Multi-User CAx Component Visualization with Feature-Level Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Computer-Aided Technologies (CAx) are limited to single-user paradigms, where only one user can edit a model or part file at a time, restricting collaborative design and manufacturing processes in multi-user environments.
Innovation Solution
A system for component visualization that includes a data module, display module, and comparison module, allowing multiple users to access and modify component designs simultaneously by displaying features based on user profiles and access lists, with representations of restricted features for users with limited access to prevent disclosure and conflict resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If single-user paradigm is used to maintain data consistency and avoid conflicts, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to inability to allow simultaneous multi-user access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the component design data into multiple features, each with its own access permissions. Users can access and modify different features simultaneously based on their user profiles, allowing parallel work while maintaining data consistency through feature-level permission control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different access permissions to different features within the same component design. Each feature can have customized access control based on user profiles, allowing some features to be editable by multiple users while others remain restricted, thus enabling selective collaboration.
2Ease of operation
If full access to all features is provided to all users, then ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates due to unauthorized access to restricted features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing feature-specific access permissions where each feature can have different access levels assigned to different user profiles. This allows the system to provide easy access to authorized users while maintaining security for restricted features through granular permission control at the feature level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (access list and user profile system) that mediates between users and features. The system automatically evaluates user profiles against access lists to determine which features each user can access, providing ease of operation for authorized features while blocking unauthorized access to restricted features.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If restricted features are hidden from users with limited access, then security is improved, but loss of information increases as users cannot see all features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy or representation of restricted features that is visible to users with limited access. Instead of completely hiding restricted features, the system generates placeholder representations that indicate the presence of features without revealing sensitive geometric or design information, thus preventing information disclosure while maintaining feature visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual differentiation (analogous to color changes) by displaying restricted features in a degraded or placeholder form compared to unrestricted features. This allows users to see that features exist and understand the overall structure, while the restricted features' detailed information remains hidden through visual distinction.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for component visualization according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a data module configured to access data corresponding to a component design. The component design includes at least one feature corresponding to a group of feature types. A display module is configured to display the data in an environment corresponding to a first user profile. A comparison module is configured to cause the display module to display the at least one feature when the at least one feature meets at least one predetermined criterion relating to the first user profile, and is configured to cause the display module to display a representation of the at least one feature when the at least one predetermined criterion is not met. The representation has a representation geometry that is a different geometry than a feature geometry of the at least one feature. A method for designing a component is also disclosed.