Encapsulated simulation components

• US 9,530,019 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ansys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SAS IP, Inc (Ansys Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cosentino, James, Zhan, Magdalena, Magdum, Abhijeet, Commens, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLDER, BRADLEY W
• Application Number:
  US14/797,551
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6272 by registering files or documents with a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing protected three-dimensional components for simulation. A three-dimensional component may be accessed, wherein the three-dimensional component includes one or more characteristics of the three-dimensional component, and wherein certain values of the characteristics of the three-dimensional components are variable via a parameter. An encapsulation command may be received for the three-dimensional component, wherein the encapsulation command includes an encryption setting, an access control setting, and an identification of which values of the characteristics of the three-dimensional component are variable via a parameter. An encapsulation of the three-dimensional component may be generated, wherein the encapsulation is encrypted based on the encryption setting and the access control setting, and wherein, when the three-dimensional component is encrypted, the three-dimensional component is inaccessible outside of an authorized program.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing protected three-dimensional components for simulation, comprising:

by a computer;

accessing a three-dimensional component, wherein the three-dimensional component includes one or more characteristics of the three-dimensional component, wherein certain values of characteristics of the three-dimensional components are variable via a parameter;

receiving an encapsulation command for the three-dimensional component, wherein the encapsulation command includes an encryption setting, an access control setting, an identification of which values of the three-dimensional component are variable via a parameter, and an identification of which of the values are not variable via a parameter;

generating an encapsulation of the three-dimensional component, wherein the encapsulation is encrypted based on the encryption setting and the access control setting, wherein, when the three-dimensional component is encrypted, the three-dimensional component is inaccessible outside of an authorized program;

transmitting the encapsulation to a third party computer, wherein when the encapsulation is accessed via the authorized program according to the access control setting, the three-dimensional component is usable for simulation, wherein the variable values are available for adjustment by the third party for simulation via a parameter, and wherein the values that are not variable are available for viewing but not varying by the third party, wherein the characteristics are provided for viewing on a graphical user interface but not adjustment by the authorized program to provide an audit of operation of the three-dimensional component during simulation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional component is incorporated into a simulation of physical field quantities in a system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple instances of the three-dimensional component are incorporated into a simulation using the encapsulation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulation is used to import the three-dimensional component into multiple disparate simulations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the access control setting is a password.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the access control setting includes a first password and a second password, wherein a user entering the first password is able to view the characteristics of the three-dimensional component, and wherein a user entering the second password is able to modify the characteristics of the three-dimensional component, creating a new version of the three-dimensional component.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the access control setting includes a password that is assigned to a particular third party, wherein unauthorized dissemination of the three-dimensional component is detected using the password.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional component is incorporated into multiple modules of the authorized program, wherein the characteristics of the three-dimensional component are protected from adjustment at each of the multiple modules.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulation command further includes an identification of which of the characteristics of the three-dimensional component are unviewable.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the encapsulation comprises:

encrypted data associated with the three-dimensional component; and

a component metadata data structure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the encapsulation comprises multiple sets of encrypted data, each set of encrypted data associated with a single three-dimensional component;

wherein the component metadata data structure includes records associated with each of multiple three-dimensional components contained within the encapsulation.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the component metadata data structure is encrypted with a different level of encryption than the encrypted data associated with the three-dimensional component.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the component metadata data structure does not require entry of a password for access by an authorized program, wherein the encrypted data associated with the three-dimensional component requires password entry for access by the authorized program.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the component metadata data structure is unencrypted.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein component metadata data structure comprises:

a component name field;

a component creator field;

a component terms of access field.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the authorized program is configured to display data from the component terms of access field prior to incorporation of the three-dimensional component into a simulation.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the encapsulation is identifiable via a search by the authorized program based on the component metadata data structure.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the encryption setting commands that the three-dimensional component not be encrypted.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters include a geometry parameter, a material parameter, and a boundary condition parameter.

20. A computer-implemented method for providing protected three-dimensional components for simulation, comprising:

by a computer;

accessing a three-dimensional component, wherein the three-dimensional component includes one or more characteristics of the three-dimensional component, wherein certain values of characteristics of the three-dimensional components are variable via a parameter;

receiving an encapsulation command for the three-dimensional component, wherein the encapsulation command includes an encryption setting, an access control setting, an identification of which values of the three-dimensional component are variable via a parameter, and an identification of which of the values are not variable via a parameter;

generating an encapsulation of the three-dimensional component, wherein the encapsulation is encrypted based on the encryption setting and the access control setting, wherein, when the three-dimensional component is encrypted, the three-dimensional component is inaccessible outside of an authorized program;

transmitting the encapsulation to a third party computer, wherein when the encapsulation is accessed via the authorized program according to the access control setting, the three-dimensional component is usable for simulation, wherein the variable values are available for adjustment by the third party for simulation via a parameter, and wherein the values that are not variable are available for viewing but not varying by the third party, wherein the three-dimensional component is incorporated into a simulation of physical field quantities in a system.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the characteristics are provided for viewing on a graphical user interface but not adjustment by the authorized program to provide an audit of operation of the three-dimensional component during simulation.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein multiple instances of the three-dimensional component are incorporated into a simulation using the encapsulation.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the encapsulation is used to import the three-dimensional component into multiple disparate simulations.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the access control setting is a password.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the access control setting includes a first password and a second password, wherein a user entering the first password is able to view the characteristics of the three-dimensional component, and wherein a user entering the second password is able to modify the characteristics of the three-dimensional component, creating a new version of the three-dimensional component.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the access control setting includes a password that is assigned to a particular third party, wherein unauthorized dissemination of the three-dimensional component is detected using the password.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the three-dimensional component is incorporated into multiple modules of the authorized program, wherein the characteristics of the three-dimensional component are protected from adjustment at each of the multiple modules.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the encapsulation command further includes an identification of which of the characteristics of the three-dimensional component are unviewable.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the encapsulation comprises:

encrypted data associated with the three-dimensional component; and

a component metadata data structure.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the encapsulation comprises multiple sets of encrypted data, each set of encrypted data associated with a single three-dimensional component;

wherein the component metadata data structure includes records associated with each of multiple three-dimensional components contained within the encapsulation.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the component metadata data structure is encrypted with a different level of encryption than the encrypted data associated with the three-dimensional component.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the component metadata data structure does not require entry of a password for access by an authorized program, wherein the encrypted data associated with the three-dimensional component requires password entry for access by the authorized program.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the component metadata data structure is unencrypted.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein component metadata data structure comprises:

a component name field;

a component creator field;

a component terms of access field.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the authorized program is configured to display data from the component terms of access field prior to incorporation of the three-dimensional component into a simulation.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the encapsulation is identifiable via a search by the authorized program based on the component metadata data structure.

37. The method of claim 20, wherein the encryption setting commands that the three-dimensional component not be encrypted.

38. The method of claim 20, wherein the parameters include a geometry parameter, a material parameter, and a boundary condition parameter.

39. A computer-implemented system for providing protected three-dimensional components for simulation, comprising:

a computer comprising one or more data processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for configuring the one or more data processors to;

access a three-dimensional component, wherein the three-dimensional component includes one or more characteristics of the three-dimensional component, wherein certain values of characteristics of the three-dimensional components are variable via a parameter;

receive an encapsulation command for the three-dimensional component, wherein the encapsulation command includes an encryption setting, an access control setting, an identification of which values of the three-dimensional component are variable via a parameter, and an identification of which of the values are not variable via a parameter;

generate an encapsulation of the three-dimensional component, wherein the encapsulation is encrypted based on the encryption setting and the access control setting, wherein, when the three-dimensional component is encrypted, the three-dimensional component is inaccessible outside of an authorized program;

transmit the encapsulation to a third party computer, wherein when the encapsulation is accessed via the authorized program according to the access control setting, the three-dimensional component is usable for simulation, wherein the variable values are available for adjustment by the third party for simulation via a parameter, and wherein the values that are not variable are available for viewing but not varying by the third party, wherein the three-dimensional component is incorporated into a simulation of physical field quantities in a system.

40. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for commanding one or more data processors to execute steps of a method for providing protected three-dimensional components for simulation, the method comprising:

accessing a three-dimensional component, wherein the three-dimensional component includes one or more characteristics of the three-dimensional component, wherein certain values of characteristics of the three-dimensional components are variable via a parameter;

receiving an encapsulation command for the three-dimensional component, wherein the encapsulation command includes an encryption setting, an access control setting, an identification of which values of the three-dimensional component are variable via a parameter, and an identification of which of the values are not variable via a parameter;

generating an encapsulation of the three-dimensional component, wherein the encapsulation is encrypted based on the encryption setting and the access control setting, wherein, when the three-dimensional component is encrypted, the three-dimensional component is inaccessible outside of an authorized program;

transmitting the encapsulation to a third party computer, wherein when the encapsulation is accessed via the authorized program according to the access control setting, the three-dimensional component is usable for simulation, wherein the variable values are available for adjustment by the third party for simulation via a parameter, and wherein the values that are not variable are available for viewing but not varying by the third party, wherein the three-dimensional component is incorporated into a simulation of physical field quantities in a system.