CAD Model Reference Tracking Data Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAD systems face performance issues with complex models due to high memory usage and slow data processing times, particularly when dealing with large numbers of parts, leading to lengthy loading times and reduced functionality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves creating a lightweight 3D model by segregating model data and tracking data into a separate storage stream, allowing for efficient updates and operations by loading only the necessary data, balancing memory usage, file loading time, and level of detail, while supporting geometry-based operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all model data is loaded into memory for complex CAD models, then complete functionality and detail are available, but memory usage increases and loading time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments model data into two distinct storage streams: a lightweight stream containing tracking data (identifiers, relationships, metadata) and a full-weight stream containing complete geometric and topological data. This segmentation allows the system to load only the lightweight stream initially for fast access to model structure and relationships, while loading detailed geometric data on-demand based on user interaction, thereby reducing initial loading time while preserving complete functionality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-processing model data during the modeling phase to create and store tracking data that captures essential relationships, hierarchies, and identifiers. This tracking data is stored separately in the lightweight stream, enabling the system to perform basic operations and navigation without loading the heavy geometric data, thus preparing the system for fast initial loading while maintaining the capability to access complete data when required.
2Loss of information
If detailed model data is stored and processed, then complete model information is available, but processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides model data into two segments: tracking data stored in a lightweight stream and detailed geometric data stored in a full-weight stream. This segmentation enables the system to process tracking data quickly for operations such as navigation, selection, and relationship management, while detailed geometric data remains available but is only loaded and processed when specifically required, thus maintaining complete model information availability while significantly improving general processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by loading and processing only the necessary portion of model data (tracking data) for most operations, rather than loading the entire detailed model. The system performs sufficient action to maintain model integrity and relationships through tracking data, while avoiding the excessive action of loading all detailed geometric data unless absolutely necessary, thereby optimizing processing speed without complete information loss.
3Reliability
If tracking data is dispersed throughout the CAD system, then comprehensive tracking is achieved, but data retrieval time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all tracking data into a single centralized storage stream (the lightweight stream), consolidating identifiers, relationships, and metadata that were previously dispersed throughout the system. This centralization allows the system to retrieve all tracking information through a single access point, significantly reducing data retrieval time while maintaining comprehensive tracking accuracy, as all essential tracking information is available in one location rather than scattered across multiple data structures.
4Productivity
If powerful mainframe computers are used, then acceptable performance is achieved, but hardware cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments model data access into two levels: a lightweight access layer using tracking data that requires minimal hardware resources, and a detailed access layer using full geometric data that can utilize additional hardware power when needed. This segmentation allows standard workstations with moderate hardware resources to achieve acceptable performance for most operations, while powerful mainframe computers remain an option for complex operations requiring detailed data, thereby reducing the baseline hardware requirement while preserving the ability to scale up when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
Creating a reference to data used to construct a computer-aided design model includes storing model data with tracking data, where the tracking data identifies the model data. A reference is created and the tracking data is associated with the reference to enable the reference to refer to the model data. A modeling operation is executed, which retrieves the tracking data associated with the reference, traverses a data structure defining the computer-aided design model while attempting to match the tracking data associated with the reference to the tracking data stored with the model data, and returns geometric data stored in the model data.