Process for converting two dimensional data into a multidimensional flow model

• US 5,537,524 A
• Filed: 04/25/1994
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hypercubic Tunneling Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hypercubic Tunneling Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Aprile, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US08/232,761
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 395/140, 395/155, 395/161, 345/115, 345/117, 345/118
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects

Abstract

A system which takes information related to a project or process which can be generated in a textual format or a 2-dimensional flow model and graphically generates this invention as a multidimensional flow model. The flow model includes 3-dimensional polygons representing entities, an independent time line, information relating to functions placed in ellipses located on the polygons, arrows making logical connection between functions and stacking of entities including embedded sublevels of related models.

Claims

1. A process for converting information into a multidimensional flow model generated as a graphic display, comprising the following steps:

modeling a plurality of entities in three spacial dimensions such that the entities will have a plurality of surfaces;

placing the entities relative to a time dimension, wherein the time dimension coincides with one of the spatial dimensions, such that the entities are staggered;

labeling the entities with identifying information on any of the plurality of surfaces;

placing information relating to the entities on any of the plurality of surfaces of the entities relative to the time dimension; and

logically connecting the information placed on the surfaces of the entities with a plurality of arrows.

2. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 1 further including the steps of:

modeling sub entities in three spacial dimensions;

stacking the sub entities onto corresponding entities;

placing the sub entities relative to the time dimension such that the entities and sub entities are staggered;

labeling the sub entities with identifying information on any of the plurality of surfaces;

placing information relating to the sub entities on any of the plurality of surfaces of the sub entity relative to the time dimension; and

logically connecting the information placed on the plurality of surfaces of the sub entities.

3. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 1 further including the step of creating a related multidimensional flow model by accessing one of the entities or sub entities and defining a type of model desired.

4. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 1 further including the step of applying at least three different colors to the multidimensional flow model to segregate information.

5. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 1 further including the step of incorporating the multidimensional flow model into a virtual reality environment.

6. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 1 wherein the entities are polygons.

7. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to the claim 1 wherein the entities are stepped polygons.

8. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 1 wherein the information placed on the plurality of surfaces of the entities is placed in an ellipse.

9. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 8 further including the step of placing the ellipsis according to time and by activity.

10. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 1 further including the step of labeling the arrows used to make the logical connections.

11. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 1 wherein said steps of modeling the entities, placing the entities, labeling the entities, placing information on the entities and logically connecting information comprises establishing an entity code and converting an existing data record and relationship data by integrating the entity code.

12. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 11 wherein said step of selecting a document includes reducing the size of the document.

13. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 11, wherein said steps of organizing the segregated functions by entity and placing the organized functions in order of sequence includes creating a geometrical shape to represent each entity and displaying the organized functions on the geometrical shapes.

14. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 1 wherein said step of modeling the plurality of entities in three spacial dimensions such that the entities will have a plurality of surfaces includes modeling the entities such that a plurality of internal and external surfaces are represented.

15. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 1 wherein said step of modeling the plurality of entities in three spacial dimensions comprises displaying an entity having a shorter dimension oriented vertically and displaying an entity having a shorter dimension oriented horizontally.

16. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 1 further including the step of directly accessing embedded information by selecting a related position of the graphic display.

17. The process for generating a multidimensional flow model according to claim 16 wherein said step of directly accessing embedded information comprises generating a unique multidimensional flow model.

18. A process for converting information into a multidimensional flow model generated as a graphic display, comprising the steps of:

selecting a document to be modeled;

categorizing information in the document according to entities and according to functions;

segregating the categorized functions from the document;

noting the entities relating to the segregated functions;

organizing the segregated functions by entity;

placing the organized functions in order of sequence; and

logically connecting each of the organized functions with an arrow to another of the organized functions.