CAD Semantic Annotation Preservation via API
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in preserving the semantic meanings of 3D annotations when importing CAD models from non-native formats, as current technologies often lose actionable information during data exchange, leading to manual reconstruction challenges and limitations in automation capabilities for manufacturing software applications.
Innovation Solution
An Application Programming Interface (API) layer is introduced to access and store semantic attribute placeholders for 3D graphical annotations, allowing the preservation and consumption of semantic meanings, enabling manufacturing software to act upon them, even when using non-native CAD formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If 3D annotations are imported from non-native CAD formats, then graphical presentation is achieved, but semantic meanings are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments annotation data into two distinct components: graphical presentation elements and semantic attribute elements. This segmentation allows each component to be handled independently during import operations, preserving semantic attributes even when importing from non-native formats that may not support the full annotation structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data structure that acts as a bridge between non-native CAD formats and the target system. This intermediary layer captures and preserves semantic attributes during format conversion, preventing information loss while maintaining compatibility with various source formats.
2Reliability
If manual reconstruction of annotations is performed, then semantic accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary capture and preservation of semantic attributes during the automated import process, before manual intervention is needed. This preliminary action ensures that semantic information is already preserved and structured, eliminating or reducing the need for time-consuming manual reconstruction while maintaining high accuracy.
3Extent of automation
If semantic attributes are preserved during import, then automation capability is improved, but data structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting annotation data into graphical and semantic components, the patent enables automation to access and process semantic attributes directly without dealing with the full complexity of the original CAD format structures. This segmentation simplifies the automation interface while preserving rich semantic information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy or representation of semantic attributes that is tailored for automation access. Rather than importing and processing the complete complex data structure from non-native formats, the system extracts and stores essential semantic attributes in a standardized, automation-friendly format.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer-aided design (CAD) models, and associated methods and systems, including topological and geometrical entities, graphical annotation information, and data structures storing non-native format semantic annotation information. Associated application programming interfaces (APIs) can include routines to return non-native format semantic annotation information stored in data structures associated with a native format CAD model. The APIs can include routines to identify whether annotations include data structures storing non-native format semantic annotation information, and to identify the types of the annotations. Graphical annotations can serve graphical display needs, while the semantic meanings from non-native CAD formats can be stored in placeholder data structures and, thus, be preserved. Manufacturing software applications can consume and act upon the semantic data via an API, thus, achieving automation benefits.