Method and system for designing goods

A system for computer-aided design of an object, including a first computer system operated by a first user, a second computer system operated by a second user, an application server hosting a design software application, and a web server providing an interface for at least the first user to access the design software application. The design software application may be configured to receive a first input comprising a first modification to a design template or creating a new design from the first computer system, receive a second input comprising a second modification to the design template from second computer system, and modify the design template based on the first and second modifications to generate a modified design.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to methods and systems for designing goods, and more particularly to methods and systems for computer-aided design, sale, purchase, licensing, printing, manufacturing, shipping, and delivery of objects, articles, and other materials, by an individual or collaboratively by a group of individuals, using a network of computers.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The modern personal computer is exponentially more powerful than was available to a typical consumer in previous decades. Whereas computer-aided design (CAD) software and the processing power necessary to it were previously available only to industry professionals, the modern consumer is now capable of designing, testing, and virtually modeling complex designs using software available to the consumer. At the same time, three dimensional (3-D) printing allows for the fabrication of a prototype or a number of finished products. 3-D printing is expected to grow as the cost of 3-D printers falls and the availability of 3-D printers grows. Alternatively, a third party may manufacture one or more objects based on the computer-aided design.

As CAD software and hardware becomes available to more users, there is a need for those users to benefit from the knowledge and experience of others by providing them with methods and systems that allow them to work collaboratively. Additionally, there is a need for designers to market their designs and design skills to potential employers and customers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to provide these and other benefits, there is provided a system for computer-aided design of an object. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a system for computer-aided design of an object is provided, including a first computer system operated by a first user, a second computer system operated by a second user, an application server hosting a design software application, and a web server providing an interface for at least the first user to access the design software application. The design software application may be configured to receive a first input comprising a first modification to a design template or creating a new design from the first computer system, receive a second input comprising a second modification to the design template from second computer system, and modify the design template based on the first and second modifications to generate a modified design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference to the drawings illustrating various views of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is now made. In the drawings and the description of the drawings herein, certain terminology is used for convenience only and is not to be taken as limiting the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, in the drawings and the description below, like numerals indicate like elements throughout.

Illustrated inFIG. 1is an exemplary networked computer system, generally designated as100, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The networked computer system100comprises a server110connected to a plurality of remote computer systems, such as a mobile computer system130and a personal computer system150, via a network140.

In an exemplary embodiment, the network140is the Internet.

In an exemplary embodiment, the server110comprises an application server, which may execute, for example, a collaborative design software application, and a web server, which hosts a website accessible by the computer systems130and150, to provide an interface to the collaborative design software application. In this way, the design software application is a web application interfaced with the website. The system100may be used by a single user, or multiple users simultaneously.

The server110comprises an internal storage device115, which comprises a tangible computer-readable storage medium, such as a hard disk array or solid-state memory, for storing software instructions that, when executed by the server110, carry out relevant portions of the features described herein.

The server110maintains a database120for storing templates of designs for objects, articles, consumer goods, and the like, modified designs of the same, and collaboratively modified designs. The database120may be internal to the server110, in which case it is stored on the storage device115, or it may be external to the server110, in which case it may be stored on an external storage device, such as an external hard disk array or solid-state memory.

The computer systems130and150also respectively comprise internal storage devices135and155, for storing software instructions that, when executed by the computer systems130and150, carry out relevant portions of the features described herein.

As noted above, the database120may store templates of designs for various objects, articles, goods, etc. The designs may be designed by a user of a computer system, e.g., the computer system130or150, through the design software application accessed via the web server or uploaded to the server110through the network140. (For convenience herein, a user of the computer system130is referred to as “the user130,” and a user of the computer system150is referred to as “the user150.”) When finished designing the preconfigured design, the user instructs the server110to store the preconfigured design, and the server110stores it in the database120for later retrieval for use as a template for a design to be collaboratively modified by the users130and150. Exemplary templates may be used for automobile parts, articles of clothing, household appliances, etc.

During a design process, including a collaborative design process, the user or users130and150access the website to retrieve a design, e.g., template, and modify individually or collaboratively a design based on the retrieved template. In an exemplary embodiment, the design software application is a computer-aided design (CAD)-type software application that provides for creating designs for the templates and for modifying designs based on retrieved templates. The CAD-type software application includes a suite of design tools to guide the users130and150through the modification process, as well as to convert other file types to a format compatible with the CAD-type software application.

The collaborative design software application is “smart” in that it guides users130and150to make modifications that satisfy predetermined criteria of the template. Such criteria may include changes that must satisfy government-mandated rules, how parts may or may not fit together, and choices for materials of construction. The design software application may issue alarms or error messages for modifications that do not satisfy the criteria, particularly with respect to those affecting safety or known manufacturing issues. The criteria may be stored as numerical or textual parameters, ranges, limits, specific values, combinations, approximations, and may be indexed and cross-linked for use across multiple designs (for example, a numerical limit may apply to multiple designs). The criteria may relate to standards, such as ASE, ASME, NIST, and other government and non-government (e.g., trade associations, university curriculum, manufacturer, etc.) standards. If not being used to satisfy some other user's design requirements, the criteria can be overridden or ignored, as can the warnings.

The collaborative design software application may include an interface that allows a user to access advanced tools for testing the designed article including: a) stress testing; b) load testing; c) wind tunnel testing; d) etc. For example, the collaborative design software may simulate the manufacture of a virtual object based on a design or template and simulate an effect of an external force such as gravity, wind forces, or a load force on the virtual object. When simulating the effect of wind forces on a virtual object, the collaborative design software application may determine whether wind forces of a specific velocity, frequency, amplitude or direction may cause the designed article to experience harmonic oscillation. If the designer intends for the object to oscillate (for example, at a given frequency) the collaborative design software may highlight the area(s) of the design which might be modified to allow harmonic oscillation. Alternatively, if dangerous levels of harmonic oscillation are detected, the collaborative design software may highlight area(s) of the design which may be modified to reduce or eliminate the harmonic oscillation.

Referring now toFIG. 1A, there is illustrated an exemplary alternative embodiment of the system100, generally designated as100′, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system100′ includes all of the components of the system100and the features thereof and further includes a social networking/crowd-source collaboration feature on the website hosted by the server110.

The social networking/crowd-source collaboration feature is embedded within the collaborative design software application and provides users, such as anyone who accesses the website, a select group of users who access the website, or only the users (e.g., the users130and150) involved in a design, to vote on design changes, share ideas, allocate work among themselves, etc.

For example, the users of the collaborative design software application may be students in a university-level mechanical engineering class, and the collaborative design software application, in such embodiment, provides such students the ability to assign themselves different tasks on a larger design project, or the teacher to assign various design tasks as part of a larger design task.

In another exemplary embodiment, the system100′ also comprises a social network server to which the users130and150post their collaborative designs for feedback by other users.

The system100′, and specifically the website hosted by the server110, further comprises a webpage accessible to industry representatives160to review designs. For example, an automobile manufacturer might acquire a new design for a front air dam for a specific model of automobile from the web site. If the industry representative160is an acquisition manager, he may acquire designs, such as by license, purchase, gift or other method of acquisition, from the users who created them via an interface on the website of the collaborative design software application and the rest of the system. The collaborative design software may enable users to charge a fee for their original designs and/or their modifications to existing designs. The collaborative design software may also be configured to charge a fee (e.g., a flat fee and/or a percentage) to either the designer (e.g., user130) and/or the purchaser (e.g., the industry representative160) for facilitating the transaction between the designer and the purchaser.

In another example, an industry representative160may be a human resources representative and may use the webpage to scout proficient users and, via the collaborative design software application, extend job offers to the proficient users. Again, the collaborative design software be configured to charge a fee (e.g., a flat fee and/or a percentage) to either the designer (e.g., user130) and/or the industry representative160for facilitating the hiring of the designer by the industry representative160.

If the industry representative160is an engineer, the engineer may use the webpage to tally votes on the designs of other users with the voting results producing ranked results to determine well-liked patterns for future designs. For example, any third-party who is not a user involved in the design may also submit a vote while only the industry representative may be permitted to see results of votes to determine popularity of designs. As described below, the collaborative design software application may be configured such that users of the software or other web users to vote or may restrict who can vote. Alternatively, the designer of each design may determine whether individuals can vote.

Other exemplary features and functionality of the system100′ are now described. In an exemplary embodiment of the system100′, the system100′ may further comprise a 3-D printer (or multiple printers)170connected to the server110(which may also be used with the embodiment shown inFIG. 1). After completing a collaborative design, the user130or150may instruct the server110to have a prototype or useable item created on the 3-D printer(s)170. The 3-D printer170fabricates the prototype, which is then shipped to the user130or150. In an exemplary alternative embodiment, the 3-D printer170is connected to the computer system130or150as a peripheral device.

Third-parties may access the website and print their own object using their own 3-D printer, by acquiring (purchasing) a one-time download or license, in a similar manner that users of popular websites select and download music files for personal use. Alternatively, a third party may order an object from the website for shipment to their residence, in a similar manner that users of popular websites select articles of clothes or household items and have them shipped to their residence. The object may be wood, metal, plastic, etc. and manufactured by a third party vendor (for example, by injection molding, milling, cutting, welding, binding, or other types of assembly) based on a design template or modified design.

The website for the design software application may include a webpage for industry engineers or other problem solvers to propose to the website's user community any particularly vexing problem or design request, which is followed by allowing users to design and propose solutions, individually or in groups.

The website for the design software application may include an interface accessible to industry engineers whereby an engineer could upload the schematic design of an entire article, to include the breakdown of its parts, to allow users: a) to re-design the article; b) propose new changes; c) to design around multiple existing problems; or d) to allow others in the industry (to include users) to license or purchase the article's design schematic. The collaborative design software application may be configured such that the user may charge a fee for the user's services and/or the industry engineer may offer for purchase or license the aforementioned re-design. As described above, the collaborative design software application may be configured to charge a fee (e.g., a flat fee and/or a percentage) to either the user and/or the industry engineer for facilitating the transaction.

The website for collaborative design software application may include a webpage that serves as a learning tool, allowing users, using the collaborative design software application, to design a product which accomplishes a pre-defined task, to test based on number of parts used, cost of total parts used, etc., and to assemble and disassemble an article in a timed situation, thereafter grading the users' work output based on time, accuracy, percent of parts missing or improperly installed, whether parts are crucial to the article, or other subjective testing criteria established by the test administrator. In addition to the collaborative learning described above, the collaborative design application may include tutorials, videos, list of known design constraints, etc.

Because the users of the collaborative design software application and other web users may speak and understand a variety of languages, the software application may be configured to translate design information from one language to another. For example, information regarding design templates, design modifications, and design specifications may be presented in multiple languages or may be presented in one language with an option to translation (via a machine or human translation) into multiple languages. Additionally the software application may provide a platform for collaborative learning in a variety of languages. For example, the tutorials, videos, list of known design constraints, etc. may be presented in multiple languages or may be presented in one language with an option to translation (via a machine or human translation) into multiple languages.

The website according to the present invention may be served to a user130,150and presented in the user's browser software. The graphical user interface provides for user input (by way of a keyboard, keypad, touch screen, pointing device, voice recognition, or the like), and navigation (by way of, for example, hyperlinks that may be activated by a pointing device). Authentication software of the kind generally known in the art may be used to control access to some or all of the website functions. The user interface will include navigation links to access a user account (set up by the user), access the database of templates, create new projects, upload files from the computer system130or150, download files from the server110, access CAD tools, and review web pages for third parties (as discussed above).

FIG. 2is an overview of a collaborative design software application200according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The collaborative design software application200may be stored on the server110illustrated in system100or100′ described above and may include a design interface220, a testing interface230, a social media interface250, and an electronic commerce interface260.

The design interface220may include design templates221, design modifications222, and design specifications223. The design interface220may be, for example, a CAD-type application to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. The design templates221may be available to some or all users of the software application200to provide users with a generalized structure of an object. Users may perform design modifications222to the design templates221to form a modified design to perform specific functions or to meet other requirements of the user.

The design specifications223may specify, for example, the requirements of a design. For example, a vendor or other industry professional may input design specifications223and offer users the opportunity to use the software application200to produce a modified design which meets the design specifications223for a fee payable to users. As described above, the collaborative design software may also be configured to charge a fee (e.g., a flat fee and/or a percentage) to either the designer (e.g., user130) and/or the purchaser (e.g., the industry representative160) for facilitating the transaction between the designer and the purchaser. In another example, a professor of a mechanical engineering course may input design specifications223and students may use the software application200to produce a modified design which meets the design specifications223for course credit.

The design templates221, design modifications222, and the design specifications223may be stored, for example, in the database120. The design templates221and the design specifications223may be created using the software application200and/or uploaded to the server110, for example, from computing system150through the network140.

The testing interface230may include a compliance testing interface231where the design templates221and the design modifications222are evaluated based on one or more design specifications223. In this instance, for example, the design specifications223may be set by government regulations or industry standards. In another example, the design specifications223may be used to determine if parts designed to interlock in a design template221and/or design modification222fit together.

The testing interface230may also include a materials testing interface232. The materials testing interface232may include storing the characteristics of at least one material, for example as one of the design specifications223. The materials testing interface232may evaluate one or more materials based on strength, cost or compatibility with other materials included in a design template221or modified design.

The testing interface230may also include a load testing interface233, a stress testing interface234, and/or a wind testing interface235, etc. The load testing233, stress testing234, and/or wind testing235may include instructions to model a virtual object based on a design template221and/or design modifications222and simulate an effect of an external force on the virtual object. For example, the testing interface230may simulate the effect of gravity and/or other loads or stresses on a virtual object. The wind testing235may also include determining whether wind forces of a specific velocity, frequency, amplitude, or direction cause the virtual object to experience harmonic oscillation. If the designer intends for the object to oscillate (for example, at a given frequency) the collaborative design software may highlight the area(s) of the design which might be modified to allow harmonic oscillation. Alternatively, if dangerous levels of harmonic oscillation are detected, the collaborative design software may highlight area(s) of the design which may be modified to reduce or eliminate the harmonic oscillation.

Using the social media interface250, each user may have a user profile251. Users may evaluate design templates221and design modifications222by using a voting interface252or an interface to provide design feedback254. The social media interface250may also include a forum256and/or another communications medium for users to exchange ideas over the network140. The social media interface250may include task assignments255where users may request other users to perform tasks. For example, a vendor or other industry professional may offer users the opportunity to use the software application200to perform a task for a fee. In another example, a professor of a mechanical engineering course may assign students a task for course credit.

The electronic commerce interface260may include a design marketplace261where users of the software200or other web users may purchase, license, or sell a design template221or modified design between and among consumers and/or industry professionals. For example, a user may purchase a modified design and use a 3-D printer to fabricate an object based on the modified design. The electronic commerce interface260may also include a fabricated object marketplace262where users of the software application200or other web users may purchase an object fabricated based on a design template221or modified design. The object may be wood, metal, plastic, etc. manufactured by a third party vendor (for example, an injection molding shop, a woodworking shop, a metalworking shop, etc.) by, for example, injection molding, milling, cutting, welding, binding, or other type of assembly based on a design template or modified design.

As described above, the collaborative design software application may provide a platform for designing, sharing, testing, purchasing, licensing, manufacturing, and selling designs in a variety of languages. Accordingly, the design interface220, the testing interface230, the social media interface250, the electronic commerce interface260, etc. may be presented in multiple languages or may be presented in one language with an option to translate (via a machine or human translation) into multiple languages.

FIG. 3illustrates a user interface300of the collaborative design software application200according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The user interface300may include a design module320, a testing module330, a social media module350, and an electronic commerce module360.

The design module320may, for example, enable a user to perform a design modification222or share a design template221or modified design via the social media interface250or other online forum.

The testing module330may include a compliance testing module331enabling users to perform compliance testing on a design template221or modified design through the compliance testing interface231described above. The testing module330may also include a materials testing module332enabling users to perform materials testing on a design template221or modified design through the materials testing interface232described above. The testing module330may also include a load testing module333and/or a stress testing module334enabling users to perform load or stress testing on a design template221or modified design through the load testing interface233and/or stress testing interface335described above. The testing module330may also include a wind testing module335enabling users to perform wind testing on a design template221or modified design through the wind testing interface235described above.

The social media module350may include a voting module352enabling users to vote on a design template221or modified design and/or a commenting module353enabling users to comment on a design template221or modified design. In the example shown in user interface300, “User1” and “User2” have submitted comments on the modified design “File1”. The social media module350may also include a task assignment module355enabling users to assign a task or agree to perform a task. In the example shown in user interface300, a vendor has offered to pay users a fee to perform a task regarding the modified design “File1”.

The electronic commerce module360may include an option to purchase a design361or sell a design362through design marketplace261described above and an option to purchase a fabricated object363or sell a fabricated object364through the fabricated object marketplace262described above.

FIG. 4is a user interface400of a user profile251of the collaborative design software application200described above, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 4, the user interface400may include user information410and designs420, which may be, for example, design templates221and/or design modifications222. The user information410may include any information regarding a user (e.g., a user of a computer system such as the computer system130or150) such as biographical information, education, current or previous employment information, relevant experience, the user's availability to perform contract work or (temporary or permanent) part-time or full-time employment, etc. The collaborative design software may be configured such that selecting a design420causes a user interface to be displayed, such as the user interface300ofFIG. 3, with design320, testing330, social350, electronic commerce360options.

The collaborative design software application200may be configured to provide tiered access to users of the software application and/or other web users. For example, a user profile251and a design portfolio of the user (e.g., as shown in user interface400ofFIG. 4) may be available to the public (e.g., through the Internet or other network140). Alternatively, the collaborative design software application200may be configured to provide each user with the option to determine whether the user's profile251or individual designs420are publicly available.

In another example, the collaborative design software application200may be configured such that only registered users are permitted to modify, test, vote on, comment on, or purchase a design or object. Alternatively, the collaborative design software application200may be configured such that the designer of each design420is given the option to permit certain users or groups of users to modify, test, vote on, and/or comment on a design420.

For example, a professor of a mechanical engineering class may create a private network of students to view a design template221and design specifications223. Each of the students may make design modifications222to the design template221and may decide whether the student's modified design420is available outside the private network created by the professor.

In one exemplary embodiment, a user has the option to show the user's profile251and designs420to the public to promote the user. The collaborative design software application200, meanwhile, restricts the ability to contact or hire the user or purchase a design420or an object based on a design420. By restricting the ability to contact or hire the user or purchase a design420or object, the collaborative design software application200is able to collect fees for facilitating the hiring of a user or the purchase of a design420or object.