Abstract: A computer-implemented graphics system provides visual clues for navigating a three-dimensional space. The graphics system displays a two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space on a monitor attached to the computer. A cursor is moved through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of the cursor control device attached to the computer. The graphics system determines a position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, and generates a visual representation of the cursor to indicate the position of the cursor within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport. The visual representation of the cursor uses one or more human recognizable metaphors for three-dimensional distance cueing in order to provide an extra dimension of visual feedback to the operator navigating the cursor through the three-dimensional space related to the two dimensional viewport.

Abstract: A method for providing access to application data items of an application program, said application data items being contained in a plurality of interconnected data objects processed by said application program, comprises the steps of receiving a request related to at least one of said application data items, said request referring to a data object of said plurality of data objects, fulfilling said request with respect to said data object referred to by said request, and if said request concerns at least one other data object of said plurality of data objects, forwarding said request to said at least one other data object for further processing of said request. A computer program product and an apparatus comprise corresponding features. The invention provides a way of accessing application data items that is very flexible and can in particular be used with complex application data structures comprising a plurality of interconnected data objects.

Abstract: A comparator is described that allows two graphical software objects to be compared and the differences between the objects selectively combined into a single file. The comparator uses different modes to determine how to combine the software objects, typically based on time stamp information appended to each file. Several methods of comparison for objects within the files are used to expedite comparison times and provide users with flexibility and ease of use of the comparison tool.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, for implementing a relative polar angle snap tool. The relative polar angle snap tool allows the user to define lines and shapes that are at pre-settable angles relative to existing lines and shapes, and at pre-settable lengths.

Abstract: A computer-implemented solid modeling system provides a graph-based method for multi-bodied sweep terminations in a computer-implemented solid modeling system. A planar profile of one or more curves is generated, and the profile swept along a specified path to generate a tool body. The swept profile is terminated after the tool body interacts with a plurality of blank bodies to a predefined extent. The termination is comprised of three phases: (1) a pre-processing phase is performed to label faces and edges of the tool and blank bodies; (2) an analysis phase is performed to extract tool and blank graphs for the labeled faces and edges; and (3) a post-processing phase is performed to integrate results from the extracted tool and blank graphs.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for defining mating properties of a graphical component in a computer-implemented drawing program. An option to create a first constraint interface for a first geometric characteristic of a first component is initiated. In response to the initiation, a dialog window for specifying settings for the first constraint interface regardless of whether a second constraint interface is currently displayed is displayed. The settings define mating properties for how the first geometric characteristic of the first component mates with the second constraint interface. Once specified, the first constraint interface of the first geometric characteristic is persisted with the first component.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved error recovery method and apparatus for computer aided design (CAD) environments. When a failure is identified in a feature of a CAD assembly, a set of treatments is automatically provided for the failure from which to select. The set of treatments is based, at least in part, on the particular failure. In one embodiment, information to identify and/or illustrate one or more failures within a particular feature is collected and stored in persistent memory. Then, when the particular feature is indicated, the information can be retrieved and provided in various formats, including text, graphics, and/or procedures, to assist a user in better understanding the failures. In another embodiment, when a treatment is selected from a set of treatments for a particular failure, the selected treatment is automatically initiated.

Abstract: A mechanism for incorporating user input modes in a scripting language are provided for. A context allows use of user input modes in a scripting language in a manner that corresponds to their use in a GUI. A programming construct, referred to as a context, specifies at least one user input mode and a state for the user input mode that are applied to a set of instructions. The operations specified by the instructions that are referenced by a context are executed as if the user input modes referred to by the contexts have the state specified by the contexts.

Abstract: Computer processor method and apparatus for creating an audio multiplier control signal for controlling the dynamic range of a recorded audio work. The technique includes determining an envelope of the amplitude of amplitude versus time values the audio signal, and then determining, for values of the envelope, respective minimum and maximum multiplication factors (MinMF and MaxMF) that can be multiplied times the values such that the products are above a predetermined minimum amplitude and below a predetermined maximum amplitude of the dynamic range. Then a control signal function of amplitude versus time is created such that all values of the control signal function at particular times are between respective MinMF and MaxMF values for the times, and such that segments of the control signal function have reduced slopes. Also disclosed is a method of creating a reduced-slope series of line segments passing through a pair of Max and Min limiting functions specifying y values with respect to a variable x.

Abstract: A computer-implemented graphics program that determines the distribution of spines on a curvature comb. The graphics program generates a curvature comb to visualize the smoothness of a curve, wherein the curvature comb is comprised of a plurality of spines drawn perpendicular to the curve. The spines are distributed along the curvature comb according to a spine density function (SDF) that represents a desired density of the spines. A cumulative density function (CDF) is used as a computational tool for distributing spines according the distribution given by the SDF.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for executing intelligent shape programming in a computer within a CAD application program, wherein elements of the intelligent shape can be protected from unauthorized use and modification. The intelligent shape comprises several objects for use in connecting, manipulating, displaying, mapping, protecting, and otherwise creating a new component or modifying an existing one. To provide for the protection of a shape, the intelligent shape programming provides for the user of a protection object that comprises a read-write shape identification and a set password method. The set password method is utilized to assign a password to each shape that is combined with the shape identification such that the shape becomes password protected. Once password protected, properties and expressions of the shape cannot be modified, changed, deleted, etc. and the protection status of the shape cannot be changed.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for modifying a three-dimensional model. A three-dimensional model is displayed in a computer implemented solid modeling system. A first face of the three-dimensional model is then selected. A first constraint that controls a behavior of a repositioning operation for the first face is specified. Once the face and constraint have been selected/specified, the three-dimensional model is modified by repositioning the selected first face, wherein the repositioning operation is constrained in accordance with the specified first constraint.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for determining a meeting location. A location for each of two or more persons is obtained. A central location is then determined based on the obtained locations. A list of activity preferences for each of the two or more persons is also obtained. Thereafter, a ranked list of activity preferences based on the obtained lists of activity preferences is computed. The ranked list represents a convergence of interests for the two or more persons. One or more meeting locations are then determined by combining the central location and ranked list.

Abstract: A mechanical design viewing method includes a viewer selecting a first subpart of a mechanical design, and in response, highlighting one or more graphical elements of a dependent graph of the mechanical design for the viewer. The highlighted graphical elements are associated with the selected subpart of the mechanical design. The viewing method also include the viewer selecting graphical elements of the dependent graph, and in response, highlighting a subpart of the mechanical design for the viewer. The highlighted subpart is associated with the selected graphical elements. The viewer may alternate back and forth between the two aspects to explore the mechanical design.

Abstract: A mechanism for translating objects between applications that use different formats is described. As described, a source object is generated using a source application. The source object is then translated to a target object in a target application. The target application having a format that is not supported by the source application. A first modification, which is not supported by the source application, is then performed to the target object. A second modification is also performed to the source object in the source application. Based on the modifications, the target object in the target application is revised to reflect the second modification to the source object without removing the first modification to the target object.

Abstract: Arbitrary graphical entities are used for reactor-based viewport clipping. Graphics program provide two dimensional views of three-dimensional objects through ports. A user obtains a non-rectangular shape (referred to as a clipping entity) to be utilized as a view or viewport of a model. Any arbitrary shape such as a circle, ellipse, polygon, or other non-rectangular shape may be utilized as a clipping entity. The user obtains a clipping entity by creating a new clipping entity or modifying an existing entity. Multiple options are available to the user to create and modify a clipping entity. A reactor mechanism detects changes in the clipping entity and notifies the current viewport of the modifications. In response thereto, the viewport adjusts its boundaries and any graphics outside of the clipping entity are clipped/not displayed to the user. Thus, a non-rectangular viewport may be displayed by a graphics program and utilized by the user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and article of manufacture for electronically obtaining a Web page in a Web browser. A Web page is requested. In response, the browser receives a bootstrap file that comprises a declaration of a component module control object, and a script block comprising a method that accesses the component module control object. The object identified in the declaration is obtained. The object also includes one or more resources. The object is then installed in the Web browser. The Web browser may then use the method of the script block to extract a Web page based on the resources of the component module control object. The Web browser may also be configured to determine if the control object is an up to date version. If the control object is not an up to date version, the browser obtains and installs an up to date version.

Abstract: The invention includes computer instructions that operate to receive a selection of a center of motion for an assembly of computer aided design (CAD) models of a mechanical design and a selection of a component of the assembly associated with the selected center of motion. Once the selections are received, a range of motion for the component is determined. Then, the computer instructions operate to receive a selection of an origin for a grid pattern, where the grid pattern is automatically generated based upon the determined range of motion. This automatically generated grid pattern is automatically displayed at the selected origin. In one embodiment, the computer instructions are part of a mechanical design software application. In one embodiment, the mechanical software application including the computer instructions is embodied in a distribution storage medium.

Abstract: A computer-implemented graphics system defines an object-oriented framework for describing three-dimensional (3D) graphical objects, systems, and simulations. A 3D graphical image, a system, and a simulation are implemented as a directed multi-graph that includes a plurality of components defined by nodes connected by edges. A directed multi-graph engine in a graphics computer program processes the directed multi-graphs, wherein each node in the graph performs some specific function and the edges define relationships between the nodes. There are no restrictions on node types, and thus nodes may represent graphic objects (a visual representation), rules (rule-base behavior), attributes (data that does not affect the fundamental definition of the object), properties (data that affects the fundamental definition of the object), behaviors (methods), finite state machines (a sequence of actions and states), and any other user-defined component.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to display personalized information on a television. A server obtains viewer-based information. The server then obtains customized information that is customized based on the viewer-based information. Audio/video information is then multiplexed with the customized information and broadcast using a satellite/cable, etc. The broadcast multiplexed information is received in a set top box (e.g., by a location logic application). The set top box causes the customized information to be displayed on a television communicatively coupled to the set top box.