Method for aiding space design using network, system therefor, and server computer of the system

A system for aiding design of a building with a computer, the system comprising a server computer, and a client computer accessible to the server computer via a network, wherein the server computer stores:

• a layout design program which is operable on a screen activated by a browser of the client computer to enable a user to implement design of a layout of the building by creating a room and adding fixtures to the room, the layout being represented in 2D, the layout design program enabling the user to define a room by changing a tone of selected squares defined by grid lines displayed on a browsed screen in 2D, and to add fixtures and other rooms outside of the room, or enabling the user to draw an outline of a room with reference to grid lines displayed on a browsed screen in 2D, the layout design program superimposing a layout of an upper floor over a layout of a lower floor in 2D when a layout of the upper floor is being designed,
• an object database which stores fixture data used in layout design for retrieval and extraction,
• a 3D display program which is operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed building in 3D, the 3D display program being configured to allow a user to modify a part of the designed building itself while the building is displayed in 3D, and
• an information provider database configured to store data relating to a designed layout of a building supplied from a first client computer, and to provide a second client computer with the stored data, wherein
• the server computer is configured to transmit the layout design program, the fixture data stored in the object database, and the 3D display program to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the network;
• the client computer is provided with a browser capable of activating the layout design program and the 3D display program, and is configured to activate the layout design program and the 3D display program on the browser screen upon receiving the layout design program and the 3D display program from the server computer via the network;
• and
• the layout design program is configured to request and obtain the fixture data from the object database of the server computer via the network during activation of the layout design program on the browser screen of the client computer for utilization in layout design.

A server computer for use in a design aiding system which aids a design of a building on a client computer accessible to the server computer via a network, wherein the server computer stores:

• a layout design program which is operable on a screen activated by a browser of the client computer to enable the client computer to implement design of a layout of the building by creating a room and adding fixtures to the room in 2D, the layout design program enabling a user to define a room by changing a tone of selected squares defined by grid lines displayed on a browsed screen in 2D, and to add fixtures and other rooms outside of the room, or enabling the user to draw an outline of a room with reference to grid lines displayed on a browsed screen in 2D, the layout design program superimposing a layout of an upper floor over a layout of a lower floor in 2D when a layout of the upper floor is being designed,
• an object database which stores fixture data used in layout design for retrieval and extraction,
• a 3D display program which is operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed building in 3D, the 3D display program being configured to allow a user to modify a part of the designed building itself while the building is displayed in 3D;
• and
• an information provider database configured to store data relating to a designed layout of a building supplied from a first client computer, and to provide a second client computer with the stored data,
• wherein the server computer is configured to transmit the layout design program, the fixture data stored in the object database, and the 3D display program to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the network;
• and
• the layout design program is configured to request and obtain data from the object database of the server computer via the network during activation of the browser of the client computer for utilization in layout design.

A system for aiding design of a layout of a building with a computer, the system comprising a server computer, and a client computer accessible to the server computer via a network, wherein the server computer stores:

• an object database which is operable on a screen activated by a browser of the client computer and stores fixture data used in layout design for retrieval and extraction in association with an operation of a layout design program which enables a user to implement design of a layout of the building by creating a room and adding fixtures to the room in 2D;
• a 3D display program which is operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed layout in 3D, the 3D display program being configured to allow a user to modify a part of the designed building itself while the building is displayed in 3D;
• and
• an information provider database configured to store data relating to a designed layout of a building supplied from a first client computer, and to provide a second client computer with the stored data,
• wherein the server computer is configured to transmit the fixture data stored in the object database and the 3D display program to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the network;
• the client computer is provided with a layout design program and a browser capable of activating the layout design program and the 3D display program, and is configured to activate the 3D display program on the browser screen upon receiving the 3D display program from the server computer via the network;
• and
• the layout design program obtains the fixture data from the object database of the server computer via the network during activation of the browser of the client computer for utilization in the layout design, the layout design program enabling the user to define a room by changing a tone of selected squares defined by grid lines displayed on a browsed screen in 2D, and to add fixtures and other rooms outside of the room, or enabling the user to draw an outline of a room with reference to grid lines displayed on a browsed screen in 2D, the layout design program superimposing a layout of an upper floor over a layout of a lower floor in 2D when a layout of the upper floor is being designed.

A system for aiding design of a layout of a building, the system comprising a server computer, and a client computer accessible to the server computer via a network, wherein the server computer stores:

• a layout design program which is operable on a screen activated by a browser of the client computer to enable a user to implement design of a layout of a building by creating a room and adding fixtures to the room in 2D, the layout design program enabling the user to define a room by changing a tone of selected squares defined by grid lines displayed on a browsed screen in 2D, and to add fixtures and other rooms outside of the room, or enabling the user to draw an outline of a room with reference to grid lines displayed on a browsed screen in 2D, the layout design program superimposing a layout of an upper floor over a layout of a lower floor in 2D when a layout of the upper floor is being designed;
• an object database which stores fixture data used in layout design for retrieval and extraction;
• and
• an information provider database configured to store data relating to a designed layout of a building supplied from a first client computer, and to provide a second client computer with the stored data,
• wherein the server computer is configured to transmit the layout design program and the fixture data stored in the object database to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the network;
• the client computer is provided with a browser capable of activating the layout design program, equipped with a 3D display program which is operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed space in 3D, and is configured to activate the layout design program on the browser screen upon receiving the layout design program via the network from the server computer, the 3D display program being configured to allow a user to modify a part of the designed building itself while the building is displayed in 3D;
• and
• the layout design program obtains the fixture data from the object database via the network during activation of the layout design program on the browser screen of the client computer for utilization in layout design.

A system for aiding design of a layout of a building, the system comprising a server computer, and a client computer accessible to the server computer via a network, wherein the server computer stores:

• a layout design program which is operable on a screen activated by a browser of the client computer to enable a user to implement design of a layout of a building by creating a room and adding fixtures to the room in 2D, the layout design program enabling the user to define a room by changing a tone of selected squares defined by grid lines displayed on a browsed screen in 2D, and to add fixtures and other rooms outside of the room, or enabling the user to draw an outline of a room with reference to grid lines displayed on a browsed screen in 2D, the layout design program superimposing a layout of an upper floor over a layout of a lower floor in 2D when a layout of the upper floor is being designed;
• a 3D display program which is operable on the browser screen of the client computer to display the designed space in 3D, the 3D display program being configured to allow the user to modify a part of the designed building itself while the building is displayed in 3D;
• and
• an information provider database configured to store data relating to a designed layout of a building supplied from a first client computer, and to provide a second client computer with the stored data,
• the server computer is configured to transmit the layout design program and the 3D display program to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer via the network;
• the client computer is provided with a browser capable of activating the layout design program and the 3D display program, equipped with an object database which stores fixture data used in layout design for retrieval and extraction, and is configured to activate the layout design program and the 3D display program on the browser screen upon receiving the layout design program and the 3D display program via the network from the server computer;
• and
• the layout design program obtains the fixture data from the object database during activation of the layout design program on the browser screen of the client computer for utilization in layout design.