Simplified identifier generation in a computer aided design (CAD) environment

• US 7,088,360 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2002
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Bogan, William E., Davis, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US10/199,971
• Time in Patent Office: 1,480 Days
• Field of Search: 345/420, 345/419, 345/441, 345/581, 700/98, 707/101, 707/102, 434/85, 434/92
• US Class Current: 345/420
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/004 Annotating, labelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The invention includes computer instructions that operate to receive a request to generate an identifier in a computer aided design (CAD) application. Additionally, the instructions operate to determine if an input corresponds to a predetermined shape for the identifier, the input being a single variable input. Then, the instructions operate to generate the identifier with the predetermined shape based at least in part on the input. As a result, an improved way of generating geometric shapes for identifiers is facilitated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to generate an identifier in a computer aided design (CAD) application, the identifier identifying a component in a computer aided design;

determining if an input corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier, the input being an input in the form of a single variable; and

generating the identifier with the predefined shape based at least in part on the input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving a request comprises receiving an indication of an interaction of a panel associated with parameters for identifier generation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiving an indication of an interaction comprises receiving an indication of an interaction with a panel associated with parameters for identifier generation in an identifier parameter dialogue box.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining if an input corresponds to a predefined shape comprises determining if an alphanumeric input corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining if an input corresponds to a predetermined defined shape comprises determining if an input in the form of a number corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said determining if an input in the form of a number corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier comprises determining if an input in the form of a number corresponds to a number of sides of a polygon.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said determining if an input in the form of a number corresponds to a number of sides of a polygon comprises determining if an input in the form of a number corresponds to a number of sides of a closed polygon.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining if an input corresponds to a predefined shape comprises determining if an input in the form of a letter corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said determining if an input in the form of a letter corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier comprises determining if an input in the form of a letter corresponds to a first letter of a name of a polygon.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining if an input corresponds to a predefined shape comprises determining if an input in the form of a sum of angles of a polygon corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining if an input corresponds to a predefined shape comprises determining if an input corresponds to a predefined shape in a table.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating the identifier comprises generating a polygon having a number of sides based at least in part on the input.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating the identifier comprises generating a polygon having as part of its name, a letter based at least in part on the input.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating the identifier comprises generation a polygon associated with a sum of angles based at least in part on the input.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating the identifier comprises, generating a shape in the form of a sandwich based at least in part on the input.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating the identifier comprises generating a shape in the form of an underline based at least in part on the input.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions, which when executed, the instructions cause the apparatus to receive a request to generate an identifier in a computer aided design (CAD) application, the identifier identifying a component in a computer aided design, determine if an input corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier, the input being an input in the form of a single variable, and generate the identifier with the predefined shape based at least in part on the input; and

a processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the programming instructions.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to receive an indication of an interaction of a panel associated with parameters for identifier generation.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to receive an indication of an interaction with a panel associated with parameters for identifier generation in an identifier parameter dialogue box.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to determine if an alphanumeric input corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to determine if an input in the form of a number corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to determine if an input in the form of a number corresponds to a number of sides of a polygon.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said programming instructions, which When executed, cause the apparatus to determine if an input in the form of a number corresponds to a number of sides of a closed polygon.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to determine if an input in the form of a letter corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to determine if an input in the form of a letter corresponds to a first letter of a name of a polygon.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to determine if an input in the form of a sum of angles of a polygon corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to determine if an input corresponds to a predefined shape in a table.

28. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to generate a polygon having a number of sides based at least in part on the input.

29. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to generate a polygon having as part of its name, a letter based at least in part on the input.

30. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to generate a polygon associated with a sum of angles based at least in part on the input.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to generate a shape in the form of a sandwich based at least in part on the input.

32. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the apparatus to generate a shape in the form of an underline based at least in part on the input.

33. An article of manufacture having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions, which when executed, the instructions cause the machine to receive a request to generate an identifier in a computer aided design (CAD) application, the identifier identifying a component in a computer aided design, determine if an input corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier, the input being a single variable input, and generate the identifier with the predefined shape based at least in part on the input.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to receive an indication of an interaction of a panel associated with parameters for identifier generation.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 34, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to receive an indication of an interaction with a panel associated with parameters for identifier generation in an identifier parameter dialogue box.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to determine if an alphanumeric input corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to determine if an input in the form of a number corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 37, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to determine if an input in the form of a number corresponds to a number of sides of a polygon.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 38, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to determine if an input in the form of a number corresponds to a number of sides of a closed polygon.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to determine if an input in the form of a letter corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 40, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to determine if an input in the form of a letter corresponds to a first letter of a name of a polygon.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to determine if an input in the form of a sum of angles of a polygon corresponds to a predefined shape for the identifier.

43. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to determine if an input corresponds to a predefined shape in a table.

44. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to generate a polygon having a number of sides based at least in part on the input.

45. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to generate a polygon having as part of its name, a letter based at least in part on the input.

46. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to generate a polygon associated with a sum of angles based at least in part on the input.

47. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to generate a shape in the form of a sandwich based at least in pat-t on the input.

48. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein said programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine to generate a shape in the form of an underline based at least in part on the input.