User interfaces for designing objects

Abstract

A collaborative method of generating a design representation of an object between a first user and a second user is described. The method comprises: designating, at a first user terminal, a set of design object variables relating to different aspects of the design representation; specifying, at the first user terminal, constraints for the set of design object variables, the constraints comprising a range of first user designated values for each of the designated object variables of the set; receiving at a second user terminal, the set of design object variables, the constraints for the set and the design representation via a communication network; enabling, at the second user terminal, manipulation of the design object representation, the enabling step comprising enabling selection of a particular value of at least one of the designated object variables only within the constrained value range specified by the first user; and presenting on the second user terminal a graphical representation of the design object representation as specified by the second user selection.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for collaboratively generating a design representation of an object between a first user and a second user, the system comprising:
 a designating module, for enabling the first user to designate a set of design object variables relating to different aspects of the design representation;   a specifying module, for enabling the first user to specify a set of constraints for the set of design object variables, the constraints comprising a range of first user designated values for each of the designated object variables of the set;   a receiver, arranged to receive the set of design object variables from the first user, the constraints for the set and the design representation via a communication network; and   a manipulation module, arranged to enable manipulation, within a graphical user interface (GUI) at a terminal associated with the second user, of the design representation by enabling selection of a particular value of at least one of the designated object variables only within the range of first user designated values, the GUI comprising one or more design manipulation tools presented as one or more icons within the GUI, and wherein the GUI is further arranged to present a graphical representation of the design object representation as specified by the second user selection.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a selection module arranged to enable selection of a plurality of points of the design representation and grouping of the selected points as a functional region of the design representation. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the selection module is further arranged to enable selection and grouping of a set of non-adjacent points of the design representation into the functional region. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the selection module is further arranged to enable selection and grouping of a set of adjacent points of the design representation into the functional region. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the selection module is further arranged to enable repetition of the selecting and grouping steps to create a plurality of functional regions of the design representation, and wherein the selection module is further arranged to enable locking of one of the plurality of functional regions to prevent any manipulation of this part of the design by the second user. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the selection module is further arranged to enable application of a fall-off weighting function to the selected functional region, the fall-off weighting function graduating the effects of any second user manipulation of the selected functional region to other regions of the design representation. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising an application module arranged to enable application of one of the following functions to the design representation:
 (a) a dynamic skin function, enabling another geometry to be imported and attached to each vertex within a group, to create a textured skin effect of the design representation;   (b) an assembly function, enabling a pre-defined geometry to be attached to a selected point of the design representation; and   (c) a group poly function, enabling the user defined constraints to be applied to the specified region of the design representation.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the specifying module is further arranged to enable locking of at least one of the set of design object variables to prevent manipulation, at the terminal associated with the second user, of the locked design object variable. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the design representation is a three-dimensional model of the object, represented by a polygon mesh, and wherein:
 the designating module is further arranged to enable the first user to import a design representation of the object and to select one or more polygon vertices comprised within the polygon mesh; and   the specifying module is further arranged to enable the first user to specify a range of coordinate values for each one of the selected polygon vertices as part of the set of constraints.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a constraint compilation module arranged to enable compilation of the set of constraints and the first user designated set of design object variables into a constraints file for provision to the terminal associated with the second user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a results compilation module arranged to enable compilation of the results obtained by the manipulation module into a finalized design file; and   a transmitting module arranged to enable transmission of the finalized design file to a centralized data storage facility for storage in a central data store, and for subsequent transmission to a three-dimensional printer, the three-dimensional printer being arranged to enable manufacture of a three-dimensional object in accordance with the finalized design file.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a graphical user interface, provided at a terminal associated with the first user, the graphical user interface being arranged to enable display of a graphical representation of the design representation, and wherein the graphical user interface comprises tools for enabling the first user to specify the set of constraints and to designate the set of design object variables. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the tools of the graphical user interface of the terminal associated with the first user comprise a set of slider icons, each slider icon relating to one design object variable and the amount of allowable movement of the slider representing the range of manipulation possible for the associated design object variable. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each slider icon has variable limits which are adjustable by the first user to constrict the range of manipulation of the associated design object variable. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein a local check box is provided for at least one of the slider icons, the local check box providing a way for the first user to lock the value of the design object variable to a particular amount. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein a global check box is provided for the design representation, the global check box providing a way for the first user to apply a global function to at least one aspect of the design representation, such as surface orientation. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a physics module arranged to enable automatic determination of a global set of design variable modification constraints required to maintain the functionality of the design representation, and to apply the determined global modification constraints to the set of design object variables to prevent modifications being made which prevent the design representation from performing its desired function. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a physics engine arranged to enable simulation of the behaviour of an object within a specified geometry and to enable determination of whether the specified geometry will be stable within the environment, in order to automatically determine the global set of design variable modification constraints. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising an analysis module arranged to enable analysis of the set of design object variables and the set of constraints for a given design representation as designated by the first user, or to analyse the selection of the particular values of the designated object variables of a given design representation as selected by the second user at the associated user terminal, to determine any logical inconsistencies which may prevent automated machine creation of an object in accordance with the design representation. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a central server in communication with a first user terminal associated with the first user and the terminal associated with the second user, wherein the first user terminal is arranged to download the designating and specifying modules from the central server and the terminal associated with the second user is arranged to upload the selection of the particular value of at least one of the designated object variables to the central server as a finalised second user design. 
     
     
         22 . A collaborative design system allowing two different users to collaboratively manipulate a design object representation, the system comprising:
 a first user terminal, arranged in use for operation by a first user;   a second user terminal, arranged in use for operation by a second user; and   a communications network arranged to allow the transmission of design object data between the first and second user terminals,   wherein the first user terminal is arranged to allow the first user to designate a set of design object variables relating to the design object representation, and to specify a range of first user designated values for each of the designated object variables of the set, wherein the design object variables represent physical attributes of an object represented by the design representation, and   wherein the second user terminal is arranged to receive the first user designated set of design object variables via the communication network, and is further arranged to allow the second user to manipulate the design object representation within a graphical user interface at the second user terminal, the graphical user interface comprising one or more design manipulation tools presented as one or more icons within the graphical user interface, the design manipulation tools enabling selection of a particular value of at least one of the designated object variables only within the designated value range specified by the first user.