Patent ID: 8483498

Claim:
A method for defining an edge geometry of a geometrical feature, comprising: (A) matching at least one mathematical entity with said edge geometry, wherein the or each said entity is capable of being embodied by a predetermined array of attributes having attribute values such that said array provides sufficient information to enable reconstruction of the corresponding said entity therefrom; (B) for the or each said entity, generating a corresponding said array of attributes and applying to each said attribute thereof an attribute value chosen from a corresponding predetermined set of attribute values such that said array provides sufficient information to enable reconstruction of the corresponding said entity therefrom, and generating a text string based on said chosen array values whereby to define said edge geometry thereby, wherein the or each said mathematical entity comprises at least one vertex associated with at least two segments joined thereto such as to match said edge geometry according to predetermined criteria, and wherein said attributes are associated with at least shape-related information regarding said segments and at least one spatial relationship therebetween with respect to said corresponding vertex, wherein the or each said vertex comprises two said segments joined thereto, and said array of attributes include at least one attribute chosen from the group consisting of vertex type (VT), linear angle (LA), linear convexity (LC), linear size relation (LSR), curve convexity (CC), curve angularity (CA), and virtual segment (VS), and said array of attributes further comprising number of vertices (NV), and wherein each said attribute of said group has a corresponding attribute value chosen from a corresponding set of attribute values, each corresponding set of attribute values including an undefined or zero attribute value corresponding to the respective attribute being considered unimportant for the respective said vertex.