Patent ID: 7676765

Claim:
A computer system operation method for displaying a computer-generated two-dimensional projection of a three-dimensional model of an object on a display in a desired plane, the method comprising the steps of: converting the computer-generated three-dimensional model of the object to a computer-generated two-dimensional visualization of the object, said two-dimensional visualization of the object being processed by said computer without generating full drafting data, said computer-generated three-dimensional model of the object being in one of a plurality of projection planes and said computer-generated two-dimensional visualization of the object being in a first selected projection plane from said plurality of selection planes; receiving a second selected projection plane for said two-dimensional visualization, wherein said second selected projection plane is different from said first selected projection plane; rotating said two-dimensional visualization in order to display said two-dimensional visualization in said second selected projection plane; displaying said two-dimensional visualization in said second selected projection plane; and generating a fully computed two-dimensional projection of said three-dimensional model in said second selected projection plane after said two-dimensional visualization in said second selected projection plane has been displayed, said fully computed projection of said three-dimensional model being processed by said computer generating full drafting data, wherein computer processing time of said two-dimensional visualization of the object being processed without generating full drafting data is substantially reduced with respect to computer processing time of said fully computed projection of said three-dimensional model being processed generating full drafting data, thereby substantially improving efficiency in displaying said computer-generated two-dimensional projection of a three-dimensional model of an object on a display in a desired plane.