Abstract: A network-based collaboration system and method can be used to create, modify or otherwise manipulate a design using heterogeneous applications on clients connected to a network. The system and method enables design collaboration between the heterogeneous applications each having a different design abstraction and a different local data model by exchanging application states normalized at a design abstraction level recognized by each of the heterogeneous applications.

Abstract: The present invention is a software device for viewing intelligent designs using a computer. The device includes multiple format readers for reading the intelligent designs in at least one of the many possible multiple formats. The device also includes a format verifier that automatically employs an appropriate format reader from the multiple format readers available to read the intelligent designs without explicit user intervention. The device further includes an import application-programming interface for importing the intelligent design in the format required for viewing the intelligent design. Finally, the device includes a memory resident data model, which is a database, for storing the properties and functional characteristics of the intelligent design. The device may further include a query application-programming interface, for presenting data objects to other instances of the apparatus or other application, and a user interface, for interactively accessing the memory resident data model.