Virtual designer

Abstract

The present invention includes a method of electronically designing an article, including accessing an electronic article design system, selecting an article type to design, and iteratively configuring a group of characteristics by selecting one or more options for each characteristic and/or iteratively modeling the article performance based on a selection of one or more performance parameters for each performance model. In the iterative configuration and modeling step, the electronic article design system automatically presents the characteristics and the performance models based on the article type selected, dynamically updates the article for each step of the iterative configuration and/or modeled performance, and automatically resolves conflicts between iteratively configured characteristics, between iteratively modeled performances, and across iteratively configured characteristics and modeled performances.

1 . A computer implemented method of electronically designing an article, the method comprising:
 accessing an electronic article design system;   selecting an article type to design; and   iteratively configuring a group of characteristics by selecting one or more options for each characteristic and/or iteratively modeling the article performance based on a selection of one or more performance parameters for each performance model, wherein the electronic article design system automatically presents the characteristics and the performance models based on the article type selected, dynamically updates the article for each step of the iterative configuration and/or modeled performance, and automatically resolves conflicts between iteratively configured characteristics, between iteratively modeled performances, and across iteratively configured characteristics and modeled performances.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic design method of  claim 1 , wherein iteratively configuring the characteristics further comprises:
 (a) configuring a characteristic for the article by selecting one or more options;   (b) adjusting remaining characteristics based on the article configured with the characteristic; and   (c) iteratively repeating steps (a) and (b) until all characteristics have been configured for the article.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic design method of  claim 1 , wherein iteratively modeling the article performance further comprises:
 (a) modeling the article performance by selecting one or more performance parameters for the performance model;   (b) adjusting remaining performance models based on the article performance modeled; and   (c) iteratively repeating steps (a) and (b) as necessary to complete the article design.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic design method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 graphically presenting the article for each iteratively configured characteristic and modeled performance. 
 
     
     
         5 . The electronic design method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 presenting a dynamically updated alphanumeric article identifier based on the article configured with the group of characteristics. 
 
     
     
         6 . The electronic design method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 outputting electronic information related to the article design. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein outputting electronic information related to the article design further comprises outputting one or more performance results for each iteratively modeled performance. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic design method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 outputting a first performance results; 
 outputting a second performance results; and 
 comparing the second performance results to the first performance results. 
 
     
     
         9 . The electronic design method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 translating the one or more performance results to an alternative data format chosen from a group of data formats; and 
 outputting the one or more translated performance results. 
 
     
     
         10 . A computer implemented method of electronically designing an article, the method comprising:
 accessing an electronic article design system;   selecting an article type to design;   inputting design data for the article type selected, wherein the design data is a function of more than one variable;   inputting additional design data as necessary to design one or more articles of the selected type, wherein the electronic article design system automatically presents the additional design data based on the article type selected and the design data already input; and   designing one or more articles with one or more characteristics based on an algorithmic match between the design data input and design data stored for articles of the selected type.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic design method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 algorithmically analyzing the input design data; and 
 optionally storing the input design data in the electronic article design system. 
 
     
     
         12 . The electronic design method of  claim 11 , wherein optionally storing the input design data further comprises requesting permission to temporarily or permanently store the input design data in the electronic article design system. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic design method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 algorithmically analyzing the input design data; and 
 selecting to store the input design data and/or replace the stored design data with the input design data. 
 
     
     
         14 . A computer implemented method of electronically identifying an object, the method comprising:
 accessing an electronic object identification system;   selecting an object type to identify;   inputting object characteristics for the object type selected;   inputting additional object characteristics as necessary to identify one or more objects of the selected type, wherein the electronic object identification system automatically presents the additional object characteristics based on the object type selected and the object characteristics already input; and   identifying one or more objects based on an algorithmic match between the object characteristics input and object characteristics stored for objects of the selected type.   
     
     
         15 . The electronic identification method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 algorithmically analyzing the input object characteristics; and 
 optionally storing the input object characteristics in the electronic object identification system. 
 
     
     
         16 . The electronic identification method of  claim 14 , wherein optionally storing the input object characteristics further comprises requesting permission to temporarily or permanently store the input object characteristics in the electronic object identification system. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic identification method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 comparing the input object characteristics to stored object characteristics; and 
 optionally replacing the stored object characteristics with the input object characteristics. 
 
     
     
         18 . The electronic identification method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 algorithmically analyzing the input object characteristics; and 
 selecting to store the input object characteristics and/or replace the stored object characteristics with the input object characteristics.