Method and system for embellishing architectural structures

Abstract

A method is disclosed for embellishing an architectural structure. Information is first received indicative of a dimension of the architectural structure and the selected embellishment of the architectural structure along the dimension. A mold is selected from a library of molds to construct the selected embellishment. The dimension of the architectural structure and dimensional information of the selected mold are used to calculate a dimension of the selected embellishment. A described computer system is configured to carry out the method. A computer-readable medium is disclosed including program instructions for carrying out the method.

1 . A method for embellishing an architectural structure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving information indicative of a dimension of the architectural structure;    receiving information indicative of a selected embellishment of the architectural structure along the dimension;    selecting a mold to construct the selected embellishment;    associating the mold with dimension information that includes a minimum dimension and a maximum dimension of the selected mold; and    using the dimension of the architectural structure and the dimensional information of the selected mold to calculate how many segments of the selected embellishment are required, and a dimension of each of the segments of the selected embellishment.    
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the selected embellishment is cast stone.  
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the using the dimension of the architectural structure and dimensional information of the selected mold to calculate a dimension of the selected embellishment comprises: 
 accessing a library of molds to obtain the dimensional information of the selected mold.    
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the library of molds comprises dimensional information corresponding to a plurality of molds.  
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein a first portion of the molds within the library of molds have a fixed dimension, and wherein a remainder of the molds have a variable dimension.  
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the dimension of the architectural structure is received from a library of architectural structures.  
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the library of architectural structures includes a manufacturer name and a model number.  
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the dimension of the architectural structure is received via a manual input.  
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the architectural structure is selected from the group consisting of: a window, a column, and a fireplace.  
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein in the event the architectural structure is a window, the selected embellishment includes a trim style, a keystone style, and/or a sill style.  
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein in the event the architectural structure is a column, the selected embellishment includes a shaft style, a base style, and/or a capital style.  
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving information indicative of a selected characteristic of the selected embellishment.    
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the selected characteristic of the selected embellishment includes a color, a texture, a material, shape, and/or a cross sectional pattern.  
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 generating a list of materials specifying the selected mold and the calculated dimension of the selected embellishment.    
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 generating a shop drawing illustrating the architectural structure and the selected embellishment.    
   
   
       16 . A method for embellishing an architectural structure, comprising: 
 receiving information indicative of a dimension of the architectural structure;    receiving information indicative of a first selected embellishment of the architectural structure along the dimension;    receiving information indicative of a second selected embellishment of the architectural structure along the dimension;    selecting a first mold to construct the first selected embellishment;    selecting a second mold to construct the second selected embellishment; and    using the dimension of the architectural structure, dimensional information of the first mold, and dimensional information of the second mold to calculate a dimension of the second selected embellishment.    
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the first mold has a fixed dimension and the second mold has a variable dimension.  
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the dimensional information of the second mold comprises a minimum dimension and a maximum dimension of the second mold.  
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the using the dimension of the architectural structure, dimensional information of the first selected mold, and dimensional information of the second selected mold to calculate a dimension of the first selected embellishment comprises: 
 accessing a library of molds to obtain the dimensional information of the first mold;    subtracting the fixed dimension of the first mold from the dimension of the architectural structure to obtain a remainder dimension;    accessing the library of molds to obtain the dimensional information of the second mold;    using the remainder dimension, the minimum dimension of the second mold, and the maximum dimension of the second mold to calculate a required number of sections of the second selected embellishment and a dimension of each of the sections, wherein the dimension or each of the sections is: (i) greater than or equal to the minimum dimension of the second mold, and (ii) less than or equal to the maximum dimension of the second mold, and wherein a sum of the dimensions of the sections is substantially equal to the remainder dimension.    
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 generating a list of materials specifying the first and second molds, the required number of sections of the second selected embellishment, and the calculated dimension of each of the sections.    
   
   
       21 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 generating a shop drawing illustrating the architectural structure, the first and second selected embellishments, and a relative positioning of the first and second selected embellishments with respect to the architectural structure.    
   
   
       22 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the generating the shop drawing comprises: 
 accessing a library of architectural structures to obtain a graphical representation of the architectural structure;    accessing a library of molds to obtain graphical representations of the first and second selected embellishments; and    using the graphical representation of the architectural structure and the graphical representations of the first and second selected embellishments to generate an image of the architectural structure and the first and second selected embellishments, wherein the image indicates the relative positioning of the first and second selected embellishments with respect to the architectural structure.    
   
   
       23 . A method for embellishing an architectural structure, comprising: 
 receiving information indicative of a dimension of the architectural structure;    receiving information indicative of a plurality of embellishments of the architectural structure along the dimension, wherein the plurality of embellishments comprises a first embellishment having a fixed dimension and a second embellishment having a variable dimension;    selecting a first mold to construct the first embellishment;    selecting a second mold to construct the second embellishment, wherein the second mold has a minimum dimension and a maximum dimension; and    calculating, using the dimension of the architectural structure, dimensional information of the first mold, and the minimum and maximum dimensions of the second mold, a required number of sections of the second embellishment and a dimension of each of the sections of the second embellishment, wherein the dimension of each of the sections of the second embellishment is: (i) greater that or equal to the minimum dimension of the second mold, and (ii) less that or equal to the maximum dimension of the second mold, and wherein the sum of the fixed dimension of the first embellishment and the calculated dimensions of all of the sections of the second embellishment is substantially equal to the dimension of the architectural structure.    
   
   
       24 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 receiving information indicative of a selected characteristic of the selected embellishment.    
   
   
       25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the selected characteristic of the selected embellishment includes a color, a texture, a material, shape, and/or a cross sectional pattern.