Multi-User Cloud Parametric Feature-Based 3D CAD System with Reference Manager

A system for executing three dimensional (3D) multi-user distributed parametric computer-aided design (CAD), the system comprising:

• one or more servers;
• one or more client devices connected over a network to the one or more servers;
• server software executed on one or more servers, the server software comprising code to:
• perform CAD geometry calculations including shape analysis and optimization of 3D graphics data,
• manage CAD editing workflow,
• manage user accounts and secure access,
• communicate with the one or more client devices,
• manage documents and storage by storing multiple files grouped together as a single data structure, the multiple files comprising data representations of assemblies, parts, and non-CAD data of a project encompassing the 3D CAD design, and
• incorporate references to one or more parts or sub-assemblies used in the project where the references originate from one or more separate projects;
• client software executed on the one or more client devices, the client software comprising code to render a user interface for displaying 3D CAD graphics for design and project management, interact with user input and output controls to manipulate a 3D CAD design, and communicate with the one or more servers;
• wherein the 3D CAD design includes one or more parts and one or more assemblies consisting of connections and configurations of the one or more parts and sub-assemblies, and the client software further comprises code to enable a user to manipulate the parts and assemblies of the 3D CAD design through ordered feature lists.