Methods and systems for managing synchronization of a plurality of information items of a computer-aided design data model

An apparatus for managing synchronization in a computer-aided design system, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory for storing a code defining a set of instructions;
• and
• a processor for executing the set of instructions,
• wherein the code comprises a coordination module configured to:
• modify graphics information of a second chapter of a shared CAD data model from a first state to a second state, wherein:
• the first state of the graphics information is consistent with a first state of geometry information and corresponds to a first state in a life cycle of the object, and the second state of the graphics information is consistent with a third state of the geometry information and corresponds to a second state in the life cycle of the object;
• and wherein:
• a first application, executable to modify a first subset of a plurality of chapters corresponding to different respective characteristics of a virtual representation of the object, has modified the geometry information of the first chapter of a first version of the shared CAD data model from the first state to a second state resulting in a second version of the CAD data model in which the geometry information is in the second state and the graphics information is in the first state, wherein the second state of the geometry information is contemporaneous with and incompatible with a first state of the graphics information within the second version of the shared CAD data model, and the first application has modified the geometry information of the first chapter from the second state or a subsequent state to the third state, and
• the coordination module is configured to modify the graphics information of the second chapter from the first state to the second state responsive to the modification of the geometry information from the second or subsequent state to the third state.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions configured to be executed by a processor, the instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement a method for managing synchronization in a computer-aided design system, the method comprising:

• responsive to a modification of geometry information of a first chapter of a shared CAD data model from a second or subsequent state to a third state by a computer processor executing an application that is separate from the instructions, modifying graphics information of a second chapter of a shared CAD data model from a first state to a second state, wherein:
• within a first version of the shared CAD data model, the first state of the graphics information is consistent with a first state of the geometry information and corresponds to a first state in a life cycle of the object, and
• within a second version of the shared CAD data model, the second state of the geometry information is contemporaneous with and incompatible with the first state of the graphics information,
• the second state of the graphics information is consistent with the third state of the geometry information and corresponds to a second state in the life cycle of the object,
• the first chapter is part of a first subset of chapters of the shared CAD data model, and
• the second chapter is part of a second subset of chapters of the shared CAD data model that differs from the first subset of chapters of the shared CAD data model and are modifiable by the application that is separate from the instructions.