Identity propagation method for tracing alterations of a topological entity in a history-based solid modeling system

Abstract

In a history-based parametric modeling system, the mechanism for naming topological entities is a key component for generating design variants by re-evaluation. During the process of re-evaluation, topological entities may be split, merged, or obliterated. Thus, it is a principal functional request for a naming mechanism to trace such alterations of topological entities. A data structure called a name propagation graph (NPG) is introduced to represent the identity propagation of topological entities. Rules and algorithms are also presented to identify the genetic entities, which originate from the entities on the original version of a part model. Our approach has been implemented in a history-based and feature-based modeling system.