摘要：
A computer-implemented method of generating a digital representation of a user-defined construction element connectable to pre-manufactured toy construction elements of a toy construction system, each pre-manufactured toy construction element comprising a number of coupling elements for coupling the pre-manufactured toy construction element with one or more other pre-manufactured toy construction elements of said toy construction system, the method comprising determining one or more positions for placement of one or more coupling elements to be included in the user- defined construction element; generating, responsive to input by a user indicative of a user-defined shape, a digital representation of a user-defined construction element, the user-defined construction element comprising said one or more coupling elements at said determined one or more positions; providing the digital representation for automated production of said user- defined construction element.
技术问题语段：
The technical problem addressed in this patent text is the desire for a method and system that allows users of a toy construction system to design and produce customized items that can be used with the existing parts of the system without needing to fit and adjust the items. This system should be affordable and include educational, inspirational, and/or entertaining elements. It should also be easy to use for users of all ages and levels of training, and should not require special training or skills. The goods produced using this method and system should be interconnected with the pre-manufactured toy construction elements without requiring any involved fitting and adjustment efforts by the user.
技术功效语段：
The patent text describes a method and system for making user-defined construction elements that are compatible with pre-manufactured elements in a toy construction system. This ensures that the user-defined elements can be easily integrated into the overall construction. The method is also affordable and allows for multiple generations of design experimentation and adjustment without constraining the creative process.
权利要求：
1. A computer-implemented method of generating a digital representation of a user-defined construction element (626) connectable to one or more pre-manufactured toy construction elements (601) of a toy construction system, each pre-manufactured toy construction element comprising a number of coupling elements for coupling the pre-manufactured toy construction element with one or more other pre-manufactured toy construction elements of said toy construction system, the method comprising - determining (S401) one or more positions for placement of one or more coupling elements to be included in the user-defined construction element; - receiving (S402) input by a user indicative of a user-defined shape; - generating (S403), from at least the user input and the determined one or more positions, a digital representation of a user-defined construction element, wherein the digital representation is indicative of an element volume (622) to be occupied by a material so as to form the user-defined construction element, the user-defined construction element comprising said one or more coupling elements at said determined one or more positions; - providing the digital representation (S410) for automated production (S404) of said user-defined construction element; characterising in that the method further comprises, for each coupling element, defining one or more design constraints (413) on the user-defined shape associated with the coupling element, wherein at least a first design constraint associated with a coupling element comprises defining a first volume associated with the coupling element, wherein at least a second design constraint associated with a coupling element comprises defining a second volume (623) associated with the coupling element; and in that generating the digital representation comprises enforcing (S403) the determined design constraints; wherein enforcing the first design constraint comprises generating the digital representation to be indicative of an element volume comprising the first volume thereby preventing the user from removing a necessary part of a coupling element; and wherein enforcing the second design constraint comprises generating the digital representation to be indicative of an element volume excluding the second volume, thereby preventing the user from filling or blocking any empty space required for the coupling element to be connected with another coupling element.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein enforcing the design constraints comprises generating a digital representation of a user-defined construction element, the user-defined construction element having a modified volume occupied by a material, the modified volume comprising a union of said user-defined volume and said first volume.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein enforcing the design constraints comprises generating a digital representation of a user-defined construction element, the user-defined construction element having a modified volume occupied by a material, the modified volume being determined as at least a difference (624) of said user-defined volume and said second volume.
4. A method according to any one of claims 1 through 3; wherein the method comprises: - obtaining a digital representation of a toy construction model constructed from toy construction elements; and - defining a third design constraint on the user-defined shape, wherein the third design constraint comprises determining, from the obtained digital representation, a third volume indicative of a volume associated with at least a part of the toy construction model; and - generating the digital representation to be indicative of an element volume excluding the third volume.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein determining one or more positions for placement of one or more coupling elements to be included in the user-defined construction element further comprises selecting, for each of the one or more coupling elements, respective types of coupling elements from a set of types of coupling elements.
6. A method according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein determining one or more positions for placement of one or more coupling elements to be included in the user-defined construction element further comprises selecting the one or more positions as grid points of a discrete grid of positions for placement of coupling elements.
7. A method according to any one of claims 1 through 6, wherein determining one or more positions for placement of one or more coupling elements to be included in the user-defined construction element comprises receiving a user input indicative of a user-selection of one or more coupling elements and corresponding positions, and to place a representation of the selected couplings element in a three-dimensional view displayed on a display of a data processing system.
8. A method according to any one of claims 1 through 7, wherein determining one or more positions for placement of one or more coupling elements to be included in the user-defined construction element comprises receiving a user input indicative of a user-selection of a digital representation of one of a number of template construction elements, the template construction element comprising a number of coupling elements positioned at respective predetermined positions.
9. A method according to any one of claims 1 through 8, wherein determining one or more positions for placement of one or more coupling elements to be included in the user-defined construction element comprises: - obtaining a digital representation of a toy construction model constructed from toy construction elements; - selecting one or more coupling elements of the obtained toy construction model to which a user-defined construction element is attachable; - determining said one or more positions for placement of one or more coupling elements to be included in the user-defined construction element from the positions of the selected one or more coupling elements of the obtained toy construction model.
10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising determining a type of coupling element associated with each determined position from a detected type of coupling element of the selected one or more coupling elements of the obtained toy construction model.
11. A method of producing a user-defined construction element connectable to pre-manufactured toy construction elements of a toy construction system, each pre-manufactured toy construction element comprising a number of coupling elements for coupling the pre-manufactured toy construction element with one or more other pre-manufactured toy construction elements of said toy construction system, the method comprising - generating a digital representation of a user-defined construction element by performing the steps of the method defined in any one of claims 1 through 10; - producing (S404) the user-defined construction element based on the digital representation.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the digital representation is indicative of an element volume to be occupied by a material so as to form the user-defined construction element, and wherein producing comprises filling at least the element volume by a predetermined material.
13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein producing comprises a 3D print process.
14. A data processing system (101) comprising a storage medium (102) having stored thereon a computer program comprising program code means for performing all the steps of any one of the claims 1 to 10 when said program is run on the data processing system.
15. A data processing system according to claim 14, comprising a 3D printer (123) configured to produce the user-defined construction element based on the digital representation.
16. A computer program comprising program code means for performing all the steps of any one of the claims 1 to 10 when said program is run on a computer.
17. A data signal embodied as a carrier wave the data signal comprising program code means for performing all the steps of any one of the claims 1 to 10 when said program code means are run on a computer.