Modifying subobjects of geometry objects based on per-subobject objects

• US 6,768,486 B1
• Filed: 01/15/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Szabo, Attila, Sander, Nikolai
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arnold, Adam
• Application Number:
  US10/051,456
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 345/420, 345/423, 345/606, 345/643
• US Class Current: 345/420
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/20 Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, tesselation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2021 Shape modification

Abstract

An approach is described for modifying subobjects of geometry objects based on per-subobject objects. A per-subobject object is associated with a sequence of components, such as a modifier stack, that are used to modify a geometry object. The per-subobject object may take one or more actions with respect to subobjects of the mesh object, such as applying data to specified faces. After a subsequent modification of the geometry object, the per-subobject object reapplies data to the faces that result from the modification. For example, the per-subobject object may specify the data to apply to faces that result from splitting faces during the modification or to faces that result from merging faces during the modification. The data for the faces may be accessed using a data channel that is associated with the per-subobject object.

Claims

1. A method for modifying subobjects of a geometry object, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

producing a first result by sequentially applying to the geometry object one or more components in a sequence of components;

producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one component that follows the one or more components in the sequence;

associating a per-subobject object with a position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component, wherein the per-subobject object specifies how to modify one or more subobjects that are included in the geometry object; and

based on the per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the per-subobject object specifies data to be applied to one or more subobjects that are included in the geometry object, and wherein the step of modifying the second result comprises the computer-implemented step of:

associating the data with at least one subobject of the one or more subobjects of the second result.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more subobjects include one or more faces and wherein the data specifies a color for each of the one or more faces.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more subobjects include one or more vertices, and wherein the data specifies UVW coordinates for each of the one or more vertices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the per-subobject object is a data channel object, and wherein the step of associating includes the computer-implemented step of:

associating the data channel object with the geometry object at the position in the sequence.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

associating a data channel with the per-subobject object; and

based on the per-subobject object, storing in the data channel one or more parameters for each of one or more subobjects of the geometry object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the per-subobject object is a first per-subobject object that results in generating one or more additional subobjects, and the method further comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

associating a second per-subobject object with the one or more additional subobjects, wherein the second per-subobject object specifies how to modify the one or more additional subobjects that are generated by the first per-subobject object; and

based on the second per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more additional subobjects.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the per-subobject object specifies a subobject type and how to modify one or more subobjects that are of the subobject type and that are included in the geometry object.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the per-subobject object is a first per-subobject object, the position is a first position, and the subobject type is a first subobject type, and wherein the method further comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

associating a second per-subobject object with a second position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component, wherein the second per-subobject object specifies a second subobject type and how to modify one or more subobjects that are of the second subobject type and that are included in the geometry object; and

based on the second per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first subobject type is different than the second subobject type.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first subobject type is said second subobject type.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the subobject type is selected from the group consisting of a face type, a vertex type, an edge type, and a polygon type.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the subobject type is based on a geometry type that is selected from the group consisting of a mesh type, a NURBS type, a splines type, a patches type, and a poly-objects type.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence of components is a stack.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the stack is a modifier stack.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

generating an editable geometry object based on the sequence of components;

prior to generating the editable geometry object, disabling the per-subobject object; and

after generating the editable geometry object, enabling the per-subobject object.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the step of disabling is performed in response to a first notification that is made prior to generating the editable geometry object; and

the step of enabling is performed in response to a second notification that is made after generating the editable geometry object.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

notifying the per-subobject object that a particular event has occurred; and

in response to said notifying, the per-subobject object causing at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result to be modified.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating the per-subobject object with the position in the sequence comprises the computer-implemented step of:

associating the per-subobject object with the position based upon an extension component that is included in the sequence.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating the per-subobject object with the position in the sequence comprises the computer-implemented step of:

associating the per-subobject object with the position based upon a base component in the sequence.

21. A method for using rules to modify parameters of subobjects of a geometry object, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

allowing a user to configure a rule that specifies how to modify at least one parameter when an action occurs;

associating the rule with a set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and

when the action occurs, modifying the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects according to the rule.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the rule is a first rule, the at least one parameter is at least one first parameter, the action is a first action, the set of one or more subobjects is a first set of one or more subobjects, and the method further comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

allowing the user to configure a second rule that specifies how to modify at least one second parameter when a second action occurs;

associating the second rule with a second set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and

when the second action occurs, modifying the second set of one or more subobjects according to the second rule.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the rule is a first rule, the at least one parameter is at least one first parameter, the set of one or more subobjects is a first set of one or more subobjects, and the method further comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

allowing the user to configure a second rule that specifies how to modify at least one second parameter when the action occurs;

associating the second rule with a second set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and

when the action occurs, modifying the second set of one or more subobjects according to the second rule.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the action is creating at least two new subobjects based on an old subobject.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the action is creating a new subobject based on at least two old subobjects.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

based on the step of allowing the user to configure the rule, generating a per-subobject object that specifies how to modify the at least one parameter; and

wherein the step of modifying the at least one parameter comprises the computer-implemented step of;

when the action occurs, modifying the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects, based on the per-subobject object.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the computer-implemented step of:

producing a first result by sequentially applying to the geometry object one or more components in a sequence of components;

producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one component that follows the one or more components in the sequence;

associating the per-subobject object with a position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component; and

based on the per-subobject object, the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects.

28. A method for associating data with faces of a mesh object, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

producing a first result by sequentially applying to the mesh object one or more modifiers in a modifier stack;

producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one modifier that follows the one or more modifiers in the modifier stack;

associating a per face data channel object with a position in the modifier stack that precedes said at least one modifier, wherein the per face data channel object specifies data to be applied to one or more faces of the mesh object; and

based on the per face data channel object, associating the data with at least one face of the one or more faces of the second result.

29. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for modifying subobjects of a geometry object, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

producing a first result by sequentially applying to the geometry object one or more components in a sequence of components;

producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one component that follows the one or more components in the sequence;

associating a per-subobject object with a position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component, wherein the per-subobject object specifies how to modify one or more subobjects that are included in the geometry object; and

based on the per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the per-subobject object specifies data to be applied to one or more subobjects that are included in the geometry object, and wherein the instructions for modifying the second result further comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

associating the data with at least one subobject of the one or more subobjects of the second result.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the one or more subobjects include one or more faces and wherein the data specifies a color for each of the one or more faces.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the one or more subobjects include one or more vertices, and wherein the data specifies UVW coordinates for each of the one or more vertices.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the per-subobject object is a data channel object, and wherein the instructions for associating further comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

associating the data channel object with the geometry object at the position in the sequence.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

associating a data channel with the per-subobject object; and

based on the per-subobject object, storing in the data channel one or more parameters for each of one or more subobjects of the geometry object.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the per-subobject object is a first per-subobject object that results in generating one or more additional subobjects, and further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

associating a second per-subobject object with the one or more additional subobjects, wherein the second per-subobject object specifies how to modify the one or more additional subobjects that are generated by the first per-subobject object; and

based on the second per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more additional subobjects.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the per-subobject object specifies a subobject type and how to modify one or more subobjects that are of the subobject type and that are included in the geometry object.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the per-subobject object is a first per-subobject object, the position is a first position, and the subobject type is a first subobject type, and further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

associating a second per-subobject object with a second position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component, wherein the second per-subobject object specifies a second subobject type and how to modify one or more subobjects that are of the second subobject type and that are included in the geometry object; and

based on the second per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the first subobject type is different than the second subobject type.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the first subobject type is said second subobject type.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the subobject type is selected from the group consisting of a face type, a vertex type, an edge type, and a polygon type.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the subobject type is based on a geometry type that is selected from the group consisting of a mesh type, a NURBS type, a splines type, a patches type, and a poly-objects type.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the sequence of components is a stack.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the stack is a modifier stack.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

generating an editable geometry object based on the sequence of components;

prior to generating the editable geometry object, disabling the per-subobject object; and

after generating the editable geometry object, enabling the per-subobject object.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein:

the step of disabling is performed in response to a first notification that is made prior to generating the editable geometry object; and

the step of enabling is performed in response to a second notification that is made after generating the editable geometry object.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

notifying the per-subobject object that a particular event has occurred; and

in response to said notifying, the per-subobject object causing at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result to be modified.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the instructions for associating the per-subobject object with the position in the sequence further comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

associating the per-subobject object with the position based upon an extension component that is included in the sequence.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the instructions for associating the per-subobject object with the position in the sequence further comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

associating the per-subobject object with the position based upon a base component in the sequence.

49. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for using rules to modify parameters of subobjects of a geometry object, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

allowing a user to configure a rule that specifies how to modify at least one parameter when an action occurs;

associating the rule with a set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and

when the action occurs, modifying the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects according to the rule.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the rule is a first rule, the at least one parameter is at least one first parameter, the action is a first action, the set of one or more subobjects is a first set of one or more subobjects, and further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

allowing the user to configure a second rule that specifies how to modify at least one second parameter when a second action occurs;

associating the second rule with a second set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and

when the second action occurs, modifying the second set of one or more subobjects according to the second rule.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the rule is a first rule, the at least one parameter is at least one first parameter, the set of one or more subobjects is a first set of one or more subobjects, and further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

allowing the user to configure a second rule that specifies how to modify at least one second parameter when the action occurs;

associating the second rule with a second set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and

when the action occurs, modifying the second set of one or more subobjects according to the second rule.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the action is creating at least two new subobjects based on an old subobject.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the action is creating a new subobject based on at least two old subobjects.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 49, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

based on the step of allowing the user to configure the rule, generating a per-subobject object that specifies how to modify the at least one parameter; and

wherein the step of modifying the at least one parameter comprises the computer-implemented step of;

when the action occurs, modifying the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects, based on the per-subobject object.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 54, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

producing a first result by sequentially applying to the geometry object one or more components in a sequence of components;

producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one component that follows the one or more components in the sequence;

associating the per-subobject object with a position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component; and

based on the per-subobject object, the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects.

56. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for associating data with faces of a mesh object, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

producing a first result by sequentially applying to the mesh object one or more modifiers in a modifier stack;

producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one modifier that follows the one or more modifiers in the modifier stack;

associating a per face data channel object with a position in the modifier stack that precedes said at least one modifier, wherein the per face data channel object specifies data to be applied to one or more faces of the mesh object; and

based on the per face data channel object, associating the data with at least one face of the one or more faces of the second result.