Patent ID: 8732651
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus to design a physical system of components, the design of the physical system including modifiable design data that, when satisfactory to established design goals, describes a realization of the physical system, the apparatus comprising: a database to store the design data, the design data including structural data defining a physical structure of each of the components and logical data including a graphical representation of each of the components; a user interface to accept design instructions from a user, the user interface operating responsive to at least one instruction to add an instance of an additional component to a logical data abstraction of the design data and logically connect the instance of the added component to an instance of another component in the logical data abstraction of the design data, the logical data abstraction being displayed for the user and including an interconnection of components graphically integrating a structural representation for at least the added component with a logical representation for at least one other predefined component, the logical representation being indicative of relative component placement and orientation in the design; and a processor to determine whether the structural data in the instance of the additional component defines structure that is behaviorally compatible in operation with the structure of the other component logically connected thereto in the logical data abstraction, the structure of the other component being defined by the structural data in the instance of the other component.