JP2010061421A - Building simulator system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a building simulator system for enabling a building contractor to easily use a simulation program by providing the three-dimensional data of a building from a building company to the building contractor, and for enabling the building company to gain a new order, and to collect costs to be spent on the provision of the three-dimensional data by enabling the building contractor to use the simulation program. <P>SOLUTION: A building company distributes three-dimensional data 42 of a building to a building contractor, and the building contractor executes a simulation program 11 by a computer. An operation on this program is transmitted through the Internet 20 to an information acquisition server 20 as operation information 12. The information acquisition server 20 transmits ordering instruction information 31 corresponding to the operation information 12 to the building company or the like, and transmits a percentage accompanied by this as charging information 31 to a charging acceptance server 41. Thus, it is possible to inexpensively provide the program 11 or the three-dimensional data by charging. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a building simulator system that displays a building with three-dimensional computer graphics, and in particular, it is possible to easily order building and the like using the building simulation program, and the software supplier charges a fee. It relates to the system that can do.

Conventionally, building simulation programs that can be executed by a personal computer are commercially available. In particular, when a building is simulated using three-dimensional computer graphics, it is easy to understand the atmosphere and flow lines of the building before new construction or expansion, and it is widely used in architectural planning.
Even after the design is completed, it is easy to imagine whether it is suitable for the room by trying the arrangement of furniture, lighting fixtures, curtains, etc. on the simulation program.

  As a conventional technique related to a building simulation program, there is a three-dimensional interior space simulation system disclosed in Patent Document 1. Further, as a commercially available software, “3D My Home Designer LS2” (released on November 27, 2007) manufactured by Megasoft Corporation is known.

  On the other hand, as an image processing method for performing three-dimensional display, a number of techniques for rendering a surface and techniques for calculating shadows and reflections with high accuracy are provided. For example, the present applicant has also proposed the image calculation system and method of Patent Document 2, the parallel image processing service providing method and system of Patent Document 3, and the like.

JP 2004-206551 A JP 2006-338618 A JP 2003-271571 A

As a problem of a conventional building simulation program, it is difficult for an amateur to create three-dimensional data from the beginning even if the user interface of software is considerably devised. In particular, since each simulation program employs its own data format, data that can be used as a reference is also limited.
For this reason, even if it is a home building, it is difficult to say that it is common to perform simulation by accurately creating the three-dimensional data.

  On the other hand, in the case of a large construction company in particular, the design is performed by three-dimensional CAD, and if this data can be used in the simulation program, the architect can use the simulation program very easily. However, for construction companies, there is no motivation or profit to convert this data into a program that can be used by consumers, and the simulation programs used by the building owners are not widespread, so such services have not spread.

  The present invention was created in order to solve the above-described problems, and provides the building owner with three-dimensional data of the building from the building company so that the building owner can easily use the simulation program. A building simulator system that enables a company to collect new orders and collect the costs required for providing three-dimensional data when used by a building owner. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new fee charging method for a software provider, and to provide a simulation program at a low cost.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following building simulator system.
The first aspect of the present invention provides a building simulator system that displays a building with three-dimensional computer graphics. The system includes a storage medium having three-dimensional data stored in a predetermined format, an architect computer that executes and processes a simulation program for the owner to read the storage medium and perform three-dimensional display, It is comprised from the information acquisition server which acquires the information which concerns on operation which the building owner performed on the simulation program via the communication network from this simulation program.

The architect computer includes a data reading unit that reads out three-dimensional data, a simulation unit that displays the three-dimensional data, an operation detection unit that detects an operation performed by the architect on the simulation program being displayed, And an information transmission unit that transmits the operation information of the builder to the information acquisition server.
On the other hand, the information acquisition server includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information related to the operation of the owner and stores the information in a storage unit.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, simulation of new construction, extension, renovation, and refurbishment of a building is performed in the simulation unit, and a simulation operation or an order operation based on a simulation result is performed in the operation detection unit. Is detected.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the simulation unit displays a product or service related to a building, and the operation detection unit detects that a browsing operation or order operation of the product or service is performed. It is characterized by doing.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in the information acquisition server of the building simulator system, an order introduction processing unit that performs a predetermined ordering process or a customer introduction process based on the information, and the ordering process or the customer introduction process And a fee calculation unit for referring to a fee table provided in the storage means and calculating a fee related to ordering and inquiries.

According to the invention described in claim 5, the building simulator system described above includes an update information server that stores the latest version of the simulation program or a difference between the latest version and the old version.
Then, the update information processing unit that inquires the update information server for the update information of the simulation program, the update information reception processing unit that receives the latest version or the difference, and the update process of the simulation program. And a program update processing unit.
On the other hand, the update information server receives information on the simulation program currently in use from the update inquiry processing unit, compares it with the latest version, and determines whether there is update information, and a determination result And an update information transmission processing unit for transmitting the latest version or the difference to the builder computer.

The present invention can also provide a billing method using the building simulator system.
That is, according to the invention described in claim 6, it is a fee charging method using the building simulator system, and includes the following steps.
(S1) A three-dimensional data distribution process in which a construction company distributes three-dimensional data of the building to the owner.
(S2) a simulation program distribution step of distributing a building simulation program for displaying a building by three-dimensional computer graphics directly to the building owner from a software supplier or through the building company;
(S3) A simulation execution step in which the building owner executes the simulation program on the building owner computer using the three-dimensional data;
(S4) An operation detection step in which the operation detection unit of the architect computer detects an operation performed on the simulation program,
(S5) An information transmission step in which the information transmission unit of the architect computer transmits the detected operation information to the information acquisition server,
(S6) An information acquisition step in which the information acquisition unit of the information acquisition server acquires information related to the operation of the owner and stores it in the storage means;
(S7) An order introduction process in which the order introduction processing unit of the information acquisition server performs a predetermined order process or a customer introduction process based on the information;
(S8) A fee calculation step in which the fee calculation unit of the information acquisition server refers to the fee table provided in the storage means for the ordering process or the customer introduction process, and calculates the fee;
(S9) A billing step in which the software supplier sends billing information to a billing reception server of the construction company or product / service provider related to the order processing or customer inquiry processing based on the fee calculation result.

The present invention has the following effects by providing the above configuration.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the simulation program is executed on the building owner computer, and when the building owner performs an operation, the operation detection unit detects it and transmits the operation information to the information acquisition server. And the operation information of the building owner can be stored on the information acquisition server.
In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, if it is acquired that a simulation operation of new construction, extension, renovation or renovation of a building has been performed, useful information that the owner has these intentions can be obtained. . And, for the owner, it is possible to receive new proposals and estimates from contractors by performing simulations easily.

According to the invention of claim 3, the operation information can be acquired by browsing and ordering the goods or services related to the building with the simulation program.
For example, a manufacturer or a dealer can know the purchase intention of an architect only by performing an operation of arranging lighting fixtures or curtains using the three-dimensional data provided by each manufacturer. You can get a quote from a dealer. By directly placing an order on the simulation program, it becomes possible to easily order a product that matches the image.

According to invention of Claim 4, a commission can be calculated according to provision of the operation information between a building owner, a construction company, and a goods / service provision company. As a result, for example, the software provider of the simulation program operates the information acquisition server, so that the fee income can be continuously obtained.
As a result, the simulation program can be provided to the owner at a low cost or free of charge.

According to the invention of claim 5, since the simulation program can be updated even after a long period of time has elapsed after construction, the owner continues to use the initially provided three-dimensional data even if the operating system changes. Will be able to.
On the other hand, this system that can acquire the construction owner's operation information enables the operation of such an update information server by its profit.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples shown in the drawings. The embodiment is not limited to the following.
First, a method of using the system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The present invention relates to a system for acquiring information on the intention of an architect for building new construction, expansion, renovation, and renovation, and providing the information to a construction company and the like, and a billing method for charging in accordance with the provision of the information.

  The building owner has a known personal computer and executes a building simulation program (hereinafter referred to as a program) (11) on the computer (10). The building simulation program has a function of visually displaying three-dimensional data using three-dimensional computer graphics. Such a three-dimensional data display technique is well known, and any technique can be used.

When the building owner performs any operation on the program (11), such as changing the floor plan or exterior design if it is a new building, the operation information (12) is transmitted to the information acquisition server (30) via the Internet (20). Sent to.
Since the information acquisition server (30) is linked with the program (11), it is preferably operated by a software supplier.

  The information acquisition server (30) transmits the order introduction information (31) according to the acquired operation information (12) to the ordering / introduction receiving server (40) such as a construction company via the Internet (30). . A construction company or the like can use this information to conduct business activities for the owner of the building, or send an estimate via the Internet (20).

  With such a system, construction companies can know the owner's intention and purchase intention, so the program (11) is procured from the software supplier as compensation for the information and provided to the owner free of charge. Or the 3D data (42) of the building can be converted and provided to the architect.

On the other hand, the building owner can use the program (11) for free or at low cost instead of providing his / her operation information (12), and can also receive provision of the three-dimensional data (42).
Furthermore, since a construction company or the like that has received the order introduction information (31) is expected to provide information or present an estimate, useful information can be obtained simply by operating a simulation. it is conceivable that.

The information acquisition server (30) can charge a fee instead of providing the operation information (12) to a construction company or the like, and can transmit the charging information (31) together with the order introduction information (31).
Billing occurs when the billing acceptance server (41) such as a construction company accepts the bill.

  According to this system, even after the program (11) is sold, the software supplier can get a fee related to order introduction even after selling the program (11), so that the development cost of the program (11) can be recovered in the long term. It becomes possible and contributes to the suppression of the price of the program (11). By setting the fee, the program (11) can be provided to a construction company or the like free of charge or at a low cost.

  In addition, an update information server (32) may be provided at the software supplier so that the latest version (33) of the program (11) can be provided to the architect computer (10) through the Internet (20).

When the system of the present invention is used, the software supplier can obtain a continuous profit by charging a fee. Therefore, the latest program (33) can be provided to the architect free of charge or at a low cost. .
As a result, the building owner can use the latest program (11) even after many years have passed since the construction, and the software supplier can obtain the operation information (12) indefinitely and receive commission income. Can be obtained. Of course, it is possible to obtain useful order introduction information even in a construction company or the like.

  As described above, the present invention realizes a mechanism in which three companies, such as a building owner, a software supplier, and a construction company, share information and share the expenses fairly with the distribution of the information. It is intended to provide a building simulator system that can enjoy the limited benefits and a billing method thereof. Hereafter, each element which comprises a system is explained in full detail.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the architect computer (10) according to the present invention. It is simple to implement in a known personal computer, and the CPU (100), which plays a central role in processing in cooperation with a memory (not shown), the network adapter (101) connected to the Internet (20), and a monitor for displaying a screen ( 102), an external storage device (104) such as a keyboard (103) as an input means, a mouse, a hard disk, and a flash memory.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the processing of the present invention.
First, a construction company or the like stores the three-dimensional data of the building in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and distributes it to the architect (S1).
In addition, the construction company or the like may distribute (S2) the simulation program (11) corresponding to the three-dimensional data to the architect at the same time. Thereby, the compatibility of the simulation program does not become a problem, and the building owner can execute the simulation using the three-dimensional data (S3).

In the architect computer (10) that executes the program (11), the data reading unit (1001) performs reading processing from a drive device (not shown).
And a simulation part (1002) produces | generates the three-dimensional image of a building from three-dimensional data (42) by a well-known method, and displays it from a monitor (102).

  The building owner operates the program (11) by using the keyboard (103) and the mouse. When a predetermined operation is performed at that time, the operation detection unit (1003) performs the operation detection process (S4). It has become.

In other words, in the simulation department (1002), when changing a floor plan, installing windows and outlets, designating / changing exterior / interior design, designating / changing building materials, etc. A list of commonly performed operations is provided in the external storage device (104) so that it can be detected that an operation corresponding to the list has been performed.
The operation information (12) detected here may be merely information that a button used for changing the floor plan has been pressed, or may also detect identification information (product number or the like) of a designated building material.

  Further, not only the simulation but also the order information can be transmitted as the operation information (12) when the building owner actually orders the construction or building material from the simulation result. Order information can include not only confirmed orders but also estimates.

Further, in the simulation unit (1002), it is possible to display products and services related to buildings and detect browsing and ordering operations thereof.
Products related to buildings include all products related to buildings such as furniture, furniture, lighting equipment, electrical appliances, curtains, wallpaper, building materials, and cars stored in garages. The service related to the building includes various services related to the building such as cleaning, pest control, crime prevention, child care and nursing care.

  The detected operation information (12) is transmitted from the information transmission unit (1004) to the information acquisition server (30) shown in FIG. 3 via the network adapter (101). FIG. 3 shows a configuration in which the information acquisition server (30) and the update information server (32) are implemented by one personal computer. Since the mechanisms of the CPU (300), the network adapter (301), the monitor (302), the keyboard (303), and the external storage device (304) are well known in the same manner as described above, description thereof will be omitted.

The information acquisition unit (3001) acquires the operation information (12) via the network adapter (301) (S6). The acquired information can be stored in the external storage device (304).
In the present invention, it is a minimum embodiment that the information acquisition server (30) acquires as the operation information (12) what kind of work the building owner is using the simulation program (11). .
As a result, the operation information representing the builder's willingness to order / purchase can be stored in the information acquisition server.

  As the next embodiment, it is possible to perform ordering and introduction processing based on the operation information (12) and calculate a fee related to the processing. For this purpose, the information acquisition server (30) includes an order introduction processing unit (3002), a fee calculation unit (3003), and a fee table (3041).

  The order introduction unit (3002) determines to whom the content is transmitted based on the operation information (12) acquired by the information acquisition unit (3001). The simplest method is a method of notifying only the identification information of the builder through the Internet (20) to a predetermined external server after obtaining the operation information (12). That is, for example, the transmission source information (e-mail address or user name) when the operation information (12) is acquired is transmitted as it is to the ordering / introduction receiving server (40) arranged by the construction company or the like (S7).

  A more preferable method is to provide an order introduction table in the external storage device (304) and define the transmission destination of the information and the contents of notification for each operation information (12). For example, a data table as shown in Table 1 is stored.

  To explain in order from the top, when “operation to specify wallpaper A for wall 1” is acquired as the operation information (12), referring to this order introduction table, identification information such as the product number of wallpaper A and the wall 1 Together with the building owner's identification information as order introduction information. The area of the wall 1 may be included in the operation information (12), or information on the wall 1 of the builder may be provided separately in advance. And these are transmitted to the designated interior contractor B designated by the destination.

  When the “floor change operation” is acquired as the operation information (12), the changed floor plan information included in the change information is transmitted to the remodeling company C together with the identification information of the building owner. At this time, items such as “I want to place an order”, “I want to know the quotation”, “I want to hear explanations”, “I want you to send me materials” are included in the “floor change operation”, and the building owner has a keyboard The result specified in (103) can also be acquired simultaneously as “architecture owner desired information”. In this case, “constructor preference information” is also transmitted to the remodeling company C.

  When “selection operation of curtain D for window 2” is acquired as the operation information (12), the product number of curtain D and the size of window 2 are combined with the identification information of the building owner for curtain supplier E. Send.

  In the present invention, a fee is calculated as a consideration for the transmission of the order introduction information by a fee table (3041) stored in the external storage device (304). An example of the fee table (304) is shown in Table 2.

  As shown in this table, the calculation method of the fee amount to be charged is defined by the order introduction information (31). For example, in the case of wallpaper A, the unit price is stored in advance in the fee table (3041) or obtained through the Internet (20) at that time, the price multiplied by the area is calculated, and 10% of that is used as the fee. It is shown that. The billing destination is designated interior contractor B.

In the case of a change in the floor plan, if it is desired to place an order, the information may be output as 5% of the order amount. Alternatively, the order amount may be obtained from a contractor through the Internet (20). You may calculate the amount of money. In the case of only an estimate request, it may be defined as uniform 5000 yen.
Here, the fee billing destination does not coincide with the partner to which the order introduction information is transmitted, and may be, for example, the construction company F that is the parent company of the remodeling company C.

  The same applies to the order of the curtain D, but the fee rate can be set differently for each product or billing destination.

In accordance with such a fee table (304), the fee calculator (3003) performs a fee calculation process (S8).
The calculation result can be stored in the external storage device (304) and the processing can be terminated.

Alternatively, it may be transmitted from the network adapter (301) to the billing acceptance server (41) of each billing destination via the Internet (20).
Here, FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of the order introduction receiving server (40) and the billing receiving server (41) installed by the construction company.

  This server (40) (41) can also be easily realized by a known personal computer, and includes a CPU (400), a network adapter (401), a monitor (402), a keyboard (403), and an external storage device (404). Since the mechanism is well known in the same manner as described above, description thereof is omitted.

  As a mechanism of the order introduction receiving server (40), the CPU (400) includes an order introduction receiving unit (4001). The order introduction accepting unit (4001) uses the order information (31) transmitted from the order introduction processing unit (3002) of the information acquisition server (30) as order data (4041), and introduces the customer introduction information (31 ) As customer data (4042) in the external storage device (404).

  As a mechanism of the charge acceptance server (41), the CPU (400) includes a charge acceptance unit (4101). The charging acceptance unit (4101) stores the charging information (31) transmitted from the fee calculation unit (3003) of the information acquisition server (30) as charging data (4141) in the external storage device (404).

As described above, in the present invention, the update information server (32) can also be configured to provide the latest version of the program (11) to the architect.
Therefore, the building owner computer (10) includes an update inquiry processing unit (1005), an update information reception processing unit (1006), and a program update processing unit (1007). The update information server (32) includes an update determination processing unit (3201), an update information transmission processing unit (3203), and the latest version / difference data (3241).

When the program (11) is executed by the building owner computer (10), the update inquiry processing unit (1005) sends information such as the current program version and creation date to the update determination processing unit (3201) via the Internet (20). Send.
The update determination processing unit (3201) transmits the latest version / difference data (3241) from the update information transmission processing unit (3202) when compared with the version and creation date and time of the latest version / difference data (3241). At this time, the information to be transmitted may be the latest program as a whole or a difference.

The update information reception processing unit (1006) receives this, and the program update processing unit (1007) updates the program (11).
According to this process, since the owner can always use the latest simulation program (11), a long time has passed since the first distribution of the three-dimensional data (42). Even if the environment such as the operating system to be executed is changed, the simulation can be performed.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a building simulator system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram of the architect computer based on this invention. It is a block diagram of the information acquisition server which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of an order introduction acceptance server / billing acceptance server according to the present invention. It is a flowchart of the process of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Architect computer 11 Building simulation program 12 Operation information 20 Internet 30 Information acquisition server 31 Order introduction information and billing information 32 Update information server 33 Latest version program 40 Order introduction acceptance server 41 Billing acceptance server 42 3D data

Claims (6)

A building simulator system for displaying a building with three-dimensional computer graphics,
A storage medium having three-dimensional data stored in a predetermined format;
A building owner computer that executes and processes a simulation program for reading out the storage medium and performing three-dimensional display;
An information acquisition server that acquires information related to operations performed by the building owner on the simulation program via a communication network from the simulation program;
In the architect computer,
A data reading unit for reading out the three-dimensional data;
A simulation unit for displaying the three-dimensional data;
An operation detection unit for detecting an operation performed by the builder on the displayed simulation program;
An information transmission unit that transmits the operation information to the information acquisition server,
In the information acquisition server,
A building simulator system comprising an information acquisition unit that acquires information relating to the operation of the builder and stores the information in a storage means. In the simulation section, simulation of new construction, extension, renovation and renovation of a building is performed.
The building simulator system according to claim 1, wherein the operation detection unit detects that an order operation based on the simulation operation or a simulation result has been performed. In the simulation unit, while displaying goods or services related to the building,
The building simulator system according to claim 1, wherein the operation detection unit detects that the product or service is browsed or ordered. In the information acquisition server of the building simulator system,
An order introduction processing unit for performing predetermined order processing or customer introduction processing based on the information;
The building simulator system according to claim 1, further comprising: a fee calculation unit that calculates a fee by referring to a fee table provided in a storage unit for the ordering process or the customer introduction process. In the building simulator system,
An update information server for storing the latest version of the simulation program or the difference between the latest version and the old version,
In the architect computer,
An update query processing unit that queries the update information server for update information of the simulation program;
When there is the latest version or difference, an update information reception processing unit that receives this, and
A program update processing unit for performing a simulation program update process,
In the update information server,
An update determination processing unit that receives information on the simulation program currently in use from the update inquiry processing unit, compares it with the latest version, and determines whether there is update information;
The building simulator system according to claim 1, further comprising: an update information transmission processing unit configured to transmit the latest version or the difference to the main computer according to the determination result. A billing method using a building simulator system,
3D data distribution process in which the construction company distributes 3D data of the building to the owner.
A simulation program distribution step of distributing a building simulation program for displaying the building by three-dimensional computer graphics directly to the building owner from a software supplier or through the building company;
A simulation execution step in which the building owner executes the simulation program on the building owner computer using the three-dimensional data;
An operation detection step in which the operation detection unit of the architect computer detects an operation performed on the simulation program,
An information transmission step in which the information transmission unit of the building owner computer transmits the detected operation information to the information acquisition server,
An information acquisition step in which the information acquisition unit of the information acquisition server acquires information related to the operation of the owner and stores it in the storage means;
An order introduction process in which the order introduction processing unit of the information acquisition server performs a predetermined order process or a customer introduction process based on the information;
A fee calculation step in which the fee calculation unit of the information acquisition server refers to the fee table provided in the storage means for the ordering process or the customer introduction process, and calculates a fee;
The software supplier has a billing step of transmitting billing information to a billing reception server of the construction company or a product / service provider related to the order processing or the customer inquiry processing based on the fee calculation result. A fee charging method using a building simulator system characterized by the above.

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