Creation and modification of valid functional design layouts

• US 8,762,877 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Armstrong Word Industries Incorporated, Armstrong World Industries Incorporated, Dirtt Environmental Solutions
• Original Assignee: ICE Edge Business Solutions Ltd.
• Inventors: Loberg, Barrie A., Boden, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin, Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEFFINGTON, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US12/444,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20100306681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 715/757, 715/771, 715/852, 715/775, 715/765
• US Class Current: 715/775
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/04 Constraint-based CAD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

A software application can capture product parameters and attributes in order to allow a non-expert user to create a valid functional system layout in a design space. To enable accurate layouts, the software application can automatically apply all applicable components, connectors, rules, attributes, codes, and behaviors to each component/design element in the design space. The intelligent, object-oriented software can apply rules and behaviors automatically, not only providing an accurate, valid layout, but also optimizing the layout. The intelligent, object-oriented software can recognize required changes effected by a user-driven change, and automatically resolve the layout design.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a computer-implemented method for configuring a design space by automatically integrating both functional and non-functional design components which are defined by component parameters and attributes, the computer-implemented method of the system comprising:

storing in a database

a plurality of different non-functional product components to be used in designing an interior workspace, each non-functional product component being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of non-functional product component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each non-functional product component and any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support for each type of non-functional product component;

a plurality of different functional components defining types of outlets for various functional systems providing at least one or more services consisting of electrical power, HVAC, water and gas for distribution and use within the design space, the functional components being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of functional component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each functional component and any associated hardware for providing functional system lines required for delivery and distribution of any such services to the interior workspace for each type of functional component; and

a plurality of source components defining types of inlets for the various functional systems providing the at least one or more services, each source component being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of source component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each source component and any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support for each type of source component;

inputting at a graphical user interface (GUI) of the system a design space and indentifying within the design space a first non-functional product component that is to be placed within an indicated region of the design space defined by a starting and an end point;

a system processor thereafter retrieving from the database the identified first non-functional product component and automatically replicating the first non-functional product component in a manner that fits the first non-functional product component to the indicated region of the design space, including automatically populating the indicated region of the design space with any required hardware for connecting or providing structural support to the replicated non-functional product components required to fit the first non-functional product component within the indicated region of the design space;

identifying and inputting at the GUI one or more functional components for one or more types of outlets for the functional systems that are to provide the one or more services for use and distribution within the design space;

identifying and inputting at the GUI one or more source components for one or more types of inlets for the functional systems that are to provide the one or more services for use and distribution within the design space; and

the system processor thereafter retrieving from the database the identified functional and source components and automatically populating the design space with functional system lines integrated into the non-functional product components in the design space, the functional system lines being required for delivery and distribution of one or more of the services from each source component inlet to one or more functional component outlets for a corresponding type of service, and said system processor also automatically populating each functional system line with any required hardware required for the functional system line.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the layout of the design space by identifying and inputting at the GUI of the system one or more additional functional components for one or more types of outlets or one or more additional source components for one or more types of inlets, or one or more non-functional product components and

the system processor thereafter re-configuring the layout of the design space to incorporate the additional functional components, source components or non-functional product components and automatically re-populating the layout of the design space with either updated functional system lines based on the additional functional or source components, or automatically re-populating the layout of the design space with any required hardware for connecting or providing structural support for the additional non-functional product components, as applicable.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein automatically populating the design space layout with functional system lines comprises automatically generating functional system lines that are in compliance with applicable codes, rules, and manufacturing guidelines.

4. Currently Amended) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the system processor optimizes the characteristics of functional system lines by optimizing the placement of the functional system lines relative to the non-functional product components.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein optimizing the characteristics of functional system lines comprises calculating an optimal run of connectors and conduits between the one or more functional source components and the one or more functional components for one or more types of outlets.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the system processor automatically populates flow intent lines in the layout of the design space, the flow intent lines indicating connections between one or more functional components and one or more source components.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

receiving user input at the GUI regarding the repositioning of one or more flow intent lines; and

the system processor resolving the optimized functional system lines to correspond with the repositioning of the one or more flow intent lines.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the system processor automatically creates a valid functional system layout by automatically resolving any invalid functional components or invalid source components.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, automatically resolving any invalid functional components or invalid source components comprises modifying the location, type, connection, or number of any invalid functional components or invalid source components.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the system processor generates a parts list in real-time including all the components for all functional system lines generated, and updates an applicable parts list in real-time when any changes are made to the one of the functional system lines for the design space layout.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the system processor renders the layout of the design space, including non-functional product components, functional components for functional system inlets, source components for functional system outlets, and functional system lines in 2D graphics, 3D graphics, and textual information, each of which are separate representations of a common dataset.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising a non-volatile memory medium for storing computer-executable instructions which, when down loaded to the computer system, cause the computer-implemented method to be executed by the computer system.

12. In a computer system, a computer-implemented method for configuring a design space with a functional system layout by automatically integrating design components consisting of both functional and source components which are defined by component parameters and attributes, the computer-implemented method comprising:

storing in a database

a plurality of different functional components types of outlets for various functional systems providing at least one or more services consisting of electrical power, HVAC, water and gas for distribution and use within the design space, the functional components being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of functional component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each functional component and any associated hardware for providing functional system lines required for delivery and distribution of any such services to the interior workspace for each type of functional component; and

a plurality of source components defining types of inlets for the various functional systems providing the at least one or more services, each source component being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of source component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each source component and any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support for each type of source component;

inputting at a graphical user interface LGUI) of the system a design space and indentifying within the design space one or more functional components for one or more types of outlets for the functional systems that are to provide the one or more services for use and distribution within the design space;

identifying and inputting at the GUI of the system one or more source components for one or more types of inlets for the functional systems that are to provide the one or more services for use and distribution within the design space;

a system processor thereafter configuring a functional system layout for the design space by retrieving from the database the identified functional and source components and automatically populating the design space with functional system lines required for delivery and distribution of one or more of the services from each source component inlet to one or more functional component outlets for a corresponding type of service, including automatically populating each functional system line with any required hardware for the functional system line;

modifying the functional system layout by identifying and inputting at the GUI of the system one or more additional functional components for one or more types of outlets or one or more additional source components for one or more types of inlets; and

the system processor thereafter re-configuring the functional system layout to incorporate the additional functional or source components and automatically re-populating the design space with updated functional system lines based on the additional functional or source components.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the system processor automatically creates a valid functional system layout by automatically resolving any invalid functional components or invalid source components when re-configuring the functional system layout.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the system processor generates a warning upon receiving user input that positions one or more functional components or one or more source components at an invalid location.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the system processor optimizes the characteristics of functional system lines by optimizing the placement of the functional system lines relative to the non-functional product components.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the system processor automatically populates flow intent lines in the layout of the design space, the flow intent lines indicating connections between one or more functional components and one or more source components.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising,

inputting at the GUI one or more changes to the design space, the one or more changes comprising the placement, relocation, or change of one or more of a non-functional product component, a functional component, or a source component within the design space;

and

the system processor thereafter resolving one or more of the functional system lines in order to account for said one or more input changes to the design space.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising a non-volatile memory medium for storing computer-executable instructions which, when down loaded to the computer system, cause the computer-implemented method to be executed by the computer system.

20. A computer system for configuring a design space by automatically integrating both functional and non-functional design components which are defined by component parameters and attributes, the computer system comprising:

(a) a database having stored therein

a plurality of different non-functional product components to be used in designing an interior workspace, each non-functional product component being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of non-functional product component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each non-functional product component and any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support for each type of non-functional product component;

a plurality of different functional components defining types of outlets for various functional systems providing at least one or more services consisting of electrical power, HVAC, water and gas for distribution and use within the design space, the functional components being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of functional component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each functional component and any associated hardware for providing functional system lines required for delivery and distribution of any such services to the interior workspace for each type of functional component; and

a plurality of source components defining types of inlets for the various functional systems providing the at least one or more services, each source component being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of source component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each source component and any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support for each type of source component;

(b) a graphical user interface (GUI) of the system for inputting a design space and for

inputting and indentifying within the design space a first non-functional product component that is to be placed within an indicated region of the design space defined by a starting point and an end point;

inputting and identifying within the design space one or more functional components for one or more types of outlets for the functional systems that are to provide the one or more services for use and distribution within the design space; and

inputting and identifying within the design space one or more source components for one or more types of inlets for the functional systems that are to provide the one or more services for use and distribution within the design space; and

(c) a system processor programmed to

retrieve from the database the identified first non-functional product component and automatically replicate the first non-functional product component in a manner that fits the first non-functional product component to the indicated region of the design space, including automatically populating the indicated region of the design space with any required hardware for connecting or providing structural support to the replicated non-functional product components required to fit the first non-functional product component within the indicated region of the design space;

retrieve from the database the identified functional and source components and automatically populate the design space with functional system lines integrated into the non-functional product components in the design space, the functional system lines being required for delivery and distribution of one or more of the services from each source component inlet to one or more functional component outlets for a corresponding type of service; and

automatically populate each functional system line with any required hardware required for the functional system line.

21. A computer system for configuring a design space by automatically integrating both functional and non-functional design components which are defined by component parameters and attributes, the computer system comprising:

(a) a database having stored therein

a plurality of different functional components defining types of outlets for various functional systems providing at least one or more services consisting of electrical power, HVAC, water and gas for distribution and use within the design space, the functional components being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of functional component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each functional component and any associated hardware for providing functional system lines required for delivery and distribution of any such services to the interior workspace for each type of functional component; and

a plurality of source components defining types of inlets for the various functional systems providing the at least one or more services, each source component being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of source component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each source component and any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support for each type of source component;

(b) a graphical user interface (GUI) for inputting

a design space and indentifying within the design space one or more functional components for one or more types of outlets for the functional systems that are to provide the one or more services for use and distribution within the design space; and

one or more source components for one or more types of inlets for the functional systems that are to provide the one or more services for use and distribution within the design space; and

(c) a system processor programmed to

retrieve from the database the identified functional and source components and automatically populate the design space with functional system lines required for delivery and distribution of one or more of the services from each source component inlet to one or more functional component outlets for a corresponding type of service;

automatically generate a functional system layout for the design space by populating each functional system line with any required hardware for the functional system line; and

automatically update functional system lines and re-populate any updated functional system line with any required hardware for any additional functional or source components added to the functional system layout after it is first generated.