Patent ID: 8301420

Claim:
A computer implemented transformation method for creating a representation of a product or process that enables a product lifecycle management system to interact with the representation and three-dimensional models in a seamless and uniform manner, the representation is created in the absence of a three-dimensional model of the product or process, the method comprising: given starter data that represents the product or process and that lacks information for creating in a three-dimensional model domain, a three-dimensional model of the product or process, creating, using a computer, a root transient geometry from the starter data; identifying at least one part or assembly of parts of the product, or step of the process in the created root transient geometry; creating, using the computer, a leaf transient geometry for each identified part or assembly of parts, or step; associating each created leaf transient geometry with at least one attribute; and forming, using the computer, an intermediary structure by organizing the root transient geometry as the root of the structure and each leaf transient geometry with respective associated attribute as a leaf of the structure, the intermediary structure being a resulting data representation that is compatible with the three-dimensional model domain but differs from a three-dimensional model of the product or process that has real-world geometry of the product or process, the intermediary structure being formed in a manner that enables a product lifecycle management system to interact with the resulting data representation and three-dimensional models in a seamless and uniform manner, and is capable of being updated with real-world geometry of the product or process.