Spatial data enabled engineering, construction, and operations computer-aided design (CAD) project system, method and computer program product

• US 7,958,185 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bentley Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bentley Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Rothermel, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamza; Faruk
• Application Number:
  US09/954,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20020035451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,549 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-219, 709203-204, 709/223, 709/225
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

A system and method of geo-spatially viewing project oriented data relating to engineering, construction, and operations (ECO) computer-aided design (CAD) services online using a browser-based viewer can include a three-tiered client/server architecture for accessing a database storing a plurality of files, each of which is stored as a series of components including spatial information. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a system, method and computer program product includes a browser-based project-oriented, collaboration system including a viewer operative to enable viewing of at least one of a business, a project, and a person, geospatially according to geospatial attributes associated with the business, project or person.

Claims

1. An online system for providing engineering, construction, and operations (ECO) computer-aided design application services, comprising:

a computer network, including server means and a plurality of clients each of which is connected to said server means over said network;

means for operating said server means and said plurality of clients, said operating means supporting a runtime environment for the ECO application on said network;

graphical user interface means displayed on said plurality of clients, said graphical user interface means including a plurality of personalized spaces;

a database storing a plurality of files, including engineering documents and drawings, with a plurality of different file formats;

a plurality of collaborative modules, each of which is run over said network, said collaborative modules including;

means for accessing said engineering documents and drawings; and

means for managing an engineering document; and

means for viewing geospatially, according to geospatial attributes, ECO project textual data including at least one of a business, a project, a task, a document, or a person.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for translating drawings of one of said plurality of file formats to another of said plurality of file formats;

means for mirroring said database drawings of said one of said plurality of file formats with said other of said plurality of file formats; and

means for sharing translation settings used by said translating means.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said server means comprises:

a plurality of web servers;

a plurality of application servers, each of which is connected to said plurality of web servers;

a file server connected between said database and each of said plurality of application servers; and

a database server connected between said database and each of said plurality of application servers.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising means for clustering said file server and said database server.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of files is stored in said database as a series of components.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein each said series of components includes an element defining a unique identification.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said series of components further define a plurality of objects.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a state server connected to each of said plurality of application servers, wherein said state server is adapted to maintain a state of an instance of each of said plurality of objects.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for composing a view of an engineering drawing and any data embedded therein;

means for listing a plurality of intended recipients of said view;

means for plotting said view into a file;

means for storing said plotted file as a universal resource locator on a Web-based server;

means for transmitting a message to each of said plurality of intended recipients, said message including a link to said universal source locator;

means for modifying said file and create a new version thereof which is capable of executing automatically upon download; and

means for downloading said new version of said file to each of said plurality of intended recipients selecting said link, whereby said new version of said file executes and enables said view to be viewed.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for modifying the geospatial attributes.

11. A method of providing application services for an engineering, construction, and operations (ECO) application, comprising the steps of:

providing a computer network, including one or more servers, each of which is accessed by a plurality of clients over said network;

providing means for operating said one or more servers, which supports a runtime environment for the ECO application on said network;

providing a graphical user interface which is displayed on said plurality of clients, said graphical user interface including a plurality of personalized spaces;

providing a database for storing a plurality of files, including engineering documents and drawings, with a plurality of different file formats, each of said plurality of files being stored in said database as a series of components;

providing a plurality of collaborative modules, each of which is run over said network, said collaborative modules including;

means for accessing said engineering documents and drawings; and

means for managing an engineering document;

controlling access to the ECO application such that only those clients authorized to use the ECO application for a given project are permitted access to said project; and

means for viewing geospatially, according to geospatial attributes, ECO project textual data including at least one of a business, a project, a task, a document, and/or a person.

12. The method according claim 11, further comprising the step of adapting said collaborative modules for use by a thin client.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of adapting said collaborative modules for use by a fat client.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of adapting said collaborative modules for use by a thin client and a fat client.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer readable program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

providing a graphical user interface to a database storing a plurality of files, including engineering documents and drawings, with a plurality of different file formats, each of said plurality of files being stored as a series of components;

accessing said engineering documents and drawings;

managing an engineering document;

managing a discussion;

managing a form;

managing time; and

viewing geospatially, according to geospatial attributes, engineering textual data including at least one of a business, a project, a task, a document, and/or a person.

16. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein said providing the graphical user interface comprises:

providing a first personalized space adapted to be personalized for a specific user;

providing a second personalized space adapted to be personalized for a specific business; and

providing a third personalized space adapted to be personalized for a specific project.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, comprising:

translating drawings of one of said plurality of file formats to another of said plurality of file formats;

mirroring said database drawings of said one of said plurality of file formats with said other of said plurality of file formats; and

sharing translation settings used by said translating means.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising:

composing a view of an engineering drawing and any data embedded therein;

listing a plurality of intended recipients of said view;

plotting said view into a file;

storing said plotted file as a universal source locator on a Web-based server;

transmitting a message to each of said plurality of intended recipients, said message including a link to said universal source locator;

modifying said file and create a new version thereof which is capable of executing automatically upon download; and

downloading said new version of said file to each of said plurality intended recipients selecting said link, whereby said new version of said file auto-executes enabling said view to be viewed.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 15, wherein said managing time further comprises:

rendering a calendar of events;

scheduling an event; and

managing a workflow within a project including said engineering documents and drawings.