PLM Database Object Selection Using Bounding Volume Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current product life cycle management (PLM) solutions face challenges in efficiently selecting and editing complex objects within large datasets, as existing methods require loading the entire model, leading to long rendering times and resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface is provided to display a non-associative view of objects, allowing users to define a volume and identify intersecting objects without loading the entire model, using bounding volumes and recursive intersection queries to rapidly select and load specific objects for editing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire model is loaded into client computer memory for selection and editing, then all objects can be accessed and edited, but rendering time becomes cripplingly long and system resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary visual information (bounding volumes and simplified representations) of objects from the complete model data, allowing users to select and edit objects based on this extracted information without loading the entire complex model into memory. This resolves the contradiction by enabling object selection capability while avoiding the time-consuming full model loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy or representation of objects in the database, storing only essential visual properties (bounding volumes, simplified geometry) rather than complete model data. This copy allows for rapid rendering and selection operations without requiring the full original models to be loaded, thus reducing rendering time while maintaining selection functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the entire model is loaded into client computer memory, then all objects can be selected and edited, but system resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary visual information (bounding volumes and simplified representations) of objects from the complete model data, allowing users to select and edit objects based on this extracted information without loading the entire complex model into memory. This resolves the contradiction by enabling object selection capability while avoiding the time-consuming full model loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy or representation of objects in the database, storing only essential visual properties (bounding volumes, simplified geometry) rather than complete model data. This copy allows for rapid rendering and selection operations without requiring the full original models to be loaded, thus reducing rendering time while maintaining selection functionality.
3Loss of time
If proximity queries are used to select objects, then search scope is limited, but perfect knowledge of the model is required from the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy or representation of objects in the database, storing only essential visual properties (bounding volumes, simplified geometry) rather than complete model data. This copy allows for rapid rendering and selection operations without requiring the full original models to be loaded, thus reducing rendering time while maintaining selection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the model representation into discrete bounding volumes and simplified object representations that can be independently processed and displayed. This segmentation allows the system to provide visual feedback for selection without requiring users to understand the complete model structure, resolving the contradiction between fast search and low user knowledge requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a process, an apparatus and a program for selecting objects in a PLM database containing modeled objects. The invention allows a user to rapidly display a view of the set of objects while allowing for selecting objects in the view, without the need for loading the complete and exact representations of all the objects of the view when the user is looking for particular objects to work on.