AUTOMATICALLY CREATING AND MODIFYING FURNITURE LAYOUTS IN DESIGN SOFTWARE

• US 20110191706A1
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Armstrong Word Industries Incorporated, Armstrong World Industries Incorporated, Dirtt Environmental Solutions
• Original Assignee: Dirtt Environmental Solutions
• Inventors: Loberg, Barrie A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

A software application can capture product parameters and attributes in order to allow a non-expert user to create an accurate and complete furniture system layout in a design space. To enable accurate layouts, the software application can automatically apply all applicable components, connectors, rules, attributes, codes, and behaviors to each component/design element in the design space. The intelligent, object-oriented software can automatically recognize required changes effected by a user-driven change, and automatically resolve the layout design by constraining vertical placement of components or automatically generating interconnections between components.

Claims

1. In a computerized environment, a computerized method of automatically configuring and capturing a user'"'"'s design intent regarding the layout of furniture components within a design space based on one or more user gestures, comprising the acts of:

identifying the placement of a first furniture component within a design space;

receiving an initial user input indicating at least one drawing start point;

receiving a subsequent user input indicating a drawing direction from the at least one drawing start point;

automatically placing an additional furniture component within the design space at a location based upon the position of the at least one drawing start point and the drawing direction; and

automatically configuring and populating an interconnection type between the first furniture component and the additional furniture component based upon the position of the at least one drawing start point and the drawing direction.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising automatically populating all applicable connectors and bracketry necessary to configure the interconnection type between the first furniture component and the additional furniture component.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein initial user input indicates that the at least one drawing start point is proximate an edge of the first furniture component.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising automatically generating an L-corner interconnection between the first furniture component and the additional furniture component based upon an identified user gesture with respect to the at least one drawing start point.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein initial user input indicates that the at least one drawing start point is proximate the center of the first furniture component.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising automatically generating an angled corner interconnection between the first furniture component and the additional furniture component based upon an identified user gesture with respect to the at least one drawing start point.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising automatically removing any duplicate components created by the interconnection between the first furniture component and the additional furniture component.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input regarding the selection of an icon representing a product assembly and the positioning of a product assembly within the design space; and

automatically populating all components necessary for the product assembly within the design space.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein automatically populating all components necessary for the product assembly further comprises automatically identifying one or more attributes and product parameters associated with the first furniture component and the second furniture component to identify the necessary components.

10. In a computerized environment, a computerized method of automatically configuring user input in a computerized environment to automatically positioning a user'"'"'s design two-dimensional design choices of furniture components in an appropriate vertical layout within a design space, comprising the acts of:

receiving user input regarding the placement of one or more furniture components at a first lateral position and a first longitudinal position within a design space;

identifying one or more attributes and product parameters associated with the one or more furniture components;

receiving user input regarding the placement of an additional furniture component at the first lateral position and the first longitudinal position within the design space;

identifying one or more attributes and product parameters associated with the additional furniture component; and

automatically constraining the vertical position of the additional furniture component based upon the one or more attributes and product parameters associated with the additional furniture component and the one or more attributes and product parameters associated with the one or more furniture components.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising generating a list of possible vertical positions at which the additional furniture component may validly be positioned.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising receiving user input regarding the selection of a possible vertical position.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising rendering a three-dimensional graphical depiction of the design space, the one or more furniture components, and the additional furniture component.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising automatically resolving each component within the design space upon receiving the user input regarding the placement of the additional furniture component.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

receiving user input requesting a change of the one or more furniture components from a first product line to a second product line; and

automatically resolving the one or more furniture components to correspond to the second product line by making any necessary component or dimensional changes thereto.

16. In a computerized environment, a computerized method of automatically resolving user input with respect to furniture components in a design space so that the furniture components are accurately depicted, arranged, and associated with appropriate assembly components, comprising the acts of:

identifying the placement of a furniture component within a design space;

displaying one or more grips about the furniture component;

receiving user input regarding the movement of the one or more grips from a default location to a new location;

automatically resolving the furniture component by modifying a dimension of the furniture component to reflect a design intent indicated by the movement of the one or more grips; and

automatically repositioning one or more design components adjacent to the furniture component or modifying the dimensions of the one or more adjacent design components.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising constraining the movement of the one or more grips to correspond with the seams of one or more furniture components adjacent the furniture component.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising automatically resolving the dimensions of adjacent components to maintain a product length or run.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising automatically populating all necessary connectors and brackets to accommodate the modification to the dimensions of the furniture component.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

receiving user input requesting the creation of a reference copy of the furniture component;

automatically creating a furniture reference copy;

automatically resolving the furniture reference copy by modifying a dimension of the furniture reference copy to reflect the design intent indicated by the movement of the one or more grips.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising automatically creating a wave work surface in response to the movement of the one or more grips.

22. In a computerized environment in which a user interface of a design program is used to design one or more interior or exterior spaces, a computer program product having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more processors in the computerized environment to perform a method comprising the following:

identifying the placement of a first furniture component within a design space;

receiving an initial user input indicating at least one drawing start point;

receiving a subsequent user input indicating a drawing direction from the at least one drawing start point;

automatically placing an additional furniture component within the design space at a location based upon the position of the at least one drawing start point and the drawing direction; and

automatically configuring and populating an interconnection type between the first furniture component and the additional furniture component based upon the position of the at least one drawing start point and the drawing direction.