Abstract: A modeling tool is activated in a 3D modeling application executing on a multi-touch device. A visual representation of a grid system tool is displayed in an active modeling plane and has three separate regions that determine the type of operation to be performed. An existing 3D form is displayed on the tool. A starting touch event of a gesture is received over the existing 3D form within one of the regions. As the gesture is received in the computer, the 3D form may be dynamically extended by adding 3D geometry to the 3D form (thereby adding faces to the 3D form). Alternatively, the 3D form may be scaled (i.e., if the starting touch event occurs over a visual scale grip. Alternatively, if the gesture consists of two taps, a bridge may be created joining the two tapped locations.

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein include a method for altering a first annotation associated with a media file. This method may generally include the technique for receiving the media file wherein the media file contains the first annotation which is associated with a first playback speed of the media file. A second playback speed is received for the media file. A second annotation is generated based on the second playback speed of the media file based on the first annotation associated with the first playback speed of the media file. The second annotation is associated with the second playback speed of the media file and, at the second playback speed, the media file concurrently plays the second annotation.

Abstract: A CAD system enables a designer to freely modify a model of a design without regenerating a history of the model, as in traditional parametric feature based modeling. The CAD system automatically determines whether the modifications to the model invalidate current features associated with the model and whether the modifications create new features that should be added to the model. Such a CAD system enables a designer to quickly edit designs and simultaneously preserve design intent without requiring the significant computational resources of historical based approaches that regenerate a geometry upon every edit made by a designer.

Abstract: A method for generating a three-dimensional representation of a ribbon cable in a computer-aided design drawing is disclosed. In one embodiment, a user may create a three-dimensional ribbon cable object with an arbitrary shape and an arbitrary number of fold or twists. A user creates or specifies a ribbon cable template incorporating several attributes and a computer aided design application may be configured to generate a three-dimensional ribbon cable object from the template and displays the representation of the three-dimensional ribbon cable object in the computer-aided design drawing. Further, once generated, the ribbon cable object may be flattened to a two-dimensional surface, identifying the overall length of the ribbon cable and the location of any folds.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying one or more rows in a relational database that have each been modified since a first point in time, wherein each of the rows is associated with a respective table in the relational database; for each of the identified rows, updating a respective file in an external representation of the table associated with the row to reflect the modification to the row wherein the respective file is not stored in the database; and creating a first version of the relational database in a version control system using the external representation including one or more of the updated files, wherein the first version of the database comprises one or more files in the version control system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to store user defined scenarios in a three-dimensional system. A 3D view of a real world scene is displayed, using a three-dimensional (3D) graphics application. Plug-ins are installed into the 3D graphics application. A user selects a subset of the plug-ins, defines settings for the subset of plug-ins, and defines a visualization trait for each plug-in in the subset. The user associates an identification of the selected subset, the settings, and the visualization trait with a scenario bookmark that is saved. The bookmark can be selected by a user to display a visualization of a scenario based on the selected subset, settings, and visualization trait.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer-readable storage medium provide the ability to edit surface objects in a surface modeler. A dependent surface object (that is dependent on one or more input objects) having one or more properties is obtained. First user input is received that indicates that a surface associativity for the dependent surface object is off. In response to the receiving, an association between the dependent surface object and the one or more input objects is maintained. The association is used to expose the one or more properties of the dependent surface object. The properties are then displayed for editing by the user.

Abstract: Systems, program products and program products for accepting a request to move a first geometric entity that is constrained to other geometric entities in a drawing that may contain both one-way and two-way geometric constraints. A set of affected geometric entities that need to be repositioned or otherwise changed as the result of moving the first geometric entity is identified. The affected geometric entities and the geometric constraints are classified into groups which are solved using a variational geometric constraint solver. If the geometric constraints cannot be satisfied, the movement of the first geometric entity is restricted. Otherwise the affected geometric entities are updated.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for implementing a resolution-adaptive mesh smoothing brush. The resolution-adaptive mesh smoothing brush computes updated positions of vertices of a 3D mesh based on vertex density of the polygons defining the 3D mesh. The resolution-adaptive mesh smoothing brush effectively controls the “rate” of smoothing based on the local mesh density at each vertex. Therefore, areas of the 3D mesh with varying vertex density are smoothed. For example, elevated bumps or dimples on a sphere may be smoothed to lay on the surface of the sphere while the sphere shape is retained.

Abstract: The present invention is a system that provides a pen based computer user with a graphical user interface tool, a pen-mouse, that looks like and functions like a mouse but that is controlled by a limited input device such as a pen or stylus of the pen based computer. The pen-mouse is a tracking menu that tracks the position of the pen. A pen cursor that corresponds to the pen is allowed to be moved about within the pen-mouse graphic by the pen and the pen-mouse remains stationary. The pen-mouse is moved when the location of the pen encounters a tracking boundary of the pen-mouse. The tracking boundary typically coincides with the graphic representing the mouse. While moving within the pen-mouse, the pen can select objects within the pen-mouse body, such as buttons, wheels, etc. The selection of a button or other virtual control causes a corresponding computer mouse button function to be executed.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provides the ability to perform a three-dimensional (3D) modeling operation. A modeling tool is activated in a 3D modeling application. A visual representation (having three separate regions) of a grid system tool is displayed on a digital modeling canvas of the 3D modeling application. The grid system controls whether a gesture is captured as a modeling operation or a navigation operation. A starting touch event (of the gesture) is received in/on one of the three separate regions. The region where the starting touch event is received determines the operation that is to be performed/selected. The operation may be a 3D geometry creation operation, a restroking operation, or a navigation operation.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for construction field management and operations with building information modeling. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems for construction field management and operations, that include a central processing unit (CPU), and storage coupled to the CPU for storing instructions that when executed by the CPU cause the CPU to: encode and map data structures and data sets received from Building Information Modeling software; select particular data structures and data sets relevant to at least one person associated with a construction project; transmit the selected data structures and data sets to a user terminal operated by the person; receive inputs made by the person to the selected data structures and data sets; and synchronize and update the data structures and data sets received from Building Information Modeling software based on the inputs received from the person.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer program product display multiple slices of a three-dimensional body in a computer drawing application. A first view of a 3D body is displayed. One or more slice sketches are defined on the first view. A single slice view of the three dimensional body is displayed. The single slice view simultaneously depicts all of the slices with a zero-depth representation of each slice.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for generating design variations. The technique involves identifying a first design variable and a second design variable associated with a first design. The technique further involves generating a first plurality of design variations based on the first design. Each design variation is generated by varying at least one of the first design variable and the second design variable. Finally, the technique involves causing the first plurality of design variations to be displayed to a user.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying a unified representation of performance related data for a building are disclosed. The system includes a sensor network for collecting data in the building and a computing device for generating and displaying a unified representation of performance related data on a display. The performance related data may include the raw data collected by the sensor network or data generated by simulation programs based on the raw data collected by the sensor network. The computing device displays the performance related data in the context of a graphical representation of a three-dimensional model of the building as defined in a building information model (BIM). The computing device generates the graphical representation using an ambient occlusion rendering technique and then incorporates the performance related data either using a direct rendering technique or a transient geometry technique.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for providing an end user with a digital pen embedded with a spatially-aware miniature projector for use in a design environment. Paper documents are augmented to allow a user to access additional information and computational tools through projected interfaces. Virtual ink may be managed in single and multi-user environments to enhance collaboration and data management. The spatially-aware projector pen provides end-users with dynamic visual feedback and improved interaction capabilities.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to devices and methods for displaying a sub-section of a virtual model. In certain aspects, methods herein involve determining a portion of a virtual model within a user's field of view, determining a maximum load value that can be accommodated by the device, and displaying a sub-section of the virtual model based upon the portion that is within the user's field of view and the maximum load value accommodated by the device. In other aspects, devices herein include hardware and software that cause a CPU of the device to determine a portion of a virtual model within a user's field of view, determine a maximum load value that can be accommodated by the device, and display a sub-section of the virtual model based upon the portion that is within the user's field of view and the maximum load value accommodated by the device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to create and edit a surface object in a computer implemented surface modeler. A surface object creation process is commenced and a surface object type is selected. During the surface object creation process, visual affordances are presented. The visual affordances are grips that can be used to inject modification into the surface object creation process. Subsequent to creation of the surface object, the same visual affordances are displayed and used to edit the surface object.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for method for selecting visual subject matter stored in a database includes receiving user input that indicates a first region of a first image that is stored in the database and, based on metadata associated with the first image stored in the database, determining at least one visual feature in the first region of the first image stored in the database. The method further includes, based on metadata associated with other images stored in the database, selecting a second image from the database that includes a visual feature that correlates with the visual feature in the first region of the first image, wherein the metadata associated with the first image stored in the database and the metadata associated with the other images stored in the database include image correlation information received from a remote server device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to transition between two different profile curves in a swept surface extrusion. Each curve has section sequences that include consecutive sections, which in turn include constant attributes, which in turn include graphic attributes and semantic attributes. The section sequences define a semantic pattern for each profile curve. A globally optimal match is computed between the sections of the different curves. Adapted curves are generated that are structurally identical but geometrically resemble their respective original curves. An actual profile curve is computed for a given position on an extrusion line using a one-to-one vertex position morphing based on the adapted curves. The swept surface extrusion is performed and the result is displayed.