Ontological Filtering for 3D Object Display in Graphical Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interactive graphical modeling software applications face challenges in effectively displaying and managing vast amounts of complex three-dimensional model data, often leading to confusion between similar objects with different meanings, such as 'heat riser' and 'fuel line', which can result in safety hazards if not properly differentiated.
Innovation Solution
The software allows users to associate ontological classifications with graphical object data in addition to physical characteristics, enabling filtering and display based on both ontology and geometric properties, providing an intuitive interface for safer and more efficient data manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only physical attributes are used for object identification, then the system is simple to operate, but objects with different meanings (e.g., 'heat riser' and 'fuel line') cannot be distinguished, leading to safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments object identification into two distinct layers: physical attributes (geometry, dimensions) and ontological attributes (semantic meaning, functional classification). This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple physical representations while adding semantic differentiation through ontological tags, thereby improving safety without fundamentally complicating the core data structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary ontological layer that mediates between physical object representations and their semantic meanings. This intermediary structure (using tags, categories, or metadata) allows the system to distinguish objects like 'heat riser' and 'fuel line' without requiring complex reconfiguration of the underlying geometric data, thus improving reliability while managing complexity.
2Loss of information
If ontological classifications are added to graphical object data, then objects can be distinguished by meaning, but the data structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested data structure where ontological classifications are embedded within or alongside the existing physical object data. The ontological information (semantic tags, categories) is nested as metadata or attributes of the geometric objects, allowing semantic information to be retained without requiring a complete restructuring of the base data model.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal ontological framework that can classify diverse objects (pipes, valves, equipment) using a common tagging system. This multi-functional classification structure handles various object types and semantic relationships through a unified approach, reducing the complexity that would arise from creating separate classification systems for each object type.
3Adaptability or versatility
If filtering is based only on physical attributes, then the interface is simple, but users cannot pose complex questions about safety or operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-classifying objects with ontological attributes during data ingestion or modeling phases. This pre-processing allows users to later pose complex safety and operational questions without having to manually configure complex filters, as the semantic classification is already in place to support advanced querying capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary query processing layer that translates user-friendly safety and operational questions into complex filter operations. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of combining multiple ontological and physical attributes, allowing users to ask simple questions (e.g., 'show all heat sources near fuel lines') without manually constructing complex filter logic.
4Area of stationary object
If multiple video displays are used to increase display area, then more data can be viewed, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the display area limitation by adding another dimension to data organization through ontological classification. Instead of merely expanding physical display area with multiple monitors, the system organizes data in semantic dimensions (categories, tags, relationships) that allow efficient filtering and presentation of relevant subsets, effectively increasing usable display space through intelligent data organization rather than physical expansion.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention pertains to a method of displaying, on a video display, a subset of data selected from a set of data, each datum in the set of data representing a three-dimensional object. The method comprises assigning at least one meaning to at least one datum in the set of data, the collection of all assigned meanings forming an ontology, a computer process with a) determining a first subset of the set of data, each datum in the first subset having a given first meaning in the ontology, b) determining a second subset of the set of data, each datum in the second subset having a given second meaning in the ontology, and c) forming a third subset of the set of data, the third subset comprising each datum in the first subset that satisfies a given geometric relationship with at least one datum in the second subset, and forwarding a signal toward the video display to cause the video display to graphically highlight the three-dimensional objects represented by the third subset.