Patent Publication Number: US-2021174060-A1

Title: Design support method, server, and design support system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/323,753 filed Feb. 6, 2019, which is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2017/025696, filed Jul. 14, 2017, and claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-157025, filed on Aug. 9, 2016, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The International Application was published in Japanese on Feb. 15, 2018 as International Publication No. WO/2018/030071 under PCT Article 21(2). 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a design support method, a server, and a design support system for supporting the design of an item group including a plurality of items. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Heretofore, there have been design support systems that provide a three-dimensional (3D) display of shape data (e.g., computer-aided design (CAD) data) regarding mechanical equipment typically including a plurality of sheet-metal parts, machined parts, pressed parts, and injection-molded parts (called “items” hereunder, hence the mechanical equipment is referred to as “item group” hereunder) with a view to supporting the design of the assembly of the items. 
     One such design support system is known to display, in the same color, the items having the same manufacturing conditions such as the same tolerance, material, and surface treatment (e.g., see Japanese Unexamined Publication No. 2009-93639). 
     Technical Problem 
     However, the existing design support systems such as one described in Japanese Unexamined Publication No. 2009-93639 involve recognizing a plurality of items having the same manufacturing conditions as a single group and allowing the plurality of items in the group to be selected collectively to improve the operational convenience at design time. 
     For that reason, if a user has no specialized knowledge of design or if a manufacturing condition of one item or one group is changed, there is the possibility of having to examine, one by one, the items in the group or items not in that group or in some other group concerned with the changed condition as to whether their manufacturing conditions need to be changed. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the invention is therefore to provide a design support method, a server, and a design support system capable of performing design that easily meets the desired conditions for the entire item group. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Solution to Problem 
     In achieving the above object and according to the present invention, there is provided a design support method for supporting the design of an item group including a plurality of items, the design support method comprising: 
     an item recognizing step of recognizing each of the items included in the item group by individually recognizing elements making up the item; 
     a manufacturing condition acquiring step of acquiring, for each of the recognized items, manufacturing conditions selectable at a time of manufacturing the item; 
     a designated condition recognizing step of recognizing a designated condition from the manufacturing conditions; 
     a recommended-to-be-examined element recognizing step of recognizing, with respect to the designated condition recognized, the element corresponding to any of the manufacturing conditions that is recommended to be examined for changes; and 
     an item group displaying step of displaying a model of the item group by highlighting the element for which the manufacturing condition is recommended to be examined for changes. 
     As outlined above, the design support method of the present invention involves first determining the manufacturing conditions recommended to be examined for changes with respect to the condition designated regarding the elements making up any of the items. Thereafter, the elements corresponding to the manufacturing conditions recommended to be examined for changes are highlighted on a display that indicates a model of the item group. 
     At this point, the criteria for discriminating whether a given manufacturing condition is recommended to be examined for changes may be constituted by desired conditions determined beforehand by a user regarding the item group as a whole (e.g., price, delivery date, weight, size, etc., of the entire item group), or by previously accumulated data about the conditions preferred in terms of design or about the conditions generally favored by users. 
     This allows the user to visually recognize, as specific elements, the manufacturing condition to be examined next. That is, the design support method of the present invention permits presentation of the manufacturing conditions to be examined in an intuitively comprehensible manner, so that the manufacturing conditions are examined efficiently. 
     Thus, the design support method of the present invention allows the user, who may not possess specialized knowledge of design, to easily design the entire item group that meets the desired conditions. 
     With the design support method of the present invention, if there are a plurality of the elements highlighted on display by the above-mentioned item group displaying step, the highlighted elements for which the same manufacturing condition is designated are preferably painted in the same color. 
     The above configuration makes it possible to examine a plurality of elements at the same time. As a result, the entire item group can be designed more easily in a manner meeting the desired conditions. 
     Also, in achieving the above object and according to the present invention, there is provided a server for supporting an item group including a plurality of items, the server comprising: 
     an item recognition section recognizing each of the items included in the item group by individually recognizing elements making up the item; 
     an item information storage section storing a manufacturing condition for each of the elements selectable at a time of manufacturing the items; 
     a manufacturing condition acquisition section acquiring, for each of the items recognized by the item recognition section, the manufacturing conditions selectable at a time of manufacturing the item; 
     a designated condition recognition section recognizing a designated condition from the manufacturing conditions; 
     a recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section recognizing, with respect to the designated condition recognized, the element corresponding to any of the manufacturing conditions that is recommended to be examined for changes; and 
     an item group display section displaying a model of the item group by highlighting the element for which the manufacturing condition is recommended to be examined for changes. 
     Also, in achieving the above object and according to the present invention, there is provided a design support system including the above-outlined server, an input terminal, and an output terminal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic estimation system embodying the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing a process performed by a server of the automatic estimation system in  FIG. 1 , the process ranging from an item recognizing step to a recommended condition proposing step. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a process performed by the server of the automatic estimation system in  FIG. 1 , the process ranging from an asking price/delivery date recognizing step to an item group displaying step. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing a typical image displayed on a display screen in STEP  01  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram showing a typical image displayed on the display screen in STEP  05  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing a typical image displayed on the display screen in STEP  07  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram showing a typical image displayed on the display screen in STEP  09  and STEP  10  in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing a typical image displayed on the display screen in STEP  18  in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram showing a typical image displayed on the display screen in STEP  19  in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Explained first with reference to  FIG. 1  is an automatic estimation system S embodying the present invention, the system being also used as a design support system. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the automatic estimation system S (design support system) includes an information terminal  1  operated by a user and a server  2  connected with the information terminal  1  via lines such as the Internet. The automatic estimation system S determines a price and delivery date of mechanical equipment typically including a plurality of sheet-metal parts, machined parts, pressed parts, and injection-molded parts (called “items” hereunder, hence the mechanical equipment referred to as “item group” hereunder) by supporting the design of the mechanical equipment. 
     The design support method of the present invention is applicable not just to the system including a server and a plurality of information terminals (input and output terminals) connected with the server via a network. For example, the design support method may also be applied to a single information terminal that includes an input section  11  and an output section  12  in an information terminal  1 , to be discussed later, and processing and storage sections in a server  2 . 
     The information terminal  1  has the input section  11  that includes input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, and the output section  12  including such output devices as a liquid crystal display and speakers. The information input by the user to the information terminal  1  via the input section  11  is transmitted to the server  2  by way of the network. The result of the processing performed by the server  2  on the basis of the transmitted information is transmitted to the information terminal  1  and displayed on the output section  12  for presentation to the user. 
     The server  2  is a computer including a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory, among others. The server  2  includes an item recognition section  21 , a shape pattern storage section  22 , an item information acquisition section  23  (manufacturing condition acquisition section), an item information storage section  24 , a condition recognition section  25 , and a display processing section  26  (item group display section). 
     The item recognition section  21  recognizes, in constituent elements, each of the items included in a given item group on the basis of the shape data (e.g., CAD data) regarding the item group, the data being input via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1 . 
     The shape pattern storage section  22  stores the shape patterns of diverse items. The shape patterns are referenced by the item recognition section  21  at a time of recognizing the types of the items in the item group and the elements constituting the items. 
     From the item information storage section  24 , the item information acquisition section  23  acquires, for each item recognized by the item recognition section  21 , the manufacturing conditions that can be selected at a time of manufacturing the item and the price and delivery date of the item in the case where any of the manufacturing conditions is selected. 
     The manufacturing conditions here may include, for example, dimensions, tolerance, material, hardness, and surface treatment in addition to diverse parameters that may affect the results of estimation of the item such as its price and delivery date or the nature of the item group involved (its size and weight). 
     The item information storage section  24  stores, for each item in an item group that can be ordered and designed via the automatic estimation system S, the manufacturing conditions that can be selected at a time of manufacturing the item and the price and delivery date of the item in the case where any of the manufacturing conditions is selected. The stored manufacturing conditions are set and stored not in terms of items but rather in constituent elements of the items. 
     The condition recognition section  25  recognizes the information input by the user via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1 . The condition recognition section  25  includes a designated condition recognition section  25   a,  a proposed condition recognition section  25   b,  an asking price/delivery date recognition section  25   c,  a fixed condition recognition section  25   d,  and a fixed element recognition section  25   e.    
     The designated condition recognition section  25   a  recognizes, from the manufacturing conditions displayed selectably on the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 , the condition designated through selection by the user via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1 . 
     The proposed condition recognition section  25   b  recognizes, from the proposed requests displayed selectably on the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 , the types of those requests selected by the user via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1 . 
     The asking price/delivery date recognition section  25   c  recognizes the asking price and delivery date of the item group input to input fields displayed on the output section  12  by the user via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1 . 
     The fixed condition recognition section  25   d  recognizes, from the manufacturing conditions displayed selectably on the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 , the designated condition selected by the user via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1 . 
     The fixed element recognition section  25   e  recognizes fixed items and fixed elements selected by the user via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1  from the items and the constituent elements making up each item in a 3D model of the item group displayed on the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 . 
     As described above, the automatic estimation system S complies with a format in which selections are made from the designated condition, type of the proposed request, fixed conditions, fixed items, and fixed elements being presented. However, the format in which to select the designated condition, type of the proposed request, fixed conditions, fixed items, or fixed elements is not limited to the above format for designation. Alternatively, the condition, request type, items, and elements may be designated in a format for direct character string input or for direct voice input. 
     Also, the automatic estimation system S complies with a format in which the asking price and delivery date are directly input for designation. However, the format in which to designate the asking price and delivery date is not limited to the above format for direct input. Alternatively, there may be provided a format in which the asking price and delivery date are selected from among those presented. 
     The display processing section  26  displays, on the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 , basic information, a 3D model, manufacturing conditions, and results of estimation regarding the item group on the basis of the information from the item recognition section  21 , item information acquisition section  23 , and condition recognition section  25 . The display processing section  26  includes a 3D model preparation section  26   a,  an item group price/delivery date determination section  26   b,  a recommended condition proposition section  26   c,  a variation value calculation section  26   d,  and a recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section  26   e.    
     The 3D model preparation section  26   a  prepares a 3D model based on the shapes of items recognized by the item recognition section  21 , and causes the output section  12  in the information terminal  1  to display the prepared 3D model. The 3D model prepared by the 3D model preparation section  26   a  is segmented into the items and the elements making up each item, the items and elements being painted each in a color as desired. The 3D model may also be selected in units of elements. 
     The item group price/delivery date determination section  26   b  determines the price and delivery date (estimation result) of the item group on the basis of the item prices and delivery dates corresponding to the designated conditions recognized by the designated condition recognition section  25   a.  The item group price/delivery date determination section  26   b  causes the output section  12  in the information terminal  1  to display the determined price and delivery date of the item group. 
     The recommended condition proposition section  26   c  selects the recommended condition from the manufacturing conditions in accordance with the requested type of the proposed request, and displays the recommended condition thus selected on the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 . 
     The variation value calculation section  26   d  calculates the variation values of the determined (i.e., current) price and delivery date regarding any of the manufacturing conditions that may have been changed. The variation value calculation section  26   d  displays the calculated variation values on the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 . 
     When the designated condition is selected, the recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section  26   e  recognizes the elements for which the manufacturing conditions are recommended to be examined for changes, and displays the recognized elements on the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 . 
     As described above, varieties of information resulting from the processing by the item group price/delivery date determination section  26   b,  recommended condition proposition section  26   c,  variation value calculation section  26   d,  and recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section  26   e  in the automatic estimation system S are output as images on the display screen of the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 . Alternatively, these pieces of information may be output as both images and sounds. 
     The processes performed by the server  2  of the automatic estimation system S are explained below with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 9 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  are flowcharts of the processes carried out by the server  2  of the automatic estimation system S. 
     First, the item recognition section  21  recognizes the shapes of the constituent elements (hereinafter, referred to as “solids”) of the item group based on the shape data regarding the item group input by the user to the input section  11  in the information terminal  1  (STEP  01  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In STEP  01 , the image such as one in  FIG. 4  is displayed on the display screen of the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 . The user inputs the shape data to a shape data input area  12   a  on the display screen. Alternatively, the user selects previously input shape data displayed in the shape data input area  12   a  (e.g., data indicated either as “PROJECT 1: EJECTOR PIN SET A,” or as “PROJECT 2: EJECTOR PIN SET B” in  FIG. 4 ). This allows the item recognition section  21  to recognize the item group shape data. 
     Incidentally, the automatic estimation system of this embodiment uses 3D CAD data as the item group shape data. However, the shape data is not limited to the 3D CAD data. Alternatively, the shape data may be a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) CAD data or data in some other suitable format permitting recognition of the shapes of the solids included in the item group. 
     The item recognition section  21  then references the shape patterns stored in the shape pattern storage section  22  in order to recognize the type of the items corresponding to the shapes of the recognized solids as well as the elements making up the items (STEP  02  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     STEP  01  and STEP  02  above constitute the item recognizing step in the process performed by the automatic estimation system S. 
     Next, the item recognition section  21  prepares a 3D model of the item group based on the shapes of the solids recognized by the item recognition section  21  and on the elements making up the recognized items (STEP  03  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The 3D model of the item group prepared at this point is segmented into the items and the elements making up each item, the segments being painted each in a color as desired. Each of the elements of the 3D model is selectable. The item group may be modeled not only as a 3D model but also as a 2D model. The colors used to paint the segments include a colorless portion. 
     The item information acquisition section  23  then acquires, from the item information storage section  24 , the manufacturing conditions that can be selected regarding the elements making up the items recognized by the item recognition section  21 , as well as the prices and delivery dates corresponding to the selectable manufacturing conditions (STEP  04  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     STEP  04  above is the manufacturing condition acquiring step in the process performed by the automatic estimation system S. 
     The display processing section  26  then displays the prepared 3D model and also displays the acquired manufacturing conditions in a selectable manner (STEP  05  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In STEP  05 , the image such as one in  FIG. 5  is displayed on the display screen of the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 . Specifically, what is displayed is an image that includes a model display area  12   b,  a basic information display area  12   c,  a manufacturing condition display area  12   d,  an asking price/delivery date input area  12   e,  a proposed request display area  12   f,  and an estimation result display area  12   g.    
     The model display area  12   b  displays a 3D model M of the item group constituted by a plurality of items in a manner allowing each of the elements making up the items to be selected. The display of this 3D model M can be rotatably changed by the user operating the input section  11 . Also, the format in which the 3D model M is displayed may be changed as desired (i.e., in terms of positions of dimension indications and wire frame indications). 
     The basic information display area  12   c  displays basic information regarding the item group. The basic information includes, for example, the project name, the type of items (item name), and the number of items (quantity). In this embodiment, the item group is an ejector pin set consisting of only 6 ejector pins, so that the item name is given solely as the ejector pin, with the noted quantity covering only the ejector pins. 
     The manufacturing condition display area  12   d  displays the manufacturing conditions such as material and hardness in a selectable format. Specifically, the selectable manufacturing conditions are displayed as a pull-down menu in a manufacturing condition selection area  12   d   1 . In addition to the manufacturing condition selection area  12   d   1 , the manufacturing condition display area  12   d  displays fixed checkboxes  12   d   2  and a variation value display area  12   d   3 , to be discussed later. 
     The asking price/delivery date input area  12   e  displays input fields for the asking price and the asking delivery date. The user may input desired values into these input fields via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1 . 
     The proposed request display area  12   f  displays proposed request buttons to be used when a proposed request is made, as will be discussed later. In this embodiment, two buttons are displayed: a “LOWEST PRICE” button and an “EARLIEST DELIVERY DATE” button. 
     The estimation result display area  12   g  displays the price and delivery date (shipping date) of the item group as the result of estimation. This area is currently blank because estimates have yet to be made at the time of STEP  05 . 
     Then, the designated condition recognition section  25   a  in the condition recognition section  25  recognizes the designated condition selected by the user from the displayed manufacturing conditions via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1  (STEP  06  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     STEP  06  above is the designated condition recognizing step in the process performed by the automatic estimation system S. 
     The item group price/delivery date determination section  26   b  in the display processing section  26  then determines the delivery date and price of the item group based on the designated condition recognized by the designated condition recognition section  25   a  in the condition recognition section  25  and on the item-by-item prices and delivery dates acquired by the item information acquisition section  23 . The item group price/delivery date determination section  26   b  causes the output section  12  in the information terminal  1  to display the determined delivery date and price (STEP  07  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     Specifically, the price of the item group may be determined, for example, by totaling the prices of a plurality of the items making up the item group, the totaled price being optionally supplemented with an assembly cost. The delivery date of the item group may be determined by selecting the latest of the delivery dates of a plurality of the items making up the item group. The delivery date of the item group may also be determined by supplementing the latest delivery date with the work time for assembly. 
     Thereafter, as in the image in  FIG. 6 , for example, the display screen of the output section  12  in the information terminal  1  displays, in the estimation result display area  12   g,  the price and delivery date of the item group determined by the item group price/delivery date determination section  26   b.    
     Alternatively, STEP  07  may be omitted, i.e., the results of the estimation may not be displayed at this stage. Specifically, control may be transferred, without the image in  FIG. 6  being displayed, to the next step with the image in  FIG. 5  being displayed. 
     STEP  07  above, together with STEP  21  to be discussed later, constitutes the item group price/delivery date determining step in the process performed by the automatic estimation system S. 
     Then, the proposed condition recognition section  25   b  in the condition recognition section  25  discriminates whether the proposed request is recognized (STEP  08  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     Specifically, the proposed condition recognition section  25   b  discriminates whether the “LOWEST PRICE” button or the “EARLIEST DELIVERY DATE” button is selected in the proposed request display area  12   f  on the display screen of the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 . 
     In the case where the proposed request is recognized (when “YES” is selected in STEP  08 ), the recommended condition proposition section  26   c  retrieves the recommend condition from the manufacturing conditions acquired by the item information acquisition section  23  in accordance with the type of the proposed request recognized by the proposed condition recognition section  25   b.  The recommended condition proposition section  26   c  further displays the retrieved recommended condition on the output section  12  in the information terminal  1  (STEP  09  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     Specifically, the recommended condition proposition section  26   c  first acquires a plurality of manufacturing conditions in which the prices are low and the delivery dates are early. The recommended condition proposition section  26   c  then retrieves the manufacturing condition in which the price of the item group as a whole is the lowest at a time of manufacture or at which the delivery date of the entire item group is the earliest, and recognizes the result of the retrieval as the recommended condition. At this point, if the manufacturing conditions to be fixed have been designated by processes similar to STEP  12  and STEP  13 , to be discussed later, or if the items or the elements constituting any item for which the manufacturing conditions need to be fixed have been designated, these manufacturing conditions, items, or constituent elements are excluded from the retrieval. 
     The item group price/delivery date determination section  26   b  in the display processing section  26  then determines the delivery date and price of the item group based on the recommended condition retrieved by the recommended condition proposition section  26   c  and on the prices and delivery dates of the individual items acquired by the item information acquisition section  23 . The item group price/delivery date determination section  26   b  displays the determined delivery date and price of the item group on the output section  12  in the information terminal  1  (STEP  10  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In STEP  09  and STEP  10 , the image such as one in  FIG. 7  is displayed on the display screen of the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 . This display screen displays the values selected in the manufacturing condition selection area  12   d   1  of the manufacturing condition display area  12   d  and the values displayed in the estimation result display area  12   g,  the values being changed from those in  FIG. 6  (i.e., different from the values at the time of STEP  07 ). 
     Specifically, if the “LOWEST PRICE” button is selected, “SHIPPING DATE” (delivery date) is changed from “JUN. 29, 2016” to “JUL. 4, 2016” and the total price is changed from “4,910 yen” to the lowest price “3,890 yen” concomitant with “MATERIAL” in the manufacturing condition selection area  12   d   1  being changed from “SKH51 (58-60 HRC)” to the recommended “NAK80 (37-43 HRC)” and with “HARDNESS” being changed from “58-60 HRC” to the recommended “37-43 HRC.” 
     STEP  08  through STEP  10  above constitute the recommended condition proposing step in the process performed by the automatic estimation system S. 
     As described above, the automatic estimation system S proposes the recommended condition (base settings regarding the manufacturing conditions) based on the proposed request. This allows the user to perform design while referencing the base design. 
     After the delivery date and price of the item group based on the recommended condition have been displayed (after STEP  10 ) or in the case where the proposed request is not recognized (“NO” in STEP  08 ), the asking price/delivery date recognition section  25   c  in the condition recognition section  25  recognizes the asking price and delivery date input by the user via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1  (STEP  11  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Specifically, the asking price/delivery date recognition section  25   c  recognizes the values input by the user via the input section  11  of the information terminal  1  into the input fields of the asking price/delivery date input area  12   e  displayed on the display screen of the output section  12 . 
     STEP  11  above is the asking price/delivery date recognizing step in the process performed by the automatic estimation system S. 
     Then, the fixed condition recognition section  25   d  in the condition recognition section  25  recognizes the fixed conditions selected from the displayed manufacturing conditions by the user via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1  (STEP  12  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Specifically, the fixed condition recognition section  25   d  recognizes the manufacturing conditions of which the fixed checkboxes  12   d   2  are checked in the image displayed on the display screen of the output section  12 . 
     The fixed element recognition section  25   e  then recognizes the fixed items or fixed elements (hereinafter, generically referred to as “fixed elements”) selected from the displayed 3D model by the user via the input section  11  in the information terminal  1  (STEP  13  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Specifically, the fixed element recognition section  25   e  recognizes the items or the item constituent elements which have the manufacturing conditions fixed and which are directly selected from the 3D model M displayed on the display screen of the output section  12 . 
     STEP  12  above is the fixed condition recognizing step in the process performed by the automatic estimation system S. STEP  13  above is the fixed element recognizing step in the process carried out by the automatic estimation system S. 
     As described above, the automatic estimation system S permits selection of the manufacturing condition desired by the user or selection of the items or the elements whose manufacturing conditions are to be fixed (i.e., selection of the fixed conditions or the fixed elements). This makes it possible to further narrow down the manufacturing conditions to be examined for changes. 
     Alternatively, STEP  12  and STEP  13  above may be omitted. Control may then be transferred to the next step without the fixed conditions or the fixed elements being selected. 
     On the basis of the price and delivery date regarding each of the manufacturing conditions acquired by the item information acquisition section  23 , the variation value calculation section  26   d  in the display processing section  26  then calculates the variation values of the price and delivery date of the item group in the case where each of its manufacturing conditions is changed (STEP  14  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Specifically, in reference to the price and delivery date of the item group determined (i.e., currently) by the item group price/delivery date determination section  26   b,  the variation value calculation section  26   d  calculates the variation values of the price and delivery date of the item group determined in the case where the manufacturing condition involved is changed. 
     STEP  14  above is the variation value calculating step in the process performed by the automatic estimation system S. 
     The recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section  26   e  in the display processing section  26  then calculates the differences between the determined (i.e., current) price and delivery date of the item group on the one hand and the input asking price and asking delivery date on the other hand (STEP  15  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     The recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section  26   e  then discriminates whether the differences are at least minimum values of the variation values (STEP  16  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     In the case where the differences are at least the minimum values of the variation values (“YES” in STEP  16 ), the recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section  26   e  retrieves the recommended manufacturing conditions which, if changed, approximate the asking price and asking delivery date, with the exception of the fixed conditions and the manufacturing conditions regarding the fixed elements (STEP  17  in  FIG. 3 ) 
     Specifically, the recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section  26   e  retrieves the manufacturing conditions whose variation values approximate the differences. At this point, the recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section  26   e  may retrieve a plurality of manufacturing conditions which, if changed, approximate the asking price and asking delivery date. For each of the retrieved manufacturing conditions, the recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section  26   e  may also recognize the degree of how closely the item group price and delivery date determined following the change of the condition approximate the asking price and the asking delivery date. Specifically, the manufacturing conditions whose variation values approximate the differences may be recognized as having high degrees of approximation. 
     STEP  17  above is the recommended-to-be-examined element recognizing step in the process performed by the automatic estimation system S. 
     The recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section  26   e  then displays the variation values in manufacturing condition display fields, and further displays in color those manufacturing condition display fields corresponding to the recommended condition as well as the items or the elements constituting the items in the 3D model that correspond to the recommended condition (STEP  18  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     For example, as in the image in  FIG. 8 , the variation values are displayed in the variation value display area  12   d   3  inside the manufacturing condition display area  12   d  on the display screen of the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 . At the same time, of the manufacturing conditions in the manufacturing condition selection area  12   d   1 , those corresponding to the recommended condition are displayed in color. Also, of the items in the 3D model M displayed in the model display area  12   b,  those corresponding to the recommended condition are displayed in color. 
     Specifically, the variation value display area  12   d   3  displays the variation value for each of the options included in the pull-down menu of “FLANGE DIAMETER TOLERANCE” (i.e., “+235 YEN” displayed in the option “0/−0.02”). Incidentally, with this embodiment, the variation value of the delivery date is not displayed. Alternatively, the variation value of the delivery date may be displayed in place of the variation value of the price. As another alternative, both the variation value of the price and that of the delivery date may be displayed. 
     Also, given the displayed options, the manufacturing condition display area  12   d  highlights, in different colors, “FLANGE DIAMETER TOLERANCE” for which the manufacturing condition is changed and “SHANK DIAMETER TOLERANCE” for which the manufacturing condition is recommended to be examined for changes. 
     Also, the model display area  12   b  highlights the element corresponding to “FLANGE” as the item selected from the 3D model M as well as the tolerance value of the element size using a color similar to that of “FLANGE DIAMETER TOLERANCE,” the name displayed in the manufacturing condition display area  12   d.  At the same time, the model display area  12   b  highlights “FLANGE” of the other items for which the manufacturing conditions are similar to those of “FLANGE” as the currently selected item using a color similar to but lighter than that of “FLANGE,” the current item. 
     Furthermore, the model display area  12   b  highlights the element corresponding to “SHANK DIAMETER TOLERANCE” associated with the recommended condition and the tolerance value of the element size, using a color similar to that of “SHANK DIAMETER TOLERANCE,” the name displayed in the manufacturing condition display area  12   d.    
     STEP  18  above is the item group displaying step in the process performed by the automatic estimation system S. 
     As described above, the automatic estimation system S indicates the manufacturing condition to be examined to let the price and delivery date of the item group approximate respectively the asking price and asking delivery date, the manufacturing condition being color-highlighted as the recommended condition. This allows the user to visually recognize the manufacturing condition to be examined next for specific elements. That is, the automatic estimation system S presents the manufacturing condition to be examined in an intuitively comprehensible manner so that the user can efficiently examine the manufacturing condition. 
     In the case where a plurality of recommended conditions are retrieved in STEP  17  above, those elements which correspond to the recommended condition and for which the same manufacturing condition is designated (e.g., individual flanges of a plurality of the pins in this embodiment) may be highlighted in the same color when the recommended condition is presented in STEP  18 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Where a plurality of elements corresponding to the recommended condition are arranged to be highlighted on display as described above, a plurality of elements (manufacturing conditions) can be examined at the same time. Specifically, it is possible to examine whether to collectively change the manufacturing conditions or whether to change only part of the manufacturing conditions. 
     In STEP  17  above, in the case where a plurality of recommended conditions are retrieved and where calculations are made of how closely the item group price and delivery date determined after changing of the manufacturing conditions approximate the asking price and asking delivery date respectively (i.e., calculation of the degrees of approximation), each of the elements corresponding to the recommended condition may be highlighted in a different color reflecting the degree of approximation (e.g., the higher the degree of approximation, the darker the color in which the recommended condition is painted) when the recommended condition is presented in STEP  18 . 
     When a plurality of types of recommended conditions are arranged to be presented as described above, it is easy to recognize the degrees of importance of the manufacturing conditions to be examined. 
     Alternatively, solely the most highly recommended manufacturing condition (with which the asking price and asking delivery date will be most closely approximated at a time of condition change) may be highlighted on display. 
     Meanwhile, in the case where the differences are less than the minimum values of the variation values (“NO” in STEP  16 ), the recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section  26   e  indicates that the determined price and delivery date of the item group approximate most closely the asking price and asking delivery date respectively (STEP  19  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     For example, as in the image in  FIG. 9 , the current manufacturing condition is indicated as an optimum condition in the estimation result display area  12   g  on the display screen of the output section  12  in the information terminal  1 . 
     Specifically, the estimation result display area  12   g  displays a message such as “This price most closely approximates the asking price.” 
     The automatic estimation system S uses the minimum values of the differences and of the variation values as the threshold values. However, the threshold values are not limited to these values and may be set as desired by the user. 
     After the recommended condition is presented at the same time as the display of the variation values (after STEP  18 ) or following the indication that the determined price and delivery date of the item group approximate most closely the asking price and asking delivery date respectively (after STEP  19 ), the condition recognition section  25  discriminates whether the manufacturing condition is changed (STEP  20  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     In the case where the manufacturing condition is changed (“YES” in STEP  20 ), the item group price/delivery date determination section  26   b  in the display processing section  26  determines the price and delivery date of the item group on the basis of the prices and delivery dates of the items corresponding to the changed manufacturing condition, and displays the determined price and delivery date (STEP  21  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Following STEP  21 , the processing ranging from STEP  14  to STEP  20  is repeated. 
     In the case where the manufacturing condition is not changed (“NO” in STEP  20 ), the server  2  terminates the current process. 
     As explained above, even if the user has no specialized knowledge of design, the automatic estimation system S provides guidance of the manufacturing conditions to be examined so that the user will easily design the entire item group in a manner satisfying the desired conditions. 
     The embodiment pictured in the accompanying drawings was described above. However, this embodiment is not limitative of the present invention. 
     For example, the above-described embodiment has the design support system included in the automatic estimation system S. That is because the price and delivery date of the item group are part of the objects to be designed. Still, the design support method, server, and design support system according to the present invention may support the design of the item group as a whole. That is, the method, server, and system of the invention may also support the design of objects other than the price and delivery date (i.e., the automatic estimation system is not limitative of the invention). 
     For example, an embodiment of the invention may support the design of such characteristics as weight, size, and heat resistance of the entire item group. In this case, however, the manufacturing conditions need to be concerned with such characteristics as weight, size, and heat resistance. 
     Also, the above-described embodiment uses the asking price and asking delivery date of the item group as the criteria for discriminating whether a given manufacturing condition is recommended to be examined for changes. Alternatively, however, the design support system, server, and design support method according to the present invention may use, in addition to the asking price and asking delivery date, desired conditions (e.g., weight, size, etc., of the item group as a whole) determined beforehand by the user regarding the entire item group as the discrimination criteria. As another alternative, previously accumulated data about the conditions preferred in terms of design or about the conditions generally favored by users may be used as the criteria. 
     Whereas the embodiment above uses both price and delivery date as the criteria for design, either the price or the delivery date alone may be used as the criteria for design. 
     Also, the above embodiment highlights in color those elements in the 3D model which correspond to the manufacturing conditions recommended to be examined for changes. However, the design support method, server, and design support system of the present invention need only provide a highlighted display, not just the colored display, that allows the user to intuitively understand the elements of interest. For example, icons such as arrows may be displayed where needed to designate the elements concerned. As another example, the elements involved may be designated by voice. 
     Also, the above-described embodiment permits selection of the manufacturing conditions to be fixed or of the items or the elements making up the items for which the manufacturing conditions are to be fixed. Alternatively, the design support method, server, and design support system of the present invention may omit the functions to permit selection of the manufacturing conditions to be fixed or of the items or the elements making up the items for which the manufacturing conditions are to be fixed. 
     Further, the above embodiment displays the calculated variation values. Alternatively, the design support method, server, and design support system according to the present invention may calculate the variation values without displaying them. The calculated variations values may then be used solely to highlight on display the manufacturing conditions recommended to be examined for changes. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1  Information terminal (input terminal, output terminal) 
           2  Server 
           11  Input section 
           12  Output section 
           12   a  Shape data input area 
           12   b  Model display area 
           12   c  Basic information display area 
           12   d  Manufacturing condition display area 
           12   d   1  Manufacturing condition selection area 
           12   d   2  Fixed checkboxes 
           12   d   3  Variation value display area 
           12   e  Asking price/delivery date input area 
           12   f  Proposed request display area 
           12   g  Estimation result display area 
           21  Item recognition section 
           22  Shape pattern storage section 
           23  Item information acquisition section (manufacturing condition acquisition section) 
           24  Item information storage section 
           25  Condition recognition section 
           25   a  Designated condition recognition section 
           25   b  Proposed condition recognition section 
           25   c  Asking price/delivery date recognition section 
           25   d  Fixed condition recognition section 
           25   e  Fixed element recognition section 
           26  Display processing section (item group display section) 
           26   a  3D model preparation section 
           26   b  Item group price/delivery date determination section 
           26   c  Recommended condition proposition section 
           26   d  Variation value calculation section 
           26   e  Recommended-to-be-examined element recognition section 
         M 3D model 
         S Automatic estimation system (design support system)