Web-based direct manipulation of feature models

Abstract

Providing advanced 3D interactive facilities to users of a client-server collaborative modeling system presents a great challenge when thin clients are involved, mainly due to their lack of both a proper CAD model and the adequate modeling and solving functionality. This paper presents a new approach that provides a convenient representation of feature model data suitable for direct manipulation of feature models at such clients. It combines all advantages of a thin client approach with the sort of 3D direct manipulation facilities usually only found in powerful standalone CAD systems.