Abstract: This invention is directed to a method, a program and a production edition system of visualization of objects in a scene. The method according to the invention aims at indicating a distance between objects by modifying a property (like a rendering property) of a target object according to a distance to an active object. Typically, a light source is simulated and attached at the active object and the scene is accordingly modified dynamically. Such a method bypasses the basic materialization of the distance between objects. Hence, no display of extrinsic elements is mandatory and possible interferences are prevented. In addition, the method allows, by definition, a progressive modification of e.g. a rendering of the target object. Thus, modifications in the scene are better understood by the user and ergonomics are improved.

Abstract: The method of collaborative work takes place between a first user working on a first object (1) on the basis of a visual representation of the first object displayed in an authoring environment of a first local computer; and a second user working in an authoring environment of a second local computer connected with the first computer via a computer network. The method comprising the steps of: a) selecting at the first computer one type among a plurality of types of data about the first object, each type of data comprising visual representation data about the first object; b) providing to the second computer data about the first object according to the selected type; c) displaying a visual representation of the first object in the authoring environment of the second computer.

Abstract: Manufacturing process planning is usually considered as not intuitive for non-expert user. This is because a user needs to deal with processes, describing a work to be done, and other abstract concepts that are loosely related to the real world. Accordingly, a method and corresponding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are provided to describe a work to be done in response to a user interacting with a three-dimensional representation of one or more parts that form a product and to provide the user with feedback in the form of a graphical representation of the work to be done. This approach is very intuitive as it is close to how a user would, for example, in a real world, decompose a product into sub-assemblies that essentially results into a definition of a manufacturing process of the product.

Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for a version-controlled cached data store. A first node is associated with a first identifier and a first version. A control file is received, where the control file includes information associating a second node with a second identifier and a second version. The first version is compared with the second version when the first identifier and the second identifier are identical.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a product life cycle management (PLM) system, comprising a database storing objects, preferably 3D objects, and relations between said objects. The PLM system provides a graphical user interface suitable for displaying to a user a graphical representation of a hierarchy of stored objects. The graphical user interface is adapted, upon selection of a displayed object by a user, to display objects related to the selected object. At a given level in the hierarchy, displayed objects are distributed according to a respective weight. The weight of a displayed object depends on the number of its descendants in the hierarchy, which are displayed in said graphical representation. The invention makes it possible to navigate in a database of a PLM system, storing notably complex modeled objects through interrelated data.

Abstract: Reusing design data in a computer-aided design model includes automatically analyzing a computer-aided design file to identify a set of elements, storing information corresponding to each element in a manner enabling querying and retrieval of the information, presenting one element in a user interface upon retrieval of the information corresponding to the one element, selecting the presented element for inclusion in the model, and constructing the model by incorporating the presented element in the model. The information identifies corresponding elements to facilitate reproduction of at least one element. The information is data indicating a location in the computer-aided design file or data defining at least one of the elements. The stored information allows querying and searching for elements matching a search criterion in a manner free of opening the design file.

Abstract: Several elements are displayed on a computer display. The user is provided with a haptic device, for moving a cursor over the display. Distances between the cursor and the various elements are computed; the element with the smallest distance is highlighted on the display. When the user moves the haptic device, the identified element is changed, according to the distance between the cursor and the various elements. The user selects the identified element by actuating a select button. The invention makes it possible for the user to select one of the displayed elements, without having to move the cursor over the element to be selected. No prior knowledge of the shape of the elements is required for carrying out the selection process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating a computer generated model and visualizing a change in projection plane before entering a projection creation command. After selection of a projection plane on the 3-D model, a generative drafting document can be created wherein the projection plane becomes the plane of the screen. The system can display a visualization of the projection of the model in plane with the screen, without generating a fully computed projection. Display of the visualization can provide increased efficiency in processing time as compared to a fully computed projection. The system can also display a graphical manipulator including a circular central region with a button in the middle, wherein clicking on the button can be used as a command to the system requesting creation of the projection. The graphical manipulator software tool can also include quadrants, wherein each quadrant is associated with a direction in relation to an orthogonal axis.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method and apparatus for processing data representing a three-dimensional object model includes generating an image of a modeled object. The modeled object is formed from a number of different components that can be arranged in different positions, and the generated image depicts a change in a position of a first one of the components with respect to a second one of the components.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for use in computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, computer-aided engineering and product lifecycle management. An efficient, non-centralized communications framework makes “synchronous” collaborative design possible. Users are resident at workstations that are connected in a peer-to-peer arrangement. In a collaborative design session, the model is resident in memory at each workstation. Modifications are made at any workstation, and commands, which are interpreted at each workstation to effect the modifications, are transmitted over the network. In addition, cell descriptors may be used to identify one or more geometric cells of a model. The cell descriptors are in the form of scripts specifying constraints or filters for identifying cells.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for using 3D animated icons to preview transformations related to 3D models are disclosed. The apparatus includes a graphical user interface (GUI) which includes a visual depiction of the 3D model as well as a cursor and 3D animated icons which are representative of various transformations that may be performed on the model. The animation of the 3D icons provides the user with a preview, before selecting the icons, of what will happen to the 3D model depicted in the GUI if the transformations are in fact applied by user-selection of the icons. The method includes displaying, on a GUI, a 3D model as well as a cursor and at least one 3D animated icon which displays a representation of a respective transformation. The method further includes changing the state of an animated icon from static (i.e., a still frame) to animated when the user positions the cursor in the neighborhood of the icon, thereby illustrating the effect of the transformation.

Abstract: When navigating in a screen view composed of entities of differing types, a user may want to focus on any particular entity. Depending on the type of entity the user wants to focus on, the invention system adapts the screen view, as well as navigation behavior, to navigate the desired entity. This is accomplished without explicit action from the user like running a command and selecting the desired entity. Accordingly, a computer method and computer corresponding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are provided to capture the user's intention to navigate the desired entity and to change the screen view and the navigation behavior. For example, when the user navigates an entity of a given type and the desired entity occupies a greater percentage of the screen view or becomes closer to the desired entity, the screen view and the navigation behavior change conveniently without explicit action from the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of design of ruled surfaces. The method comprises the step of accessing data defining guiding curves P(u) and Q(v) and a cost function f(t, w). Given P(u) and Q(v), the unknown coupling is a parameterized curve s(t(s), w(s)). The method further comprises defining an objective function of the type J=J(f, t, w), involving both f(t, w) and coordinates t, w of the coupling curve. Then, optimizing the objective function J makes it possible to obtain the target coupling curve. Finally, a ruled surface S(s, ?)=Q(w(s))+(1??)P(t(s)) is provided, according to the guiding curves P(t(s)) and Q(w(s)), composed with the coordinates t, w of the coupling curve previously obtained. The objective function is further constrained at the optimization step such that arguments t, w of the cost function f(t, w) are regulated by a regulation function ?.

Abstract: Creating an explicit feature used for construction of a computer-aided design model includes recognizing that model features form an implicit feature, presenting variations of the implicit feature, selecting one of the variations of the implicit feature, and creating the explicit feature. The explicit feature produces geometry that gives rise to the selected variation of the implicit feature. The computer-aided design model is constructed by generating the explicit feature after generating the model features that form the implicit feature.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process, an apparatus and a program for selecting an object in a PLM database containing modeled objects. The invention allows a user to rapidly display a view of the set of objects while allowing for selecting an object in the view, for example through movement of a pointer such as a mouse.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system of computer aided design of a product comprising a set of objects (11-51). The invention system and method identify (S10) constraints (1121-4151) linking objects (11,51) of said set of objects. Each of the identified constraints is oriented from a first object to a second object so as to ensure, upon solving (S90) the constraints, that the first object is not moved provided that all other of said constraints are solved. The invention system and method further test whether said constraints can be solved upon modifying one oriented constraint (4151) amongst the identified constraints. The invention system/method returns a suggestion (110) for modifying said one oriented constraint (4151).