Automatically creating and modifying furniture layouts in design software

A computer-implemented method for automatically configuring a design space in a first two-dimensional view by using product parameters and attributes to replicate a given product based on a user's gesture for indicating placement, and then automatically populating the two-dimensional and a related three-dimensional design space with all required connectors and bracketing to support the indicated placement of the given product, the computer-implemented method being performed by one or more processors executing computer executable instructions for the computer-implemented method, and the computer-implemented method comprising:

• storing in a database a plurality of different product components to be used in designing an interior workspace, each product component being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each component and any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support for each type of component;
• inputting at a graphical user interface (GUI) of the system a two-dimensional design space;
• identifying a first product component that is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;
• inputting at the GUI a starting point at which the first product component is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;
• inputting at the GUI an end point which defines a region over which the first product component is to be replicated within the two-dimensional design space;
• thereafter retrieving from the database the identified first product component and automatically replicating the first product component a given number of times beginning from the starting point to the end point for the defined region, the replication being done in a manner that fits the first product component and all replications thereof to the defined region of the two-dimensional design space, and wherein the automatic replication comprises automatically adding for each replication of the first product component any required hardware for connecting or providing structural support to join the first product component and the replicated first product components together within the defined region of the two-dimensional design space;
• and
• generating a three-dimensional view that is fully consistent with the two-dimensional view, wherein generating the three-dimensional view comprises:
• automatically populating the corresponding defined region in the three-dimensional design space with any required hardware, for vertically connecting or providing vertical structural support to the replicated product components;
• required to fit the first product component and all replications thereof within the defined region of the three-dimensional design space;
• automatically constraining the vertical position of the first product component and replications thereof so that the first product component and all replications thereof vertically fit within the defined region.

A computer system for automatically configuring a design space by using product parameters and attributes to replicate a given product based on a user's gesture for indicating placement, and then automatically populating the design space with all required connectors and bracketing to support the indicated placement of the given product, the computer system comprising:

• a database for storing a plurality of different product components to be used in designing an interior workspace, each product component being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each component and any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support for each type of component;
• a graphical user interface (GUI) of the system configured for:
• inputting a two-dimensional design space;
• identifying a first product component that is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;
• inputting a starting point at which the first product component is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;
• and
• inputting an end point which defines a region over which the first product component is to be replicated within the two-dimensional design space;
• and
• a system processor programmed to:
• retrieve from the database the identified first product component and automatically replicating the first product component a given number of times beginning from the starting point to the end point for the defined region, the replication being done in a manner that fits the first product component and all replications thereof to the defined region of the two-dimensional design space, and wherein the automatic replication comprises automatically adding for each replication of the first product component any required hardware for connecting or providing structural support to join the first product component and the replicated first product components together within the defined region of the two-dimensional design space;
• and
• generate a fully compatible three-dimension view of the design space.

A computer system for automatically configuring a design space in a first two-dimensional view by using product parameters and attributes to replicate a given product based on a user's gesture for indicating placement, and then automatically populating the two-dimensional and a related three-dimensional design space with all required connectors and bracketing to support the indicated placement of the given product, the computer system comprising:

• a database for storing a plurality of different product components to be used in designing an interior workspace, each product component being defined by (i) associated parameters that define each type of component, and (ii) attributes that are defined by rules, characteristics and behaviors of each component and any associated hardware for connecting or providing structural support for each type of component;
• a graphical user interface (GUI) configured for:
• inputting a two-dimensional design space;
• identifying a first product component that is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;
• inputting a starting point at which the first product component is to be placed within the two-dimensional design space;
• and
• inputting an end point which defines a region over which the first product component is to be replicated within the two-dimensional design space;
• and
• a system processor programmed to
• retrieve from the database the identified first product component and automatically replicating the first product component a given number of times beginning from the starting point to the end point for the defined region, the replication being done in a manner that fits the first product component and all replications thereof to the defined region of the two-dimensional design space, and wherein the automatic replication comprises automatically adding for each replication of the first product component any required hardware for connecting or providing structural support to join the first product component and the replicated first product components together within the defined region of the two-dimensional design space;
• and
• generate a three-dimensional view that is fully consistent with the two-dimensional view, wherein generating the three-dimensional view comprises:
• automatically populating the corresponding defined region in the three-dimensional design space with any required hardware, for vertically connecting or providing vertical structural support to the replicated product components required to fit the first product component and all replications thereof within the defined region of the three-dimensional design space;
• automatically constraining the vertical position of the first product component and replications thereof so that the first product component and all replications thereof vertically fit within the defined region.