Capturing a user's intent in design software

A computer program product comprising one or more physical memory devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed at one or more processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to implement a method for generating at the computing system a design for a design space, where the implemented method comprises:

• storing in a memory storage device a plurality of design components which each comprise an object having a plurality of static attributes defining certain physical characteristics of a design component, and one or more dynamic attributes which correspond to one of the static attributes, the dynamic attributes representing possible variants of a static attribute;
• instantiating at a display of a computing system a user interface which is comprised of a first portion that serves as a design space, and a second portion which serves as a display of one or more said design components;
• selecting a first design element in the second portion of the display, and positioning the selected first design element in the design space at a first designated location of the design space;
• selecting a second design element in the second portion of the display, and positioning the second design element in the design space portion of the display at a second designated location of the design space;
• one or more processors of the computing system determining that as a result of positioning the second design element at the second designated location, one or more dynamic attributes of the objects for the first and second design components conflict with one another;
• the one or more processors of the computing system then processing the conflicting dynamic attributes in a way that resolves the conflict by changing one or more dynamic attributes of at least one of the first and second design components;
• and
• displaying in the design space a suggested updated design based on the conflict resolution.

A computer-implemented method for generating at a computing system a design for a design space, the computer implemented method comprising:

• storing in a memory storage device a plurality of design components which each comprise an object having a plurality of static attributes defining certain physical characteristics of a design component, and one or more dynamic attributes which correspond to one of the static attributes, the dynamic attributes representing possible variants of a static attribute;
• instantiating at a display of a computing system a user interface which is comprised of a first portion that serves as a design space, and a second portion which serves as a display of one or more said design components;
• selecting a first design element in the second portion of the display, and positioning the selected first design element in the design space at a first designated location of the design space;
• one or more processors of the computing system then generating a parts list based on the object for the first design component, the parts list at least identifying appropriate hardware and stock keeping units required for physical implementation of the first design component at the first designated location of the design space;
• selecting a second design element in the second portion of the display, and positioning the second design element in the design space portion of the display at a second designated location of the design space;
• one or more processors of the computing system determining that as a result of positioning the second design element at the second designated location, one or more dynamic attributes of the objects for the first and second design components conflict with one another;
• the one or more processors of the computing system then processing the conflicting dynamic attributes in a way that resolves the conflict by changing one or more dynamic attributes of at least one of the first and second design components, and displaying in the design space a suggested updated design based on the conflict resolution;
• and
• using the objects for each of the first and second design components, where at least one of the objects has one or more dynamic attributes changed as a result of the conflict resolution, the one or more processors of the computing system then generating a new parts list identifying appropriate hardware and stock keeping units required for physical implementation of the first and second design component as represented in the suggested updated design of the design space.

A computer program product comprising one or more physical memory devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed at one or more processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to implement a method for generating at the computing system a design for a design space, where the implemented method comprises:

• storing in a memory storage device a plurality of design components which each comprise an object having a plurality of static attributes defining certain physical characteristics of a design component, and one or more dynamic attributes which correspond to one of the static attributes, the dynamic attributes representing possible variants of a static attribute;
• instantiating at a display of a computing system a user interface which is comprised of a first portion that serves as a design space, and a second portion which serves as a display of one or more said design components;
• selecting a first design element in the second portion of the display, and positioning the selected first design element in the design space at a first designated location of the design space;
• one or more processors of the computing system then generating a parts list based on the object for the first design component, the parts list at least identifying appropriate hardware and stock keeping units required for physical implementation of the first design component at the first designated location of the design space;
• selecting a second design element in the second portion of the display, and positioning the second design element in the design space portion of the display at a second designated location of the design space;
• one or more processors of the computing system determining that as a result of positioning the second design element at the second designated location, one or more dynamic attributes of the objects for the first and second design components conflict with one another;
• the one or more processors of the computing system then processing the conflicting dynamic attributes in a way that resolves the conflict by changing one or more dynamic attributes of at least one of the first and second design components, and displaying in the design space a suggested updated design based on the conflict resolution;
• and
• using the objects for each of the first and second design components, where at least one of the objects has one or more dynamic attributes changed as a result of the conflict resolution, the one or more processors of the computing system then generating a new parts list identifying appropriate hardware and stock keeping units required for physical implementation of the first and second design component as represented in the suggested updated design of the design space.