Method and apparatus for creating a representation of a product or process

An apparatus to create a representation of a product or process that enables a product lifecycle management system to interact with the representation and three-dimensional models in a seamless and uniform manner, the apparatus creates the representation in the absence of a three-dimensional model of the product or process, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory storing a program of instructions for:
• a root transient geometry creating module to create a root transient geometry from starter data that represents the product or process and that lacks information for creating in a three-dimensional model domain, a three-dimensional model of the product or process;
• an identifying module communicatively coupled to the root transient geometry creating module to identify at least one part or assembly of parts of the product, or step of the process in the created root transient geometry;
• a leaf transient geometry creating module communicatively coupled to the identifying module to create a leaf transient geometry for each identified part or assembly of parts, or step;
• an associating module communicatively coupled to the leaf transient geometry creating module to associate each created leaf transient geometry with at least one attribute;
• and
• a forming module communicatively coupled to the associating module to form an intermediary structure by organizing the root transient geometry as the root of the structure and each leaf transient geometry with respective associated attribute as a leaf of the structure, the intermediary structure being a resulting data representation that is compatible with the three-dimensional model domain but differs from a three-dimensional model of the product or process that has real-world geometry of the product or process, the intermediary structure being formed in a manner that enables a product lifecycle management system to interact with the resulting data representation and three-dimensional models in a seamless and uniform manner, and is capable of being updated with real-world geometry of the product or process.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

• given starter data that represents the product or process and that lacks information for creating in a three-dimensional model domain, a three-dimensional model of the product or process, create a root transient geometry from the starter data;
• identify at least one part or assembly of parts of the product, or step of the process in the created root transient geometry;
• create a leaf transient geometry for each identified part or assembly of parts, or step;
• associate each created leaf transient geometry with at least one attribute;
• and
• form an intermediary structure by organizing the root transient geometry as the root of the structure and each leaf transient geometry with respective associated attribute as a leaf of the structure, the intermediary structure being a resulting data representation that is compatible with the three-dimensional model domain but differs from a three-dimensional model of the product or process that has real-world geometry of the product or process, the intermediary structure being formed in a manner that enables a product lifecycle management system to interact with the resulting data representation and three-dimensional models in a seamless and uniform manner, and is capable of being updated with real-world geometry of the product or process.