US 7,479,959 B2 · Geometric modeling system with intelligent configuring of solid shapes

Abstract

A computer program product (190), and a geometric modeling system which executes the program, provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object upon a display device (158). The program (190) detects insertion of a generic movant solid shape into a scene for relating the movant sold shape to a target or host solid shape. Upon detection of insertion, the program configures data representative of one of the movant solid shape and the target solid shape. The representative data is configured so that one of the solid shapes of the relation is depicted on the display device as having a particular attribute(s) in accordance with (1) an attribute of the solid shape with which it relates; and/or (2) one or more predetermined rules. The program can configure the representative data of the movant solid shape in accordance with an attribute of the target solid shape in various ways (e.g., as having a particular size or dimension for compatibility with the target solid shape, or as having a particular position or physical orientation relative to the target solid shape). The predetermine rule(s) by which the program can configure the movant solid shape can be based on diverse criteria (e.g., as a particular member of a class of solid shapes represented by a generic solid shape, as a preferred procurement item). In an example implementation, configuration of the movant solid shape, and in some situations the target solid shape, is facilitated by the program allocating a part object for each of solid shape, with each part object having one or more connector objects conceptually associated with corresponding physical locations on the respective solid shape.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A computer program product which provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object upon a display device, the computer program product comprising computer readable coded instructions stored in a memory, the computer readable coded instructions being executable on a processor to which information is input via a user input device, wherein when the computer readable coded instructions are executed by the processor, the processor:

makes a selection of at least one candidate connector object of multiple possible connector objects of a target solid shape for matching with a particular connector object of a movant solid shape, the selection being based on connector object information of the at least one candidate connector object and the particular connector object of the movant solid shape, the movant solid shape having one or more connector objects including the particular connector object;
displays the target solid shape and the movant solid shape in accordance with the matching and in accordance with configuration information of at least one of the connector objects which are matched,
wherein the program makes the selection from among the multiple appropriate connector objects based on a rule of a rule database, the rule database either comprising or operating in conjunction with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

makes a selection of at least one candidate connector object of multiple possible connector objects of a target solid shape for matching with a particular connector object of a movant solid shape, the selection being based on connector object information of the at least one candidate connector object and the particular connector object of the movant solid shape, the movant solid shape having one or more connector objects including the particular connector object;
displays the target solid shape and the movant solid shape in accordance with the matching and in accordance with configuration information of at least one of the connector objects which are matched,
wherein the program makes the selection from among the multiple appropriate connector objects based upon a boundary condition criteria.

A three dimensional geometric modeling system comprising:

a processor which executes a program comprising set of coded instructions stored in a memory;
a display device upon which, when executed, the program provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object comprising at least one solid shape,
a user input device for inputting information to the processor;
wherein the processor in executing the program, and in response to communication via the user input device of insertion of a movant solid shape into a context including a target solid shape:
makes a selection of at least one candidate connector object of multiple possible connector objects of target solid shape for matching with particular connector object of a movant solid shape, the selection being based on connector object information of the at least one candidate connector object and the particular connector object of the movant solid shape, the movant solid shape having one or more connector objects including the particular connector object;
displays the target solid shape and the movant solid shape in accordance with the matching and in accordance with configuration information of at least one of the connector objects which are matched,
wherein the program makes the selection from among the multiple appropriate connector objects based on a rule of a rule database, the rule database either comprising or operating in conjunction with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

4 more elements

A three dimensional geometric modeling system comprising:

a processor which executes a program comprising set of coded instructions stored in a memory;
a display device upon which, when executed, the program provides a visual depiction of a three dimensional object comprising at least one solid shape,
a user input device for inputting information to the processor;
wherein the processor in executing the program, and in response to communication via the user input device of insertion of a movant solid shape into a context including a target solid shape:
makes a selection of at least one candidate connector object of multiple possible connector objects of a target solid shape for matching with a particular connector object of a movant solid shape, the selection being based on connector object information of the at least one candidate connector object and the particular connector object of the movant solid shape, the movant solid shape having one or more connector objects including the particular connector object;
displays the target solid shape and the movant solid shape in accordance with the matching and in accordance with configuration information of at least one of the connector objects which are matched,
wherein the program makes the selection from among the multiple appropriate connector objects based on a boundary condition criteria.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Geometric modeling system with intelligent configuring of solid shapes

Life of this patent

Geometric modeling system with intelligent configuring of solid shapes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43