3D Design Process Animation with Automated Milestone Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for documenting three-dimensional design processes are tedious, subjective, and passive, lacking interaction and objective milestone identification, making it difficult to share and report design progress effectively.

Innovation Solution

An automated method that applies predetermined rules to design data to identify milestones, generates an animation summarizing the design process, and provides interactive access to relevant data, using interpolation to create smooth animations and a graphical timeline for direct data access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If manual screenshot and video editing methods are used to document design processes, then design progress can be recorded, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign process documentationVSAvoidtime for creating documentation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically captures design data and generates animations without requiring designer intervention. The software monitors design sessions, identifies milestones based on predefined rules, and creates animated summaries autonomously, eliminating the need for manual screenshot capture and video editing while preserving complete design process information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-establishes capture parameters and milestone detection rules before design sessions begin. By configuring automatic capture thresholds, time intervals, and milestone criteria in advance, the system prepares all necessary documentation mechanisms beforehand, eliminating post-design processing time and effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If manual selection of time points is used to create design documentation, then relevant moments can be highlighted, but the process becomes highly subjective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselection of relevant time pointsVSAvoidsubjectivity in documentation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from subjective manual selection to objective automated detection by changing the parameter selection criteria. Predefined rules based on design data patterns, time intervals, and milestone thresholds replace human judgment, ensuring consistent and objective identification of relevant time points across different designers and projects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where captured design data is continuously analyzed against predefined milestone criteria. The automatic detection process provides feedback loops that adjust time point selection based on actual design progress patterns, ensuring objective and reproducible documentation without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If static documents or videos are used to report design activities, then design progress can be shared, but the report becomes passive without interaction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign data sharingVSAvoidinteractivity of documentation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system transforms static documentation into dynamic interactive animations. The generated animations allow viewers to interact with design data, explore different time points, and access detailed information about design milestones. This dynamic presentation maintains complete design information while enabling active engagement and exploration by stakeholders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Loss of information

If complete user sessions are recorded for design processes, then all actions are captured, but the animation becomes unacceptably long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of design dataVSAvoidlength of animation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential milestone events from complete design sessions. By applying predefined detection rules that identify significant design moments (such as major geometry changes, feature additions, or completion of design phases), the system removes redundant intermediate actions while preserving all critical design information, resulting in concise animations that maintain completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4002285B1Method for creating an animation summarizing a design process of a three-dimensional object

Publication Date: 2026.01.07 DASSAULT SYSTEMES SA

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AI summary

A computer-implemented method for creating an animation summarizing a design process of a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of: a) acquiring design data during at least one design session; b) automatically identifying time points of said session or sessions corresponding to milestones of the design process, and storing data representing statuses of the three-dimensional object at said milestones, said set of predetermined rules comprising at least one rule representative of: a detection of an update or saving action; c) reconstructing and storing data representing intermediate statuses of the three-dimensional object by interpolating said data representing statuses of the three-dimensional object at the automatically identified time points; and d) generating and displaying an animation of the design process, including displaying a graphical representation of a timeline (B) providing access to milestone data. A computer program product, non-transitory computer-readable data-storage medium and computer system for carrying out such a method.