US6768486B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Modifying subobjects of geometry objects based on per-subobject objects
Assignee: Autodesk Inc
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Filing: 2002-01-15
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Granted: 2004-07-27
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Expires: 2022-01-15
Abstract
Abstract An approach is described for modifying subobjects of geometry objects based on per-subobject objects. A per-subobject object is associated with a sequence of components, such as a modifier stack, that are used to modify a geometry object. The per-subobject object may take one or more actions with respect to subobjects of the mesh object, such as applying data to specified faces. After a subsequent modification of the geometry object, the per-subobject object reapplies data to the faces that result from the modification. For example, the per-subobject object may specify the data to apply to faces that result from splitting faces during the modification or to faces that result from merging faces during the modification. The data for the faces may be accessed using a data channel that is associated with the per-subobject object.
Inventors
- 👤 Attila Szabo
- 👤 Nikolai Sander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T17/00; G06T17/20; G06T19/00; G06T19/20; G06T2219/00; G06T2219/20; G06T2219/2021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for modifying subobjects of a geometry object, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: producing a first result by sequentially applying to the geometry object one or more components in a sequence of components; producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one component that follows the one or more components in the sequence; associating a per-subobject object with a position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component, wherein the per-subobject object specifies how to modify one or more subobjects that are included in the geometry object; and based on the per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for modifying subobjects of a geometry object, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: producing a first result by sequentially applying to the geometry object one or more components in a sequence of components; producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one component that follows the one or more components in the sequence; associating a per-subobject object with a position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component, wherein the per-subobject object specifies how to modify one or more subobjects that are included in the geometry object; and based on the per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the per-subobject object specifies data to be applied to one or more subobjects that are included in the geometry object, and wherein the step of modifying the second result comprises the computer-implemented step of: associating the data with at least one subobject of the one or more subobjects of the second result.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more subobjects include one or more faces and wherein the data specifies a color for each of the one or more faces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more subobjects include one or more vertices, and wherein the data specifies UVW coordinates for each of the one or more vertices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the per-subobject object is a data channel object, and wherein the step of associating includes the computer-implemented step of: associating the data channel object with the geometry object at the position in the sequence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the computer-implemented steps of: associating a data channel with the per-subobject object; and based on the per-subobject object, storing in the data channel one or more parameters for each of one or more subobjects of the geometry object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the per-subobject object is a first per-subobject object that results in generating one or more additional subobjects, and the method further comprises the computer-implemented steps of: associating a second per-subobject object with the one or more additional subobjects, wherein the second per-subobject object specifies how to modify the one or more additional subobjects that are generated by the first per-subobject object; and based on the second per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more additional subobjects.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the per-subobject object specifies a subobject type and how to modify one or more subobjects that are of the subobject type and that are included in the geometry object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the per-subobject object is a first per-subobject object, the position is a first position, and the subobject type is a first subobject type, and wherein the method further comprises the computer-implemented steps of: associating a second per-subobject object with a second position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component, wherein the second per-subobject object specifies a second subobject type and how to modify one or more subobjects that are of the second subobject type and that are included in the geometry object; and based on the second per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the first subobject type is different than the second subobject type.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the first subobject type is said second subobject type.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the subobject type is selected from the group consisting of a face type, a vertex type, an edge type, and a polygon type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the subobject type is based on a geometry type that is selected from the group consisting of a mesh type, a NURBS type, a splines type, a patches type, and a poly-objects type.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the sequence of components is a stack.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the stack is a modifier stack.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the computer-implemented steps of: generating an editable geometry object based on the sequence of components; prior to generating the editable geometry object, disabling the per-subobject object; and after generating the editable geometry object, enabling the per-subobject object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein: the step of disabling is performed in response to a first notification that is made prior to generating the editable geometry object; and the step of enabling is performed in response to a second notification that is made after generating the editable geometry object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the computer-implemented steps of: notifying the per-subobject object that a particular event has occurred; and in response to said notifying, the per-subobject object causing at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result to be modified.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of associating the per-subobject object with the position in the sequence comprises the computer-implemented step of: associating the per-subobject object with the position based upon an extension component that is included in the sequence.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of associating the per-subobject object with the position in the sequence comprises the computer-implemented step of: associating the per-subobject object with the position based upon a base component in the sequence.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for using rules to modify parameters of subobjects of a geometry object, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: allowing a user to configure a rule that specifies how to modify at least one parameter when an action occurs; associating the rule with a set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and when the action occurs, modifying the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects according to the rule.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for using rules to modify parameters of subobjects of a geometry object, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: allowing a user to configure a rule that specifies how to modify at least one parameter when an action occurs; associating the rule with a set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and when the action occurs, modifying the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects according to the rule.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
115 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the rule is a first rule, the at least one parameter is at least one first parameter, the action is a first action, the set of one or more subobjects is a first set of one or more subobjects, and the method further comprises the computer-implemented steps of: allowing the user to configure a second rule that specifies how to modify at least one second parameter when a second action occurs; associating the second rule with a second set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and when the second action occurs, modifying the second set of one or more subobjects according to the second rule.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the rule is a first rule, the at least one parameter is at least one first parameter, the set of one or more subobjects is a first set of one or more subobjects, and the method further comprises the computer-implemented steps of: allowing the user to configure a second rule that specifies how to modify at least one second parameter when the action occurs; associating the second rule with a second set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and when the action occurs, modifying the second set of one or more subobjects according to the second rule.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the action is creating at least two new subobjects based on an old subobject.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the action is creating a new subobject based on at least two old subobjects.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising the computer-implemented steps of: based on the step of allowing the user to configure the rule, generating a per-subobject object that specifies how to modify the at least one parameter; and wherein the step of modifying the at least one parameter comprises the computer-implemented step of: when the action occurs, modifying the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects, based on the per-subobject object.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising the computer-implemented step of: producing a first result by sequentially applying to the geometry object one or more components in a sequence of components; producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one component that follows the one or more components in the sequence; associating the per-subobject object with a position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component; and based on the per-subobject object, the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for associating data with faces of a mesh object, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: producing a first result by sequentially applying to the mesh object one or more modifiers in a modifier stack; producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one modifier that follows the one or more modifiers in the modifier stack; associating a per face data channel object with a position in the modifier stack that precedes said at least one modifier, wherein the per face data channel object specifies data to be applied to one or more faces of the mesh object; and based on the per face data channel object, associating the data with at least one face of the one or more faces of the second result.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for associating data with faces of a mesh object, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: producing a first result by sequentially applying to the mesh object one or more modifiers in a modifier stack; producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one modifier that follows the one or more modifiers in the modifier stack; associating a per face data channel object with a position in the modifier stack that precedes said at least one modifier, wherein the per face data channel object specifies data to be applied to one or more faces of the mesh object; and based on the per face data channel object, associating the data with at least one face of the one or more faces of the second result.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
143 words
A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for modifying subobjects of a geometry object, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: producing a first result by sequentially applying to the geometry object one or more components in a sequence of components; producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one component that follows the one or more components in the sequence; associating a per-subobject object with a position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component, wherein the per-subobject object specifies how to modify one or more subobjects that are included in the geometry object; and based on the per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
143 words
A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for modifying subobjects of a geometry object, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: producing a first result by sequentially applying to the geometry object one or more components in a sequence of components; producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one component that follows the one or more components in the sequence; associating a per-subobject object with a position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component, wherein the per-subobject object specifies how to modify one or more subobjects that are included in the geometry object; and based on the per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
79 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the per-subobject object specifies data to be applied to one or more subobjects that are included in the geometry object, and wherein the instructions for modifying the second result further comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: associating the data with at least one subobject of the one or more subobjects of the second result.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 30 , wherein the one or more subobjects include one or more faces and wherein the data specifies a color for each of the one or more faces.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 30 , wherein the one or more subobjects include one or more vertices, and wherein the data specifies UVW coordinates for each of the one or more vertices.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
61 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the per-subobject object is a data channel object, and wherein the instructions for associating further comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: associating the data channel object with the geometry object at the position in the sequence.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
65 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: associating a data channel with the per-subobject object; and based on the per-subobject object, storing in the data channel one or more parameters for each of one or more subobjects of the geometry object.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
103 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the per-subobject object is a first per-subobject object that results in generating one or more additional subobjects, and further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: associating a second per-subobject object with the one or more additional subobjects, wherein the second per-subobject object specifies how to modify the one or more additional subobjects that are generated by the first per-subobject object; and based on the second per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more additional subobjects.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the per-subobject object specifies a subobject type and how to modify one or more subobjects that are of the subobject type and that are included in the geometry object.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
129 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein the per-subobject object is a first per-subobject object, the position is a first position, and the subobject type is a first subobject type, and further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: associating a second per-subobject object with a second position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component, wherein the second per-subobject object specifies a second subobject type and how to modify one or more subobjects that are of the second subobject type and that are included in the geometry object; and based on the second per-subobject object, modifying at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the first subobject type is different than the second subobject type.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the first subobject type is said second subobject type.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein the subobject type is selected from the group consisting of a face type, a vertex type, an edge type, and a polygon type.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein the subobject type is based on a geometry type that is selected from the group consisting of a mesh type, a NURBS type, a splines type, a patches type, and a poly-objects type.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the sequence of components is a stack.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 42 , wherein the stack is a modifier stack.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
64 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: generating an editable geometry object based on the sequence of components; prior to generating the editable geometry object, disabling the per-subobject object; and after generating the editable geometry object, enabling the per-subobject object.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 44 , wherein: the step of disabling is performed in response to a first notification that is made prior to generating the editable geometry object; and the step of enabling is performed in response to a second notification that is made after generating the editable geometry object.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
67 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: notifying the per-subobject object that a particular event has occurred; and in response to said notifying, the per-subobject object causing at least one of the one or more subobjects of the second result to be modified.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
63 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the instructions for associating the per-subobject object with the position in the sequence further comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: associating the per-subobject object with the position based upon an extension component that is included in the sequence.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
60 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the instructions for associating the per-subobject object with the position in the sequence further comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: associating the per-subobject object with the position based upon a base component in the sequence.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for using rules to modify parameters of subobjects of a geometry object, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: allowing a user to configure a rule that specifies how to modify at least one parameter when an action occurs; associating the rule with a set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and when the action occurs, modifying the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects according to the rule.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for using rules to modify parameters of subobjects of a geometry object, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: allowing a user to configure a rule that specifies how to modify at least one parameter when an action occurs; associating the rule with a set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and when the action occurs, modifying the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects according to the rule.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
132 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 49 , wherein the rule is a first rule, the at least one parameter is at least one first parameter, the action is a first action, the set of one or more subobjects is a first set of one or more subobjects, and further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: allowing the user to configure a second rule that specifies how to modify at least one second parameter when a second action occurs; associating the second rule with a second set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and when the second action occurs, modifying the second set of one or more subobjects according to the second rule.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
124 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 49 , wherein the rule is a first rule, the at least one parameter is at least one first parameter, the set of one or more subobjects is a first set of one or more subobjects, and further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: allowing the user to configure a second rule that specifies how to modify at least one second parameter when the action occurs; associating the second rule with a second set of one or more subobjects of the geometry object; and when the action occurs, modifying the second set of one or more subobjects according to the second rule.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 49 , wherein the action is creating at least two new subobjects based on an old subobject.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 49 , wherein the action is creating a new subobject based on at least two old subobjects.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
96 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 49 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: based on the step of allowing the user to configure the rule, generating a per-subobject object that specifies how to modify the at least one parameter; and wherein the step of modifying the at least one parameter comprises the computer-implemented step of: when the action occurs, modifying the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects, based on the per-subobject object.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
111 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 54 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of: producing a first result by sequentially applying to the geometry object one or more components in a sequence of components; producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one component that follows the one or more components in the sequence; associating the per-subobject object with a position in the sequence that precedes said at least one component; and based on the per-subobject object, the at least one parameter of the set of one or more subobjects.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
158 words
A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for associating data with faces of a mesh object, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: producing a first result by sequentially applying to the mesh object one or more modifiers in a modifier stack; producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one modifier that follows the one or more modifiers in the modifier stack; associating a per face data channel object with a position in the modifier stack that precedes said at least one modifier, wherein the per face data channel object specifies data to be applied to one or more faces of the mesh object; and based on the per face data channel object, associating the data with at least one face of the one or more faces of the second result.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
158 words
A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for associating data with faces of a mesh object, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: producing a first result by sequentially applying to the mesh object one or more modifiers in a modifier stack; producing a second result by applying to the first result at least one modifier that follows the one or more modifiers in the modifier stack; associating a per face data channel object with a position in the modifier stack that precedes said at least one modifier, wherein the per face data channel object specifies data to be applied to one or more faces of the mesh object; and based on the per face data channel object, associating the data with at least one face of the one or more faces of the second result.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-07-27 | 2008-01-26 | 2008-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-07-27 | 2012-01-26 | 2012-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-07-27 | 2016-01-26 | 2016-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |