Cad Or Cam (e.g., Interactive Design Tools) Patents (Class 715/964)
  • Patent number: 8072466
    Abstract: A medical examination apparatus for acquisition of slice images of an examination subject, such as a magnetic resonance apparatus, has a control device for controlling the image acquisition procedure having at least one associated monitor on which graphic elements serving for adjustment of the image acquisition modalities can be displayed. The graphic elements can be positioned by the user via an input unit with regard to the image simultaneously displayed on the monitor. The control device controls the image acquisition procedure dependent on the position and type of the graphic elements. Some of the displayed graphic elements can be coupled to one another as needed in terms of their positional relationship so that, given a position change of a selected graphic element, all graphic elements coupled therewith can mutually be moved with retention of their positional relationship with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Harder, Christian Köglmeier
  • Patent number: 8065623
    Abstract: A system for designing a work area enables a user to initially specify a particular item to be designed into the work area from a number of different items contained in the system. The system utilizes stored information concerning the item to graphically display the selected item to the individual. Once the item has been selected, the system enables the individual to incorporate the item into the work area, along with other items. The system indicates the item on a display using a “ghost image”. The dimensions of the item can be varied from preselected dimensions and other components can be interconnected or positioned in the work area. The system can provide feedback to the user regarding what components can be added at any particular location. The system determines the proper style, width, height, options, position, and rotation for the item and any interconnected components to create a valid design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Krueger International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey G. Bohlman
  • Patent number: 8049762
    Abstract: Architectural structure design methods, architectural structure design apparatuses, and articles of manufacture are described according to some aspects of the disclosure. In one aspect, an architectural structure design method includes responsive to user input, modifying a visual representation of an architectural structure, wherein the visual representation comprises an object of the architectural structure, first displaying the visual representation comprising the object at a first moment in time, wherein the object is positioned at a first location of a display screen, responsive to user input, selecting an attribute for the object from a second location of the display screen which is different than the first location of the display screen, responsive to user input, associating the attribute with the object after the selecting, and displaying the visual representation comprising the object having the attribute at a second moment in time after the associating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Chief Architect, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Wells, Jason Troye, Dermot Dempsey
  • Patent number: 8041650
    Abstract: Methods and systems for directed creation of construction documentation are provided. Example embodiments provide a Directed Documentation System (a “DDS”), which directs, in a computer-assisted manner, the creation of a historical record of a portion or an entire construction project. In one embodiment, the DDS comprises a directed construction data organization process/component, a directed documentation data acquisition process/component, a construction documentation data retrieval process/component, and a construction documentation data distribution process/component. These components cooperate to direct the documentation of a construction project in a manner that insures that all desired aspects of the project are documented thoroughly and uniformly. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventors: Kieran Gaffey, Howard Marcus
  • Patent number: 8040358
    Abstract: A method of propagating changes in a design model identifies a change to a changed element, creates steps to carry out the change, creates additional steps based on the change and on relationships between the changed element and other elements in the design model, and executes the steps to alter the model in a manner that reflects the change. The steps may be created in a manner that depends on other steps that have been created. A system for regenerating a design model comprises a model element, a step propagator, and a step executor. The step propagator receives a first step that represents changes in the model element, and produces a second step that represents other changes in the model element that are dependent on the first step, and the step executor executes the first and second steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Irwin Jungreis, Michael R. Lauer
  • Patent number: 8027744
    Abstract: A design system for generating an object design for producing an engineered object, the design system includes an estimate generator, a layout drawing generator, and a design generator. The estimate generator generates a cost estimate based on at least one of a request for proposal defining the engineered object, components of the engineered object, and engineering rules and knowledge. The layout drawing generator generates a layout drawing based on at least one of the request for proposal, the engineered object, and engineering rules and knowledge. The design generator generates the object design based on a proposal and an order. The proposal is generated based on the cost estimate and the layout drawing. The order is generated based on the proposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Tramco, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon Trammell, Hiroshi Takaki
  • Patent number: 8028242
    Abstract: Configuring wires/icons in a diagram. The diagram may be an executable diagram such as a graphical program or a system diagram. The diagram may include a plurality of icons that are connected by wires, and the icons may visually represent functionality of the diagram. The diagram may be executable to perform the functionality. Displaying the diagram may include displaying a first wire in the diagram, where the first wire connects a first icon and a second icon. Data transfer functionality may be specified for the first wire and/or the first or second icon in the diagram. The data transfer functionality may be visually indicated in the diagram, e.g., by appearances of the first icon, the second icon, the first wire, and/or icons displayed proximate to these components of the diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, Jeffrey N. Correll, David W Fuller, III, Timothy J. Hayles, John R. Breyer, Jacob Kornerup
  • Patent number: 8028241
    Abstract: Configuring wires/icons in a diagram. The diagram may be an executable diagram such as a graphical program or a system diagram. The diagram may include a plurality of icons that are connected by wires, and the icons may visually represent functionality of the diagram. The diagram may be executable to perform the functionality. Displaying the diagram may include displaying a first wire in the diagram, where the first wire connects a first icon and a second icon. Data transfer functionality may be specified for the first wire and/or the first or second icon in the diagram. The data transfer functionality may be visually indicated in the diagram, e.g., by appearances of the first icon, the second icon, the first wire, and/or icons displayed proximate to these components of the diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kodosky, David W Fuller, III, Jeffrey N. Correll, Timothy J. Hayles, John R. Breyer, Jacob Kornerup
  • Patent number: 8015503
    Abstract: To solve an overlap between a part table and components automatically and adequately in a drawing using a CAD. In a part table creating method for creating a part table including a plurality of rows of CAD data, an overlap between the part table and other geometric elements is detected. When the overlap is detected, the height of the respective rows of the part table is reduced to H1. When the overlap between the part table and the other geometric elements still remains even when the respective rows of the part table is reduced to the height H1, the number of overlapped rows between the part table and the geometric element are obtained. The portion of the overlapped rows is separated and moved in the direction to avoid the overlap with the geometric elements to separate into an original part table and a destination part table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Yahagi
  • Patent number: 8015485
    Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for managing the spatial coordinates and visual attributes of objects within a user interface (UI). A Web UI ruler is executed within a UI comprising a plurality of objects. A first object and second object are selected. The Web UI Ruler then collects the spatial coordinate and visual attribute values for the first and second object and their relationship values are determined. The spatial coordinate and visual attribute values for the first and second objects, along with their corresponding relationship values, are modified and the modifications are applied to the target objects. The values are then stored in the Web UI ruler. These values can then be subsequently applied to one or more target objects. Alternatively, the stored values are exported as a cascading style sheet (CSS) class, which can then likewise be subsequently applied to one or more target objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yingxin Xing, Angela Richards Jones, Henri Fouotsop Meli, Stephanie Lee Walter, Tong Yu
  • Patent number: 8010906
    Abstract: A property presentation and visualization method comprising measuring at least one room comprising a room length and a room width forming at least one measurement line, measuring at least one wall interruption comprising a wall interruption length and a wall interruption width, and measuring at least one outside space. The room measurement, wall interruption measurement, and outside space measurement are input to a processor. Textual information and at least one graphic image concerning the structure are input to the processor. A property overview image of the structure and the at least one outside space is formed using computer instructions, the room measurement, the wall interruption measurement, the measurement lines, the text information, and the graphic images. The property overview image is then output for viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: JMMJ Resources, LLC
    Inventors: Judith Sinnard, Marjorie Sinnard
  • Patent number: 7974817
    Abstract: A computer acquires maximum lengths of a structure as measured along X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and acquires numbers of divisions of line segments which extend along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, respectively, and have the maximum lengths, respectively. The computer then calculates a basic shape, which is the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped divided into a three-dimensional grid, on the basis of the maximum lengths and the numbers of divisions. The computer creates a basic frame of the structure from the basic shape by deleting a selected line, and adding a line between two selected grid points. The computer calculates structure data, which are three-dimensional data representing the structure, by arranging frame members, which are represented by three-dimensional frame member data, along lines between the grid points of the basic frame. The computer then outputs a drawing of the structure from the structure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignees: NIC Autotec, Inc., Armonicos Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishikawa, Masahiro Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7969435
    Abstract: A three-dimensional object modeling tool is described that can derive the 2D cross sections of one or more lofted or unlofted surfaces, allowing those surfaces to be modified instantly. The modeling tool (loft tool) includes sub-tools for selecting a surface, moving a 2D section, editing a 2D section, creating a 2D section, and removing a 2D section. By analysis of the selected lofted surface and its faces, the loft tool can derive an appropriate number of 2D cross section to present to the user for manipulation. When deriving the 2D cross section the modeling tool operates by simplifying the curves making up the lofted surface, and from these can generate 2D cross section that can be easily manipulated and used to instantly update the lofted surface and redisplay it for further user modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: SpaceClaim Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank DeSimone, Daniel Dean, Dima Feinhaus
  • Patent number: 7949961
    Abstract: A user interface for performing load analysis on various geometries is provided. The user interface is especially useful for performing load analysis operations on mobile platforms, for example an aircraft. The user interface includes an object display that lists a plurality of load objects that include object data. A plurality of menu displays list a plurality of load operations. A data display displays the object data associated with the plurality of load objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Scott W. Stevenson, Dean H. Wette, Bruce Shimel
  • Patent number: 7924277
    Abstract: A three-dimensional model modification system for modifying a three-dimensional model, defined by a plurality of surfaces and representing an arbitrary object is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hattori, Hitoshi Misawa, Junji Ishida, Tadashi Kotani, Takaya Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7890303
    Abstract: A system for managing design parameters in a plurality of different CAD systems flexible for the plurality of different CAD systems having essentially different design purposes. In a method for managing design parameters being used in a plurality of different CAD systems, respectively, in order to prevent prolongation of the completion time of the entire design of a product, arbitrary design parameters in the design parameters being used in the plurality of different CAD systems, respectively, are brought into a virtually shared state among the plurality of different CAD systems. Design parameters in the virtually shared state and design parameters not in the virtually shared state are managed independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Zuken Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsuhiro Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7886234
    Abstract: Methods for generating an embedded target image to be stored in a non-volatile memory device of an embedded system as firmware thereof are disclosed. A graphical user interface (GUI) editor is generated to facilitate a user in providing settings information for multiple pins of a chip installed in the embedded system. Source code is generated in response to operating results of the user of the GUI editor. Linking an object file compiled from the generated source code generates the embedded target image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Hung-Kai Shih, Shih-Chang Hu, Chih-Wei Ko
  • Patent number: 7844944
    Abstract: A design tool hierarchically presents information about a design with nested blocks. For example, the design tool presents scheduling information for the design in a hierarchical Gantt chart. The scheduling information includes hierarchical design schedule blocks which accurately depict the timing and scheduling of the nested blocks of the design. Each of the hierarchical design schedule blocks includes control steps numbered relative to the block. The scheduling information also includes a hierarchical list of scheduled operations for the design. The hierarchical list emphasizes which operations are associated with which nested blocks. The scheduling information further includes pseudo-operation icons that are easily differentiated from real operation icons in the hierarchical Gantt chart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Pius Gutberlet, Simon Joshua Waters, Bryan Darrell Bowyer
  • Patent number: 7840091
    Abstract: A method includes displaying a reference polar coordinate system on a display screen, and displaying a radiation pattern image on the display screen in juxtaposition with the displayed reference polar coordinate system. In another aspect, an angled line is drawn on a display screen to represent the proposed layout of a leaky coaxial cable. A point of interest is selected that is spaced from the proposed cable layout, and one of the segments of the cable is determined as likely to produce a dominant level of irradiation with respect to the point of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Baris Dundar, Raymond Rui-Feng Liao
  • Patent number: 7831929
    Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for controlling a display on a computer-aided design (CAD) data editing screen, whereby commands more likely to be utilized are preferentially displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Hirasaka
  • Patent number: 7830377
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and editing 3D solids and surfaces in an intuitive manner are described. A single tool infers the most-likely correct action based on its context to a particular geometry case. The single modification tool predicts a user's intended modification, and performs the predicted modification without recording related history information. The method includes receiving a selection of the at least one CAD object. The method also includes the tool automatically predicting the user's intended type of modification to the at least one CAD object based on the type of the at least one CAD object and the at least one CAD object's relationships with the geometry of at least one surrounding CAD object. The tool can performing multiple types of modifications, and the modification is selected from the multiple types of modifications, without explicit commands from the user directing the type of modification to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: SpaceClaim Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Desimone, Daniel Dean
  • Patent number: 7823085
    Abstract: A software control method and apparatus for implementing a knowledge-based polymorph undockable toolbar within an object scene. The undockable toolbar can be used to perform actions on objects created and managed by computer software applications. A knowledge-based polymorph undockable toolbar can merges into a relatively small area, tools for executing various commands that would require substantial screen space if represented by standard icons on a toolbar. The present invention can be used to manipulate non-constrained objects or groups of objects included in an assembly that are linked to each other by constraints. The knowledge based polymorph undockable toolbar can also act to reduce the number of user interactions needed to perform a manipulation task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Dassault Systemes
    Inventors: Bernard Charles, Jean-Christophe Cros, Grégoire Debaisieux, Francois Perroux
  • Patent number: 7797147
    Abstract: Model-based system monitoring includes accessing a model of a system that includes multiple components and identifying relationships among the multiple components based on the model of the system. A proposed change to at least one of the multiple components is identified. A determination is made regarding an expected impact on the system caused by the proposed change. This determination is made, at least in part, based on the model of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Anders B. Vinberg, Anand Lakshminarayanan, Ashvinkumar J. Sanghvi, Vij Rajarajan, Vitaly Voloshin, Bassam Tabbara, Kevin Grealish, Rob Mensching, Geoffrey Outhred, Galen C. Hunt, Aamer Hydrie, Robert V. Welland
  • Patent number: 7774170
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a design/verification aid system adapted to aid design of a product and verification of the design, includes a design processing unit that executes a CAD process, which includes a part generation process to generate a part geometric model, a part addition process to add a part geometric model corresponding to another part to generate a whole geometric model corresponding to a product under design, and a part movement process to move a position of a predetermined part geometric model, an analytic model generation unit that generates an analytic model corresponding to a part geometric model, an analytic model edition unit that edits the generated analytic model in accordance with a content of the part addition or movement process and generates a whole analytic model, and an analysis unit that executes an analysis process to analyze the whole geometric model and displays an analytic result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tomohisa Fujinuma
  • Patent number: 7768526
    Abstract: A method of propagating changes in a design model identifies a change to a changed element, creates steps to carry out the change, creates additional steps based on the change and on relationships between the changed element and other elements in the design model, and executes the steps to alter the model in a manner that reflects the change. The steps may be created in a manner that depends on other steps that have been created. A system for regenerating a design model comprises a model element, a step propagator, and a step executor. The step propagator receives a first step that represents changes in the model element, and produces a second step that represents other changes in the model element that are dependent on the first step, and the step executor executes the first and second steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Irwin Jungreis, Michael R. Lauer
  • Patent number: 7755623
    Abstract: A method and system for computer aided design (CAD) is disclosed for designing geometric objects. The present invention interpolates and/or blends between such geometric objects sufficiently fast so that real time deformation of such objects occurs while deformation data is being input. Thus, a user designing with the present invention obtains immediate feedback to input modifications without separately entering a command for performing such deformations. The present invention utilizes novel computational techniques for blending between geometric objects, wherein weighted sums of points on the geometric objects are used in deriving a new blended geometric object. The present invention is particularly useful for designing the shape of surfaces. Thus, the present invention is applicable to various design domains such as the design of, e.g., bottles, vehicles, and watercraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: FreeDesign, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyn P. Rockwood, Scott A. Hagen, Lance Hagen, John Lee
  • Patent number: 7752559
    Abstract: A software tool in a graphical modeling environment guides a user through the process of preparing a graphical model for embedded code generation. The software tool prompts the user to specify code generation goals for the embedded code and provides feedback to the user regarding the compliance of the graphical model with the specified goals. The software tool can perform selected checks and analysis on the graphical model prior to code generation to ensure compliance with specified conditions. The software tool update parameters of the graphical model to comply with the specified goals, to produce optimized target software based on the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: The Mathworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Szpak, Thomas J. Erkkinen
  • Patent number: 7743335
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a graphical program which accesses registers of a hardware device. In one embodiment, a register access node or primitive may be included in a graphical program, such that when the graphical program is executed on the computer system, the register access node is operable to access (i.e., either read or write) registers of a hardware device in the computer system. The method may comprise first displaying a register access node in the graphical program in response to user input. For example, the user may select the register access node from a palette and drag and drop the register access node onto a window of the graphical program being created. The user may then configure the register access node to access one or more registers of a selected hardware device, e.g., by using a user interface for performing this configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Rogers, Jason King
  • Patent number: 7733340
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and editing 3D solids and surfaces in an intuitive manner are described. A single tool infers the most-likely correct action based on its context to a particular geometry case. The tool predicts a user's intended modification, and performs the predicted modification without recording related history information. The method includes receiving a selection of at least one CAD object. The method also includes the tool automatically predicting the user's intended type of modification to the at least one CAD object based on the type of the at least one CAD object and the at least one CAD object's relationships with the geometry of at least one surrounding (or related) CAD object. The tool can perform multiple types of modifications, and the modification is selected from the multiple types of modifications, without explicit commands from the user directing the type of modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Spaceclaim Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Desimone, Daniel Dean
  • Patent number: 7698643
    Abstract: A quantity totalizer for a three-dimensional arrangement and adjustment CAD includes integrating means for referring to parts information stored in the three-dimensional arrangement and adjustment CAD and associating line information, which is separated from the parts information for storage and which is unique to a line, with the parts information to generate integrated information in which the quantity of parts is totalized; numbering means for systematically numbering the integrated information and outputting a quantity totalization result; and comparing means for comparing the quantity totalization result output by the numbering means with a parts number column in a design drawing produced with the three-dimensional arrangement and adjustment CAD to check the parts having the same parts information and line information against each other and replacing parts numbers in the parts number column in the design drawing produced with the three-dimensional arrangement and adjustment CAD with parts numbers in the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yuki Okada, Shingo Fujii, Takanori Fukagawa, Masahiko Nakahara, Yoshiaki Takahasi, Ryuichi Tachi, Norio Ahiko
  • Patent number: 7694240
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for hanging protocol generation using gesture recognition. Certain embodiments provide a method for creating a hanging protocol based on gesture input in a clinical environment. The method includes specifying a hanging protocol specification using gesture-based input. The method also includes translating the gesture-based input into a hanging protocol. The method further includes facilitating display of clinical information based on the hanging protocol. Certain embodiments provide a gesture detection system. The system includes a sensor surface configured to detect gesture-based input made on the sensor surface. The gesture-based input specifies a hanging protocol layout. The system also includes a processor configured to identify the gesture-based input and translate the gesture to a corresponding hanging protocol definition for display of image and clinical data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Murali Kumaran Kariathungal, Prakash Mahesh, Mark Morita, Stephen P. Roehm
  • Patent number: 7692649
    Abstract: A computer implemented method of visualizing an infrastructure comprising: acquiring a cross section definition, the definition comprising points defining a link and link information, each of the points exhibiting a type; creating at least one three dimensional face linking points of a same type; assigning a face rendering for each of the created at least one three dimensional faces with a material definitional associated with the link information; and displaying the faces with the rendering. The invention also provides for a computing system operable to: acquire a cross section definition, the definition comprising points defining a link and link information, each of the points exhibiting a type; create at least one three dimensional face linking points of a same type; and assign a face rendering for each of the created at least one three dimensional faces with a material definitional associated with the link information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: RDV Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Nathan Elsberg, Alex Hazanov
  • Patent number: 7689387
    Abstract: A computer implemented system, method, and article of manufacture provide access to a drawing. A server computer has one or more server component applications. One or more drawing files are created by a first drawing application and stored on the server computer. A search server component application executes on the server computer and provides a query engine that allows queries of the one or more drawing files to locate data. A conversion server component application executes on the server computer and dynamically convert the drawing files into a drawing file format viewable by a client application executing on a client compute. The server component applications are further configured to provide the one or more drawing files that have been dynamically converted to the client computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Philip Mathews, Ratnakar G. Dev
  • Patent number: 7688318
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Dassault Systemes Solidworks Corporation
    Inventors: Austin J. O'Malley, III, Parapura Thazathil Rajkumar, Timothy D. Gallagher, Bryson K. Kido, Vajrang Parvate
  • Patent number: 7676765
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Dassault Systems
    Inventors: Olivier Golibrodski, Pascal Pradeau
  • Patent number: 7663637
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for overriding layer display properties in computer-aided design (CAD) viewports. A method of generating a display representation of a CAD drawing includes identifying one or more layers of the CAD drawing to include in the display representation. Each of the one or more layers may be associated with a set of drawing elements and a set of layer display properties. The method also includes identifying a viewport display property for a first layer of the one or more layers and generating the display representation. The display representation may include the drawing elements associated with the one or more layers, and the appearance of the drawing elements associated with the first layer is based on the viewport display property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: AUTODESK, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Elaine Mason, Qun Lu, Thomas Allen Stoeckel, Jr., Stewart A. Sabadell, Jose Madeira de Freitas Garcia, John G. Ford, III
  • Patent number: 7663625
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Dassault Systemes
    Inventors: Valentin Chartier, Nicolas Esposito
  • Patent number: 7657840
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for providing a navigable grid to allow for accessible drag-drop in visual modeling tools. The method includes receiving an input which selects an object. The method further includes providing a visual canvas on a display device. The method further includes overlaying the navigable grid onto the canvas, the overlying navigable grid being of a defined granularity, the defined granularity being based on an underlying application being implemented, the overlying navigable grid further being keyed input device-navigable based on the defined granularity. The method further includes designating a drop position on the navigable grid when a position input is received via a keyed input device. The method further includes dropping the object onto a destination position of the canvas when a drop command input is received. The drop position on the overlying navigable grid is directly aligned over the destination position of the canvas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Becky J. Gibson, Richard S. Schwerdtfeger
  • Patent number: 7644363
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for generating labels for drawing elements of a computer aided design (CAD) drawing that may include some unknown number of associated or related drawing elements. The method includes receiving a selection of a set of drawing elements in the CAD drawing that are associated with the first drawing element, receiving a selection of fields specifying attributes of the drawing elements in the set of drawing elements to use in generating label content for a label of the first drawing element, and defining a label style based on the selection of the set of drawing elements and the selection of attributes of the of the drawing elements in the set of drawing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Rogerson, Gary Blais, Kenneth W. Spalding, III, Patrick Haessly, Lisa Fox, Michael A. Appolo, III
  • Patent number: 7636091
    Abstract: A method and system for computer aided design (CAD) is disclosed for designing geometric objects. The present invention interpolates and/or blends between such geometric objects sufficiently fast so that real time deformation of such objects occurs while deformation data is being input. Thus, a user designing with the present invention obtains immediate feedback to input modifications without separately entering a command for performing such deformations. The present invention utilizes novel computational techniques for blending between geometric objects, wherein weighted sums of points on the geometric objects are used in deriving a new blended geometric object. The present invention is particularly useful for designing the shape of surfaces. Thus, the present invention is applicable to various design domains such as the design of, e.g., bottles, vehicles, and watercraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: FreeDesign, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyn P. Rockwood, Scott A. Hagen, Lance Hagen, John Lee
  • Patent number: 7626589
    Abstract: The invention provides techniques for wrapping a two-dimensional texture conformally onto a surface of a three dimensional virtual object within an arbitrarily-shaped, user-defined region. The techniques provide minimum distortion and allow interactive manipulation of the mapped texture. The techniques feature an energy minimization scheme in which distances between points on the surface of the three-dimensional virtual object serve as set lengths for springs connecting points of a planar mesh. The planar mesh is adjusted to minimize spring energy, and then used to define a patch upon which a two-dimensional texture is superimposed. Points on the surface of the virtual object are then mapped to corresponding points of the texture. The invention also features a haptic/graphical user interface element that allows a user to interactively and intuitively adjust texture mapped within the arbitrary, user-defined region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: SensAble Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Torsten Berger
  • Patent number: 7620904
    Abstract: The invention includes computer instructions that operate to receive an indication of an association between an identifier and a geometry piece of a mechanical design. The association is stored in response to the received indication. The instructions further operate to determine if at least one of the identifier and the geometry piece is selected. Upon determining that at least one of the identifier and the geometry piece is selected, the instructions operate to automatically generate and display a leader between the geometry piece and the identifier to visually denote the association between the identifier and the geometry piece. As a result, an improved way of generating and maintaining associations between identifiers and geometry pieces of a mechanical design, including automatic modification of leader termination on the mechanical design, is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Davis, Anthony L. McCarty
  • Patent number: 7603630
    Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for controlling a display on a computer-aided design (CAD) data editing screen, whereby commands more likely to be utilized are preferentially displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Hirasaka
  • Patent number: 7598968
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for editing network parts present a computer-aided design (CAD) model of a utility network using grips. The network parts may represent elements present in a real-world utility network. Among others, the grips may include a part size grip and a structure rotation grip. When a user selects a part size grip, a graphical user interface may display hash marks to indicate a variety of sizes of the network part provided by a network parts catalog. Dragging the resize grip may cause it to jump from one hash mark to the next, allowing the user to easily select one of the available part sizes. A structure rotation grip may be used to rotate a network part representing a utility network structure about an asymmetric axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Connor, Craig Storms, Anandaraja Devan, Patrick Haessly, Scott Kent, Michael C. Rogerson, Kenneth W. Spalding, III
  • Patent number: 7596757
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of representing and manipulating a diagram that includes a representation of a plurality of interconnected business objects on a browser may include steps of displaying at least a portion of the diagram in an active area of the browser, displaying a diagram overview, the diagram overview including a representation of an entirety of the diagram and indicating a currently displayed portion of the diagram that is displayed in the active area. A selection of at least one of the plurality of business objects of the diagram displayed in the active area may be enabled. A selection of one of a plurality of canvas actions may then be enabled, each of the plurality of canvas actions enabling a user to take one of a corresponding plurality of actions on the selected at least one of the plurality of business objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Luke Kowalski, Arjuna Wijeyekoon
  • Patent number: 7594184
    Abstract: A user interface associated with a print stream processing software tool allows a user define a print stream process application by “drag and drop” interaction with the user interface. Actions may be inserted in an action list by “dragging” items from a pallet to an action list icon. Attributes of the actions may be “dragged” from an input file icon. The resulting actions may further be defined by “dragging” objects created by the actions to an output file icon. Rules to process a print stream are generated from the action list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John A Julitz, John P Lynch, Kurt E. Konow, Eric C Olson, Richard J. Olson, Gary P. Chomuk
  • Patent number: 7584436
    Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for controlling a display on a computer-aided design (CAD) data editing screen, whereby commands more likely to be utilized are preferentially displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Hirasaka
  • Patent number: 7577492
    Abstract: A machining unit corresponding to a cursor position in an editor section and in a synthetic model of a product model and a work model displayed in a model display section is highlight-displayed, and at the time of editing a created NC creation program, it is clearly determined to which machining unit on the model the cursor position in the editor section corresponds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kamiya, Hiroshi Katano, Kenji Iriguchi, Susumu Matsubara
  • Patent number: 7571392
    Abstract: A system and method providing a user definable task based interface is described. A software program typically includes a number of tools. The tools may be utilized to perform operations on data, such as creating or editing a file using the software program. A user of the software program may organize the tools into tasks, based on the what the tools are used for. A task may be defined as a set of tools grouped to facilitate a particular work item. The task and associated tools are then presented together in the user interface. For example, a task may be to “draw a foundation.” The tools necessary for drawing a foundation may include measuring, drawing boundaries, etc. The tools for these steps in drawing the foundation may be grouped together into a task. The task and associated tools may then presented to a user via a user interface for the software program. For example, an icon representing the task “draw a foundation” may be presented in the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Bentley System, Inc.
    Inventor: Gino Cortesi
  • Patent number: RE42414
    Abstract: A drawing management device for managing the drawing of an entire facility, such as a water supply facility, as digital information. This device includes a unit for storing drawings with priorities obtained by separating the entire facility drawing into sub-facility drawings located at plural levels, a selective display designating unit for displaying a desired sub-facility drawing obtained by selecting the number of levels considering the priority from the storing unit, and a display unit for displaying the desired sub-facility drawing in response to the signal from the selective display designating unit. By suitably selecting a desired level considering the priority, only a necessary and sufficient facility drawing can be displayed swiftly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Fukushima, Mikio Yoda, Kazuo Tsutsui