CREATION AND MODIFICATION OF VALID FUNCTIONAL DESIGN LAYOUTS

• US 20100306681A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Armstrong Word Industries Incorporated, Armstrong World Industries Incorporated, Dirtt Environmental Solutions
• Original Assignee: Dirtt Environmental Solutions
• Inventors: Boden, Dale, Loberg, Barrie A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,762,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• 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. A method of automatically configuring user input in a computerized environment to represent a design or layout of components within a design space, comprising:

identifying one or more source components in a design space;

receiving user input regarding one or more functional components configured to receive flow from the one or more source components; and

automatically creating a valid functional system layout within the design space by optimizing the characteristics of functional system lines connecting the one or more source components and the one or more functional components.

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

receiving additional user input regarding the placement of one or more additional source components in the design space; and

automatically modifying the functional system layout by optimizing the characteristics of the functional system lines in view of the additional user input.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein automatically creating a valid functional system layout comprises populating all required functional connectors and conduits needed to validly connect the one or more source components and the one or more functional components in compliance with applicable codes, rules, and manufacturing guidelines.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein optimizing the characteristics of functional system lines comprises optimizing the placement of the functional system lines.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein optimizing the parameters 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.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising calculating the optimal run based on attributes of the functional connectors and the one or more functional components.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising automatically populating flow intent lines in the design space indicating the connections between the one or more functional components and the one or more source components.

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

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

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

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein automatically creating a valid functional system layout further comprises automatically resolving any invalid functional components.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising modifying the location, type, connection, or number of the invalid functional components.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving user input regarding one or more functional components comprises receiving user input regarding the placement of a functional component within the design space.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising constraining the placement of the functional component to a valid location.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising determining the valid location based upon the attributes and parameters of the functional component and other components within the design space.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising automatically placing one or more functional components within the design space at valid placement locations in the design space upon receiving the user input regarding the one or more functional components.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the functional system comprises an electrical system.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more functional components comprise one or more of an electrical receptacle, a junction box, circuit breaker, or electrical wiring.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising generating a parts list in real-time including all the components of the valid functional system layout, wherein the parts list updates in real-time when any changes are made to the valid functional system layout.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising rendering the valid functional system layout in 2D graphics, 3D graphics, and textual information, each of which are separate representations of the same dataset.

19. A method of automatically configuring user input in a computerized environment to represent a design or layout of components within a design space, comprising:

receiving user input regarding the placement of one or more functional components within a design space;

receiving user input regarding the placement of one or more source components within the design space;

populating functional system lines with optimized characteristics, the functional system lines connecting the one or more source components and the one or more functional components;

receiving additional user input regarding the placement, relocation, or change of one or more of a non-functional design component, a functional component, or a source component within the design space; and

resolving the functional system lines in view of the additional user input.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising resolving any invalid functional components generated by the user input or additional user input.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising generating a warning upon receiving user input that positions the one or more functional components at an invalid location.

22. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein populating functional system lines with optimized characteristics comprises calculating optimal placement of the functional system lines between the one or more functional components in three-dimensions.

23. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising automatically populating flow intent lines in the design space indicating the connections between the one or more functional components and the one or more source components.

24. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the one or more functional components comprise components of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system.

25. In a computerized environment in which a user interface of a design program is used to design one or more interior or exterior spaces, a computer program product having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more processors in the computerized environment to perform a method of automatically configuring user input in a computerized environment to represent a design or layout of components within a design space, comprising the following:

identifying one or more source components in a design space;

receiving user input regarding one or more functional components configured to receive flow from the one or more source components; and

automatically creating a valid functional system layout within the design space by optimizing the characteristics of functional system lines connecting the one or more source components and the one or more functional components.