CLIAMS:1. A computer implemented method for managing computer aided design (CAD) data, the method comprising:

extracting CAD data from CAD data document to aspreadsheet;

preparing the extracted CAD data in the spreadsheet to anoriginal equipment manufacturer (OEM )standards;

executinga routine on thelocal systemfor modifying the CAD datain the spreadsheet according to aproject specific standards and saving it to a local system; and

importingthe modified CAD data from the spreadsheet to CAD data document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracting CAD data further includes:

extractinga specification tree data to thespreadsheet;

modifyingthe specification tree data in the spreadsheet according tothe project specific standards and saving it to a local system; and
importingthe modified specification tree data from the spreadsheet to CAD data document.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracting CAD data further includes:

extractinga geometrical elements data to the spreadsheet;

modifyingthe geometrical elements data in the spreadsheet according tothe project specific standards and saving it to a local system; and

importingthe modified geometrical elements data from the spreadsheet to CAD data document.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracting CAD data further includes:

extractinga geometrical set namesto the spreadsheet;

modifyingthe geometrical set namesin the spreadsheet according tothe project specific standards and saving it to a local system; and

importingthe modified geometrical set names from the spreadsheet to CAD data document.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracting CAD data further includes:

extractinga drawing table datato the spreadsheet;

modifyingthe drawing table datain the spreadsheet according to the project specific standards and saving it to a local system; and

importingthe modified drawing table data from the spreadsheet to CAD data document.

6. A computer implemented method for modifying CAD data, the method comprises:

extractingCAD data from CAD data document to aspreadsheet;

preparing the extracted CAD data in the spreadsheet to anoriginal equipment manufacturer (OEM)standards; and

allowinga user to input the project specific standards in CAD data through an user interface;

modifying the CAD data in the spreadsheet byexecuting a routine on thelocal systemaccording to the project specific standards and saving it to a local system; and

importingthe modified CAD data from the spreadsheet to CAD data document.

7. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine cleans a plurality of geometrical elements according to the project specific standards.

8. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine segregatesthe plurality of geometric elements as per their respective layer numbers according to the project specific standards.

9. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine applies a ‘Fix Together’ constrain to a plurality of sketches in the context with an origin, horizontal and vertical axis according to the project specific standards.

10. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine changesa plurality of isolated points to co-ordinates according to the project specific standards.

11. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine exportsa plurality of curve lengths to the predefined spreadsheet according to the project specific standards.

12. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine adds notes to the CAD data documentaccording to the project specific standards.

13. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine applies “Fix” constraint to a plurality of parts or products under the selected main product according to the project specific standards.

14. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine identifies incorrect text heights according to the project specific standardsand reframe to that particular text andrequestthe user to change.

15. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine highlights particular texts in active drawing sheet to appropriate colour according to the project specific standards.

16. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine highlights incorrect line types in active drawing sheet to a predefined colour according to the project specific standards.

17. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine exports at least one of:balloon andflag note zones to the spreadsheetaccording to the project specific standards.

18. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine “reframe on” to the required at least one of: balloon andflag note by receivingat least one of: balloonandflag note number through input box according to the project specific standards.

19. The method of claim 6, whereby executing the routine “reframe on” to the required at least one of: balloon and flag note by receiving at least one of: balloon andflag note number through the predefined spreadsheet according to the project specific standards. ,TagSPECI:TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of computer aided design (CAD). More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented system and method for managing CAD data.

BACKGROUND

CAD data is a key component of product design. CAD data fuels a wide range of downstream processes, including viewing and mark-up, virtual prototyping, work instructions, tech pubs and more. The modification of CAD data is done through software programs like CATIA. However these conventional methods and practices of the design automation tool, handle the complex and error-prone tasks of managing modifications of CAD information.

The design technologies have been vastly improved with the development of design products like AutoCAD, CATIA. Generally, these design products fail to provide the designersa platform toedit and manage the products data according to the project standards as the requirement may vary from project to project.

In the light of aforementioned discussion there exists a need for a system and method that would ameliorate or overcome the above mentioned disadvantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting a CAD data management system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system 102 for managing CAD data, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting the system in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting a system for modification of CAD data, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram for modification of specification tree data in the spreadsheet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary block diagram for modification of geometrical elements in the spreadsheet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary block diagram for modification of geometrical set names in the spreadsheet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary block diagram for modification of drawing table data in the spreadsheet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary block diagram forcleaning the geometrical elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary block diagram forgrouping geometrical elements as per layers, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary block diagram forapplying ‘fix-together’ constrain, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary block diagram for changing isolated points, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary block diagram for exporting curve lengths, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is an exemplary block diagram for adding notes to the CAD data document, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary block diagram for applying ‘Fix’ constrain, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is an exemplary block diagram for identifying incorrect drawing text heights, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is an exemplary block diagram for highlighting texts, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is an exemplary block diagram for identifying incorrect line types, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is an exemplary block diagram forextracting balloon zone locations, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 is an exemplary block diagram forextracting flag notes zone locations, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is an exemplary block diagram for finding balloon location, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is an exemplary block diagram for finding flag notes location, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is an exemplary block diagram for finding balloon location through the predefined spreadsheet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is an exemplary block diagram for finding flag note location through the predefined spreadsheet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart depicting a method for CAD data modification, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The use of “including”, “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Further, the use of terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.

According to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented system and method for managingcomputer aided design (CAD) data is disclosed.

Referring to FIG. 1 is a diagram 100 depicting a CAD data management system connected to the computing devices, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The data management system102 also referred as system 102 connected to of computing devices 104, 106 and 108. The computing devices 104, 106 and 108and system 102 are all connected over a network 110. The network 108 may include, but not limited to, an Ethernet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN), e.g., the Internet, or a combination of networks.

The system 102 includes a utility program to extract the CAD data to a spreadsheet for data modification. The CAD data may include geometry, annotation, layers, units, coordinates and the like, without limiting the scope of the present disclosure. The extracted data is prepared to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards and stored in the local system i.e., thecomputing devices 104, 106 and 108. The system 102 may be an application installed in the local system or can be accessed through the network 110. The extracted data is modified by executing a routine on the local system. The system 102 provides a user interfaceon the local system that allows the user to input the project specific standards in one of: spreadsheet, XML file, database and/or the like, without limiting the scope of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system 102 for managing CAD data, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The system 102 includes a CAD data management unit 112. The CAD data management unit 112 allows viewing and editing the CAD data. The CAD data management unit 112 comprises a data extracting logic 114 for allowing the utilityprogram to extract the CAD data to a spreadsheet.

The CAD data management unit 112 also comprises a data modification logic 116. The data modification logic 116 enables the extracted CAD data in the spreadsheet to prepare CAD data to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards. The modified CAD data may be stored in the local system.The data modification logic 116 is configured by a routine to clean, segregate, fix-together, fix, re frame-on, reframe, and highlight text, and the like, without limiting the scope of the present invention.

The CAD data management unit 112 also comprises a data executing logic 118. The data executing logic 118 enablesexecuting a routine on the local system. The executed routine modifies the extracted CAD data in the spreadsheet. The modified CAD data is imported from spreadsheet to CAD data document.

The CAD data management unit 112 also comprises display logic 120. The display logic 120 enables the user to view the CAD data in a display of local system or an external display unit connected to the local system. The display logic 120 displays a user interface that allows the user to input the project specific standardsin one of: spreadsheet, XML file, database and/or the like, without limiting the scope of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3 is a diagram 300 depicting the system in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be noted, however, that embodiments are not limited to implementation on such computing devices, but may be implemented on any of a variety of different types of computing units within the scope of embodiments hereof. The system 102 is only one example of search and it is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the system 102 may include a bus 312, a processor 314, a memory 316, a network device 318, an input device 320, and an output device 322. The bus 312 may include a path that permits communication among the components of the system 102.

The memory 316 stores the data extracting logic 114, the data modification logic 116, the data executing logic 118 and the display logic 120. Thedata extracting logic 114, the data modification logic 116, data executing logic 118 and the display logic 120may be stored as software in memory 316.

The memory 316 may be any type of computer memory known in the art or future-developed for electronically storing data and/or logic, including volatile and non-volatile memory. In this regard, memory 316 can include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, any magnetic computer storage unit, including hard disks, floppy discs, or magnetic tapes, and optical discs.

The processor 314 comprises processing hardware for interpreting or executing tasks or instructions stored in the memory 316. Note that the processor 314 may be a microprocessor, a digital processor, or other type of circuitry configured to run and/or execute instructions.

The network device 318 may be any type of network unit (e.g., a modem) known in the art or future-developed for communicating over a network 110 (FIG. 1).

The input device 320 is any type of input unit known in the art or future-developed for receiving data. As an example, the input unit 320 may be a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, a serial port, a scanner, a camera, or a microphone.

The output device 322 may be any type of output unit known in the art or future-developed for displaying or outputting data. As an example, the output device 322 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other type of video display unit, a speaker, or a printer.

Further note that, the system 102 components may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. In the exemplary system 102, depicted by FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, all the components are implemented by software and stored in the memory 316.

Referring to FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram 400 for modification ofCAD data,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. At step 402 CAD data is extractedto the spreadsheet for data modification. Further at step 404 a user interface is displayed that allows the user to input the project specific standardssaved to one of: XML file, spreadsheet,database and/or the like. Further at step 406the extractedspreadsheet is set to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards and modified by executing a routine.Further at step 408 thespreadsheet is saved to the local system. Further at step 410 the modified CAD data may be imported from the spreadsheetto CAD data document.

Referring to FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram 500 for modification of specification tree data in spreadsheet, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The specification tree data is extracted by a utilityprogram to a spreadsheet at step 502. The extracted specification tree datais prepared as per the original equipment manufacturer (OEM)standards anda routine is executed on the local system modifies the speciation tree data according to theinput of the user in spreadsheetat step 504. Further the spreadsheet is saved to the local system at step 506. The modified speciation tree data is imported from spreadsheet to CAD data document at step 508.

Referring to FIG. 6 is an exemplary block diagram 600 for modification of geometrical elements in spreadsheet,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The geometrical elements may include points, lines, curves and the like, without limiting the scope of the present disclosure. The geometrical elements are extracted by a utilityprogram to thespreadsheet at step 602. The extracted geometrical elements are prepared as per the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards and a routine is executed in the local system to modify the geometrical elementsaccording to the input of the user in spreadsheet at step 604. Further the spreadsheet is saved to the local system at step 606. The modified geometrical elementsare imported from spreadsheet to CAD data document at step 608.

Referring to FIG. 7 is an exemplary block diagram 700 for modification of geometrical set names in spreadsheet,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The geometrical set names are extracted by theutilityprogram to thespreadsheet at step 702.The extracted geometrical set names are prepared as per the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards and a routine is executed on the local systemto modify the geometrical set names according to the input of the user in the spreadsheet at step 704. Further the spreadsheet is saved to the local system at step 706. The modified geometrical set names are imported from spreadsheet to CAD data document at step 708.

Referring to FIG. 8 is an exemplary block diagram 800 for modification of drawing table data in spreadsheet,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The drawing table data is extracted by a predefined program to thespreadsheet at step 802. The extracted drawing table data are prepared as per the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards and a routine is executed on the local systemto modify the drawing table data according to the input of the user in the spreadsheet at step 804. Further the spreadsheet is saved to the local system at step 806. The modified drawing table data is imported from spreadsheet to CAD data document at step 808.

Referring to FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram 900 forcleaning the geometrical elementsaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The display oflocal system may provide the user interface that allows theuser to input the project specific standards and save to the local systemat step 902. The utilityprogramallows to clean the geometrical elements to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards, according to the given project specific standards at step 904.

Referring to FIG. 10 is an exemplary diagram 1000 forsegregating geometrical elements as per layers, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The utilityprogram may identify the layer number of geometrical elements and creates a respective geometrical set for each layer number and moves all the identified geometrical elements to respective created geometrical sets at step 1002.

Referring to FIG. 11 is anexemplary block diagram 1100 forapplying ‘Fix-together’ constrain, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The utilityprogram may identify all sketches in the CAD data document and applies ‘Fix together’ constraint for all the identified sketches with respect to the respective horizontal and vertical axis at step 1102.

Referring to FIG. 12 is an exemplary block diagram 1200 for changing isolated points,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The utilityprogram may identify all the isolated points in the CAD data documentand turn all of them to co-ordinates at step 1202.

Referring to FIG. 13 is an exemplary block diagram 1300 depicting for exporting curve lengths,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The utilityprogram may identify all isolated curves or lines in the CAD data documentand exports all their curve lengths to the spreadsheet at step 1302. The spreadsheet is saved to the local system at step 1304.

Referring to FIG. 14 is an exemplary block diagram 1400 for adding notes to the CAD data document,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The display of local system may provide user interface allowingtheuser to input the project specific standardsand saveto the local system at step 1402. The utilityprogram may add the notes to CAD data, according to the given project specific standardsat step 1404.

Referring to FIG. 15 is an exemplary block diagram 1500 for applying ‘Fix’ constrain,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Theutilityprogram may apply ‘Fix’ constrain to all the elementsin the CAD data document at step 1502.

Referring to FIG. 16 is an exemplary block diagram 1600 for identifying incorrect text heights,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The display of the local system may providethe user interface for allowing theuser to input the project specific standardsand saveto the local system at step 1602. The utilityprogram may identify the incorrect drawing text heights in CAD data as per the given project specific standards and reframes on to incorrect texts one by one and request the user to change the incorrect text height to right text height at step 1604.

Referring to FIG. 17 is an exemplary block diagram 1700 for highlighting texts,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The display of the local systemmay providethe user interface for allowingtheuser to input the project specific standardsand saveto the local system at step 1702. The utilityprogram may highlight the chosen text in predefinedcolour as per the given project specific standards in the CAD data document at step 1704.

Referring to FIG. 18 is an exemplaryblock diagram 1800 for identifying incorrect line types,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The display of the local systemmay provide a user interface for allowingtheuser to input the project specific standardsand save to the local system at step 1802.The utilityprogram may highlight the incorrect line types in predefinedcolour (for example red) as per the given project specific standards in the CAD data document at step 1804.

Referring to FIG. 19 is an exemplary block diagram 1900 for extracting balloon zone locations,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The utilityprogram may identify all balloon zone locations in the CAD data document and exports theballoon zone locations data to the spreadsheet at step 1902. The spreadsheet is saved to the local system at step 1904.

Referring to FIG. 20 is an exemplaryblock diagram 2000 for extracting flag notes zone locations,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The utilityprogrammay identify all flag notes zone locationsin the CAD data document and exports that flag notes zone locations data to the spreadsheet at step 2002. The spreadsheet is saved to the local system at step 2004.

Referring to FIG. 21 is an exemplary block diagram 2100 for finding balloon location,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The display of the local systemmay providethe user interface for allowingtheuser to input the required balloon number at step 2102. The utilityprogram may identify the balloon in the CAD data document and reframe on to it as per the given input at step 2104.

Referring to FIG. 22 is an exemplary block diagram 2200 for finding flag notes location,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The display of the local systemmay provide the user interface for allowing the user to input the required flag note number. The utilityprogram may identify the flag note in the CAD data documentand reframe on to it as per the given input at step 2204.

Referring to FIG. 23 is anexemplary block diagram 2300 for finding balloon location through the spreadsheet,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The display of the local system may providethe user interface for allowing theuser to input the spreadsheet having required balloon number at step 2302. The utilityprogram may identify the balloon in the CAD data documentand reframe on to the balloons one by one as per the given spreadsheet input at step 2304.

Referring to FIG. 24 is an exemplary block diagram 2400 for finding flag note location through the spreadsheet,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The display of the local system may providethe user interface for allowing the user to input the spreadsheet having required flag note number at step 2402. The utilityprogram may identify the flag notes in the CAD data documentand reframe on to the flag notes one by one as per the given spreadsheet input at step 2404.

Referring to FIG. 25 is a flow diagram 2500 depicting a method for modifying CAD data, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The method starts at step 2502 byextracting CAD data to the spreadsheet. The method further continues to next step 2504 by preparing the extracted CAD data in the spreadsheet to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards. The method further continues to next step 2506 by allowing the user to input the project specific standards in CAD data through the user interface. The method further continues to next step 2508 by modifying the CAD data in the spreadsheet by executing the routine in the local systemaccording to the project specific standards and saving it to the local system. The method continues to next step 2510 by importing the modified CAD data from the spreadsheet to the CAD data document.

Although the present disclosure has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments and illustrations thereof, other embodiments and modifications to preferred embodiments may be possible that are within the principles and spirit of the invention. The above descriptions and figures are therefore to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive.

Thus the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and sub combinations of the various features described herein above as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.