Patent ID: 8768652

Claim:
A method comprising: providing, for display, a first geometric configuration of a model that represents a physical system, providing the first geometric configuration being performed by a computing device; receiving an input to change the first geometric configuration into a second geometric configuration, receiving the input being performed by the computing device; acquiring a scaffold that specifies a high-level definition for a state associated with the model, acquiring the scaffold being performed by the computing device; identifying an element of the model that is associated with the scaffold, identifying the element being performed by the computing device; determining a position of the element in the second geometric configuration, determining the position being performed by the computing device; determining that the scaffold is feasible based on the position of the element in the second geometric configuration, determining that the scaffold is feasible being performed by the computing device; determining that the scaffold applies to the second geometric configuration based on determining that the scaffold is feasible, determining that the scaffold applies to the second geometric configuration being performed by the computing device; and establishing a value of the state, associated with model, based on the second geometric configuration and the scaffold after determining that the scaffold applies to the second geometric configuration, establishing the value being performed by the computing device.