Patent Publication Number: US-2018032214-A1

Title: Interior Design System Using Real-Time Rendering Technology

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention pertains generally to the field of computer-implemented systems and methods, and more particularly to automated implementation of 3D reality rendition of interior space design. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Computer-implemented design systems provide software tools for automatically prototyping designs. However, such automated tools are conventionally limited due to time-consuming approaches that still hamper practical sharing of design elements. 
     SUMMARY 
     Generally, it is contemplated herein that novel 3D-reality rendering apparatus and/or computer-implemented process enables network-accessible interior space design. In one embodiment, a network-accessible processor computationally renders interior space design elements to be extracted, saved, and applied automatically for 3D-reality space design, for example, whereby computationally rendered 3D-reality space design transforms such rendered design physically to actual 3D interior space. Optionally, at least one processor saves or loads coded elements that allow design elements to be applied into project(s) where coded and/or design elements form space characteristics. Such processor may enable such elements to be analyzed and/or coded into one or more database; whereupon element characteristics being categorized into parameter groups, such elements being applied into design space(s) as a set of “DNA” that may be user-changeable for alternate design proposal. Also, such processor may code design elements, search using code values, and/or interchange element types with 3D rendering. Furthermore, such processor may enable virtual-reality 3D walk-thru among communicating user, buyer, designer, or supplier to facilitate real-time interaction and design idea sharing. Optionally, processor automates design-by-list approach, wherein in website or application, one or more user may generate design by creating a list of interior items, and processor or server automatically generates panorama view of such design in the space; preferably, user may repeat the process, and change items in the list, such that processor/server creates panorama and sends to user device according to latest change. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  illustrates representative apparatus embodiment diagram for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates representative apparatus embodiment diagram particularly system structure for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates representative apparatus embodiment diagram particularly system structure for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates representative apparatus and method embodiment diagram particularly work flow product for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates representative apparatus and method embodiment diagram particularly work flow design for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates representative apparatus and method embodiment diagram particularly work flow panorama design for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates representative apparatus and method embodiment diagram particularly asset reusable system for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 8-22  illustrate representative user interface diagrams for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 23-25  illustrate representative data, storage, and data structure for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. 
         FIG. 26  illustrates representative hardware apparatus embodiment diagram for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Preferably, 3D reality rendering technology is embodied in computational apparatus and automated process for interior space design, with which combinations of interior space design elements can be extracted, saved, and be applied to other design spaces. A computer-aided system and data structure for saving and/or loading coded elements are created to allow design elements to be applied selectively into new projects where these elements form personalizable space characteristics. Thus, time-consuming limitations of conventional 3D design software are overcome, for example, by enabling repetition of same working process in allocating design elements into the interior space. In this advantageous manner, design elements are not rebuilt or allocated manually for every project, and preferably only material or shape of elements may be changeable. Furthermore, by using internet cloud access and 3D rendering design technologies to share combinations of interior design elements for other user design project, the design process generally is shortened to save time overall. Moreover, in particular, one or more element may be analyzed and coded automatically into a database, wherein element characteristics are categorized into parameter groups; such elements being applicable into certain space as a set of unique “DNA”, which can be changed freely by users, and thus design proposals can thereby be created more quickly. Preferably, a network-accessible computational apparatus includes an automated coding system of design elements, a software-based searching method using code values, and certain types of data structure elements being interchangeable with 3D rendering. Thus, as described herein, one or more novel design process is effectively shortened and optimized by applying combinations of design elements, and design results are adjustable, and hence shareable among users, thereby accumulating huge numbers of unique “DNA”s in the database. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates representative apparatus embodiment diagram for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. It is contemplated herein that one or more inventive aspects may be embodied in one or more computing or communication device, network server and/or client device, peer, controller node, or other functionally equivalent electronic signal processing machine, firmware, and/or software accessible via one or more wired and/or wireless network. For example, as shown various servers  110  A/B/C couple via cloud network  100  to various client computers  120  A/B/C having processor, storage, interface, and input/output for implementing one or more 3D-reality rendering capability to provide network-accessible interior space design. 
     It is contemplated herein that one or more inventive aspects may be embodied in computer-implemented steps automated to operate on various processing machines using one or more software programs, firmware, as well as signal processing circuitry or other electronically programmable hardware preferably accessible via one or more wired and/or wireless network. For example, during computationally automated operation, a network-accessible processor computationally renders interior space design elements to be extracted, saved, and/or applied automatically for 3D-reality space design, whereby computationally rendered 3D-reality space design transforms rendered design physically to actual 3D interior space. Optionally, at least one processor saves or loads coded elements that allow design elements to be applied into project(s) where coded and/or design elements form space characteristics. Such at least one processor may enable coded and/or design elements to be analyzed and/or coded into one or more database. Element characteristics may be categorized into parameter groups, such elements being applied into design space(s) as a set of “DNA” that may be user-changeable for alternate design proposal. Also, such at least one processor may code design elements, search using code values, or interchange element types with 3D rendering. Furthermore, such at least one processor may enable virtual-reality 3D walk-thru by communicating user, buyer, designer, or supplier to facilitate real-time interaction and design idea sharing. 
     Optionally, processor automates design-by-list approach, wherein in website or application, one or more user may generate design by creating a list of interior items, and processor or server automatically generates panorama view of such design in the space; preferably, user may repeat the process, and change items in the list, such that processor/server creates panorama and sends to user device according to latest change. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates representative apparatus embodiment diagram particularly system structure for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. As shown various software modules running on one or more sever or client computers, textures module  210  couples to materials module  214 , which couples with meshes module  212  to products module  216  coupled to designs module  218 , coupled to DNA module  220 . Further coupled to such software modules, web client  222  uploads meshes and textures, edits product properties, provides simple design, extracts DNA from design, and provides design community access; PC client  224  edits mesh and material binding, and uses products to make full design; and mobile client  226  provides simple design, provides design community access, and virtual reality view. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates representative apparatus embodiment diagram particularly system structure for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. As shown for one or more servers, system structure includes foundation  310 , server backend  328 , server front  324 , storage  312 , search server  340 , asset convert server group  338 , web API server  322 , database  314 , DNA server  316 , pano server group  318 , and coop design server. Also shown for one or more clients, system structure includes client  330 , web client  332  for community, asset upload, and simple design, PC client  334  for full design, and mobile client  336  similarly to web client  332 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates representative apparatus and method embodiment diagram particularly work flow product for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. As shown for one or more servers, work flow product includes various manual and/or automated operational steps, e.g., web client uploading assets  418 , API server creating task  416 , asset convert hub dispatching  414 , asset convert server converting  412 , and storage server storing  410 . Also shown for one or more clients, work flow product includes various manual and/or automated operating steps, e.g., web client creating and editing products  424 , API server editing  422 , and database server saving  420 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates representative apparatus and method embodiment diagram particularly work flow design for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. As shown for one or more server and/or client, work flow design includes various manual and/or automated operational steps, e.g., functional planning using primitive item(s) to plan functional focus on functional, not color or shapes  510 , applying style by applying DNA and/or changing style  512 , trimming using color scheme and/or budget control  514 , and sharing  516 . Optionally, style phase does not change item type, and/or location, and style may change shape and/or materials. Also, color scheme may modify materials to get expected color distribution, and budget control system may not change style, but find other similar cheaper or expensive product to fit total budget. Also, user may share design by product, by panorama images, by pictures, and/or by DNA of design. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates representative apparatus and method embodiment diagram particularly work flow panorama design for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. As shown for one or more server and/or client, work flow panorama design includes various manual and/or automated operational steps, e.g., web client  616  getting design data  614 /modifying and/or submitting design  614  data/receiving result from API server  612 , panora ma hub  610  dispatching and/or receiving result to/from panorama servers  618  and storage  620 . Optionally, this system may be used for simple design on web client or mobile client, and user does changes from 2-dimensional user interface and get high specification panorama result. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates representative apparatus and method embodiment diagram particularly work flow asset reusable system for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. As shown for one or more server and/or client, work flow design includes various manual and/or automated operational steps, e.g., textures module  710  couples to materials module  718 , which couples with meshes module  712  to products module  216  coupled to designs module  716 . Optionally, meshes, materials, and textures are share-able in the design platform. In particular, various materials are pre-provided, e.g., wood, metal, plastic, etc. Also, users may focus on creating meshes, and reuse share-able materials; and if user cannot find expected material, new materials may be created using material template in WYSIWYG way without professional artist experience or skill. Also, textures, products, DNAs are designed for share and/or reuse. 
       FIGS. 8-22  illustrate representative user interface diagrams for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. For example, such display interface includes user selectable audio/visual icons, buttons, or other multi-media or graphical means for user interaction to communicate or otherwise select computer-implemented items according to automated activity. 
       FIG. 8  shows representative interfaces  810 ,  812 .  FIG. 9  shows representative interface  910  with design and gallery menu.  FIG. 10  shows representative interface  1010  with various object selections.  FIG. 11  shows representative interface  1110  with various style selections.  FIG. 12  shows representative interface  1210  with object control menu.  FIG. 13  shows representative interface  1310  with top view.  FIG. 14  shows representative interface  1410  with 3-dimensional view.  FIG. 15  shows representative interface  1510  with various DNA source selections.  FIG. 16  shows representative interface  1610  with various 3-dimensional control.  FIG. 17  shows representative interface  1710  with video control.  FIG. 18  shows representative interface  1810  with visual control.  FIG. 19  shows representative interface  1910  with various viewing control.  FIG. 20  shows representative interface  2010  with 3-dimensional view.  FIG. 21  shows representative  2110  with 3-dimensional view.  FIG. 22  shows representative interface  2210  with 3-dimensional view. 
       FIGS. 23-25  illustrate representative data, storage, and data structure for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 23 , data  2310  and asset  2312  modules are provided with various software modules running on one or more sever or client computers, textures module  2330  couples to materials module  2332 , which couples with meshes module  2316  and components module  2318  to products module  2334  and suppliers module  2314  coupled to designs module  2322 , coupled to DNA module  2336 , screenshot module  2324 , panorama module  2326 , and movie module  2328 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 24 , infinity cloud space  2410  including network-accessible textures, meshes, materials, products, designs, DNA, etc., couples to various client  2412  for creating and/or otherwise getting design information. Optionally, database may use cloud database solution, master and/or slave server, multi-domain backup, thereby keeping high reliability. Also, file storage may use cloud storage, multi-backup and CDN support. Also, database and/or storage may automatically extend space, thereby generating nearly infinite space. 
     As shown in  FIG. 25 , data/storage structure  2510  is provided, such that assets like product, material, design have style properties, e.g., DNA, tags, etc. In particular, various DNA types may be provided, e.g., asset DNA, and design DNA, whereby asset and design DNA types represent features of object style. Also, tags may be marked by users; and DNA may be generated from tags by server. Also, users may mark unlimited amount of tags on an asset; and tags may be used for search and DNA generation. Optionally, tag display text may be translated to multiple languages, such that various users/community may mark such asset collaboratively. 
       FIG. 26  illustrates representative hardware apparatus embodiment diagram for rendering design according to one or more aspect of the present invention. For example, various hardware embodiments  2610 ,  2612 ,  2614 ,  2618 ,  2620  are shown, including goggles, immersive view and WIFI transfer images, without needing cable wiring; as well as including body motion sensor using inertial sensing. 
     Foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles and the application of the invention, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in its various embodiments and modifications according to the particular purpose contemplated. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.