Patents by Inventor Christopher E. Putnam

Christopher E. Putnam has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9196085
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to shape a terrain. An associative framework dependency graph used to control the shaping of the terrain is established. The graph defines an association between and processing order for two or more nodes that include an input node and an action node. The input node is a drawing entity or set of one or more geometric parameters. The action node is dependent on and uses the input node as input to perform an evaluation and produce an output object. The associative framework dependency graph is displayed and evaluated by evaluating the action node in accordance with the processing order to produce a finished ground terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Smita Narayan, Christopher E. Putnam
  • Patent number: 9020783
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer readable medium provide the ability to manipulate a terrain in a drawing. A composite object of the terrain is obtained in a CAD BIM application. The composite object is a combination of sub-objects that each define a geometry that is part of the terrain. Each of the sub-objects is drawn on a separate corresponding drawable interface instance. A sub-object is selected and in response, the selected sub-object is displayed in its corresponding drawable interface instance. The selected sub-object is directly modified, in canvas, using the drawable interface instance. In response to the modification, the terrain is dynamically updated and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Smita Narayan, Christopher E. Putnam
  • Patent number: 8676546
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to create a flow-grade solution. In a computer application, a curve from which a slope is to be projected and an elevation field depth buffer, that provides a 2D array with one element for each coordinate, are defined. A slope angle for the slope is specified. As grading shapes are rendered, by sweeping a cone with the slope angle along the curve, a grid is used to capture, into the buffer, an elevation for each vertex of the grid. A flow grade solution represented by the field depth buffer is thus obtained. The flow grade solution includes a path of steepest slope (determined from the elevations stored in the buffer) from any given location in the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Smita Narayan, Christopher E. Putnam
  • Publication number: 20130013263
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to create a flow-grade solution. In a computer application, a curve from which a slope is to be projected and an elevation field depth buffer, that provides a 2D array with one element for each coordinate, are defined. A slope angle for the slope is specified. As grading shapes are rendered, by sweeping a cone with the slope angle along the curve, a grid is used to capture, into the buffer, an elevation for each vertex of the grid. A flow grade solution represented by the field depth buffer is thus obtained. The flow grade solution includes a path of steepest slope (determined from the elevations stored in the buffer) from any given location in the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Smita Narayan, Christopher E. Putnam
  • Publication number: 20130013264
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to shape a terrain. An associative framework dependency graph used to control the shaping of the terrain is established. The graph defines an association between and processing order for two or more nodes that include an input node and an action node. The input node is a drawing entity or set of one or more geometric parameters. The action node is dependent on and uses the input node as input to perform an evaluation and produce an output object. The associative framework dependency graph is displayed and evaluated by evaluating the action node in accordance with the processing order to produce a finished ground terrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Smita Narayan, Christopher E. Putnam
  • Publication number: 20130013265
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer readable medium provide the ability to manipulate a terrain in a drawing. A composite object of the terrain is obtained in a CAD BIM application. The composite object is a combination of sub-objects that each define a geometry that is part of the terrain. Each of the sub-objects is drawn on a separate corresponding drawable interface instance. A sub-object is selected and in response, the selected sub-object is displayed in its corresponding drawable interface instance. The selected sub-object is directly modified, in canvas, using the drawable interface instance. In response to the modification, the terrain is dynamically updated and displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Smita Narayan, Christopher E. Putnam