Passive Associativity in 3D Surface Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D surface modeling technologies limit user flexibility by either maintaining or breaking associations between surfaces, restricting editing capabilities and not allowing users to actively manage surface behaviors, especially when surfaces are non-associative.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a 'passively associative' state for surface objects, which allows them to maintain dependencies with other objects without automatic updates, exposing additional properties for editing while preserving geometric relations, and transitioning to non-associative if these relations are broken.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surfaces maintain associative relations with other objects, then automatic preservation and update of related surfaces is achieved, but user flexibility and control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the associativity state of surface objects based on user actions and context. Surfaces can transition between associative, non-associative, and passively associative states, allowing the system to adapt to different user needs and workflow scenarios, thereby resolving the contradiction between automatic preservation and user flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a new parameter state called 'passively associative' that changes the behavior of surface objects. In this state, surfaces maintain their geometric dependencies but do not automatically update when source surfaces change, unless explicitly triggered by the user. This parameter change enables both automatic preservation of relations and user control over when updates occur.
2Adaptability or versatility
If surfaces are treated as individual unrelated surfaces to avoid unintended change propagations, then user control is improved, but ability to edit surface properties derived from relations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The passively associative state acts as an intermediary between fully associative and completely non-associative modes. It allows surfaces to maintain awareness of their geometric origins and dependencies while giving users explicit control over when updates should occur. This intermediary state preserves the ability to edit derived properties without forcing automatic updates, thus resolving the contradiction between user control and editing capability.
3Reliability
If associative relations are maintained for all surfaces, then automatic updates are achieved, but productivity is reduced due to unintended change propagations
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying automatic updates to all associative surfaces unconditionally, the system applies updates selectively based on the passively associative state. Updates occur only when explicitly triggered by the user or when geometric dependencies are actually violated, avoiding unnecessary recalculations and change propagations. This partial action approach maintains reliability where needed while improving overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer-readable storage medium provide the ability to edit surface objects in a surface modeler. A dependent surface object (that is dependent on one or more input objects) having one or more properties is obtained. First user input is received that indicates that a surface associativity for the dependent surface object is off. In response to the receiving, an association between the dependent surface object and the one or more input objects is maintained. The association is used to expose the one or more properties of the dependent surface object. The properties are then displayed for editing by the user.