Abstract: A system for providing a 3D representation of a desired structure on a selected property. A processing arrangement receives a property indication of the selected property. At least one converter converts the property indication to a format representing a 3D graphical representation of the selected property. A mapper maps the selected property to a largest available polygon that will fit on the selected property. The system determines a resultant polygon from the largest available polygon based on local restrictions for the selected property. A user selects the desired structure from available structures and orients the desired structure on the resultant polygon at a permissible orientation. A renderer renders the desired structure on the selected property in 3D graphical form. As a result, users can observe the house at different angles around the property, configure the structure with desired external design features, and view the result on the selected property.

Abstract: A system for providing a 3D representation of a desired structure on a selected property. A processing arrangement receives a property indication of the selected property. At least one converter converts the property indication to a format representing a 3D graphical representation of the selected property. A mapper maps the selected property to a largest available polygon that will fit on the selected property. The system determines a resultant polygon from the largest available polygon based on local restrictions for the selected property. A user selects the desired structure from available structures and orients the desired structure on the resultant polygon at a permissible orientation. A renderer renders the desired structure on the selected property in 3D graphical form. As a result, users can observe the house at different angles around the property, configure the structure with desired external design features, and view the result on the selected property.

Abstract: A method for providing a structure is provided. The method includes determining a set of building requirements applicable to the structure, establishing an architectural plan for the structure using a computing device including establishing on a grid sets of modularized structural and nonstructural walls, establishing doors and windows, and establishing locations for plumbing fixtures such that plumbing fixtures are placed in positions avoiding conflict with structural elements in the set of modularized structural walls. The design also calls for dividing the architectural plan into a series of component parts transportable from a remote location to a property, thereby producing a modularized architectural plan and comparing at least one of the architectural plan and modularized architectural plan to the set of building requirements and assessing whether at least one plan aspect fails to satisfy the set of building requirements.

Abstract: A method for providing standardized modular elements usable to construct a building. The method includes defining a set of allowable functional building block configurations divided into assembly levels, defining allowable configurations and allowable interactions for each allowable functional building block configuration usable in a building configuration. The method also includes producing standardized modular elements based on the allowable configurations and allowable interactions for a desired building configuration. Fabricated standardized modular components are provided (produced, assembled, or fabricated) at an off-site location and employed in a building at an on-site location.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention comprises a method and apparatus for utilizing online presence information. The invention comprises an interconnection fabric (e.g. a network) configured to transmit data, a plurality of client devices that are each associated with a user, a presence indicator, a presence engine, a translation engine, a communication engine, and a broadcast engine. A presence indicator is a type of cue that may be embedded into a document and configured to provide users with a mechanism for determining when another user is connected to the interconnection fabric (e.g. a visual, audio, or video cue. Each graphic is associated with a particular user and is configured to resemble the status of the user with which the graphic is associated (e.g whether a particular user is connected to the interconnection fabric). The presence engine contains software configured to determine when a user begins and ends using the network.

Abstract: A method for establishing anonymous communication links comprises the steps of: identifying a plurality of subscribers; assigning a code to each of the plurality of subscribers; accessing a proprietary directory of the subscribers containing the code of each of the plurality of subscribers; and connecting a first subscriber of the plurality of subscribers to a second subscriber of the plurality of subscribers for communications. The first subscriber is identified by a first code so that the first subscriber can communicate with the second subscriber anonymously.