Automatically resolving boundaries within an architectural design environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016085885-A1
Application number	US-201414891007-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2014
Priority date	May 31, 2013
Publication date	Mar 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A computer system can automatically resolve anomalies within an architectural design by receiving a digital architectural design comprising a first furniture sub-component, a second furniture sub-component, and a third furniture sub-component. The system can then identify one or more joints between the various furniture sub-components. After identifying the joints, the system can include identifying an anomaly at the intersection of the joints. The anomaly can be created when the joints fail to create a proper corner. The system can then automatically resolve the anomaly by changing the type of at least one of the joints within the digital architectural design.

First claim

I claim:

1 . In a computerized environment comprising a computer system that receives user design input, a computerized method for automatically resolving joint anomalies within digital joints of an architectural design, wherein such digital joints are representative of physical joints manufacturable in a millwork facility, the method comprising:
receiving a digital architectural design comprising a first furniture sub-component, a second furniture sub-component, and a third furniture sub-component; identifying, with a computer processor, a first joint between the first furniture sub-component and the second furniture sub-component, a second joint between the second furniture sub-component and the third furniture sub-component, a third joint between the third furniture sub-component and the first furniture sub-component; identifying an anomaly at the intersection of the first joint, the second joint, and the third joint, wherein the anomaly is created when the first joint, the second joint, and the third joint fail to create a proper corner; and automatically resolving the anomaly by changing the shape or orientation of at least one of the first joint, the second joint, or the third joint within the digital architectural design, and sending rendering instructions to a display device for visually displaying the corrected anomaly.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the first furniture sub-component, the second furniture sub-component, and the third furniture sub-component is associated with a respective independently executable software object.

3 . The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:
accessing the independently executable software object that is associated with the second furniture sub-component;
determining one or more types of joints that are compatible with the second furniture sub-component; and
changing the type of the second joint to one of the one or more types of compatible joints.

4 . The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:
accessing the independently executable software object that is associated with the third furniture sub-component;
determining one or more types of joints that are compatible with the third furniture sub-component; and
changing the type of the third joint to one of the one or more types of compatible joints.

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
determining that the first joint is preferred; and
automatically resolving the anomaly by changing the type of at least one of the second joint or the third joint.

6 . The method as recited in claim 5 wherein determining that the first joint is preferred comprises receiving an indication from a user that the first joint is preferred.

7 . The method as recited in claim 5 wherein determining that the first joint is preferred further comprises determining that the first joint was created before the second joint and the third joint.

8 . The method as recited in claim 5 wherein determining that the first joint is preferred further comprises determining that the first joint was created after the second joint and the third joint.

9 . The method as recited in claim 5 wherein determining that the first joint is preferred further comprises:
identifying one or more additional joints within the architectural design;
determining a joint type associated with each of the one or more additional joints; and
determining that the first joint is the same type of joint as the one or more additional joints.

10 . The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
generating a computer numerical code file that corresponds with the architectural design, including the changed first, second, or third joint.

11 . In a computer-based system comprising one or more processors for receiving and processing user design input, a computerized method for automatically resolving joint anomalies within digital joints of an architectural design, wherein such digital joints are representative of physical joints manufacturable in a millwork facility, the method comprising:
analyzing, with a computer processor, digital architectural design input received from a user, the digital architectural design input comprising a first furniture sub-component, a second furniture sub-component, and a third furniture sub-component, wherein the first furniture sub-component, the second furniture sub-component, and the third furniture sub-component are each associated with one or more independently executable software objects; identifying a first joint between the first furniture sub-component and the second furniture sub-component, a second joint between the second furniture sub-component and the third furniture sub-component, a third joint between the third furniture sub-component and the first furniture sub-component; identifying an anomaly at the intersection of the first joint, the second joint, and the third joint, wherein the anomaly is created when the first joint, the second joint, and the third joint fail to create a proper corner; determining one or more joint specifications that are compatible with the architectural design from information retrieved from the one or more independently executable software objects; creating an updated digital architectural design with an automatic resolution of the anomaly by changing the type of at least one of the first joint, the second joint, or the third joint to comprise a revised joint that conforms with the one or more joint specifications; and storing the updated digital architectural design in a format acceptable to a millwork facility.

12 . The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising:
determining that the first joint is preferred; and
automatically resolving the anomaly by changing the type of at least one of the second joint or the third joint.

13 . The system as recited in claim 12 wherein determining that the first joint is preferred comprises receiving an indication from a user that the first joint is preferred.

14 . The system as recited in claim 12 wherein determining that the first joint is preferred further comprises determining that the first joint was created before the second joint and the third joint.

15 . The system as recited in claim 12 wherein determining that the first joint is preferred further comprises determining that the first joint was created after the second joint and the third joint.

16 . The system as recited in claim 12 wherein determining that the first joint is preferred further comprises:
identifying one or more additional joints within the architectural design;
determining a joint type associated with each of the one or more additional joints; and
determining that the first joint is the same type of joint as the one or more additional joints.

17 . The system as recited in claim 11 further comprising:
identifying one or more additional joints within the architectural design;
determining the type of joint associated with each of the one or more additional joints; and
automatically resolving the anomaly by changing the type of at least one of the first joint, the second joint, or the third joint to comprise a revised joint that matches one of the determined type of joints.

18 . The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the one or more additional joints within the architectural design are joints adjacent to the first joint, the second joint, or the third joint.

19 . The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the one or more additional joints within the architectural design are

Assignees

• Dirtt Environmental Solutions

Inventors

• Loberg Barrie Arnold

Classifications

• G06F2119/18

  Manufacturability analysis or optimisation for manufacturability · CPC title

• G05B2219/35023

  Constraint based modeling, keep relationships between elements · CPC title

• G06F2111/04

  Constraint-based CAD · CPC title

• G05B19/4097 Primary

  characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM (G05B19/4093 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B2219/35051

  Data exchange between cad systems, cad and cam · CPC title