CUSTOM PACKAGING SOLUTION FOR ARBITRARY OBJECTS

• US 20090313948A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Walker, John Oliver, Gombert, Barry Glynn, Perotti, Jennifer Colleen, Rose, Philip Crane, Buckley, Robert Roy
• Granted Patent: US 7,788,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/456
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method of producing a custom packaging system for arbitrary objects. A first image of an object to be packaged is received via an electronic user interface. Information relating to the material properties of the object may be received as well via the interface. A three dimensional size for the object is determined. At least one package for the object is automatically selected. Based on the material properties, a packing material type is automatically determined. Based upon the size and the selected package, a packing material amount is determined. Further printing options are permitted.

Claims

1. A method of producing custom packaging, the method comprising:

receiving, via an electronic user interface, a first image of an object to be packaged;

receiving, via the user interface, information relating to one or more properties of the object;

determining a three dimensional size for the object;

automatically selecting at least one package for the object;

automatically determining, based on the one or more properties of the object, a packing material type; and

automatically determining, based on the size and the selected package, a packing material amount.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving shipping information via the user interface; and

printing the shipping information on the selected package.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first image comprises a background with a plurality of reference points that provide a known dimension; and

the determining a three dimensional size comprises comparing, by image processing, the object to the background.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising printing the first image on the selected package.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more properties of the object comprise an indication of whether or not the object is fragile;

and

the automatically determining the packing material type is also based on the one or more properties.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the automatically selecting a package comprises:

accessing an available inventory of package sizes;

comparing the determined three dimensional size of the object to the available inventory; and

selecting, from the inventory, a package having a size closest to yet larger than that of the size of the object.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of reference points comprise a grid having known coordinates.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of reference points comprise dimensions on a ruler.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a second image of the object via the user interface, wherein the first image and the second image show the object from different perspective views;

and wherein;

the first image comprises a first background having a plurality of reference points that provide a known dimension,

the second image comprises a second background having a plurality of reference points that provide a known dimension, and

the determining a three dimensional size comprises comparing, by image processing, the object to the first background and the second background.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

displaying a design of the selected package for user approval;

receiving a user acceptance of the design;

providing the packing material of the determined type and amount to the user; and

providing the selected package to the user.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a design of the selected package for user approval;

receiving, via the user interface, a user modification to the design;

selecting a modified package based on the user modification;

automatically determining, based on a size of the modified package, whether to modify the determined packing material type and amount; and

providing the modified package to the user.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the one or more properties comprise a weight of the object; and

the automatically selecting a package is based on the weight and the determined size of the object.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of candidate package designs for user approval;

receiving a user-selected design from the candidate package designs;

providing a package having the user-selected design; and

providing the packing material having the determined size and amount.

14. A method of producing custom packaging, the method comprising:

receiving, via the user interface, a first image of an object to be packaged;

receiving, via the user interface, information relating to one or more properties of the object;

determining a three dimensional size for the object;

automatically selecting at least one package for the object having the user-selected design;

printing the first image on the selected package;

automatically determining, based on the one or more properties, a packing material type; and

automatically determining, based on the size and the selected package, a packing material amount;

providing the selected package; and

providing packing material having the determined amount.

15. 1he method of claim 14, wherein:

the first image comprises a background with a plurality of reference points that provide a known dimension; and

the determining a three dimensional size comprises comparing, by image processing, the object to the background.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the automatically selecting a package comprises:

accessing an available inventory of package sizes;

comparing the determined three dimensional size of the object to the available inventory; and

selecting, from the inventory, a package having a size closest to yet larger than that of the size of the object.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of reference points comprise points on a grid having known coordinates.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying, on the user interface, at least one candidate package design for user approval on an electronic user interface; and

receiving, via the user interface, a user-selected design from the candidate package designs.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a second image of the object via the user interface, wherein the first image and the second image show the object from different perspective views;

and wherein;

the first image comprises a first background having a plurality reference points that provide a known dimension,

the second image comprises a second background having a plurality of reference points that provide a known dimension, and

the determining a three dimensional size comprises comparing, by image processing, the object to the first background and the second background.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying a design of the selected package for user approval;

receiving, via the user interface, a user modification to the design;

selecting a modified package based on the user modification; and

automatically determining, based on a size of the modified package, whether to modify the determined packing material type and amount;

wherein providing the selected package and packing material comprise providing the modified package and modified material amount to a user.