Translating objects between software applications which employ different data formats

• US 7,483,827 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Hutchinson, John, Sabadell, Stewart
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Paul L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thangavelu; Kandasamy
• Application Number:
  US11/026,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 345/672, 345/420, 345/419, 703/2, 703/7, 703/22, 707/100, 707/103.R, 707/200, 707/203, 709/223, 700/98, 715/850, 715/236, 349/74, 719/329, 358/1.15, 718/106
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A mechanism for translating objects between applications that use different formats is described. As described, a source object is generated using a source application. The source object is then translated to a target object in a target application. The target application having a format that is not supported by the source application. A first modification, which is not supported by the source application, is then performed to the target object. A second modification is also performed to the source object in the source application. Based on the modifications, the target object in the target application is revised to reflect the second modification to the source object without removing the first modification to the target object.

Claims

1. A computer implemented mesh model creating method an object in a target scene using a hierarchical tree structure, the method comprising:

generating the hierarchical tree structure for organizing one or more properties of a source object being translated to a target object, wherein each level of the hierarchical tree structure is associated with a property, wherein the source object is associated with a source application and the target object is associated with a target application, and wherein the format of the target application is not supported by the format of the source application;

storing a geometry of the target object in a leaf object of the hierarchical tree structure, wherein the leaf object is linked to a collection object that corresponds to a first property of the source object developed using the source application;

storing a first modification to the target object in a modifier stack, wherein the modifier stack is linked to the collection object in the hierarchical tree structure, and wherein the first modification is associated with a second property of the source object developed using the target application;

attaching a node object to the modifier stack, wherein the node object includes rendering information that is used for displaying the target object;

passing the geometry of the target object through the hierarchical tree structure from the leaf object to the collection object;

modifying the geometry of the target object based on the first property;

passing the geometry of the target object through the hierarchical tree structure from the collection object to the modifier stack;

modifying the geometry of the target object based on the second property associated with the first modification stored in the modifier stack;

passing the geometry of the target object through the hierarchical tree structure from the modifier stack to the node object; and

rendering the target object in the target scene based on the rendering information stored in the node object, wherein the target object is rendered in accordance with the first property developed with the source application and the second property developed with the target application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first modification to the target object represents an update to the target object requested by a user of the target application.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of modifying the first property of the target object using the source application, wherein the modification to the first property does not affect the first modification to the target object stored in the modifier stack.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of displaying the target object in the target scene, wherein the displayed target object reflects the first modification to the target object stored in the modifier stack and a revision to the target object related to the modification to the first property.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the source application is a computer-aided-design application, and the target application is a visual rendering application.

6. A computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor, cause a visual rendering application to render an object in a target scene using a hierarchical tree structure, by performing the step of:

generating the hierarchical tree structure for organizing one or more properties of a source object being translated to a target object, wherein each level of the hierarchical tree structure is associated with a property, wherein the source object is associated with a source application and the target object is associated with a target application, and wherein the format of the target application is not supported by the format of the source application;

storing a geometry of the target object in a leaf object of the hierarchical tree structure, wherein the leaf object is linked to a collection object that corresponds to a first property of the source object developed using the source application;

storing a first modification to the target object in a modifier stack, wherein the modifier stack is linked to the collection object in the hierarchical tree structure, and wherein the first modification is associated with a second property of the source object developed using the target application;

attaching a node object to the modifier stack, wherein the node object includes rendering information that is used for displaying the target object;

passing the geometry of the target object through the hierarchical tree structure from the leaf object to the collection object;

modifying the geometry of the target object based on the first property;

passing the geometry of the target object through the hierarchical tree structure from the collection object to the modifier stack;

modifying the geometry of the target object based on the second property associated with the first modification stored in the modifier stack;

passing the geometry of the target object through the hierarchical tree structure from the modifier stack to the node object; and

rendering the target object in the target scene based on the rendering information stored in the node object, wherein the target object is rendered in accordance with the first property developed with the source application and the second property developed with the target application.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the first modification to the target object represents an update to the target object requested by a user of the target application.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising instructions for executing the step of modifying the first property of the target object using the source application, wherein the modification to the first property does not affect the first modification to the target object stored in the modifier stack.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions for executing the step of displaying the target object in the target scene, wherein the displayed target object reflects the second modification to the target object stored in the modifier stack and a revision to the target object related to the modification to the first property.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the source application is a computer-aided-design application, and the target application is the visual rendering application.

11. A system for rendering an object in a target scene using a hierarchical tree structure, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured to perform the steps of;

generating the hierarchical tree structure for organizing one or more properties of a source object being translated to a target object, wherein each level of the hierarchical tree structure is associated with a property, wherein the source object is associated with a source application and the target object is associated with a target application, and wherein the format of the target application is not supported by the format of the source application;

storing a geometry of the target object in a leaf object of the hierarchical tree structure, wherein the leaf object is linked to a collection object that corresponds to a first property of the source object developed using the source application;

storing a first modification to the target object in a modifier stack, wherein the modifier stack is linked to the collection object in the hierarchical tree structure, and wherein the first modification is associated with a second property of the source object developed using the target application;

attaching a node object to the modifier stack, wherein the node object includes rendering information that is used for displaying the target object;

passing the geometry of the target object through the hierarchical tree structure from the leaf object to the collection object;

modifying the geometry of the target object based on the first property;

passing the geometry of the target object through the hierarchical tree structure from the collection object to the modifier stack;

modifying the geometry of the target object based on the second property associated with the first modification stored in the modifier stack;

passing the geometry of the target object through the hierarchical tree structure from the modifier stack to the node object; and

rendering the target object in the target scene based on the rendering information stored in the node object, wherein the target object is rendered in accordance with the first property developed with the source application and the second property developed with the target application.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first modification to the target object represents an update to the target object requested by a user of the target application.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the step of modifying the first property of the target object using the source application, wherein the modification to the first property does not affect the first modification to the target object stored in the modifier stack.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the step of displaying the target object in the target scene, wherein the displayed target object reflects the first modification to the target object stored in the modifier stack and a revision to the target object related to the modification to the first property.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the source application is a computer-aided-design application, and the target application is a visual rendering application.