INTERNET-ENABLED APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PHYSICALLY AND VIRTUALLY RENDERING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS

• US 20100088650A1
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tripetals LLC
• Original Assignee: Tripetals LLC
• Inventors: Nihlen, Luke, Kaltenbach, Christopher, Ortiz, Luis M.
• Application Number:
  US12/246,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20100088650A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/849
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4099 Surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Three-dimensional object bridge between virtual and physical worlds. A method, system, apparatus and/or computer-usable medium includes steps of selecting a three-dimensional item in a first state for subsequent rendering into a second state and rendering the three-dimensional item in the second state via the three-dimensional rendering apparatus. An additional step of locating a three-dimensional rendering apparatus for rendering the three-dimensional item in a second state can be included. The three-dimensional rendering apparatus can be configured as a kiosk (manned or unmanned), Internet-enabled vending machine, and the like. The first state can comprise a virtual state and the second state can comprise a physical state. Likewise, the first state can comprise a physical state and the second state can comprise a virtual state. Additionally, the three-dimensional item/object can be mapped in the first state for rendering in the second state.

Claims

1. A method for rendering a three-dimensional item, comprising:

selecting a three-dimensional item in a first state for subsequent rendering into a second state;

locating a three-dimensional rendering apparatus for rendering said three-dimensional item in a second state; and

rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus, further comprises:

in response to a user input, rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said three-dimensional rendering apparatus comprises a kiosk.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said three-dimensional rendering apparatus comprises a vending machine.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first state comprises a virtual state and said second state comprises a physical state.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first state comprises a physical state and said second state comprises a virtual state.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a three-dimensional item in a first state for subsequent rendering into a second state, further comprises:

mapping said three-dimensional item in said first state for rendering in said second state.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus, further comprises:

rapid manufacturing said three-dimensional item; and

thereafter dispensing said three-dimensional item by said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

9. A system for rendering a three-dimensional item from a first state to a second state, said system comprising:

a processor;

data network communications;

a data bus coupled to said processor; and

a computer-usable medium embodying computer code, said computer-usable medium being coupled to said data bus, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said processor and configured for;

selecting a three-dimensional item in a first state for subsequent rendering into a second state; and

rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus, further comprises:

in response to a user input, rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said three-dimensional rendering apparatus comprises a kiosk.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said three-dimensional rendering apparatus comprises a vending machine.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said first state comprises a virtual state and said second state comprises a physical state.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said first state comprises a physical state and said second state comprises a virtual state.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein selecting a three-dimensional item in a first state for subsequent rendering into a second state, further comprises:

mapping said three-dimensional item in said first state for rendering in said second state.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus, further comprises:

rapid manufacturing said three-dimensional item; and

thereafter dispensing said three-dimensional item by said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

17. A computer-usable medium for rendering a three-dimensional item, said computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, said computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

selecting a three-dimensional item in a first state for subsequent rendering into a second state; and

rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

18. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 wherein rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus, further comprises:

in response to a user input, rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

19. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 wherein said three-dimensional rendering apparatus comprises a kiosk.

20. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 wherein said three-dimensional rendering apparatus comprises a vending machine.

21. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 wherein said first state comprises a virtual state and said second state comprises a physical state.

22. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 wherein said first state comprises a physical state and said second state comprises a virtual state.

23. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 wherein selecting a three-dimensional item in a first state for subsequent rendering into a second state, further comprises.

mapping said three-dimensional item in said first state for rendering in said second state.

24. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 wherein rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus, further comprises:

rapid manufacturing said three-dimensional item; and

thereafter dispensing said three-dimensional item by said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

25. A computer-usable medium for rendering a three-dimensional item, said computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, said computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

selecting a three-dimensional item in a first state for subsequent rendering into a second state;

locating a three-dimensional rendering apparatus for rendering said three-dimensional item in a second state; and

rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

26. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus, further comprises:

in response to a user input, rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

27. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein said three-dimensional rendering apparatus comprises a kiosk.

28. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein said three-dimensional rendering apparatus comprises a vending machine.

29. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein said first state comprises a virtual state and said second state comprises a physical state.

30. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein said first state comprises a physical state and said second state comprises a virtual state.

31. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein selecting a three-dimensional item in a first state for subsequent rendering into a second state, further comprises:

mapping said three-dimensional item in said first state for rendering in said second state.

32. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein rendering said three-dimensional item in said second state via said three-dimensional rendering apparatus, further comprises:

rapid manufacturing said three-dimensional item; and

thereafter dispensing said three-dimensional item by said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

33. The computer-usable medium of claim 25 wherein said step of locating a three-dimensional rendering apparatus for rendering said three-dimensional item in a second state includes the step of utilizing a wireless handheld device with cellular communications network access to locate a three-dimensional rendering apparatus based on at least one of capabilities, operational status, location.

34. The computer-usable medium of claim 33 wherein said step of locating a three-dimensional rendering apparatus for rendering said three-dimensional item in a second state includes the step of utilizing a wireless handheld device with cellular communications network access to locate a three-dimensional rendering apparatus based on location of said wireless handheld device.

35. The computer-usable medium of claim 33 wherein said step of locating a three-dimensional rendering apparatus for rendering said three-dimensional item in a second state includes the step of utilizing a wireless handheld devices with cellular communications network access to locate a three-dimensional rendering apparatus based on location of said wireless handheld device based on said wireless handheld device GPS position relative to said three-dimensional rendering apparatus.

36. An apparatus for rendering a three-dimensional item, said apparatus comprising:

a manufacturing area for automatically manufacturing a three-dimensional item based on data indicative of said three-dimensional item;

a material storage area for storing materials for manufacturing said three-dimensional item via said manufacturing area, said materials automatically supplied to said manufacturing area from said material storage area; and

a dispensing area for dispensing said three-dimensional item after said three-dimensional item is manufactured in said manufacturing area.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said data is remotely transmitted through a communications network.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a data storage area for storing said data transferred through said communications network.

39. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said materials stored in said material storage area for manufacturing said three-dimensional item comprise at least one A.I.M./Reconfigurable Chip that is capable of being embedded in said three-dimensional item during manufacturing of said three-dimensional item in said manufacturing area.

40. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said materials stored in said material storage area for manufacturing said three-dimensional item comprise at least one RFID tag that is capable of being embedded in said three-dimensional item during manufacturing of said three-dimensional item in said manufacturing area.

41. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said materials stored in said material storage area for manufacturing said three-dimensional item comprise at least one of the following types of materials:

a thermoplastic, a metal powder, a eutectic metal, and a photopolymer.

42. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said three-dimensional item is manufacturable in said manufacturing area by selective laser sintering.

43. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said three-dimensional item is manufacturable in said manufacturing area by fused deposition modeling.

44. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said three-dimensional item is manufacturable in said manufacturing area by stereo-lithography.

45. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said three-dimensional item is manufacturable in said manufacturing area by laminated object manufacturing.