Modular Building Design With Data-Linked Insertion Points

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Solution Overview

Problem

Building and construction projects require complex design plans with highly repetitive structural components, which are time-consuming and visually complex, necessitating improved software tools for rapid configuration of highly detailed three-dimensional content and modeling.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented system and method using a graphical user interface (GUI) with modular components, each represented as cuboidal reference blocks, that allow for easy assembly and integration of building structures, incorporating data and rules within each block to facilitate rapid design and modeling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional design plans are used with highly repetitive structural components, then design completeness and structural accuracy are improved, but design time and visual complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign accuracyVSAvoiddesign time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the building design into modular components represented as cuboidal reference blocks, each representing a category of building structures. These segmented modules can be independently selected and assembled, reducing the time required to create complete design plans while maintaining structural accuracy through standardized interfaces and insertion points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses graphical representations (cuboidal reference blocks) as simplified copies of complex building structures. These 2D graphical representations can be rapidly manipulated and assembled in a GUI without requiring detailed 3D modeling for each component, thereby reducing design time while preserving all necessary structural information and specifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If detailed three-dimensional modeling is performed manually, then modeling accuracy and detail level are improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodeling accuracyVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical modeling operations with an automated graphical user interface system. Users interact with modular components through graphical selections and drag-and-drop operations rather than manual 3D modeling tools, significantly simplifying the operation while maintaining high modeling accuracy through automated geometry generation and data integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the modeling process from parameter-driven manual adjustment to block-based configuration. By changing the fundamental unit of operation from individual geometric parameters to modular blocks with predefined dimensions and interfaces, the system maintains modeling accuracy while dramatically improving ease of operation and reducing learning curves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex design plans with multiple specifications are created, then design completeness is improved, but visual complexity and difficulty of understanding increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign completenessVSAvoidvisual complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts essential design information from complex specifications and represents it through simplified cuboidal reference blocks. Each block contains integrated data about the building structure it represents, but the visual presentation is simplified to basic geometric forms with clear interfaces, making the design plan easier to understand while maintaining completeness through the integrated data layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional detailed drawings to three-dimensional modular block assemblies in a graphical interface. This dimensional change allows users to visually comprehend complex design plans more easily by manipulating 3D models that intuitively represent spatial relationships, while all necessary specifications remain attached to the blocks in digital form.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Productivity

If modular components with insertion points are used, then assembly speed and configuration rapidity are improved, but component standardization requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoidstandardization complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates universal cuboidal reference blocks that can represent multiple categories of building structures through a standardized interface system. Each block type maintains consistent insertion point conventions and connection methodologies, allowing rapid assembly of diverse building components without requiring specialized connection procedures for each component type, thereby achieving high productivity with manageable standardization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250322111A1Modular Building Design and Data Handling System

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 SIMMONS ROBERT J

AI summary

A computer-implemented system and method of designing a building provides a set of graphically-depicted, selectable modular components for constructing a building design in a graphical user interface. Each modular component is a cuboidal representation of a category of building structures. Each modular component has one or more insertion points for connecting with an adjacent modular component.