Geometric inference engine
First Claim
1. A method for automatically locating geometric points for a user of a computer-aided drafting system, comprising the steps of:
- (a) defining a type of geometric point comprising at least one point type of interest to the user;
(b) setting a hit radius;
(c) displaying an object;
(d) displaying a cursor to indicate a location;
(e) testing the object to find a point of said at least one point type that is within the hit radius of the cursor;
(f) if a point is found within the hit radius, then displaying the point; and
(g) repeating steps (d)-(f) for a plurality of locations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-aided drafting system and methods for automatically locating geometric points for a user. A method includes defining a type of geometric point which includes a point type of interest to the user, setting a hit radius, displaying an object, displaying a curser to indicate a location, testing the object to find a point having the defined point type, which is within the hit radius of the curser, and if a point is found then displaying the point. A computer-aided drafting system includes a computer having a memory and a processor, a display device, a cursor control device, and instructions for directing the processor to automatically locate geometric points of interest to the user.
116 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for automatically locating geometric points for a user of a computer-aided drafting system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) defining a type of geometric point comprising at least one point type of interest to the user; (b) setting a hit radius; (c) displaying an object; (d) displaying a cursor to indicate a location; (e) testing the object to find a point of said at least one point type that is within the hit radius of the cursor; (f) if a point is found within the hit radius, then displaying the point; and (g) repeating steps (d)-(f) for a plurality of locations.
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2. A method for automatically locating geometric points for a user of a computer-aided drafting system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) defining a set of geometric point types comprising at least one point type of interest to the user; (b) setting a hit radius; (c) displaying a frame containing at least one object; (d) displaying a cursor to indicate a location; (e) testing each of said at least one object to find a set of points that is within the hit radius of the cursor, each of said points being of said at least one point type; (f) determining a best point to be a point within said set which is closest to the cursor; (g) if the best point is determined in step (f), then displaying the best point; and (h) repeating steps (d)-(g) for a plurality of locations. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for automatically locating geometric points for a user of a computer-aided drafting system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) defining a set of geometric point types comprising at least one point type of interest to the user; (b) defining a table to contain at least one textual message representing said at least one interesting point type; (c) displaying an object; (d) identifying a point on said object which is of said at least one point type; (e) selecting one textual message representing said identified point; and (f) displaying said textual message.
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26. A method for automatically locating geometric points for a user of a computer-aided drafting system, comprising the steps of:
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(a) defining a set of geometric point types comprising at least one point type of interest to the user; (b) setting a hit radius; (c) displaying a frame containing at least one object; (d) displaying a cursor to indicate a location; (e) defining an ordered set containing at least one member representing said at least one point type; (f) selecting one member from said ordered set; (g) testing each of said at least one object to find a set of points, each point having the same type as the selected member and being within the hit radius of the cursor; (h) if the set is found in step (g), then comparing a point int he set against a best point to determine which is closer to the cursor; (i) if the point is closure to the cursor than the best point, then storing the point as the best point; (j) if the best point is stored in step (i), then displaying the best point; and (k) repeating steps (d)-(j) for each said location.
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27. A computer-aided drawing system comprising:
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a computer having a memory and a processor; a display device coupled to said computer; a cursor-control device coupled to said computer for generating signals for moving a cursor on said display device; and programming means coupled to said processor comprising; (a) means for storing in said memory a type of geometric point comprising at least one interesting point type; (b) means for setting a hit radius for said cursor on said display device; (c) means for displaying on said display device an object; (d) means for displaying on said display device a cursor to indicate a location in response to said signals of said cursor-control device; (e) means for testing the object to find a point of said at least one interesting point type that is within the hit radius of the cursor; (f) if the point is found in (e), then means for displaying on said display device the point; and (g) means for repeating (d)-(f) for each said location in response to said signals of said cursor-control device.
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28. A computer-aided drawing system comprising:
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a computer having a memory and a processor; a display device coupled to said computer; a cursor-control device coupled to said computer for generating signals for moving a cursor on said display device; and programming means coupled to said processor comprising; (a) means for storing in said memory a set of geometric point types comprising at least one point type of interest to the user; (b) means for setting a hit radius for said cursor on said display device; (c) means for displaying on said display device a frame containing at least one object; (d) means for displaying on said display device a cursor to indicate a location in response to said signals of said cursor-control device; (e) means for testing each of said at least one object to find a set of points that is within the hit radius of the cursor, each of said points being of said at least one point type; (f) means for determining a best point to be a point within said set which is closest to the cursor on said display device; (g) if the best point is determined in (f), then means for displaying on said display device the best point; and (h) means for repeating (d)-(g) for each said location in response to said signals of said cursor-control device.
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29. A computer-aided drawings system comprising:
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a computer having a memory and a processor; a display device coupled to said computer; a cursor-control device coupled to said computer for generating signals for moving a cursor on said display device; and programming means coupled to said processor comprising; (a) means for storing in said memory a set of geometric point types comprising at least one point type of interest to the user; (b) means for storing in said memory a table containing at least one textual message representing said at least one point type; (c) means for displaying on said display device an object; (d) means for identifying on said displayed object a point which is of the one point type; and (e) means for displaying on said display device one textual message representing said identified point.
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Specification