Method and system for computer aided inventing

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a systematic approach to computer aided inventing. In a modeling environment, a model representing an item, composition or process can be defined and configured using the lexicon and specification of an innovation database. In the model, objects can be indentified, defined, and configured to provide the model with constituent products, components, features and materials. An innovation engine automatically applies one or more morphs from the innovation database to the objects or the model to generate morphed versions of the model that may provide innovations of, or invention to, the item, composition or process represented by the model.

1 . A method of systematically providing computer aided inventing, the method comprising the steps of:
 designating a model in a modeling environment as a baseline entity, wherein the model represents one of a composition, an item or a process;   indicating within said baseline entity one or more objects, said indicated one or more objects constituting at least a portion of the baseline entity;   selecting at least one of the one or more objects for modification; and   applying a morph to the selected object, said morph being selected from a plurality of morphs to produce a morphed baseline entity,   
       wherein each of the one or more selected objects for modification is defined by parameters independently selected from one or more hierarchical databases including, in toto, a plurality of objects, a plurality of materials and a plurality of configurations. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the additional step of graphically rendering of the morphed baseline entity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more selected objects for modification is defined by the following parameters:
 type of object;   material of which the object is composed; and   configuration of the object.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of said one or more objects are independently classified as an element, a component, a product, or a context. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the morph is selected from a replacement of, an addition to, or an alternate configuration of the selected object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying a morph to the selected object is automated and comprises applying a plurality of morphs to the selected object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising the additional step of designating the morphed baseline entity as a baseline entity to which additional morphs will be applied. 
     
     
         8 . A system for providing computer aided inventing, the system comprising:
 a modeling environment for providing a model of a baseline entity, wherein the model represents one of a composition, an item or a process, the modeling environment comprising:
 a configuration mechanism to indicate within said baseline entity one or more objects, said indicated one or more objects constituting at least a portion of the baseline entity, and 
   a selection mechanism to select at least one of the one or more objects for modification; and,   an innovation engine in communication with the modeling environment to apply a morph to at least one of the one or more selected objects from a plurality of morphs to produce a morphed baseline entity,   
       wherein each of the one or more selected objects for modification is defined by a type of object, a material of which the object is composed, and a configuration of the object, and wherein each parameter is independently selected from one or more hierarchical databases, the databases comprising, a plurality of objects, a plurality of materials and a plurality of configurations. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , additionally comprising a rendering mechanism to provide a graphical representation of the morphed baseline entity. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each of said one or more objects is independently classified as an element, a component, a product, or a context. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a graphical representation and a textual description of the morphed entities is generated. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , additionally comprising a patent application generator in communication with the modeling environment to generate at least a portion of a patent application descriptive of the morphed baseline entity. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the portion is selected from at least one of a claim, a part of a specification, or a figure formatted according to the rules of a patent granting agency. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the morphed baseline entity is automatically compared against a searchable database of prior art to determine similarity to said prior art. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory medium holding computer-executable instructions for systematically providing computer-aided inventing, the instructions when executed causing at least one computing device to:
 designate a model in a modeling environment as a baseline entity, wherein the model represents one of a composition, an item or a process;   indicate within said baseline entity one or more objects, said indicated one or more objects constituting at least a portion of the baseline entity;   select at least one of the one or more objects for modification; and   apply a morph to the selected object, said morph being selected from a plurality of morphs to produce a morphed baseline entity,   
       wherein each of the one or more selected objects for modification is defined by parameters independently selected from one or more hierarchical databases including, in toto, a plurality of objects, a plurality of materials and a plurality of configurations. 
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 15  wherein the instructions when executed further cause the at least one computing device to graphically render the morphed baseline entity. 
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more selected objects for modification is defined by the following parameters:
 type of object;   material of which the object is composed; and   configuration of the object.   
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 17 , wherein each of said one or more objects are independently classified as an element, a component, a product, or a context. 
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 15 , wherein the morph is selected from a replacement of, an addition to, or an alternate configuration of the selected object. 
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 15 , wherein the applying of a morph to the selected object is automated and includes applying a plurality of morphs to the selected object. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions when executed further cause the at least one computing device to designate the morphed baseline entity as a baseline entity to which additional morphs will be applied.