Integrated Architecture of Geometric Models and Design Intentions

Abstract

Recently, 3D CAD systems have been rapidly improving. However, the principal improvements have been focused on the geometric modeling and developing user-friendly operational improvements, while neglecting improvements to the treatment of the design information and the intention generated in the design process, especially to support the design process flow. In this process, it is important to transmit the design information and intention, considered by each design phase, to the downstream process. In this paper, we explain the framework to handle the design information including designers’ intention, and we discuss the architecture that supports the design process flow. First, we describe the integrated model of the geometric model and the design information. We propose the framework to treat various kinds of design information and the intention and present a typical example. Next, we describe the methodology to extend the proposed integrated model and also the architecture to support the design process flow. We define what design information should be handled and explain how to extend the integrated model to support the design process flow. Finally, we describe an application example of design process flow. The result shows an immediate specification of the design information and intention at the downstream process. The system supports the designers creating and modifying the geometric model correctly to satisfy the designers’ intention as the design progresses.