Abstract: A system and method for implementing the functions of a web-based 3D modeling system partially as a script interpretable by a client browser application and partially as a component executing on a server modeling engine. A client-side script component may execute lightweight modeling system commands while the server-side modeling engine may execute computationally expensive 3D modeling system commands. For example, the script component may be accessed by the client device upon visiting a web page of the modeling service hosted by the web server. The script may include Javascript® instructions for viewing a 3D model in a browser window without installing a browser plug-in or a standalone application on the client device. However, to edit the model, the script component may forward commands and requests to the server via the network and also receive modified model data from the server.

Abstract: When multiple users simultaneously view and/or collaboratively develop a three-dimensional (3D) model using respective independent computing devices, one of the participating users may locally modify a viewpoint of the 3D model, and the viewpoint changes are automatically propagated in real-time to the other users. A viewpoint may correspond to a positioning, an orientation, a zoom degree, an angle, etc. of the 3D model as would be provided by a virtual camera trained on the 3D model. The multiple users may share a common viewpoint of the 3D model in real-time in addition to viewing and/or participating in the generation and modification of the 3D model in real-time. In an embodiment, only one user at a time may be allowed to control the viewpoint modification of the 3D model.

Abstract: A method in a computing device for generating a composite document includes receiving drawing data from a user interface, where the drawing data includes a plurality of two-dimensional shapes, and generating a first data structure that includes the received drawing data. The method further includes receiving a reference to a geographic location from the user interface and, in response to receiving the reference to the geographic location, retrieving photograph data corresponding to the received reference, where the photograph data includes at least one of satellite image data and aerial image data for the geographic location.

Abstract: Functional extensions are provided for use with a modeling software. The functional extensions provide functionality not otherwise provided by the modeling software. The functional extensions are received from a client device by a server and stored in a database. Thereafter, the server transmits the functional extensions to a second client device, sometimes in response to receiving a request for the functional extension from the second client device. The server may update a user profile to indicate that a functional extension was received from a user operating the client device and, additionally, may transmit the functional extension to the second client device when the server receives an indication that the user is operating the second client device.

Abstract: A first user having a certain set of privileges with respect to an initial three-dimensional (3D) model associates a watermark with the initial 3D model, so that the watermark is displayed whenever the initial 3D model is viewed or edited. A second user having a smaller set of privileges with respect to the initial 3D model is permitted to view, copy and/or modify the initial 3D model, but is not permitted to remove or alter the content of the watermark. The watermark is continuously displayed as the second user works with the initial 3D model. When the second user applies a change to the initial 3D model, an indication of the modifications applied by the second user is generated and stored with the model data corresponding to the updated 3D model.

Abstract: A computer-aided design system and method facilitates the editing of an object in a workspace of a computer aided design system. A user input indicating selection of an affine tool is received, and a user input indicating selection of the object is received. It is determined whether an additional user input is received. If it is determined that the additional user input is not received, a first set of user-activatable affine functions for manipulating the object is enabled. The first set of user-activatable affine functions includes a move function to move the object in the workspace and a resize function to resize the object. If it is determined that the additional user input is received, a second set of user-activatable functions for manipulating the object is enabled. The second set of user-activatable affine functions includes a skew function to skew the object.

Abstract: A composite document system is implemented as instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. When executed on a processor, the instructions cause the processor to receive model data that describes a three-dimensional model of an object, where the three-dimensional model is generated using a modeling software, and where the model data conforms to a non-image format of the modeling software. The instructions further cause the processor to receive web page data that includes content and description of the content in a mark-up language, generate a composite document that includes the model data and the web page data, interpret the model data in the composite document to generate a visual representation of the three-dimensional model, and interpret the web page data in the composite document to generate a visual representation of the web page data.

Abstract: In a computer-aided design system, a workspace to be is displayed on a display device, and an object is displayed in the workspace. A user input indicating selection of a tool is received, and a user input indicating selection of the object is received. In response to the user input indicating selection of the tool and the user input indicating selection of the object, a set of first grips and a second grip is displayed on the display device in association with the object. A user input indicating movement of the second grip to a desired location is received. In response to the user input indicating movement of the second grip to the desired location, a snap point is created at the desired location.

Abstract: A computer-aided design system and method facilitates the editing of an object in a workspace of a computer aided design system. A user input indicating selection of an affine tool is received, and a user input indicating selection of the object is received. It is determined whether an additional user input is received. If it is determined that the additional user input is not received, a first set of user-activatable affine functions for manipulating the object is enabled. The first set of user-activatable affine functions includes a move function to move the object in the workspace and a resize function to resize the object. If it is determined that the additional user input is received, a second set of user-activatable functions for manipulating the object is enabled. The second set of user-activatable affine functions includes a skew function to skew the object.

Abstract: A method in a computing device for generating a composite document includes receiving drawing data from a user interface, where the drawing data includes a plurality of two-dimensional shapes, and generating a first data structure that includes the received drawing data. The method further includes receiving a reference to a geographic location from the user interface and, in response to receiving the reference to the geographic location, retrieving photograph data corresponding to the received reference, where the photograph data includes at least one of satellite image data and aerial image data for the geographic location. The method also includes generating a second data structure that includes the photograph data and the reference to the geographic location.

Abstract: A composite document system is implemented as instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. When executed on a processor, the instructions cause the processor to receive model data that describes a three-dimensional model of an object, where the three-dimensional model is generated using a modeling software, and where the model data conforms to a non-image format of the modeling software. The instructions further cause the processor to receive web page data that includes content and description of the content in a mark-up language, generate a composite document that includes the model data and the web page data, interpret the model data in the composite document to generate a visual representation of the three-dimensional model, and interpret the web page data in the composite document to generate a visual representation of the web page data.

Abstract: A method in a computing device includes causing a set of drawing controls to be displayed on a user interface, where a user utilizes the set of drawing controls to define two-dimensional shapes via the user interface, receiving drawing data from the user interface, where the drawing data includes a plurality of two-dimensional shapes, and generating a drawing image corresponding to the received drawing data. The method further includes receiving a reference to a geographic location from the user interface, retrieving map data corresponding to the received reference in response to receiving the reference to the geographic location, and generating a composite document that includes the map data and the drawing image.