specified or user-specified; if the set of building parameters is valid, generating with a first software module at said computer a design of said building, wherein said first software module is configured to generate said design of said building, including wall portions and a roof portion, using minimum information consisting of said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and said selectable building shape; generating a first image of said design; performing a structural analysis of said design; determining whether said structural analysis satisfies one or more requirements; communicating said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and said selectable building shape to a second software module at said computer; generating a second three-dimensional image of said building using said second software module, the second three-dimensional image being different from the first image; and displaying said second three-dimensional image at a second graphical user interface at said computer, said second user interface configured to permit a user to modify said three-dimensional image to include one or more predefined building elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for automatically generating a design for a building that comprises structurally supportive building panels of sheet material, at least some of said building panels including curved sections, and for generating a three-dimensional image of said design, said system comprising:
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a processing system; and a memory coupled to the processing system, wherein the processing system is configured to; receive first building information via a first graphical user interface, said first building information comprising a length, a width, a total height and a wall height of a building to be designed; determine whether said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and a selectable building shape comprising at least one curved portion yield a valid set of building parameters, said selectable building shape being either computer-specified or user-specified; if the set of building parameters is valid, generate at a first software module a design of said building, wherein said first software module is configured to generate said design of said building, including wall portions and a roof portion, using minimum information consisting of said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and said selectable building shape; generate a first image of said design; perform a structural analysis of said design; determine whether said structural analysis satisfies one or more requirements; communicate said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and said selectable building shape to a second software module at said computer; generate a second three-dimensional image of said building using said second software module, the second three-dimensional image being different from the first image; and display said second three-dimensional image at a second graphical user interface at said computer, said second user interface configured to permit a user to modify said three-dimensional image to include one or more predefined building elements. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium that comprises computer readable program code embodied therein for automatically generating a design for a building that comprises structurally supportive building panels of sheet material, at least some of said building panels including curved sections, and for generating a three-dimensional image of said design, said computer readable program code adapted to cause a processing system to:
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receive first building information via a first graphical user interface, said first building information comprising a length, a width, a total height and a wall height of a building to be designed; determine whether said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and a selectable building shape comprising at least one curved portion yield a valid set of building parameters, said selectable building shape being either computer-specified or user-specified; if the set of building parameters is valid, generate at a first software module a design of said building, wherein said first software module is configured to generate said design of said building, including wall portions and a roof portion, using minimum information consisting of said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and said selectable building shape; generate a first image of said design; perform a structural analysis of said design; determine whether said structural analysis satisfies one or more requirements; communicate said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and said selectable building shape to a second software module at said computer; generate a second three-dimensional image of said building using said second software module, the second three-dimensional image being different from the first image; and display said second three-dimensional image at a second graphical user interface at said computer, said second user interface configured to permit a user to modify said three-dimensional image to include one or more predefined building elements. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer-assisted method of automatically generating a design for a building comprising structurally supportive building panels of sheet material, at least some of said building panels including curved sections, and for generating a three-dimensional image of said design, said method comprising:
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receiving first building information via a graphical user interface of a computer, said first building information comprising a length, a width, a total height and a wall height of a building to be designed; determining whether said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and a selectable building shape comprising at least one curved portion yield a valid set of building parameters, said selectable building shape being either computer-specified or user-specified; if the set of building parameters is valid, generating with a software module at said computer a design of said building, wherein said software module is configured to generate said design of said building, including wall portions and a roof portion, using minimum information consisting of said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and said selectable building shape; generating an image of said design; performing a structural analysis of said design; determining whether said structural analysis satisfies one or more requirements; receiving at the graphical user interface of said computer an input specifying a position of a support member to be suspended from the roof portion, said position being expressed in terms of a lateral distance from a predetermined location on said roof portion, said roof portion including a curved portion between said predetermined location and said position; determining a placement location at which to place said support member on a panel of said roof portion wherein said placement location is expressed in terms of a distance along said panel taking into account said curved portion of said roof portion; and outputting said placement location at said graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for automatically generating a design for a building that comprises structurally supportive building panels of sheet material, at least some of said building panels including curved sections, and for generating a three-dimensional image of said design, said system comprising:
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a processing system; and a memory coupled to the processing system, wherein the processing system is configured to; receive first building information via a graphical user interface, said first building information comprising a length, a width, a total height and a wall height of a building to be designed; determine whether said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and a selectable building shape comprising at least one curved portion yield a valid set of building parameters, said selectable building shape being either computer-specified or user-specified; if the set of building parameters is valid, generate with a software module a design of said building, wherein said software module is configured to generate said design of said building, including wall portions and a roof portion, using minimum information consisting of said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and said selectable building shape; generate an image of said design; perform a structural analysis of said design; determine whether said structural analysis satisfies one or more requirements; receive at the graphical user interface an input specifying a position of a support member to be suspended from the roof portion, said position being expressed in terms of a lateral distance from a predetermined location on said roof portion, said roof portion including a curved portion between said predetermined location and said position; determine a placement location at which to place said support member on a panel of said roof portion wherein said placement location is expressed in terms of a distance along said panel taking into account said curved portion of said roof portion; and output said placement location at said graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium that comprises computer readable program code embodied therein for automatically generating a design for a building that comprises structurally supportive building panels of sheet material, at least some of said building panels including curved sections, and for generating a three-dimensional image of said design, said computer readable program code adapted to cause a processing system to:
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receive first building information via a graphical user interface, said first building information comprising a length, a width, a total height and a wall height of a building to be designed; determine whether said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and a selectable building shape comprising at least one curved portion yield a valid set of building parameters, said selectable building shape being either computer-specified or user-specified; if the set of building parameters is valid, generate with a software module a design of said building, wherein said software module is configured to generate said design of said building, including wall portions and a roof portion, using minimum information consisting of said length, said width, said total height, said wall height, and said selectable building shape; generate an image of said design; perform a structural analysis of said design; determine whether said structural analysis satisfies one or more requirements; receive at the graphical user interface an input specifying a position of a support member to be suspended from the roof portion, said position being expressed in terms of a lateral distance from a predetermined location on said roof portion, said roof portion including a curved portion between said predetermined location and said position; determine a placement location at which to place said support member on a panel of said roof portion wherein said placement location is expressed in terms of a distance along said panel taking into account said curved portion of said roof portion; and output said placement location at said graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification