AUTOMATED SOLAR COLLECTOR INSTALLATION DESIGN INCLUDING VERSION MANAGEMENT
First Claim
1. A computer-based user interface for designing a solar collector installation, comprising:
- a representation of an installation worksite, the representation comprising feature properties corresponding to physical features of the worksite and a solar collector installation layout including solar collectors arranged on at least one surface feature of the worksite, stored in computer storage;
a representation of a plurality of differing versions of project state information, wherein each version of project state information is comprised of a unique set of user-defined design preferences, feature properties, and project properties, wherein each of the versions correspond to an alternative solar collector installation layout, the alternative solar collector installation layout for each version resulting from the differences between the unique sets of user-defined design preferences, feature properties, and project properties, wherein each of the differing versions share at least some of the project state information; and
a control operable to allow a user to select at least a part of one of the differing versions of project state information for display as at least a part of the solar collector installation layout.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and/or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives. Some embodiments may provide viewing, creating, and manipulating of multiple versions of a solar collector layout design for a particular installation worksite. The use of versions may allow analysis of alternative layouts, alternative feature classifications, and cost and performance data corresponding to alternative design choices. Version summary information providing a representative comparison between versions across a number of dimensions may be provided.
99 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A computer-based user interface for designing a solar collector installation, comprising:
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a representation of an installation worksite, the representation comprising feature properties corresponding to physical features of the worksite and a solar collector installation layout including solar collectors arranged on at least one surface feature of the worksite, stored in computer storage; a representation of a plurality of differing versions of project state information, wherein each version of project state information is comprised of a unique set of user-defined design preferences, feature properties, and project properties, wherein each of the versions correspond to an alternative solar collector installation layout, the alternative solar collector installation layout for each version resulting from the differences between the unique sets of user-defined design preferences, feature properties, and project properties, wherein each of the differing versions share at least some of the project state information; and a control operable to allow a user to select at least a part of one of the differing versions of project state information for display as at least a part of the solar collector installation layout. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A solar collector installation project data structure adapted for use in generating a solar collector design for a worksite, comprising at least two alternative versions of the solar collector design, wherein each version comprises an alternative set of independent project state information and a single set of shared project state information;
- wherein the shared project state information comprises at least some information about at least one of the group of the worksite and the physical features contained within the worksite;
wherein the shared project state information and a first one of the alternative sets of independent project state information in combination specify a first solar collector installation design; and
wherein the shared project state information and a second one of the alternative sets of independent project state information in combination specify a second solar collector installation design, where the second solar collector installation design is distinct from the first solar collector installation designer. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
- wherein the shared project state information comprises at least some information about at least one of the group of the worksite and the physical features contained within the worksite;
Specification