Abstract:
The invention is directed to a method for creating a parametric surface symmetric with respect to a given symmetry operation ( 20 ). The invention method: (i) identifies a mesh pattern ( 15   a ); (ii) creates a base mesh ( 15   s ) from the mesh pattern, according to a symmetry operation; (iii) subdivides the base mesh, at a given order, into a subdivided mesh defining elementary faces; and (iv) forms the parametric surface ( 16   s ) according to said faces. The base mesh is symmetric with respect to the symmetry operation such as a reflection symmetry. The invention further concerns computer program product and systems implementing the method according to the invention.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 or 365 to European Patent Application No. EP 06291190.4, filed Jul. 21, 2006.  
         [0002]     The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The invention relates to the field of computer-aided design, and more specifically to computer-aided creation of parametric surfaces, in particular parametric surfaces symmetric with respect to a given symmetry operation.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A number of systems and programs are offered on the market for the design of parts or assemblies of parts, such as the one provided by the applicant under the trademark CATIA. These so-called computer-aided design (CAD) systems allow a user to construct and manipulate complex three-dimensional (3D) models of parts or assembly of parts.  
         [0005]     Creation of 3D computer graphics involves various steps, including modeling and process steps (subdivision of base meshes, conversion into parametric surfaces, rendering . . . ).  
         [0006]     A number of different modeling techniques can be used to create a model of an assembly. These techniques include solid modeling, wire-frame modeling, and surface modeling. Solid modeling techniques provide for topological 3D models, where the 3D model is a collection of interconnected edges and faces, for example. Geometrically, a 3D solid model is a collection of trimmed or delimited surfaces that defines a closed skin. The trimmed surfaces correspond to the topological faces bounded by the edges. The closed skin defines a bounded region of 3D space filled with the part&#39;s material. Wire-frame modeling techniques, on the other hand, can be used to represent a model as a collection of simple 3D lines whereas surface modeling can be used to represent a model as a collection of exterior surfaces. CAD systems may combine these, and other, modeling techniques, such as parametric modeling techniques. CAD systems thus provide a representation of modeled objects using edges or lines, in certain cases with faces. The modeled objects comprises a number of lines or edges; these may be represented in various manners, e.g. non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS), Bezier curves or other algorithms describing a curve.  
         [0007]     Regarding process steps, CAD programs generally make use of base meshes during the modeling of objects. Base meshes are networks of interconnected elementary polygons, such as triangles or quadrangles.  
         [0008]     A base mesh is modified by the user during design to obtain the required model, and then is converted into a plurality of parametric surfaces such as NURBS or B-Splines.  
         [0009]     Concerning the modeled products: modern consumer products are often characterized by smoothly flowing shapes, the complexity of which exceeds simple analytical surfaces, such as planes, boxes and cylinders. Such products are instead typically modeled using spline curves and surfaces or the like. When designing a product, smoothness of object surfaces is a main concern. Consequently, 3D modelers usually have an assortment of tools for creating smooth surfaces.  
         [0010]     In the following, “curvature” will be used as a geometry term indicating the extent that a curve or surface deviates from perfect straightness or flatness. Curvature is usually measured as the inverse of a local osculating radius. Thus, a curve has a low curvature and a large radius when it is slightly bent only, and has a high curvature and a small radius if bent sharply. While curvature is constant for arcs, circles, or for surfaces based thereon; the curvature of more complex curves such as splines (and surfaces based thereon) continually changes along the length of the curve.  
         [0011]     Furthermore, the term “continuity” will be used for describing offsets (or relationships) between points along a curve or on a surface and also between abutting curves or surfaces. Such relationships may fall into different levels of continuity, which are usually: C 0 , C 1 , and C 2 . C 0  denotes position continuity only (as in the case of abutting curves/surfaces). Curves show in this case a kink at the C 0  point. Similarly, surfaces have a sharp crease along the C 0  seam. Abutting curves and surfaces touch one another, but they have no curvature similarities. C 1  denotes a continuity level augmented with tangent continuity, and C 2  adds the curvature continuity. Where curvatures on both sides of a point in a curve are equal, the curve is seamless.  
         [0012]     It will actually here be made reference to G 0 , G 1 , and G 2  “geometrical” continuities, which slightly differ on the mathematical point of view, as known in the art. For example, two joining curve segments have Gn continuity if n th  order derivatives of respective curves have the “same direction” at the join (proportionality defined by some matrix is sufficient, equality is not required). As a result, Cn implies Gn while the reciprocal is not necessarily true.  
         [0013]     Amongst the core techniques of surface modeling, one generally makes use of piecewise low-order algebraic surfaces or implicit patches. Patches are parametric elementary surfaces controlled via a grid of control points, whereby they can be deformed. An important issue in using patches is that patches must be adequately joined to ensure geometric continuity along the patch boundaries. Typically, the patch cells are recursively subdivided to make it possible to adapt the local curvature to a given continuity requirement.  
         [0014]     In numerous applications (such as computer graphics), subdivision surfaces such as Catmull-Clark, are used to approximate a surface derived from a base mesh. In particular, Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces are now a standard for smooth free-form surface modeling. Subdivision surfaces are used to create smooth surfaces out of arbitrary meshes, that is, with arbitrary topology. They are defined as the limit of an infinite refinement process. A key concept is refinement: by repeatedly refining an initial polygonal mesh, a sequence of meshes is generated that converges to a resulting subdivision surface. Each new subdivision step generates a new mesh that has more polygonal elements and is smoother. In particular, Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces can be seen as a generalization of bi-cubic uniform B-splines. An important point is that the generated mesh will mainly consist of quadrilaterals, so that the expected valence (or coordination number) of an ordinary vertex is four.  
         [0015]     In the field of CAD, subdivision surfaces are not commonly accepted as they are not parametric. Thus, CAD systems provide conversion algorithms to convert a subdivision surface into a parametric surface consisting of a set of surface patches, such as NURBS patches.  
         [0016]     Nevertheless, the resulting parametric surfaces may give rise to an insufficient quality of continuity. Indeed, the surfaces created are not systematically everywhere curvature continuous.  
         [0017]     This may in particular occur when trying to symmetrize an initial subdivision surface according to a symmetry operation, so as to obtain a final surface which is symmetric with respect to said operation, as will be exemplified later. Indeed, in such a case, existing solutions lead to surfaces which are not curvature continuous at junctions of the initial subdivision surface and its symmetrized counterpart.  
         [0018]     Therefore, there is a need for a method of creating a parametric surface symmetric with respect to a given symmetry operation, which allows for achieving a given geometrical continuity G 1  (for example G 1  or G 2 ) requirement.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The invention therefore proposes a method for creating a parametric surface symmetric with respect to a given symmetry operation, comprising steps of: 
        identifying a mesh pattern;     creating a base mesh from the mesh pattern, according to said symmetry operation, said base mesh being symmetric with respect to said symmetry operation;     subdividing the base mesh, at a given order, into a subdivided mesh defining elementary faces; and     forming the parametric surface according to said faces.        
 
         [0024]     In other embodiments, the method according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features: 
        the mesh pattern has a plurality of vertices, and the step of creating further comprises: modifying a portion of the plurality of vertices of the mesh pattern, according to said symmetry operation; and obtaining the base mesh according to said symmetry operation and unmodified vertices of the mesh pattern, so as to form the base mesh;     at the modifying step, vertices are discarded;     at the modifying step, vertices are partly discarded and partly adjusted in position;     said symmetry operation is a reflection symmetry with respect to a plane; and said plurality of vertices are connected by edges defining pattern faces, said plane intersecting some of the pattern faces;     the unmodified vertices belong to pattern faces fully located on one side of the plane; and the discarded vertices belong to pattern faces fully located on the other side of the plane;     the subdivided mesh has a plurality of vertices connected by edges defining faces and the method according to the invention further comprises, at the step of forming, a step of: converting faces of the subdivided mesh into respective elementary parametric surfaces, said elementary parametric surfaces forming the parametric surface;     the parametric surface is formed so as to have a required geometrical continuity Gi;     the base mesh is subdivided according to the Catmull-Clark subdivision rules;     the method according to the invention further comprises a step of providing a graphical user interface adapted for displaying said mesh pattern, a representation of said symmetry operation and the parametric surface;     said mesh pattern, representation of said symmetry operation and the parametric surface are displayed in 3D;     the method according to the invention further comprises, before identifying said mesh pattern, a step of: receiving a user modification of the mesh pattern or the symmetry operation, wherein said steps of creating, subdividing and forming are real-time performed;        
 
         [0036]     The invention also proposes a computer program product, comprising code means designed for implementing steps according to the method according to the invention; and a computer system, comprising means designed for implementing steps according to implementing steps according to said method.  
         [0037]     Furthermore, to the best of the knowledge of the inventor, whilst suggesting some features and variations relevant to creation of parametric surfaces in general, the prior art has not disclosed some of the highly advantageous features of the present invention discussed herein. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0038]     The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0039]      FIG. 1  shows a mesh and a corresponding subdivision surface;  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  provides an example of parametric surface of a half shape to be symmetrized according to a plane symmetry operation;  
         [0041]      FIGS. 3-5  exemplify cases of parametric surfaces (before symmetrizing) which are likely to lead to curvature discontinuities;  
         [0042]      FIG. 6  exemplifies a curvature discontinuity occurring after symmetrization of a subdivision surface;  
         [0043]      FIG. 7  illustrates the curvature continuity obtained according to the invention, starting from a base mesh pattern similar to that of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0044]      FIGS. 8-9  illustrates mesh pattern symmetrization according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0045]      FIG. 9  illustrates curvature continuities occurring at a connection involving a trimmed patch;  
         [0046]      FIGS. 10-11  exemplify a step of modifying some of the vertices of the initial mesh pattern, before symmetrization;  
         [0047]      FIG. 12  illustrates symmetrization of the base mesh pattern, after the modification illustrated in  FIGS. 10-11 ;  
         [0048]      FIG. 13  shows a resulting subdivision surface, fulfilling a G 2  continuity requirement;  
         [0049]      FIG. 14  is an example computer network deploying embodiments of the present invention; and  
         [0050]      FIG. 15  is an example computer implementing embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0051]     A description of example embodiments of the invention follows.  
         [0052]     Before entering details of the invention, a number of concepts and drawbacks of the prior art discussed above shall be exemplified in reference to  FIGS. 1-6 .  
         [0053]     An example of a mesh  15  and a resulting subdivision surface  16  is depicted in  FIG. 1 . The mesh comprises: 
        vertices such as vertex  11  (a vertex is hence a point of the mesh),     edges such as edge  12  (edges are lines connecting two vertices), and     faces such as face  13 , which are formed by loops of at least three or more edges.        
 
         [0057]     In CAD, a lot of 3D objects are symmetrical along at least one direction, that is, symmetric with respect to an axis or a plane. It is accordingly necessary to provide functionalities in the CAD software which allows for management of symmetry.  
         [0058]     The symmetry of an object is a characteristic feature thereof. Said object is symmetric with respect to a given operation if this operation, when applied to the object, does not change it. Subsystems a and b are symmetric to each other with respect to a given operation if, say, a is obtained from b by said operation and vice versa. For instance, starting from the initial object a, one may seek to obtain a final object ah, composed of each of a and b objects, using said symmetry operation. Thus, the design of the final object requires designing a only, which takes substantially less time for the user.  
         [0059]     For instance, a usual symmetry operation used in the field is the reflection symmetry (also called mirror symmetry or mirror-image symmetry), which involves symmetry with respect to a reflection. Reflection symmetry is one of the most common types of symmetry. For example, in 2D: there is an axis of symmetry, while in 3D, there is a plane of symmetry. A transformed image of an object is then called mirror symmetric.  
         [0060]     Obtaining the transformed object from the initial object (e.g. composed of points or vertices) is a well established mathematical process which may for instance involve transformation matrices.  
         [0061]     In the following, it will be mainly referred to reflection symmetry in 3D, with respect to a plane. It should however be kept in mind that the invention may find application for various kind of transformations, such as reflection with respect to an axis of symmetry in 2D or 3D. Symmetry operators may further involve translation, rotation or rotoreflection.  
         [0062]      FIG. 2  gives an example of a parametric surface  24  (resulting from a subdivision). Inside the mesh  15   a , patches or elementary parametric surfaces  29  are visible on the shape  24 . The half shape  24  is the shape to be symmetrized according to a symmetry operation corresponding, in this example, to symmetry plane  20 . Typically, a user performs the design of the half shape (e.g. the half shape  24  comprising all patches  29 ). Completing or modifying the design triggers a subdivision. Then, a symmetry operator is called in order to obtain the complementary surface  26 , which is the symmetric of surface  24  with respect to plane  20 . As discussed above, the creation of the half shape  24  using subdivision and then the use of symmetry will produce a shape  28  having discontinuities  25  at an intersection with the symmetry plane. Such discontinuities occur owing to intrinsic definition of subdivision technology.  
         [0063]     Indeed, given that the shape  28  is defined by the mesh  15   a , how vertices  111  of the mesh are positioned around the symmetry plane  20  is critical as to obtain a given geometrical continuity.  
         [0064]     For example, consider  FIGS. 3-4  wherein half shapes  24  of are represented (rotated with respect to axis y, compared with  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0065]     In some situations ( FIG. 3 ), the arrangement of vertices lead to a tangency direction  32  at the end surface tangent to plane  20  which is not normal to said plane  20 , that is, not collinear with normal vectors  34 ′, whereby a discontinuity follows.  
         [0066]     Yet, there are situations (see  FIG. 4 ) where tangency continuity can be reached: in  FIG. 4 , the vertex positions are such that tangency direction  34  is normal to plane  20 .  
         [0067]     However, it is not possible to reach full tangency continuity in all cases, depending on the mesh complexity. For example,  FIG. 5  shows an example of a mesh  15   a , which, although quite simple in appearance, does not allow for achieving tangency continuity.  
         [0068]     Accordingly, the creation of half a shape using subdivision produces at the best tangency continuity shapes  28  but curvature continuity cannot be reached. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , this results in a discontinuity  61  of the curvature curve  60  at the symmetry plane, which does not fulfill industry requirements.  
         [0069]     To overcome such drawbacks, the invention proposes the management of both initial and transformed objects in a single subdivision. This enables intrinsic tangency and curvature continuity e.g. at the symmetry plane, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0070]     More in details, the invention proposes first identifying a mesh pattern  15   a  (“a” is for asymmetric). Said mesh pattern  15   a  is not yet subdivided and corresponds to an initial input object (for example shape  24  in  FIG. 8-9 ) to be symmetrized. Then, it is created a base mesh  15   s  (“s” if for symmetric) from said mesh pattern and according to said symmetry plane  20 . The base mesh  15   s  is transformed so as to be symmetric with respect to said symmetry operation  20 . Once the required symmetry has been obtained, the base mesh is subdivided, at a given order, into a subdivided mesh (the subdivided base mesh is not shown, for clarity). Finally, a parametric surface  16   s  is constructed from elementary faces of the base mesh, as known in the art. Owing to subdivision properties, the above scheme ensures that the continuity normally provided (thanks to the subdivision algorithm) is preserved. In the examples of  FIG. 7  or  8 - 9 , the creation of symmetrical shapes  28  using a single subdivision provides curvature continuity  71  at the symmetry plane, which level of continuity is inherent to the subdivision algorithm. Intervention of the user, e.g. after symmetrization, is therefore not required to correct the discontinuity. Note that manual creation of a symmetrical subdivision mesh is anyway difficult to achieve owing to usual mesh complexity.  
         [0071]     The steps of the method according to the invention shall now be exemplified in more details in reference to  FIGS. 8-13 .  
         [0072]     In reference to  FIG. 8 , inputs of the operator are for example: 
        positioning the vertices (connected by edges) of the initial mesh pattern;     specify the symmetry operator (here a symmetrical plane  20 ); and     the side of the mesh to be symmetrized (here corresponding to the half shape  24 ). Preferably, the algorithm requests that input mesh intersects fully or locally the symmetry plane  20  or at least touches it (as is the case in  FIG. 8 ). A perfect matching of the plane  20  onto an end surface of the initial shape  24  (as in the case of  FIG. 8 ) is actually not required.        
 
         [0076]     After user validation of the inputs, outputs are automatically generated, possibly according to user-editable parameters. The output is preferably real-time generated so as to allow for immediate representation of the result. In addition, the last result of a symmetrization may remain displayed in the graphical user interface. Thus, simplicity of management of half a subdivision mesh is not impaired by a lack of depiction of the final shape.  
         [0077]     In reference to  FIG. 9 , a first output of the symmetrization operator is a symmetrized base mesh, whereby subdivision and creation of the parametric surface follow.  
         [0078]     In an embodiment, the operator may actually proceed in two steps: 
        First, it analyzes the initial mesh pattern  15   a  of the half shape  24  and slightly rework mesh pattern  15   a , if necessary (this will be detailed later);     Then, it proceeds to symmetrizing said half mesh pattern  15   a  and joins both sides to produce a single mesh  15   s . Once a symmetrized base mesh  15   s  is obtained, its subdivision into a subdivided mesh follows.        
 
         [0081]     How the algorithm may modify some of the vertices of the initial mesh pattern, is now explained in reference to  FIGS. 10-11 .  
         [0082]     In reference to  FIG. 10 : one assumes that a user has validated inputs as discussed above. Here, the user has positioned vertices of the initial mesh pattern  15   a , specified the symmetry operator corresponding to plane  20 ; and the side  121  to symmetrize.  
         [0083]     The plane  20  intersects the input mesh  15   a . Therefore, some of the vertices (e.g. comprised in area  123  represented for the sake of clarity) clearly belong to the side  121  to symmetrize, while remaining vertices  11 A,  11 R do not. A proper management of the remaining vertices should hence preferably be implemented.  
         [0084]     To this aim, when analyzing the initial mesh pattern  15   a , the operator may realize that some of the input vertices  11 A,  11 R have to be modified (according to how said symmetry plane  20  has been specified by the user). Symmetrizing the input mesh will hence merely rely on unmodified vertices  123 .  
         [0085]     In fact, modifying some of the vertices appears useful to prevent from obtaining unwanted features in the final shape. In the present case, vertex  11 R should preferably be removed, else a non-symmetrical feature remains. Should this vertex by symmetrized by the operator, it would give rise to a mirror vertex (on the side  121 ) which would slightly modify the desired shape. Accordingly, some of the vertices are preferably discarded or removed.  
         [0086]     In addition, some of the input vertices  11 A, e.g. vertices close to the plane  20  may preferably be adjusted in position, which also prevent from obtaining unwanted features while giving rise to a symmetrized mesh which is close in spirit to the actual user wish.  
         [0087]     In an embodiment, the following scheme may be used, which offer a practical way of choosing vertices to be either discarded or adjusted. 
        Vertices  123  to be kept are those belonging to a face fully located at the side  121  to symmetrize;     Vertices to be removed are: 
            Vertices belonging to a face which is fully at the other side of the symmetry plane  20  (not shown here); and     Vertices belonging to a face which has only one vertex at the side  121  to symmetrize. Note that other schemes may be implemented, according to the desired rendering; and    
            Vertices  11 A to adjust are the remaining vertex belonging to a face which intersects the symmetry plane  20 .        
 
         [0093]     In reference to  FIG. 11 , vertices to adjust are for instance recomputed to be located onto the symmetry plane  20 . To achieve this, a simple method is to project said vertices onto the symmetry plane  20 . For example, a direction of a joining edge can be used.  
         [0094]     Note that similar rules could be developed in the case of axial symmetry, e.g. vertices could be projected onto the axis, or still in the case of other symmetry operations.  
         [0095]     Hence, a mesh is obtained, which is ready for symmetrization. Based on the latter, the last main operation can be made in two steps, which are: 
        symmetrization of the adjusted mesh (see  FIG. 12 ); and     subdivision of the resulting symmetrized mesh (see  FIG. 13 ).        
 
         [0098]     As regards the symmetrization of the adjusted mesh (in reference to  FIG. 12 ): for each vertex P 1  of the adjusted mesh (except vertices located onto the symmetry plane), a mirrored vertex P 1 ′ is computed using a basic transformation matrix. A symmetric mesh  15   s  is thereby obtained.  
         [0099]     Then (in reference to  FIG. 13 ), the symmetrized single mesh  15   s  is used to compute corresponding subdivided mesh and subdivision surface  16   s . Said surface  16   s  has, by definition, the geometrical continuity provided by the subdivision algorithm (for instance G 2  continuity at the symmetry plane).  
         [0100]     Preferably, faces of the subdivided mesh are converted into respective elementary parametric surfaces or patches. Such a scheme fits the Catmull-Clark algorithm and preserves the topology of the symmetrized mesh. Said elementary parametric surfaces form the parametric surface, having the required symmetry.  
         [0101]     The above method and variants are likely to be implemented within a suitable graphical user interface (GUI), together with a CAD software. Said software and GUI are likely to allow for 3D representation the base mesh, possibly subdivided, and elementary parametric surfaces.  
         [0102]     A suitable CAD-like interface may be provided with standard menu bars as well as bottom and side toolbars. Such menu- and toolbars may for instance contain a set of user-selectable icons, each icon being associated with one or more operations or functions, as known in the art.  
         [0103]     Some of these icons are for instance associated with software tools, adapted for editing and/or working on a modeled product or parts of product. The software tools in question may be grouped into workbenches. Otherwise put, each workbench comprises a different subset of software tools. In particular, one of these can be an editing workbench, suitable for editing geometrical features of the modeled product. In operation, a designer may for example pre-select a part of the product and then initiate an operation (e.g. change the dimension, color, etc.) by selecting an appropriate icon. For example, typical CAD operations are the modeling of the punching or the folding of a 3D modeled object displayed on the screen.  
         [0104]     The GUI may for example display data related to the displayed product as a “feature tree”, as well as their 3D representation. The GUI may further show various types of graphic tool, for example for facilitating 3D orientation of the object, for triggering a simulation of an operation of an edited product or render various attributes of the displayed product.  
         [0105]     As an example of embodiment, the method of the invention is implemented in a computer network comprising user computers and one or more product data management (PDM) system (described in greater detail in reference to  FIGS. 14 and 15 ). The user computers are in communication with the PDM system. The PDM system may for example be located at a backbone of the network. The PDM system allows for the management of numerous documents, relations and data, possibly hierarchically interrelated. Such a PDM system is equipped with a product lifecycle database having data related to modeled products, assemblies and product parts, which are likely to be edited by a designer. A plurality of users may thus work in a collaborative way, on different parts/products/assemblies.  
         [0106]      FIG. 14  illustrates a computer network or similar digital processing environment in which embodiments of the present invention may be deployed.  
         [0107]     Client computer(s)/devices  150  (e.g., a user computer) and server computer(s)  160  (e.g., a product data management (PDM) system) provide processing, storage (e.g., a product lifecycle database having data related to modeled products, assemblies and product parts, which are likely to be edited by a designer), and input/output devices executing application programs and the like (e.g., managing numerous documents, relations and data, possibly hierarchically interrelated). Client computer(s)/devices  150  can also be linked through communications network  170  to other computing devices, including other client devices/processes  150  and server computer(s)  160 .  
         [0108]     Communications network  170  can be part of a remote access network, a global network (e.g., the Internet), a worldwide collection of computers, Local area or Wide area networks, and gateways that currently use respective protocols (TCP/IP, Bluetooth, etc.) to communicate with one another. Other electronic device/computer network architectures are suitable.  
         [0109]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram of the internal structure of a computer (e.g., client processor/device  150  or server computers  160  of  FIG. 14 ) in which various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. Each computer  150 ,  160  contains system bus  179 , where a bus is a set of hardware lines used for data transfer among the components of a computer or processing system. Bus  179  is essentially a shared conduit that connects different elements of a computer system (e.g., processor, disk storage, memory, input/output ports, network ports, etc.) that enables the transfer of information between the elements. Attached to system bus  179  is I/O device interface  182  for connecting various input and output devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, displays, printers, speakers, etc.) to the computer  150 ,  160 . Network interface  186  allows the computer to connect to various other devices attached to a network (e.g., network  170  of  FIG. 14 ). Memory  190  provides volatile storage for computer software instructions  192  and data  194  used to implement an embodiment of the present invention. Disk storage  195  provides non-volatile storage for computer software instructions  192  and data  194  used to implement an embodiment of the present invention. Central processor unit  184  is also attached to system bus  179  and provides: for the execution of computer instructions.  
         [0110]     In one embodiment, the processor routines  192  and data  194  are a computer program product (generally referenced  192 ), including a computer readable medium (e.g., a removable storage medium such as one or more DVD-ROM&#39;s, CD-ROM&#39;s, diskettes, tapes, etc.) that provides at least a portion of the software instructions for the invention system. Computer program product  192  can be installed by any suitable software installation procedure, as is well known in the art. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the software instructions may also be downloaded over a cable, communication and/or wireless connection. In other embodiments, the invention programs are a computer program propagated signal product  1107  embodied on a propagated signal on a propagation medium (e.g., a radio wave, an infrared wave, a laser wave, a sound wave, or an electrical wave propagated over a global network such as the Internet, or other network(s)). Such carrier medium or signals provide at least a portion of the software instructions for the present invention routines/program  192 .  
         [0111]     In alternate embodiments, the propagated signal is an analog carrier wave or digital signal carried on the propagated medium. For example, the propagated signal may be a digitized signal propagated over a global network (e.g., the Internet), a telecommunications network, or other network. In one embodiment, the propagated signal is a signal that is transmitted over the propagation medium over a period of time, such as the instructions for a software application sent in packets over a network over a period of milliseconds, seconds, minutes, or longer. In another embodiment, the computer readable medium of computer program product  192  is a propagation medium that the computer system  150  may receive and read, such as by receiving the propagation medium and identifying a propagated signal embodied in the propagation medium, as described above for computer program propagated signal product.  
         [0112]     Generally speaking, the term “carrier medium” or transient carrier encompasses the foregoing transient signals, propagated signals, propagated medium, storage medium and the like.  
         [0113]     Further, the present invention may be implemented in a variety of computer architectures. The computer of  FIGS. 14 and 15  are for purposes of illustration and not limitation of the present invention.  
         [0114]     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.