Tracking the evolution of a design space
AssigneeAutodesk, Inc.
InventorsMichael Bergin, Mark Thomas Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A design application includes a design engine and a tracking engine. The design engine allows end-users to create and modify a design space. The design space includes a spectrum of possible design options, as well as other information related to the process of creating designs. When changes are applied to the design space, the design engine transmits event data to the tracking engine that reflects those changes. The tracking engine, based on the event data, updates a design space timeline. The design space timeline illustrates the evolution of the design space over time.
Claims18
One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to generate a design space timeline, by performing the steps of:
- generating a first node associated with a first graphical depiction of a first state of a design space after a first set of modifications is made to the design space, wherein the design space comprises a plurality of potential design options that solve a design problem;
- integrating the first node and the first graphical depiction into the design space timeline that is displayed via a graphical user interface;
- generating a second node associated with a second graphical depiction of a second state of the design space after the first set of modifications and a second set of modifications is made to the design space;
- integrating the second node and the second graphical depiction into the design space timeline;
- in response to removing the first node from the design space timeline, updating the second node to be associated with a third graphical depiction of a third state of the design space that reflects the second set of modifications made to the design space but does not reflect the first set of modifications made to the design space, and
- integrating the third graphical depiction into the design space timeline.
A computer-implemented method for generating a design space timeline, the method comprising:
- generating a first node associated with a first graphical depiction of a first state of a design space after a first set of modifications is made to the design space, wherein the design space comprises a plurality of potential design options that solve a design problem;
- integrating the first node and the first graphical depiction into the design space timeline that is displayed via a graphical user interface;
- generating a second node associated with a second graphical depiction of a second state of the design space after the first set of modifications and a second set of modifications is made to the design space;
- integrating the second node and the second graphical depiction into the design space timeline;
- in response to removing the first node from the design space timeline, updating the second node to be associated with a third graphical depiction of a third state of the design space that reflects the second set of modifications made to the design space but does not reflect the first set of modifications made to the design space, and
- integrating the third graphical depiction into the design space timeline.
A system for generating a design space timeline, comprising:
- a memory storing a design application;
- and
- a processor that, when executing the design application, is configured to:
- generate a first node associated with a first graphical depiction of a first state of a design space after a first set of modifications is made to the design space, wherein the design space comprises a plurality of potential design options that solve a design problem,
- integrate the first node and the first graphical depiction into the design space timeline that is displayed via a graphical user interface,
- generate a second node associated with a second graphical depiction of a second state of the design space after the first set of modifications and a second set of modifications is made to the design space, integrate the second node and the second graphical depiction into the design space timeline;
- in response to removing the first node from the design space timeline, update the second node to be associated with a third graphical depiction of a third state of the design space that reflects the second set of modifications made to the design space but does not reflect the first set of modifications made to the design space, and
- integrate the third graphical depiction into the design space timeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.