# US 10,915,671 B2 · Methods and systems for processing building information modeling (BIM)-based data > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,915,671 B2 - Document ID: US10915671B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/664,586 - Filed: 2019-10-25 - Published: 2020-02-20 - Granted: 2021-02-09 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-20 - Assignees: Viewpoint Corporation - Applicants: Viewpoint, Inc. - Inventors: Laurence Skoropinski; Lloyd Pickering; Richard Stokoe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10915671B2 ## CPC - G06F 30/13: Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads - G06F 3/04815: Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 16/21: Design, administration or maintenance of databases - H04L 67/10: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method for operating a building information modeling (BIM) system, is provided. The method includes at a BIM server, receiving a data alteration request from a client computing device for altering data in one of a building model, a hierarchical structure of building model data, and a Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) spreadsheet, the building model, hierarchical structure of building model data, and COBie spreadsheet simultaneously displayed in a GUI generated by the BIM server, automatically determining validity of data in the data alteration request, and if it is determined that the data is valid, permitting the data alteration request based on predetermined permissions of the client computing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method performed by one or more computing systems for setting up a session for sharing building information modeling (BIM)-based data, the method comprising: receiving from a master device a request to create a session associated with a building model; sending to the master device a session identifier, wherein when the master device receives the session identifier, the master device sends to a slave device an invitation to join the session, the invitation including the session identifier; transferring to the master device building model data; receiving from the slave device a message indicating that the slave device is joining the session; upon receiving the message, transferring to the slave device the building model data; receiving from the master device data relating to an update of the building model data; and sending to the slave device the data relating to the update. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a graphical user interface (GUI) displaying the building model, a hierarchical structure of the building model data, and a Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) spreadsheet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 further comprising generating an updated GUI based on the data relating to the update. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the update of the building model data includes one or more of changing a viewing angle of the building model, changing visibility of certain model features, selecting items of the building model, and adding comments or chat messages. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising determining validity of the data relating to the update. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein determining the validity of the data includes one or more of checking a date validity of dates in the data and actively enforcing referential integrity of the data through use of a validation lookup list. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 further comprising when it is determined that the data relating to the update is not valid, not sending to the slave device the data relating to the update. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein a second slave device joins the session and further comprising transferring to the second slave device the building model data and the data relating to the update to ensure that the second slave device has up-to-date data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising authenticating a user of the master device using a user identifier and a password. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising authenticating a user of the slave device using a user identifier and a password. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the master device is configured to control the session. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the slave device is configured to view the session controlled by the master device and inhibited from controlling the session. ### Claim 13 One or more computing systems for setting up a session for sharing building information modeling (BIM)-based data, the one or more computing systems comprising: one or more computer-readable storage mediums storing computer-executable instructions for controlling the one or more computing systems to: receive from a master device a request to create a session associated with a building model; send to the master device a session identifier; transfer to the master device building model data; when one or more slave devices join the session, transfer to the one or more slave devices the building model data; receive from the master device data relating to an update of the building model data; and send to the one or more slave devices the data relating to the update; and one or more processors for executing the computer-executable instructions stored in the one or more computer-readable storage mediums. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The one or more computing systems of claim 13 wherein the computer-executable instructions further control the one or more computing systems to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) displaying the building model, a hierarchical structure of the building model data, and a Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) spreadsheet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The one or more computing systems of claim 14 wherein the computer-executable instructions further control the one or more computing systems to generate an updated GUI based on the data relating to the update. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The one or more computing systems of claim 13 wherein the computer-executable instructions further control the one or more computing systems to update the building model, a hierarchical structure of the building model data, and a Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) spreadsheet based on the data relating to the update of the building model data. ### Claim 17 A method performed by one or more computing systems for setting up a session for sharing building information modeling (BIM)-based data, the method comprising: accessing a building model; sending to a server a message indicating that a new session is to be created; receiving from the server a session identifier; receiving from the server building model data; sending to a slave device an invitation to join the session, the invitation including the session identifier; updating the building model data; and sending to the server the updated data, wherein the server sends the updated data to the slave device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein accessing the building model includes creating a new model or loading an existing model. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein in response to receiving the invitation to join the session, the slave device sends to the server a message indicating that the slave device is joining the session. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising sending to the server a save data command wherein the save data command is configured to request associative mapping between identification data in each of the building model, a hierarchical structure of the building model data, and a COBie spreadsheet.