CUSTOMIZATION AND OTHER FEATURES FOR ITEM DELIVERY VIA 3D MANUFACTURING ON DEMAND

• US 20150052000A1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Apsley, Linda Knowlton, Bodell, Colin Ian, Danton, Jacob Conrad, Hayden, Scott Randall, Kapila, SaiPrasad, Lessard, Eric, Uhl, Robert Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US14/076,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20150052000A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization

Abstract

Methods and systems can be provided for providing items manufactured on demand to users. A user request for an item can be received. The item can have 3D manufacturing instructions associated therewith. A delivery method for the item can be determined. A manufacturing apparatus can be selected to manufacture the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions. Instructions can be sent to the manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions. Delivery instructions can be provided for delivering the item according to the delivery method.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving a selection from a user for an item, the item having 3D manufacturing instructions for manufacturing the item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus associated with the item;

receiving location information associated with the user;

selecting a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the selected item, the selection of the manufacturing apparatus based at least in part upon the location information; and

generating information for manufacturing the selected item via the selected manufacturing apparatus based on the 3D manufacturing instructions associated with the selected item.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the location information includes at least one of a present location of the user, information stored in a profile of the user, information received via a query sent to the user, or past location information associated with the user.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining available manufacturing apparatuses within a defined distance from a location, the location based at least in part on the location information; and

providing information about the available manufacturing apparatuses to the user;

wherein selecting a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the selected item is based at least in part upon a user selection from among the available manufacturing apparatuses.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the defined distance from the location is based at least in part on a preference of the user.

5. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving a selection for an item, the item being one of a plurality of items available for sale from an electronic catalog, the item having 3D manufacturing instructions for manufacturing the item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus; and

responsive to an indication that the selection is authorized, providing information for manufacturing the selected item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions associated with the selected item.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein the selection being authorized comprises:

evaluating authorization credentials associated with the selection; and

accessing information associated with the authorization credentials to determine rights associated with the manufacture of the selected item; and

wherein providing information comprises providing an indication that the rights associated with the manufacture of the selected item are authorized based at least in part upon the evaluation.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the rights associated with the manufacture of the selected item comprise at least one of rights to manufacture the selected item a single time, rights to manufacture the selected item more than one time, or rights to modify the selected item.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the information for manufacturing the selected item is provided to a user such that the user can manufacture the selected item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus of the user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the information for manufacturing the selected item is provided to a 3D manufacturing apparatus, the method further comprising generating instructions for providing the manufactured selected item.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

identifying an authorization level associated with the selected item; and

evaluating authorization credentials associated with the selection based at least upon the identified authorization level associated with the selected item, wherein the indication that the selection is authorized is based at least in part upon the authorization credentials.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the identified authorization level associated with the selected item is based at least in part upon an authorization level determined by a vendor of the item.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the identified authorization level associated with the selected item is based at least in part upon an authorization level determined by a service provider that provides an electronic marketplace in which the selected item is available for consumption.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining if an authorization level is required for the selected item;

when an authorization level is not required, enabling access to the 3D manufacturing instructions;

when an authorization level is required, identifying the authorization level associated with the selected item.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the authorization level associated with the selected item includes a registration, the method further comprising receiving information from a user for completing the registration.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving a selection for an item, the item being one of a plurality of items available for sale from an electronic catalog, the item having 3D manufacturing instructions for manufacturing the item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus associated with the item;

providing a user interface for customization of the item;

receiving customization information via the user interface, wherein the customization information corresponds to at least one modification to the selected item;

reconfiguring the 3D manufacturing instructions for the selected item based on the customization information; and

providing information for manufacturing the selected item with the at least one modification based on the reconfigured 3D manufacturing instructions.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the customization information includes at least one of a user selection from a list of modifications, scaling of the selected item to a larger size or a smaller size, or text on the selected item.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the customization information includes at least a user manipulation of a digital model of the selected item.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the customization information is provided at least in part by a vendor providing customization options.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the customization information includes modifying the selected item to perform a requested function.

20. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving a selection from a user for an item, the item being one of a plurality of items available for sale from an electronic catalog, the item having 3D manufacturing instructions for manufacturing the item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus associated with the item;

generating information for manufacturing the selected item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions associated with the selected item; and

sending a notification to the user regarding at least one of manufacture or delivery of the manufactured item.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the notification indicates at least one of an amount of the manufacture of the selected item to completion or an amount of time until the manufacture of the selected item is complete.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the notification includes information for accessing the manufactured selected item at a designated pick up location.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the notification indicates an access code for obtaining the manufactured item at the designated location.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the notification is sent based on preferences of the user.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the notification is sent by at least one of email, text, or push notifications.