Patent ID: 7873434

Claim:
An automated method implemented in a computer system for manipulation of a two-dimensional cutting pattern, the cutting pattern for cutting a plurality of geometric shapes from a protective film, the protective film for application to a three-dimensional object comprising: providing pattern data wherein the pattern data represents the plurality of geometric shapes and a nested configuration of the geometric shapes residing in a two-dimensional plane wherein the pattern data may be used to form a plurality of commands to a cutter for cutting of the geometric shapes from the protective film wherein the plurality of commands are used to form the two-dimensional cutting pattern; associating with the pattern data a plurality of high-level tags wherein each high-level tag is associated with a high-level user operation that comprises information translating the position of the geometric shapes from the nested configuration to an installed configuration; and generating a visual representation of the plurality of geometric shapes in an installed configuration by computing a repositioning of the geometric shapes based on the pattern data and the high-level tags wherein the installed configuration directly associates each geometric shape of the protective film with a portion of the three-dimensional object; each high-level tag comprising an identification of a trailing line and a wrapping edge of the geometric shape with which the high-level tag is associated.