Method and system for editing an electronic drawing

• US 7,415,674 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Jin, Liang, Graham, Cecil Alba Jr., Johnson, William Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/395,535
• Time in Patent Office: 1,975 Days
• Field of Search: 715744-747, 715730-732, 715738-739, 715750-755, 715/759, 715/765, 715/771, 715/964, 715705-708, 345/629, 345/660
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A method, system, and medium for editing electronic drawings or drafting documents are provided. The method includes presenting a representation of an electronic drawing, including a version of the drawing itself, to be edited, receiving edits to the representation, and storing the edits in a file that is separate from the electronic drawing. The edits are not initially made directly to the drawing. Rather, the edits are received distinct from the drawing and later made to the drawing by a central authority.

Claims

1. One or more computer-storage media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for updating an electronic drawing comprising:

instructions for presenting a representation of an uneditable version of the electronic drawing, wherein presenting the representation of said uneditable version of the electronic drawing further comprises the following;

automatically defining a unit measurement associated with future edits,

automatically defining a scale associated with future edits whereby additions made to the electronic drawing are made at the same scale as the electronic drawing,

automatically defining a layer associated with future edits whereby additions made will be captured in said layer, and

providing a customized template that includes a set of user-defined icons, wherein edits can be made to said electronic drawing by dragging said icons onto said representation;

instructions for receiving edits to said electronic drawing, wherein said edits are layered and do not modify the electronic drawing; and

instructions for storing said layered edits separate from said electronic drawing.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein the uneditable version includes at least one of the following:

an image of the electronic drawing;

a read-only version of the electronic drawing; and

a digital underlay of the electronic drawing.

3. The media of claim 2, wherein instructions for receiving edits comprises instructions for receiving changes, additions, or deletions to said electronic drawing.

4. The media of claim 3, wherein instructions for storing said edits includes associating said edits with said electronic drawing.

5. The media of claim 4, further comprising instructions for automatically incorporating said edits into said electronic drawing.

6. Communicating the instructions of claim 1 across a computer network, wherein said computer network includes at least a selection from the following:

the Internet, the World Wide Web, a local area network, a home network, a wide area network, a public network, a private network, and a wireless network.

7. An improved computer-aided-design (CAD) program that includes the instructions of claim 1.

8. In a computer-networking environment, a method for editing an electronic drawing, comprising:

opening a representation of said electronic drawing, wherein opening the representation of said electronic drawing further comprises the following;

automatically defining a unit measurement associated with future edits,

automatically defining a scale associated with future edits whereby additions made to the electronic drawing are made at the same scale as the electronic drawing,

automatically defining a layer associated with future edits whereby additions made will be captured in said layer, and

providing a customized template that includes a set of user-defined icons, wherein edits can be made to said electronic drawing by dragging said icons onto said representation;

superimposing edits onto said representation;

wherein superimposing edits includes receiving edits in a designated drawing layer without modifying said electronic drawing; and

saving said edits in a redline file, wherein said redline file is separate from said electronic drawing.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said representation of said electronic drawing includes at least one or more of the following:

the electronic drawing;

a version of the electronic drawing with limited editing capabilities;

a read-only version of the electronic drawing; and

an noneditable image of the electronic drawing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein opening a representation of said electronic drawing includes opening a user-defined template of useable shapes to simplify marking up said representation.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein superimposing edits onto said representation includes making changes, additions, or deletions on top of said representation without modifying said electronic drawing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said redline file comprises the changes to be made to said electronic drawing.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

opening said electronic drawing;

opening said redline file; and

incorporating the edits of said redline file into said electronic drawing.

14. A computer system programmed to perform the method of claim 8.

15. In a computer-networking environment, a method for editing an electronic drawing, comprising:

presenting a representation of said electronic drawing, wherein presenting the representation of said electronic drawing further comprises the following;

automatically defining a unit measurement associated with future edits,

automatically defining a scale associated with future edits whereby additions made to the electronic drawing are made at the same scale as the electronic drawing,

automatically defining a layer associated with future edits whereby additions made will be captured in said layer, and

providing a customized template that includes a set of user-defined icons, wherein edits can be made to said electronic drawing by dragging said icons onto said representation;

receiving edits to said representation, wherein receiving edits to said representation includes receiving layered indications of changes to be made to said electronic drawing without modifying said electronic drawing; and

storing said edits in a first file separate from said electronic drawing.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said changes comprise at least one of an addition or modification to, or deletion from, said electronic drawing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein storing said edits comprises embodying said edits on one or more computer-storage media.

18. One or more computer-storage media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for carrying out the method of claim 15.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising automatically incorporating said edits into said electronic drawing.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein presenting a representation of said electronic drawing comprises one or more selections from the following:

presenting the electronic drawing;

presenting a version of the electronic drawing;

presenting an image of the electronic drawing;

presenting the electronic drawing with limited editing functionality; and

presenting the electronic drawing in a read-only format.