Method and apparatus for linking non-geometric data to geometric elements of a CAD file independent of the proprietary CAD file format
AssigneePTC Inc.
InventorsDon Boxley, Jr., Peter H. Ernst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems link non-geometric data to the geometric elements in a CAD file. The methods and systems are independent of any CAD system and allows the user to add, edit, view, query and report on non-geometric data associated with geometric data. The methods and systems support “content rich” non-geometric data and allow this data to be ‘attached’ to any level of the geometric CAD data. The methods and systems are easily accessible outside of a CAD system and leverage existing standards for Internet commerce.
Claims12
A method of linking non-geometric data to a geometric element, the geometric element having a geometric element type, in a computer aided design (CAD) drawing file, comprising:
- determining whether the geometric element type is a linkable element type selected from the group consisting of an edge, an arc, a vertex, a face, and a shell;
- creating a unique identifier for the geometric element to be linked only if the geometric element's geometric element type is in the group of linkable element types and refraining from creating the unique identifier for the geometric element to be linked if the geometric element's geometric element type is not in the group of linkable element types,
- associating the unique identifier with the non-geometric data if the geometric element's geometric element type is in the group of linkable element types, and
- storing the non-geometric data using a file type that is independent of a CAD program associated with the CAD drawing file.
A computer aided design (CAD) system comprising:
- a memory storing:
- an element defined by the CAD system the element having an element type,
- a unique identifier associated with the element;
- non-geometric data;
- and
- a data file, accessible independently of the CAD system, comprising the non-geometric data wherein the non-geometric data is associated with the unique identifier to create a link between the element and the non-geometric data;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- determine whether the element type is a linkable element type selected from the group consisting of an edge, an arc, a vertex, a face, and a shell;
- and
- associate the unique identifier with the element only if the element's element type in the group of linkable element types and refraining from associating the unique identifier for the element if the element's element type is not in the group of linkable element types.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.