Abstract: A method of creating building instructions for a three dimensional cabling assembly for use in a larger assembly. A three dimensional digital computer model of the cabling assembly and a larger assembly is designed ab initio by using a three dimensional mechanical design system. A three dimensional view of the model is then selected and transferred to a two dimensional representation while retaining the aspect ratios of the cabling assembly. Finally, overall lengths of cable sections aligned with the corresponding cable sections themselves are provided in human readable form.

Abstract: A system for designing an intercommunication network among a plurality of devices. The system includes a device for storing rules to meet design requirements and a mechanism connected to the device for storing rules in order to revise the rules dynamically. Also provided is a device for storing data and a mechanism connected to the device for storing data in order to revise the data. A requestor has the ability to access all rules and to revise a portion of the data. Moreover, a designer has the ability to access all rules and to revise another portion of the data, which portion has at least one subportion that cannot be revised by the requestor.

Abstract: A method of producing instructions for installing a three dimensional cable assembly in a larger assembly. A three dimensional digital computer model of the cable assembly and a larger assembly is designed ab initio by using a three dimensional mechanical design system. A three dimensional view of the model is then selected and transferred to a two dimensional representation while retaining the aspect ratios of the cable assembly. Finally, the cable assembly geometry is visually distinguished from the larger assembly so that the former assembly is clearly accentuated with respect to the latter.

Abstract: A system for designing an intercommunication network among a plurality of devices. The system includes a device for storing rules to meet design requirements and a mechanism connected to the device for storing rules in order to revise the rules dynamically. Also provided is a device for storing data and a mechanism connected to the device for storing data in order to revise the data. A requestor has the ability to access all rules and to revise a portion of the data. Moreover, a designer has the ability to access all rules and to revise another portion of the data, which portion has at least one subportion that cannot be revised by the requestor.

Abstract: A system for producing human readable physical data in text form from geometric data in mathematical form that partially describes a three dimensional object. A first database is provided that contains geometric data in mathematical form representative of the shape of the object. A second database contains physical data in text form. At least a portion of the data in the first database can be extracted and used as the basis for calculations of physical data in mathematical form, which can be converted into human readable physical data in text form. The resulting physical data can be merged with data from the second database to produce a complete geometric description in text of the object. The present invention also contemplates a mechanism for using empirical data with a knowledge based system. The knowledge based system can be used to modify the physical data to adapt geometric properties to a manufacturing process.

Abstract: A system for automatically selecting part numbers and for loading data, which guarantees compatibility of a plurality of devices. A database maintainable by a user is provided to store part numbers and descriptions thereof. A mechanism is provided for selecting an item from the database based on a description and data in the database. Another mechanism is provided for selecting another item from the database as a function of its description, of the first item and of data relating the respective descriptions of both items to one another. Another mechanism is provided for successively selecting items from the database as a function of descriptions, of previously selected items and of data relating descriptions of at least some of the items to descriptions of other items.