Room Planning System Local Caching for Design Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for designing and planning rooms, particularly kitchens, face delays due to the need for manual calculations and the time-consuming process of rendering 3-D virtual designs, especially when multiple component combinations and stock availability need to be considered, leading to an unsatisfactory customer experience.
Innovation Solution
A room-space design system that includes a local processor, database, graphical user interface, and image-rendering unit, enabling real-time 2-D and 3-D design updates, automatic stock management, and synchronization with sales and warehousing systems to facilitate immediate design amendments and efficient component selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a remote central database is accessed by local terminals for building virtual models, then processing power and stock control are improved, but communication delay and design amendment time are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a remote central database for storing component information and a local terminal for real-time design operations. The local terminal caches frequently accessed component data and performs local processing for design amendments, while only synchronizing changes with the remote database when necessary. This segmentation reduces communication overhead and enables immediate design updates without constant remote server dependency.
Solution Approach 2:
Component information is pre-loaded and cached in the local terminal before design sessions begin. Frequently used components and design templates are stored locally in advance, allowing designers to work immediately without waiting for remote database queries. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time remote connections during design amendments.
2Ease of operation
If 3-D rendering is implemented for realistic preview, then customer visualization is improved, but processing time and system complexity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic rendering options that adapt to user needs and hardware capabilities. It can switch between real-time 2-D rendering for quick iterations and detailed 3-D rendering for final previews, based on the design stage and user requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize between rendering quality and speed according to the specific task requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial 3-D rendering by only rendering portions of the design that have changed or require attention, rather than rendering the entire kitchen design from scratch. This selective rendering approach maintains realistic visualization for critical areas while significantly reducing overall processing time for design amendments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual selection and determination of components is used, then design flexibility is improved, but time consumption and labor requirements are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines component compatibility, availability, and optimal configurations based on pre-established rules and constraints. When a designer selects a component, the system automatically checks stock availability, calculates dimensions, and suggests compatible components without requiring manual verification. This self-service approach maintains design flexibility while dramatically increasing design speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to designers about component availability, compatibility issues, and potential design conflicts as they work. This instantaneous feedback allows designers to make informed decisions quickly without manual checking, maintaining design flexibility while accelerating the design process through automated guidance and constraint checking.
Data Source
AI summary
A room planning system, generally at 10, comprises a host site 12 and a local site 14, two-way communication between which is represented by arrows A. On the host site is a host processor 16, which is connected to a database 18. On the local site is a local processor 20 that is connected to user input apparatus, in the form of a keyboard 24 and mouse 26, and to a graphical user interface, in the form of a display 28. The database 18 contains data of a plurality of types of product that are available for the design of a room space. In the example of a kitchen room space, the database contains product details of items such as room fixtures, floor units, wall units, worktops, handles, cornices, plinths, pelmets, sinks, taps, appliances and accessories. The host processor 16 is in communication with one or more local processors 20 via a communications network represented by arrows A, which could be a wide area network, such as the Internet. The local processor 20, which may comprise a personal computer, has stored thereon a computer program for causing the processor 20 carry out a room space design method, and for displaying a design template, and an image of the design, on the display 28, as will be described below. A 3-D engine, located within the local processor 20, is able to create and display a virtual room space on the display 28.