Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-12
2001-09-04
Nguyen, Phu K. (Department: 2772)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285369
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the field of data storage. More particularly, this invention relates to maintaining design information.
2. Background
As technology has advanced, computer systems have become more and more commonplace in a wide variety of home and business environments. One use of such computer systems is for computer aided design (CAD) programs, which allow users to design various products in varying degrees of detail. Although modern CAD programs provide excellent drawing capabilities, their ability to track the design intent of the designer(s) as well as the history of a design are virtually nonexistent.
One solution to this problem is for the user to manually document the design intent and history in a separate text document, such as by using a word processor or text editor. However, this solution does not allow the text document and the corresponding design to be linked. In other words, there is no direct indication in the design of which portions of the design are further discussed in the separate text document.
Solutions to similar problems in other application areas include, for example, the ability provided by some word processors for a user to insert comments into a text document. An indication of where these comments occur within the text is typically displayed to the user (e.g., a comment number or high-lighting of a portion of the text). However, one problem with such comments is that they must accompany the underlying document. That is, there is typically no ability to view the comments separately from the underlying document. Another problem with such comments is that their content is typically only that which is manually entered by the user. That is, there is typically no ability to automatically enter portion(s) of an underlying document into the comments.
Another solution in other application areas includes the ability to link and/or embed documents into a word processing document, generally referred to as “OLE” (object linking and embedding). However, problems similar to those with comments exist with OLE, such as the linking and/or embedding having to be done manually by the user. Similarly, OLE limits a user to inputting only a single representation or view of a document (e.g., the first few cells of data from a spreadsheet) into the word processing document—multiple views are not possible.
Thus, a need exists for an improved way to track design intent and design history.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An electronic notebook for maintaining design information is described herein. The electronic notebook maintains information corresponding to a design, following the steps of receiving a request to add note information corresponding to the design, and automatically copying, in response to the request, at least a portion of the design to a note of the electronic notebook.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, in response to the request, primary design information is automatically added to the note. Additionally, in this embodiment, secondary design information can be added to the note by the user.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, primary or secondary design information added to a note includes one or more of text data, audio data, and video data.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the design added to the note is a “snapshot” of the current state of the design.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the design added to the note is a dynamic object which is updated, each time the note is accessed, in order to reflect the most recent state of the design.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, multiple views of a design can be included within a single note.
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patent: 5708764 (1998-01-01), Borrel et al.
patent: PCT/US96/14299 (1996-10-01), None
“Engineering Office Version 1.0”, Products and Solutions, Renderview Software, Inc. 4 pages 1998.
“Release Notes”, Products and Solutions, Renderview Software, Inc., 2 pages 1998.
“PC-based CAE tools—facilitate creation of technical documents,” EDN-Electronic Design News, Dec. 8, 1988, No. 25, Part I, Newton, MA, USA.
Bogan William E.
Comfort David G.
Gill David L.
Kross Robert L.
Stark Guri A.
Autodesk, Inc.
Columbia IP Law Group, PC
Nguyen Phu K.
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