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.
Claims20
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate a design space timeline, by performing the steps of:
- generating a first node that indicates a first set of modifications made to a design space at a first point in time;
- integrating the first node into the design space timeline;
- and
- generating a first visual representation of the design space timeline that illustrates one or more modifications of the design space between an initial state and a first state, wherein the first state reflects the first set of modifications.
A computer-implemented method for generating a design space timeline, the method comprising:
- generating a first node that indicates a first set of modifications made to a design space at a first point in time;
- integrating the first node into the design space timeline;
- and
- generating a first visual representation of the design space timeline that illustrates one or more modifications of the design space between an initial state and a first state, wherein the first state reflects the first set of modifications.
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 that indicates a first set of modifications made to a design space at a first point in time,
- integrate the first node into the design space timeline, and
- generate a first visual representation of the design space timeline that illustrates one or more modifications of the design space between an initial state and a first state, wherein the first state reflects the first set of modifications.
The system of claim 20, wherein the processor if further configured to:
- determine that the design space timeline is to be branched downstream of the first node;
- generate a second node that indicates a branching point in the design space timeline;
- integrate the second node into the design space timeline;
- and
- generate a second visual representation of the design space timeline that illustrates the design space branching into at least two parallel branches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.