Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for generating regularized tangents of curves. The method comprises the steps of bounding a length of the arc, computing a chord vector, where the chord vector corresponds to the bounded length of the arc, generating a tangent vector, where the tangent vector is substantially normal to the chord vector, and regularizing the tangent vector, where the regularized tangent vector approximates a true tangent vector to the arc.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system provides an integrated viewer with one user interface and one API provides the ability to view, program, redline, and measure DWF and DWG files. In accordance with one or more such embodiments, the present invention provides an intelligent drawing redlining tool for easily and quickly drawing or annotating a drawing. For example, using the tool, a user can click the mouse over the first point of an arc segment. A bulge spacing function may then be utilized to define the length of an arc (also referred to as bulge spacing). In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, the bulge spacing function comprises holding down an arc defining key such as the <SHIFT>key while the second point of the arc segment is selected. Thereafter, the bulge spacing of the first arc segment (the distance of the arc between the first and second points) is utilized for the remaining arc segments of the enclosed polyline/path.

Abstract: The invention includes computer instructions that operate to facilitate a search for computer aided design (CAD) model information, and to determine if one or more features defining the CAD model information are received. Once one or more features are received, the instructions search through a number of files, based at least upon the received one or more features defining the CAD model information. Once the CAD model information searched for is located, the instructions operate to retrieve the CAD model information from one or more of the number of files searched, based at least upon the received one or more inputs for defining one or more features of the CAD model information. 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. As a result, desired CAD model information is efficiently searched for and retrieved.

Abstract: A programming environment can be modified to provide automatic support for reverting program memory states. Such memory reversions are used to provide automatic support for state-reversion, undo, redo, and abort operations for application programs written with the programming environment. Memory allocation code (e.g., functions, procedures, etc.) are modified to mark allocated memory as protected, and an exception handler is assigned to such memory. Attempts to access the memory cause an exception to be generated. This exception is caught, providing opportunity for the memory to be preserved before it is modified. Previous memory states can be retrieved by restoring such stored memory states. State-reversion can be effected by creating a new current memory state corresponding to a previous (e.g., retrieved) memory state.

Abstract: Computer instructions that operate to view a display of geometric constraints associated with a selected piece of geometry of a mechanical design and to drag and manipulate multiple geometric constraints of multiple pieces of geometry associated with the selected piece of geometry, when executed, is disclosed. 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 are embodied in a distribution storage medium.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a data structure, method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for representing data in a self-expanding data package. The package comprises one or more basic table data having zero, one or more table rows, a set of one or more constant lists having one or more values, and one or more row validation calculations. Use of the set of constant lists and row validation calculations provides a mechanism for compact data storage, wherein the self-expanding data package may be expanded. To expand the package, each list member of a constant list is combined with all other basic table rows and additional list members to produce every possible combination of table rows. Row validation calculations are applied to test validity of each tow, and only those expanded table tows that are valid appear in the expanded table.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture determine a path on a network. A Global search is commenced for one or more Global paths on the network. Thereafter, when a turn restriction on a first node on the network exists, a hidden node that is not reachable from the first node due to the turn restriction is detected. A Local search commences from the hidden node in a reverse direction creating a Local search path. When the Local search can connect to the Global search, the Local search path is converted to a new Global path, and added as an alternative to the Global search.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for distributing design document changes. A representation (e.g., an extensible markup language [XML] representation) of a revision block of a design document is captured. The revision block documents a history of changes to the design document. Once captured, the representation is distributed via a network service to consumers, document management utilities, and/or a database.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for locating a mobile device. An application programming interface (API), executed by a computer, provides a plurality of simplified procedures that allow an application program executed by the computer to locate the mobile device. The application program invokes the simplified procedures of the API. The invoked procedures obtain a location of the mobile device given an identification of the mobile device and a description of a spatial reference system associated with the location. Additionally, the invoked procedures interact with specifics for a mobile positioning server of a carrier of the mobile device and with different methods of identifying the device as required by the carrier.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for refining an approximate location of a mobile device using fuzzy logic reasoning. An approximate location of a device is determined. A rule based that comprises an ordered collection of rules is then read read into memory, or loaded from a database. A set of imprecise inputs are captured for processing in the rules. However, prior to processing the inputs in the rules, the inputs are processed to determine a magnitude of participation of the input in the rules. The rules are then applied to the imprecise inputs based on the magnitude of participation to produce a logical product. A refined location is then computed based on the logical product.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention obtain dual points by examining the intersection between each line and a perpendicular projection from the line to a point of origin. The dual points are sorted in accordance with a modified quadtree or octtree. The drawing is recursively broken up into equal subdivisions until the maximum allowed number of points for a subdivision has been reached or until the size of the subdivision is less than a tolerance value. Once the number of points in a subdivision is less than the maximum allowed number of points, the points are individually compared to each other. If the subdivision is less than a tolerance value, the subdivision is small enough such that all of the lines within the subdivision are coincident. If the number of points is greater than the maximum allowed number of points and the subdivision is larger than the tolerance, the area is recursively subdivided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide access to a user's profile information to a location based service, location enable user profile information in external databases, portals, etc., and allow the seamless/transparent provision of location services using both internal and external profile information. A compact definition of a schema of an external database (that comprises a user's profile information) is stored. Data source information that describes how to connect and communicate with the external database and a structured query language (SQL) statement is stored, wherein the statement, upon execution, extracts properties from the external database corresponding to the compact definition. A foreign key identifies a record in the external database and positional information for the record in the external database is stored as a geocoding index. The stored information is then used to provide access to the user's profile information.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide for displaying dimensioning for a data object. A data object to be dimensioned is displayed. Dimensioning for the data object is created in accordance with a dimensioning rule, wherein the dimensioning rule is pre-defined to determine how points of the data object are to be dimensioned. Once created, the dimensioning is displayed.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, system, and article of manufacture for indicating available modifications to a geometric object in a computer drawing program. A three-dimensional geometric object is displayed in a computer drawing program. Additionally, an oriented three-dimensional glyph is displayed. The oriented three-dimensional glyph provides a direct visual indication of valid movement direction during direct manipulation of the three-dimensional geometric object.

Abstract: A system and method of interactively determining and displaying geometric relationships between three dimensional (3D) objects includes the steps of and apparatus for detecting the position of an input device, moving a selected 3D graphic object relative to a graphic pointing symbol in a 3D representation based on position of the input device, determining if the selected graphic object is moved to occlude an underlying 3D graphic object, and positioning and displaying the selected graphic object with respect to the underlying graphic object according to predetermined geometric constraints and the position of the input device. The system and method further dynamically moves and displays the selected graphic object according to movement of the input device and the predetermined geometric constraints while the selected graphic object occludes the underlying graphic object.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture for updating features. When a cross-reference (XREF) to a non-local or non-native part is encountered, a bridge node carries a reference to a base part and holds derived part edge orderings in lieu of modifying the base part itself. The bridge node is utilized to maintain cross-part dependencies without modifying the base part, and to ensure these dependencies get chased when either the reference to a non-native/non-local part is refreshed/recomputed, or an editing session on a non-native part is completed. Features of a node/part may be suppressed/excluded as a result of the interaction or combination with another node/part. When a node/part has been modified and the drawing containing the part has not been refreshed to reflect the changes in a part, the node/part is scheduled for update. The update process traverses a dependency graph for the node part to determine if any nodes that are dependent on the updated node also need to be updated.

Abstract: A computer-implemented graphics system provides visual cues for navigating a three-dimensional space. A two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space is displayed on a monitor attached to the computer, and an object is moved through the two-dimensional viewport of the three-dimensional space according to a position of the input device attached to the computer. A graphical image of the object is created using constructive geometric data stored therein, wherein the constructive geometric data identifies at least one constructive system, and the constructive system identifies at least one constraint on the processing of the object. The graphics system determines a position of the object within the three-dimensional space relative to the two-dimensional viewport, and generates one or more visual cues to indicate the position.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for positioning a graphical component in a computer-implemented drawing program. A selection of a graphical component displayed on a display device is received. Thereafter, a first feature of the graphical component is inferred. The display of the graphical component is moved (e.g., by a user using a cursor control device). Underlying geometry is then analyzed to determine one or more second features of the underlying geometry that can mate with the first feature. Feedback is then displayed that indicates placement potential for the graphical component based on the first feature mating with one of the second features.

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: A palette-based graphical user interface for a computer-implemented system. The palettes can be customized in a number of different ways to make them more user-friendly.