A web-enabled approach to feature-based modeling in a distributed and collaborative design environment

Network and Internet technology opens up another domain for building a futu re CAD/CAM environment. The environment will be global, network-centric, an d spatially distributed. In this paper, we present a web-enabled approach t o feature-based modeling in a distributed and collaborative design environm ent. The presented approach combines the current feature-based modeling tec hnique with distributed computing and communication technology for supporti ng product modeling and collaborative design activities over the network. T he approach is implemented in a client/server architecture, in which Web-en abled feature modeling clients, neutral feature model server, and other app lications communicate with one another via a standard communication protoco l. The paper discusses how the neutral feature model supports multiple view s and how the client-side feature model supports inexpensive and distribute d geometric processing. It also explains how to maintain naming consistency between geometric entities of the server and clients. Moreover, it explain s how to minimize the network delay between the server and clients accordin g to incremental feature modeling operations.