Abstract: A complicated CAD model may include thousands or tens of thousands of parts, each comprising dozens or hundreds of individual features. To reduce memory requirements and regeneration times, the present disclosure features systems and methods for dynamically loading portions of a computer-aided design model on demand. In one embodiment, a CAD application may progressively load portions of a CAD model as needed by a user for a particular design task. This reduces both memory and processing requirements, and creates the potential for a executing a CAD application with access to a complete CAD model on devices with limited resources, such as a laptop, a tablet computer, a smartphone, or any other system.

Abstract: Computer-aided design (CAD) concurrent design management includes a common data model, comprising chapters of different information items to describe various aspects of the CAD model, and lightweight change instructions representative of modifications made by a user to a chapter of the CAD model. By utilizing a common data model and difference-based change instructions, a plurality of users may concurrently collaborate on the design of a CAD model, or a single user may utilize a plurality of applications of a CAD suite efficiently and with an enhanced user experience. Furthermore, the system may manage undo stacks across a plurality of applications concurrently operating on the same shared CAD model, such that the user experiences seamless operation of the plurality of applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure features systems and methods for maintaining consistency of a CAD model across a plurality of homogenous or heterogeneous applications across one or more computing devices and used by one or more users. The systems include a common data model, comprising chapters of different information items to describe various aspects of the CAD model, and lightweight change instructions representative of modifications made by a user to a chapter of the CAD model. By utilizing a common data model and difference-based change instructions, a plurality of users may concurrently collaborate on the design of a CAD model, or a single user may utilize a plurality of applications of a CAD suite efficiently and with an enhanced user experience.

Abstract: The present disclosure features methods and systems for creation of a dynamically configurable product design, sometimes referred to as business driven assemblies. Such product designs may be referred to as driven by a bill-of-materials (BOM) or selection of options by a customer, sales representative, or vendor, and may be performed responsive to a product lifecycle management (PLM) plan. The system allows a customer to define specifications of a product, and then dynamically generates a CAD model responsive to the defined specifications or selected options.

Abstract: The present disclosure features methods and systems for enforcing parametric constraints in a direct modeling interface in computer-aided design (CAD). A parametric geometry engine of a CAD application may compare an attempted edit to a feature in a direct modeling user interface of the CAD application to an existing constraint created in a parametric modeling user interface, and, in one embodiment, prevent the user from completing the edit. In other embodiments, the parametric geometry engine may present a dialog box to the user and allow them to reject the edit, override or delete the constraint, modify the constraint, or take other actions as appropriate. In still other embodiments, the parametric geometry engine may allow one user to edit the feature, but not another user. Thus, parametric constraints and permissions-based ownership of entities may be enforced in a direct modeling user interface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for comparing a first computer-aided 3D model with a second computer-aided 3D model, the first model being described by a first topology comprising vertices, edges and faces of the first model and the second model being described by a second topology comprising vertices, edges and faces of the second model, the method comprising the following steps: scanning the first topology and the second topology; deriving from the first topology a first topological map relating vertices, edges and faces of the first model and from the second topology a second topological map relating vertices, edges and faces of the second model; determining by means of the topological maps all possible mappings between vertices of the first model and vertices of the second model; using those mapped vertices to identify all possible mappings between edges of the first and edges of the second model; using those mapped edges to identify all possible mappings between faces of the first and faces of the seco

Abstract: A system and a method for managing a supply chain are provided. A request for a transaction involving an enterprise and at least one partner in a supply chain is received from an end-user or the partner. Real-time data relevant to the transaction is accessed from an existing partner system. A context for the transaction is generated using the real-time data. The request is processed in the context for the transaction.

Abstract: A method for automatically sensing a set of elements in a computer system, wherein each element in the set has an associated character body from a plurality of character bodies, and each character body comprises character strings which characterize a respective element, the performance of the method involving a search for at least one prescribed character string within the character bodies and use of the at least one character string to ascertain at least one property for at least one element, and association of this at least one ascertained property with at least one category, and this involving a user of the method being provided with a taxonomy which is inherent of the set of elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a computer-aided modelling system for creating a technical drawing from at least two modelled 3D bodies that collide with one another. In a first step, one or more of the regions of the 3D bodies that are affected by the collision are selected. In a second step, a group of colliding faces of the selected regions of the two or more 3D bodies are combined to form a respective collision group and a technical drawing of the two or more colliding modelled 3D bodies is produced. A 2D edge or its associated boundary of a face that belongs to a collision group is treated by masking the other faces that are associated with the same collision group.

Abstract: An improved method and system for managing the traceability of numerical, alphabetical, alphanumeric, character, or string entities such as critical constants or key calculations, equations, functions, and procedures that automatically enables the traceability of information entities without requiring significant manual intervention by a system user. The system allows a user to enter critical information such a critical constant or key calculation into a first document. When the user copies/exports the critical information from the first document and pastes/imports the information to a second document, the system automatically generates meta-data describing the provenance of the information, and propagates the provenance meta-data from the first document to the second document.

Abstract: A computerized system for and method of creating applications that access information from multiple data sources into a common, role-based distribution model are described. The computerized system includes a server having one or more dynamic object libraries, one or more template libraries, and a dynamically allocated area in the computer memory where data is stored, referenced, and manipulated. The system also includes one or more adapters, each allowing the server to access one of the data sources.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium that resolve interference between surfaces in a modeling environment, such as a CAD environment. Further, exemplary embodiments of the present invention may modify the surfaces of a model to ensure that parts of the model constitute a solid body. In exemplary embodiments, when the manipulation of a first surface or set of surfaces causes interference with a second surface or set of surfaces, the topologies of the surfaces are modified to account for the interference. The individual surfaces involved in the intersection may be treated as a merged surface or set of surfaces having a single topology, surface area, and volume. If an ambiguity arises whereby more than one option exists for resolving the interference or providing a solid body, the modeling environment may provide multiple potential solutions to a user, and allow the user to select from among the solutions.

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: A decision tracking object model and interface which captures and stores questions, answers, and decisions, along with their associated relationships, in an object model database is presented. Each object model includes information and relationships that are accessible via a publicly defined interface. In one embodiment, when an object model is saved to the object model database, the question, answer, and decision objects making up the object model, along with their relationships to other objects, are saved in separate relational database files. Because the question, answers, and decision objects are stored in a tool neutral persistent form, any application can access the information contained in those objects.

Abstract: Disclosed is method and system that automatically names and stores electronic files by associating metadata with the files. The metadata may be stored in the header of each file, and the metadata automatically designates file names and locations to each file. A user interface allows a user to input and edit files. A Java Virtual Machine is started up upon boot-up and runs a Java main thread, which creates the user interface. A Java database-access thread, spawned from the Java main thread, queries storage devices as to availability to receive files. A message is returned to the user confirming the status of the attempted file save function.

Abstract: A method of providing an application development environment that produces an application framework in a development language-neutral manner which is later adapted into a particular programming language based upon the identity of a requesting device and the requesting user is disclosed. Developers create an object-oriented framework describing the logical structure of an application without being restricted to a particular programming language. Requests from a requesting device for an application appropriate rendering are then processed by utilizing the framework as the basis for the application appropriate rendering written in a format appropriate for the requesting device. The application development environment of the present invention also automatically adapts the presentation for the requesting device according to the type of object being displayed, the role of the user who requests the application appropriate rendering, the type of application, the end user device, and the data volume.

Abstract: A flexible object function is for use in conjunction with, or as an element of, a CAD/CAM software application. The flexible object enables the CAD/CAM application to represent an object that can experience variations in its geometry and logical properties for different design occurrences, while maintaining consistent common properties in all of the occurrences. The variations can be driven by the assembly context, or interacting relationships of the specific occurrence with other components or objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus relating to a CAD system that enables communication between a first CAD application and a second CAD application in a manner providing associative interoperability is provided. In one illustrative example, a method is provided in at least one electronic device of communicating between a first CAD application and a second CAD application. The method begins by storing native data and a sub-set of native data. A plug-in is provided having an application program interface API and being accessible by the second CAD application. The plug-in conveys the sub-set of native data to the second CAD application. The system for carrying out the method includes a first CAD application and a second CAD application. Native data and a sub-set of native data relating to an object modeled on the first CAD application are stored in a first memory store.

Abstract: A facility enables an external application program (EAP) to exchange data with a modeling program, such as a computer-aided design (CAD) program. The data may be parametric data used in parametric models of geometric objects in the CAD program. In one embodiment, the EAP registers with the CAD program to indicate that the EAP provides output data to the CAD program for use within a model. When the CAD program needs to reevaluate a model due to changes, the CAD program calls a callback that results from the registration of the EAP with the CAD program. The callback sends new input data to the EAP, causes the EAP to recalculate the output data and pass the new output data to the CAD program. The CAD program then integrates the new output data into the model so as to fully update the model.

Abstract: An analysis may be represented as a feature in a feature-based model of a geometric object. The analysis is integrated directly into the model and may be recalculated in response to changes made to the model. Additional features may be created that reference the analysis feature. Likewise, the model may include features that reference the analysis without directly incorporating the analysis into the model as a feature. The analysis may be a system-defined analysis, a user defined analysis or an external analysis.