Automatically creating and modifying furniture layouts in design software

• US 9,519,407 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heffington, John M
• Application Number:
  US13/839,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20130212513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/04 Constraint-based CAD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/12 Symbolic schematics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/20 Configuration CAD, e.g. designing by assembling or positioning modules selected from libraries of predesigned modules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/12 characterised by design entry means specially adapted for CAD, e.g. graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for 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: G06F 30/18 Network design, e.g. design based on topological or interconnect aspects of utility systems, piping, heating ventilation air conditioning [HVAC] or cabling circuit design at the physical level G06F30/39; network planning tools for wireless communication networks H04W16/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2021 Shape modification

Abstract

A software application can capture product parameters and attributes in order to allow a non-expert user to create an accurate and complete furniture 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 automatically recognize required changes effected by a user-driven change, and automatically resolve the layout design by constraining vertical placement of components or automatically generating interconnections between components.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for automatically configuring a design space by using product parameters and attributes to replicate a given product based on a user'"'"'s gesture for indicating placement, and then automatically populating the design space with all required connectors and bracketing to support the indicated placement of the given product, the computer-implemented method being performed by one or more processors executing computer executable instructions for the computer-implemented method, and the computer-implemented method comprising:

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

inputting at a graphical user interface (GUI) of the system a two-dimensional design space;

identifying a first product component that is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;

inputting at the GUI a starting point at which the first product component is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;

inputting at the GUI an end point which defines a region over which the first product component is to be replicated within the two-dimensional design space;

thereafter retrieving from the database the identified first product component and automatically replicating the first product component a given number of times beginning from the starting point to the end point for the defined region, the replication being done in a manner that fits the first product component and all replications thereof to the defined region of the two-dimensional design space, and wherein the automatic replication comprises automatically adding for each replication of the first product component any required hardware for connecting or providing structural support to join the first product component and the replicated first product components together within the defined region of the two-dimensional design space; and

thereafter generating a fully compatible three-dimension view of the design space.

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

inputting at the GUI of the system a second product component that is to be integrated as part of the two-dimensional design space, the system processor thereafter;

retrieving from the database the identified second product component and automatically integrating the second product component into the design space in a manner that fits the first product component and the second product component to the defined region of the two-dimensional design space, including automatically populating the defined region of the two-dimensional design space with any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support to the first and second product components required to fit the first and second product components within the defined region of the two-dimensional design space.

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

receiving an indication to place the second product component in a position that is spatially above at least a portion of the first product component; and

automatically constraining the vertical position of the second product component.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein automatically constraining the vertical position of the second product component comprises placing the second product component at a default height within the design space.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein automatically constraining the vertical position of the second product component comprises:

identifying within the attributes associated with the second product component one or more vertical positions associated with the second product component;

providing an option to a user to select one of the one or more vertical positions; and

placing the second product component at the select vertical position within the design space.

6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein automatically constraining the vertical position of the second product component comprises:

identifying within the attributes associated with the second product component one or more vertical positions associated with the second product component;

determining a most common vertical position of the one or more vertical positions, wherein the most common vertical position is the vertical position of the one or more vertical positions that is most commonly selected by a user; and

placing the second product component at the most comment vertical position within the design space.

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

receiving user input at the GUI to change a dimensional parameter of the first product component, wherein the user input comprises selecting a portion of first product component and dragging the selected portion;

automatically adjusting the first product component and the required hardware to account for the changed dimensional parameter; and

depicting with each of the one or more views the changed dimensional parameter.

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

identifying an attribute of the first product component that requires dimensions of the first product component to conform with predetermined increments; and

automatically adjusting the first product component and the required hardware to account for the changed dimensional parameter and the predetermined increments.

9. A computer-implemented method for automatically configuring a design space in a first two-dimensional view by using product parameters and attributes to replicate a given product based on a user'"'"'s gesture for indicating placement, and then automatically populating the two-dimensional and a related three-dimensional design space with all required connectors and bracketing to support the indicated placement of the given product, the computer-implemented method being performed by one or more processors executing computer executable instructions for the computer-implemented method, and the computer-implemented method comprising:

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

inputting at a graphical user interface (GUI) of the system a two-dimensional design space;

identifying a first product component that is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;

inputting at the GUI a starting point at which the first product component is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;

inputting at the GUI an end point which defines a region over which the first product component is to be replicated within the two-dimensional design space;

thereafter retrieving from the database the identified first product component and automatically replicating the first product component a given number of times beginning from the starting point to the end point for the defined region, the replication being done in a manner that fits the first product component and all replications thereof to the defined region of the two-dimensional design space, and wherein the automatic replication comprises automatically adding for each replication of the first product component any required hardware for connecting or providing structural support to join the first product component and the replicated first product components together within the defined region of the two-dimensional design space; and

generating a three-dimensional view that is fully consistent with the two-dimensional view, wherein generating the three-dimensional view comprises;

automatically populating the corresponding defined region in the three-dimensional design space with any required hardware, for vertically connecting or providing vertical structural support to the replicated product components;

required to fit the first product component and all replications thereof within the defined region of the three-dimensional design space;

automatically constraining the vertical position of the first product component and replications thereof so that the first product component and all replications thereof vertically fit within the defined region.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising automatically determining a parts list associated with the first product component and the required hardware.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

inputting at the GUI of the system a second product component that is to be integrated as part of the design space, the system processor thereafter;

retrieving from the database the identified second product component and automatically integrating the second product component into the design space in a manner that fits the first product component and the second product component to the defined region of the design space, including automatically populating the indicated region of the design space with any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support to the first and second product components required to fit the first and second product components within the indicated region of the design space.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving input from a user changing the second product component from a first type to a second type, wherein the second type comprises attributes that are different from the first type; and

automatically incorporating the second product component for the second type into the design space.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

placing within the design space one or more reference copies of the first product component;

receiving input from a user changing a feature of the first product component; and

automatically propagating the changed feature throughout each of the one or more reference copies.

14. A computer system for automatically configuring a design space by using product parameters and attributes to replicate a given product based on a user'"'"'s gesture for indicating placement, and then automatically populating the design space with all required connectors and bracketing to support the indicated placement of the given product, the computer system comprising:

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

a graphical user interface (GUI) of the system configured for;

inputting a two-dimensional design space;

identifying a first product component that is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;

inputting a starting point at which the first product component is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space; and

inputting an end point which defines a region over which the first product component is to be replicated within the two-dimensional design space; and

a system processor programmed to;

retrieve from the database the identified first product component and automatically replicating the first product component a given number of times beginning from the starting point to the end point for the defined region, the replication being done in a manner that fits the first product component and all replications thereof to the defined region of the two-dimensional design space, and wherein the automatic replication comprises automatically adding for each replication of the first product component any required hardware for connecting or providing structural support to join the first product component and the replicated first product components together within the defined region of the two-dimensional design space; and

generate a fully compatible three-dimension view of the design space.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the system processor is further programmed to:

input at the GUI of the system a second product component that is to be integrated as part of the design space, the system processor thereafter;

retrieving from the database the identified second product component and automatically integrating the second product component into the design space in a manner that fits the first product component and the second product component to the indicated region of the design space, including automatically populating the indicated region of the design space with any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support to the first and second product components required to fit the first and second product components within the indicated region of the design space.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the system processor is further programmed to:

receive an indication to place the second product component in a position that is spatially above at least a portion of the first product component; and

automatically constrain the vertical position of the second product component.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the system processor is further programmed to:

identify within the attributes associated with the second product component one or more vertical positions associated with the second product component;

determine a most common vertical position of the one or more vertical positions, wherein the most common vertical position is the vertical position of the one or more vertical positions that is most commonly selected by a user; and

place the second product component at the most comment vertical position within the design space.

18. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the system processor is further programmed to:

receive user input at the GUI to change a dimensional parameter of the first product component, wherein the user input comprises selecting a portion of first product component and dragging the selected portion;

identify an attribute of the first product component that requires dimensions of the first product component to conform with predetermined increments;

automatically adjust the first product component and the required hardware to account for the changed dimensional parameter and the predetermined increments; and

depict with each of the one or more views to depict the changed dimensional parameter.

19. A computer system for automatically configuring a design space in a first two-dimensional view by using product parameters and attributes to replicate a given product based on a user'"'"'s gesture for indicating placement, and then automatically populating the two-dimensional and a related three-dimensional design space with all required connectors and bracketing to support the indicated placement of the given product, the computer system comprising:

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

a graphical user interface (GUI) configured for;

inputting a two-dimensional design space;

identifying a first product component that is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;

inputting a starting point at which the first product component is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space; and

inputting an end point which defines a region over which the first product component is to be replicated within the two-dimensional design space; and

a system processor programmed to

retrieve from the database the identified first product component and automatically replicating the first product component a given number of times beginning from the starting point to the end point for the defined region, the replication being done in a manner that fits the first product component and all replications thereof to the defined region of the two-dimensional design space, and wherein the automatic replication comprises automatically adding for each replication of the first product component any required hardware for connecting or providing structural support to join the first product component and the replicated first product components together within the defined region of the two-dimensional design space; and

generate a three-dimensional view that is fully consistent with the two-dimensional view, wherein generating the three-dimensional view comprises;

automatically populating the corresponding defined region in the three-dimensional design space with any required hardware, for vertically connecting or providing vertical structural support to the replicated product components required to fit the first product component and all replications thereof within the defined region of the three-dimensional design space;

automatically constraining the vertical position of the first product component and replications thereof so that the first product component and all replications thereof vertically fit within the defined region.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the system processor is further programmed to:

place within the design space one or more reference copies of the first product component;

receive input from a user changing a feature of the first product component; and

automatically propagate the changed feature throughout each of the one or more reference copies.