Autodesk, Inc.

Lawrence David Felser

John R Wallace

David Wayne Arsenault

Douglas G Look

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide access to architectural documents in a network based on-line web based system. Servers that are accessible from the Internet maintain persistent multiple architectural documents of different media types. An online user is provided, from the servers via the Internet, a set of basic virtual design tools that have persistent properties and may be copied. The virtual design tools may also be utilized to work with the architectural documents. A workspace is also provided for viewing, accessing, and modifying the architectural documents.

Method and apparatus for providing access to and working with architectural drawings on a personal digital assistant

Method and apparatus for providing access to and working with architectural drawings on the internet

An Internet-based design environment, implemented on a web server, for use by building, design, architectural, engineering, and construction personnel, wherein the design environment provides a graphical user interface having a virtual desktop () that resembles an architect's desk, wherein the virtual desktop provides a virtual workspace for storing design documents and a set of basic virtual design tools () for use in sketching, drawing, modeling, creating, and editing the stored design documents in the virtual workspace. The design documents may comprise different media types () and are persistently maintained on the web server. The virtual design tools comprise graphical icons that resemble physical objects with similar virtual functionality to the resembled physical objects and may be moved around the virtual workspace. The design environment supports multi-modal input, side-by-side layout of the stored documents, access permissions for users of the design environment, and the ability to interact with applications on the virtual desktop.

A framework is described that serves as an expression evaluator and notification manager for software objects, and can traverse individual object models to use parts of one model to define another. An object model (data model) is a map of an object's properties and methods, and the framework of the present invention binds to the properties and methods and intercepts access to the properties for storage and evaluation of variables within the definitions of the properties. Binding the framework to the object accesses and uses the type info for the object to determine the properties of the object. In addition, the framework provides a method for the object author to override and specialize the properties to describe extensions of the type information.

Framework for objects having authorable behaviors and appearances

An intelligent shape is displayed in conjunction with a CAD application program, wherein the intelligent shape selectively displays positioning and alignment aids on the monitor of the computer to assist a user in operating one or more functions of the host application program. When invoked, the intelligent shape displays plugs and sockets related to the shapes on the monitor and aids the user in positioning, aligning, rotating, and connecting shapes together.

Positioning and alignment aids for shape objects having authorable behaviors and appearances

An intelligent shape is displayed in conjunction with a CAD application program, wherein the intelligent shape can be authored by a user. The intelligent shape comprises a frame and at least one property which defines the shape. The intelligent shape comprises several objects for use in connecting, manipulating, displaying, mapping, and otherwise creating a new component or modifying an existing one. The intelligent shape also monitors the user's interaction with the CAD application program during execution of the sequence of steps, wherein handlers defined for the shape provide additional customization of the component shape during system operations.

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Ithaca, NY, United States of America

Lawrence David Felser