WO2007138560A2 - Design facilitation - Google Patents

Design facilitation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007138560A2
WO2007138560A2 PCT/IB2007/052047 IB2007052047W WO2007138560A2 WO 2007138560 A2 WO2007138560 A2 WO 2007138560A2 IB 2007052047 W IB2007052047 W IB 2007052047W WO 2007138560 A2 WO2007138560 A2 WO 2007138560A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
design
commercially available
available products
products
computer
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2007/052047
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2007138560A3 (en
Inventor
Andries Hendrik Potgieter
Original Assignee
Andries Hendrik Potgieter
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Andries Hendrik Potgieter filed Critical Andries Hendrik Potgieter
Publication of WO2007138560A2 publication Critical patent/WO2007138560A2/en
Publication of WO2007138560A3 publication Critical patent/WO2007138560A3/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T19/00—Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q50/00—Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
    • G06Q50/08—Construction
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T2210/00—Indexing scheme for image generation or computer graphics
    • G06T2210/04—Architectural design, interior design

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to design facilitation.
  • the invention relates to a method of rendering a design on a computer, to a design facilitation system, to an electronic library of commercially available products, to a set of computer executable instructions and to a data carrier.
  • the inventor is aware of methods of designing buildings and laying out terrains by means of computer aided design packages.
  • these packages have limited libraries which sometimes prove difficult to use to design the interior of a building or the landscape surrounding the building.
  • libraries are standardized, it is not possible to simulate the appearance of the design as it will be implemented in practice. It is an object of the invention to address some of these difficulties.
  • a method of rendering a design on a computer including creating a three dimensional representation of a structural design on the computer; and rendering the three dimensional representation of the structural design on the computer with products contained in an electronic library of commercially available products.
  • Creating a three dimensional representation of a structural design may include the prior step of creating a two dimensional plan representation/layout of the design and then, from the two dimensional representation creating the three dimensional representation of the structural design.
  • the method of creating the three dimensional representation from the two dimensional representation may be automated on a computer.
  • Rendering the design may include adding to the structural design certain user selectable design elements including one or more of wall finishes, furniture, art works, design accessories, garden furniture and artworks, at least some of which are contained in the electronic library of commercially available products. Therefore the design elements to be added may include finishes not strictly associated with the structural design of a building or land.
  • Rendering the design may include adding to the structural design certain user selectable structural landscape features including but not limited to a lawn, a driveway, a swimming pool, a water feature and a garden path, at least some of which are contained in the electronic library of commercially available products.
  • Rendering the design on the computer may include receiving interactive guidance on the implementation of certain selections from the electronic library of commercially available products.
  • the receiving of interactive guidance may include receiving advice on the selection of any one or more of the products contained in the electronic library of commercially available products.
  • the interactive guidance may be received in the form of so called "pop-up" messages on a computer, providing context sensitive assistance to a user, the pop-up messages simulating personal advice that is received from any one of qualified interior designer and landscape architect/designer.
  • the method may include the prior step of selecting the format of interactive guidance from any one of a subtle advice format or a critical advice format.
  • the receiving of interactive guidance may be in the form of real-time advice from a remote design consultant via an electronic communication channel.
  • the rendering of the three dimensional representation may include following a predefined rendering process involving exercising certain design options during the course of the design, the design options being restricted by the prior selection of products in the electronic library of commercially available products. For example certain products may be matched to each other prior to rendering the design.
  • the method may include the further step of preparing a cost estimate for implementation of the rendered design by use of pricing tables for the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products.
  • the method may include the step of receiving a list of suppliers of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products.
  • the method may include the further step of receiving a predefined discount from the suppliers of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products.
  • the method may include the further step of presenting the rendered design to a user by presenting the design on a display screen.
  • presenting the rendered design may include displaying the design on a computer screen, in a pair of display goggles, on a video projector, or the like.
  • Presenting the rendered design to a user may include presenting the rendered design on an interactive display using display inputs received from a user via an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, an interactive glove, or the like to present certain user selectable features of the rendered design.
  • an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, an interactive glove, or the like to present certain user selectable features of the rendered design.
  • the method may include the further step of presenting the rendered design to a user by printing certain features of the rendered design on paper to create a hard copy of the design.
  • the features of the rendered design may include any one or more of user selectable views of the design, the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products, the prices of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products, the suppliers of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products, a building plan of the rendered design, a story board of the rendered design for use by an interior designer and a photo impression of the rendered design.
  • the invention further provides a design facilitation system which includes computer design means for designing a three dimensional layout; and an electronic library of commercially available products accessible by the computer design means for importing user selectable products from the electronic library into the computer design means for displaying a rendered three dimensional design to a user.
  • the computer design means may be in the form of a commercially available computer aided design (CAD) package for use by architects, operable to facilitate the three dimensional design of buildings or landscapes.
  • CAD computer aided design
  • the invention further provides an electronic library of commercially available products, the products in the library being importable into a design package for display to a user to create any one or more of a colour rendering, a pattern rendering and a three dimensional product representation of the commercially available products in the library.
  • the electronic library may be in the form of two dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to paint products, wall finishing products, floor finishing products and artwork which are importable into the computer design means for display to a user.
  • the library may include colour representations of the two dimensional models of the commercially available products.
  • the library may include pattern representations of the two dimensional models of the commercially available products.
  • the electronic library may be in the form of three dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to furniture, light fittings, fixtures and ornaments.
  • the library may include colour representations of the three dimensional models of the commercially available products.
  • the library may include pattern representations of the three dimensional models of the commercially available products.
  • the system may include guidance means in the form of an interactive computer guide, operable to provide interactive guidance on the implementation of certain rendering/design selections from the electronic library of commercially available products.
  • the guidance means may be operable to provide advice on the selection of any one or more of wall finishes, floor finishes, fabrics for curtains, furniture, interior design techniques, full house design styles, turnkey landscaping solutions and fittings.
  • the guidance means may be in the form of so called "pop-up" messages on a computer, providing context sensitive assistance to a user, the pop-up messages simulating personal advice that is received from any one of a qualified interior designer and a landscape architect/designer.
  • the format of the guidance means may be selectable from any one of subtle advice or critical advice.
  • the system may include electronic communication means for receiving realtime advice from a remotely located design consultant via the electronic communication means on the implementation of selections from the library of commercially available products.
  • the guidance means may include a predefined rendering/design process definition, in which rendering/design options are restricted by the prior selection of products in the electronic library of commercially available products.
  • the products in the library may be importable into a design package for display to a user to create any one or more of a colour rendering, a pattern rendering and a three dimensional product representation of the commercially available products in the library.
  • the products in the library may be importable into a commercially available computer aided design (CAD) package for use by architects.
  • CAD computer aided design
  • the electronic library of commercially available products may include two dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to paint products, wall finishing products, floor finishing products and artwork which are importable into the design package.
  • the library may include colour representations, such as paint colours, floor resin colours, and the like.
  • the library may include patterns of certain articles, such as wall paper, carpets, tiles, granite tops, and the like.
  • the electronic library of commercially available products may include three dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to furniture, light fittings, fixtures and ornaments.
  • the electronic library of commercially available products may include any one or more of the price of each product and a list of area distributors of each product.
  • the invention further provides a set of computer executable instructions which, when executed on a computer, provides a method as described above.
  • the invention provides also a data carrier on which is stored a set of computer executable instructions as described.
  • the invention further provides a data carrier on which is stored a library of commercially available products as described.
  • Figure 1 shows a flow diagram of a method in accordance with the invention
  • Figure 2 shows a representation of a main menu on a computer performing the method of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 shows a representation of interactive guidance provided in accordance with the method of Figure 1 ; and Figure 4 shows a representation of preparing a cost estimate in accordance with the method of Figurei .
  • reference numeral 10 refers to a method of rendering a design.
  • a two dimensional design is created using a computer design package on a computer.
  • the design can be a layout of a building, a landscape, or the like.
  • a three dimensional design is automatically created using a design package on the computer. Certain parameters may have to be provided, such as the height of structures such as walls and windows, trees, or the like.
  • the three dimensional design is created and can be displayed on the computer. It is to be understood that by three dimensional design is meant a two dimensional display on a computer showing features of the design in three dimensional view.
  • a user starts to render the design.
  • rendering is meant the design of additional elements, such as non-structural elements and decorative elements.
  • the rendering step 16 includes the incorporation of commercially available elements, such as: - the colour of paint for the walls; the floor finishes (in colour or patterns of carpet or wood, etc.) the fabric/material for window coverings (curtains, blinds etc.) loose decorative items, such as rugs, ornaments etc. furniture items.
  • Certain libraries may be modified, such as certain fabric libraries that may be created by a user by means of a scanned image or photograph of a certain fabric.
  • a prior step, not shown in the method 10 thus included creating the electronic library of commercially available products, whether they were colours for paint, patterns for wall or floor finishes, three dimensional models of furniture and decorative items, or the like.
  • the design is presented to the user.
  • the three dimensional representation of the design is displayed on the computer screen or by a projector, the user can wear display goggles for displaying the design to a user, the design can be printed on a printer, or the like.
  • the user may have the opportunity to display and move in a virtual environment created by the computer.
  • the advantage is that users can view commercially available products in their own house, office, or the like.
  • interactive advice is received on the combination of design elements.
  • the advice is given by personalised, pre-programmed comments by designers. This aspect then gives an indication of personal coaching during the design process.
  • Also included in 18 is the possibility of telematic interaction with designers via a telecommunications facility such as e-mail, on line access via internet, telephone, or the like. This means that interior or landscape architects may be consulted in a cost efficient manner.
  • the user then has the opportunity to move back to a previous step to change the design, until an aesthetic pleasing and commercially viable design has been found. Not shown clearly in the flow diagram is the capability to move between the design steps in an interactive manner.
  • a list of suppliers of the commercially available products is shown. Importantly the user then has the opportunity to implement the design as it was created. It is to be appreciated that this list of suppliers can be adapted to certain geographical areas. To this end, the library and list of suppliers may be updated remotely by means of a data interface on the computer, a wide area network like the internet and a remote server.
  • discount vouchers which can be presented to some of the suppliers on the list of suppliers are generated.
  • the list of discount vouchers may also be updated remotely, via the network by the remote server.
  • Figure 2 there is shown a display of a main menu of a computer performing the method of Figure 1.
  • Reference numerals 32, 34 and 36 refer to options to create a new design, to edit the last design that was edited and to open an existing design, respectively.
  • FIG 3 an example of the step by step interactive guidance offered by the computer implementing the method is shown.
  • Reference numerals 42, 44, 46, 48 refer to examples of steps to be followed in the design process. Different predefined options may be presented to the user to assist in the design process.
  • the steps shown refers to the creation of a wall, where option 44 provides to opportunity to select the type of wall, option 46, provides the opportunity to select the height of the wall, and option 48 provides the opportunity to change the wall, to add a new wall or to submit a new plan.
  • reference numeral 58 refers to design elements such as cupboards, floor designs, furniture and the like, which can be used to render the design.
  • options of the elements will be provided from the library of commercially available products in that particular category.
  • a cost indication of the selection is provided at 52.
  • discount vouchers may be obtained as indicated by reference numeral 54.
  • a total budget for the rendered design is shown at 56.
  • the inventor believes that the invention as illustrated provides a new method of rendering a design and a new design facilitation system which, when implemented, provides a user the opportunity to design an interior or exterior space with elements which are realistic in their practical implementation.

Abstract

A method (Fig 4) of rendering a design on a computer, which includes creating a three dimensional representation of a structural design on the computer (50) and rendering the three dimensional representation of the structural design on the computer(50) with products contained in an electronic library of commercially available products (52)

Description

DESIGN FACILITATION
THIS INVENTION relates to design facilitation. In particular, the invention relates to a method of rendering a design on a computer, to a design facilitation system, to an electronic library of commercially available products, to a set of computer executable instructions and to a data carrier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The inventor is aware of methods of designing buildings and laying out terrains by means of computer aided design packages. However, these packages have limited libraries which sometimes prove difficult to use to design the interior of a building or the landscape surrounding the building. Moreover as the libraries are standardized, it is not possible to simulate the appearance of the design as it will be implemented in practice. It is an object of the invention to address some of these difficulties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a method of rendering a design on a computer, the method including creating a three dimensional representation of a structural design on the computer; and rendering the three dimensional representation of the structural design on the computer with products contained in an electronic library of commercially available products.
Creating a three dimensional representation of a structural design may include the prior step of creating a two dimensional plan representation/layout of the design and then, from the two dimensional representation creating the three dimensional representation of the structural design.
The method of creating the three dimensional representation from the two dimensional representation may be automated on a computer.
Rendering the design may include adding to the structural design certain user selectable design elements including one or more of wall finishes, furniture, art works, design accessories, garden furniture and artworks, at least some of which are contained in the electronic library of commercially available products. Therefore the design elements to be added may include finishes not strictly associated with the structural design of a building or land.
Rendering the design may include adding to the structural design certain user selectable structural landscape features including but not limited to a lawn, a driveway, a swimming pool, a water feature and a garden path, at least some of which are contained in the electronic library of commercially available products.
Rendering the design on the computer may include receiving interactive guidance on the implementation of certain selections from the electronic library of commercially available products.
The receiving of interactive guidance may include receiving advice on the selection of any one or more of the products contained in the electronic library of commercially available products.
The interactive guidance may be received in the form of so called "pop-up" messages on a computer, providing context sensitive assistance to a user, the pop-up messages simulating personal advice that is received from any one of qualified interior designer and landscape architect/designer.
The method may include the prior step of selecting the format of interactive guidance from any one of a subtle advice format or a critical advice format. The receiving of interactive guidance may be in the form of real-time advice from a remote design consultant via an electronic communication channel.
The rendering of the three dimensional representation may include following a predefined rendering process involving exercising certain design options during the course of the design, the design options being restricted by the prior selection of products in the electronic library of commercially available products. For example certain products may be matched to each other prior to rendering the design.
The method may include the further step of preparing a cost estimate for implementation of the rendered design by use of pricing tables for the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products.
The method may include the step of receiving a list of suppliers of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products.
The method may include the further step of receiving a predefined discount from the suppliers of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products.
The method may include the further step of presenting the rendered design to a user by presenting the design on a display screen. For example, presenting the rendered design may include displaying the design on a computer screen, in a pair of display goggles, on a video projector, or the like.
Presenting the rendered design to a user may include presenting the rendered design on an interactive display using display inputs received from a user via an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, an interactive glove, or the like to present certain user selectable features of the rendered design.
The method may include the further step of presenting the rendered design to a user by printing certain features of the rendered design on paper to create a hard copy of the design. The features of the rendered design may include any one or more of user selectable views of the design, the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products, the prices of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products, the suppliers of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products, a building plan of the rendered design, a story board of the rendered design for use by an interior designer and a photo impression of the rendered design.
The invention further provides a design facilitation system which includes computer design means for designing a three dimensional layout; and an electronic library of commercially available products accessible by the computer design means for importing user selectable products from the electronic library into the computer design means for displaying a rendered three dimensional design to a user.
The computer design means may be in the form of a commercially available computer aided design (CAD) package for use by architects, operable to facilitate the three dimensional design of buildings or landscapes.
The invention further provides an electronic library of commercially available products, the products in the library being importable into a design package for display to a user to create any one or more of a colour rendering, a pattern rendering and a three dimensional product representation of the commercially available products in the library.
The electronic library may be in the form of two dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to paint products, wall finishing products, floor finishing products and artwork which are importable into the computer design means for display to a user.
The library may include colour representations of the two dimensional models of the commercially available products.
The library may include pattern representations of the two dimensional models of the commercially available products. The electronic library may be in the form of three dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to furniture, light fittings, fixtures and ornaments.
The library may include colour representations of the three dimensional models of the commercially available products.
The library may include pattern representations of the three dimensional models of the commercially available products.
The system may include guidance means in the form of an interactive computer guide, operable to provide interactive guidance on the implementation of certain rendering/design selections from the electronic library of commercially available products.
The guidance means may be operable to provide advice on the selection of any one or more of wall finishes, floor finishes, fabrics for curtains, furniture, interior design techniques, full house design styles, turnkey landscaping solutions and fittings.
The guidance means may be in the form of so called "pop-up" messages on a computer, providing context sensitive assistance to a user, the pop-up messages simulating personal advice that is received from any one of a qualified interior designer and a landscape architect/designer.
The format of the guidance means may be selectable from any one of subtle advice or critical advice.
The system may include electronic communication means for receiving realtime advice from a remotely located design consultant via the electronic communication means on the implementation of selections from the library of commercially available products. The guidance means may include a predefined rendering/design process definition, in which rendering/design options are restricted by the prior selection of products in the electronic library of commercially available products.
The products in the library may be importable into a design package for display to a user to create any one or more of a colour rendering, a pattern rendering and a three dimensional product representation of the commercially available products in the library.
The products in the library may be importable into a commercially available computer aided design (CAD) package for use by architects.
The electronic library of commercially available products may include two dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to paint products, wall finishing products, floor finishing products and artwork which are importable into the design package. For example, the library may include colour representations, such as paint colours, floor resin colours, and the like. The library may include patterns of certain articles, such as wall paper, carpets, tiles, granite tops, and the like.
The electronic library of commercially available products may include three dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to furniture, light fittings, fixtures and ornaments.
The electronic library of commercially available products may include any one or more of the price of each product and a list of area distributors of each product.
The invention further provides a set of computer executable instructions which, when executed on a computer, provides a method as described above.
The invention provides also a data carrier on which is stored a set of computer executable instructions as described. The invention further provides a data carrier on which is stored a library of commercially available products as described.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings.
DRAWINGS
In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a flow diagram of a method in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows a representation of a main menu on a computer performing the method of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 shows a representation of interactive guidance provided in accordance with the method of Figure 1 ; and Figure 4 shows a representation of preparing a cost estimate in accordance with the method of Figurei .
EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figures 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers to a method of rendering a design. At 12, a two dimensional design is created using a computer design package on a computer. The design can be a layout of a building, a landscape, or the like.
At 14, a three dimensional design is automatically created using a design package on the computer. Certain parameters may have to be provided, such as the height of structures such as walls and windows, trees, or the like.
Once all the necessary information has been supplied, the three dimensional design is created and can be displayed on the computer. It is to be understood that by three dimensional design is meant a two dimensional display on a computer showing features of the design in three dimensional view. Once the structure is finalized, at 16, a user starts to render the design. By rendering is meant the design of additional elements, such as non-structural elements and decorative elements. Importantly, the rendering step 16 includes the incorporation of commercially available elements, such as: - the colour of paint for the walls; the floor finishes (in colour or patterns of carpet or wood, etc.) the fabric/material for window coverings (curtains, blinds etc.) loose decorative items, such as rugs, ornaments etc. furniture items.
Importantly, most of the above are representations of commercially available products. The user therefore has the opportunity to design with design elements which are commercially available. By commercially available products are meant products that are available to a user in the trade. It is to be appreciated that the library may also incorporate theoretical designs for design elements, but importantly the designing with commercially available products provide the opportunity to create a realistic design.
Certain libraries may be modified, such as certain fabric libraries that may be created by a user by means of a scanned image or photograph of a certain fabric.
A prior step, not shown in the method 10 thus included creating the electronic library of commercially available products, whether they were colours for paint, patterns for wall or floor finishes, three dimensional models of furniture and decorative items, or the like.
At 16, the design is presented to the user. For example, the three dimensional representation of the design is displayed on the computer screen or by a projector, the user can wear display goggles for displaying the design to a user, the design can be printed on a printer, or the like. It is to be appreciated that the user may have the opportunity to display and move in a virtual environment created by the computer. The advantage is that users can view commercially available products in their own house, office, or the like. At 18, interactive advice is received on the combination of design elements. The advice is given by personalised, pre-programmed comments by designers. This aspect then gives an indication of personal coaching during the design process. Also included in 18 is the possibility of telematic interaction with designers via a telecommunications facility such as e-mail, on line access via internet, telephone, or the like. This means that interior or landscape architects may be consulted in a cost efficient manner.
At 20, the prices of items used from the library are added, to provide to the user a cost estimate of the design.
As indicated by 22, the user then has the opportunity to move back to a previous step to change the design, until an aesthetic pleasing and commercially viable design has been found. Not shown clearly in the flow diagram is the capability to move between the design steps in an interactive manner.
At 24, a list of suppliers of the commercially available products is shown. Importantly the user then has the opportunity to implement the design as it was created. It is to be appreciated that this list of suppliers can be adapted to certain geographical areas. To this end, the library and list of suppliers may be updated remotely by means of a data interface on the computer, a wide area network like the internet and a remote server.
At 26, discount vouchers which can be presented to some of the suppliers on the list of suppliers are generated. The list of discount vouchers may also be updated remotely, via the network by the remote server.
In Figure 2, there is shown a display of a main menu of a computer performing the method of Figure 1. Reference numerals 32, 34 and 36 refer to options to create a new design, to edit the last design that was edited and to open an existing design, respectively.
In Figure 3, an example of the step by step interactive guidance offered by the computer implementing the method is shown. Reference numerals 42, 44, 46, 48 refer to examples of steps to be followed in the design process. Different predefined options may be presented to the user to assist in the design process. The steps shown refers to the creation of a wall, where option 44 provides to opportunity to select the type of wall, option 46, provides the opportunity to select the height of the wall, and option 48 provides the opportunity to change the wall, to add a new wall or to submit a new plan.
In Figure 4, an example of a design 50 being rendered is shown. As can be seen reference numeral 58 refers to design elements such as cupboards, floor designs, furniture and the like, which can be used to render the design. Upon selection of one of the design elements, options of the elements will be provided from the library of commercially available products in that particular category.
Once the design elements have been selected, a cost indication of the selection is provided at 52. For certain products in the library, discount vouchers may be obtained as indicated by reference numeral 54. A total budget for the rendered design is shown at 56.
The inventor believes that the invention as illustrated provides a new method of rendering a design and a new design facilitation system which, when implemented, provides a user the opportunity to design an interior or exterior space with elements which are realistic in their practical implementation.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A method of rendering a design on a computer, the method including creating a three dimensional representation of a structural design on the computer; and rendering the three dimensional representation of the structural design on the computer with products contained in an electronic library of commercially available products.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which creating a three dimensional representation of a structural design includes the prior step of creating a two dimensional plan representation/layout of the design and then, from the two dimensional representation creating the three dimensional representation of the structural design.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the method of creating the three dimensional representation from the two dimensional representation is automated on a computer.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , in which rendering the design includes adding to the structural design certain user selectable design elements including one or more of wall finishes, furniture, art works, design accessories, garden furniture and artworks, at least some of which are contained in the electronic library of commercially available products.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, in which rendering the design includes adding to the structural design certain user selectable structural landscape features including but not limited to a lawn, a driveway, a swimming pool, a water feature and a garden path, at least some of which are contained in the electronic library of commercially available products.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which rendering the design on the computer includes receiving interactive guidance on the implementation of certain selections from the electronic library of commercially available products.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the receiving of interactive guidance includes receiving advice on the selection of any one or more of the products contained in the electronic library of commercially available products.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the interactive guidance is received in the form of so called "pop-up" messages on a computer, providing context sensitive assistance to a user, the pop-up messages simulating personal advice that is received from any one of qualified interior designer and landscape architect/designer.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8 which includes the prior step of selecting the format of interactive guidance from any one of a subtle advice format or a critical advice format.
10. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which the receiving of interactive guidance is in the form of real-time advice from a remote design consultant via an electronic communication channel.
11. A method as claimed in claim 1 , in which the rendering of the three dimensional representation includes following a predefined rendering process involving exercising certain design options during the course of the design, the design options being restricted by the prior selection of products in the electronic library of commercially available products.
12. A method as claimed in claim 1 , which includes the further step of preparing a cost estimate for implementation of the rendered design by use of pricing tables for the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products.
13. A method as claimed in claim 1 , which includes the step of receiving a list of suppliers of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, which includes the further step of receiving a predefined discount from the suppliers of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products.
15. A method as claimed in claim 1 , which includes the further step of presenting the rendered design to a user by presenting the design on a display screen.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, in which presenting the rendered design to a user includes presenting the rendered design on an interactive display using display inputs received from a user via an input device to present certain user selectable features of the rendered design.
17. A method as claimed in claim 1 , which includes the further step of presenting the rendered design to a user by printing certain features of the rendered design on paper to create a hard copy of the design.
18. A method as claimed in claim 17, in which the certain features of the rendered design includes any one or more of user selectable views of the design, the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products, the prices of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products, the suppliers of the products selected from the electronic library of commercially available products, a building plan of the rendered design, a story board of the rendered design for use by an interior designer and a photo impression of the rendered design.
19. A design facilitation system which includes computer design means for designing a three dimensional layout; and an electronic library of commercially available products accessible by the computer design means for importing user selectable products from the electronic library into the computer design means for displaying a rendered three dimensional design to a user.
20. A system as claimed in claim 19, in which the computer design means is in the form of a commercially available computer aided design (CAD) package for use by architects, operable to facilitate the three dimensional design of buildings or landscapes.
21. A system as claimed in claim 19, in which the electronic library is in the form of two dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to paint products, wall finishing products, floor finishing products and artwork which are importable into the computer design means for display to a user.
22. A system as claimed in claim 21 , in which the library includes colour representations of the two dimensional models of the commercially available products.
23. A system as claimed in claim 21 , in which the library includes pattern representations of the two dimensional models of the commercially available products.
24. A system as claimed in claim 19, in which the electronic library is in the form of three dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to furniture, light fittings, fixtures and ornaments.
25. A system as claimed in claim 24, in which the library includes colour representations of the three dimensional models of the commercially available products.
26. A system as claimed in claim 24, in which the library includes pattern representations of the three dimensional models of the commercially available products.
27. A system as claimed in claim 19, which includes guidance means in the form of an interactive computer guide, operable to provide interactive guidance on the implementation of certain rendering/design selections from the electronic library of commercially available products.
28. A system as claimed in claim 27, in which the guidance means is operable to provide advice on the selection of any one or more of wall finishes, floor finishes, fabrics for curtains, furniture, interior design techniques, full house design styles, turnkey landscaping solutions and fittings.
29. A system as claimed in claim 27, in which the guidance means is in the form of so called "pop-up" messages on a computer, providing context sensitive assistance to a user, the pop-up messages simulating personal advice that is received from any one of a qualified interior designer and a landscape architect/designer.
30. A system as claimed in claim 27, in which the format of the guidance means is selectable from any one of subtle advice or critical advice.
31. A system as claimed in claim 27 which includes electronic communication means for receiving real-time advice from a remotely located design consultant via the electronic communication means on the implementation of selections from the library of commercially available products.
32. A system as claimed in claim 27 in which the guidance means includes a predefined rendering/design process definition, in which rendering/design options are restricted by the prior selection of products in the electronic library of commercially available products.
33. An electronic library of commercially available products, the products in the library being importable into a design package for display to a user to create any one or more of a colour rendering, a pattern rendering and a three dimensional product representation of the commercially available products in the library.
34. An electronic library of commercially available products as claimed in claim 33, in which the products in the library is importable into a commercially available computer aided design (CAD) package for use by architects.
35. An electronic library of commercially available products as claimed in claim 33, which includes two dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to paint products, wall finishing products, floor finishing products and artwork which are importable into the design package.
36. An electronic library of commercially available products as claimed in claim 33, which includes three dimensional computer models of commercially available products, including but not limited to furniture, light fittings, fixtures and ornaments.
37. An electronic library of commercially available products, as claimed in claim 33, which includes any one or more of the price of each product and a list of area distributors of each product.
38. A set of computer executable instructions which, when executed on a computer, provides a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18.
39. A data carrier on which is stored a set of computer executable instructions as claimed in claim 38.
40. A data carrier on which is stored a library of commercially available products as claimed in claims 33 to 37.
41. A method as claimed in claim 1 substantially as herein described and illustrated.
42. A system as claimed in claimed 19 substantially as herein described and illustrated.
43. An electronic library of commercially available products as claimed in claim 33 substantially as herein described and illustrated.
44. A set of computer executable instructions as claimed in claim 38, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
45. A new method, a new system a new electronic library of commercially available products and a new set of computer executable instructions substantially as herein described.
PCT/IB2007/052047 2006-05-31 2007-05-31 Design facilitation WO2007138560A2 (en)

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