ITEM DELIVERY USING 3D MANUFACTURING ON DEMAND

• US 20150052023A1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,684,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2113/10 Additive manufacturing, e.g. 3D printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/10 Geometric CAD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0836 Recipient pick-ups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

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 system comprising:

one or more processor devices; and

memory including instructions executable by the one or more processor devices that, when executed by the one or more processor devices, cause the system to at least;

provide, in an electronic marketplace, information about a plurality of items available via the electronic marketplace from a plurality of suppliers, each item having 3D manufacturing instructions associated therewith, wherein the 3D manufacturing instructions are accessible to the electronic marketplace;

receive a request from a user for an item from the plurality of items available in the electronic marketplace;

determine a delivery method for the item;

select a 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based at least in part on the delivery method for the item;

send instructions to the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus, wherein the instructions instruct the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions associated with the item; and

generate delivery instructions for delivering the item according to the delivery method.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined delivery method includes delivery via a 3D manufacturing apparatus of the user, wherein the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus comprises a 3D manufacturing apparatus of the user, and wherein the generated delivery instruction include the instructions sent to the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined delivery method includes delivery via a 3D manufacturing apparatus of a service provider, wherein the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus comprises a 3D manufacturing apparatus of the service provider, and wherein the generated delivery instruction include instructions for providing the item from the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus to the user.

4. A computer-implemented method comprising:

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

providing, in an electronic marketplace, information about an item available from the electronic marketplace, the item having 3D manufacturing instructions associated therewith, wherein the 3D manufacturing instructions are accessible to the electronic marketplace;

receiving a request from a user for the item available from the electronic marketplace;

determining a delivery method for the item;

selecting a manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item;

generating instructions for the selected manufacturing apparatus, wherein the instructions instruct the selected manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions associated with the item; and

generating delivery instructions for delivering the item according to the delivery method.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein generating delivery instructions comprises generating instructions for transporting the item from the manufacturing apparatus to a delivery location designated by the delivery method.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein selecting a manufacturing apparatus comprises selecting an available mobile manufacturing apparatus.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 based at least in part upon at least one of the proximity of the available mobile manufacturing apparatus to a delivery location designated by the delivery method, a cost associated with a delivery method that includes manufacturing the item via the available mobile manufacturing apparatus, and a time associated with a delivery method that includes manufacturing the item via the available mobile manufacturing apparatus.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein determining a delivery method for the item comprises determining a storage location for the item;

wherein selecting a manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item comprises selecting a manufacturing apparatus located at the storage location; and

wherein generating delivery instructions for delivering the item comprises generating instructions to store the item at the storage location after manufacturing the item at the storage location.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the request is received at a kiosk at which a user can generate the request, the kiosk having a manufacturing apparatus associated therewith;

wherein determining a delivery method for the item comprises selecting manufacture of the item at the manufacturing apparatus; and

wherein selecting a manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item comprises selecting the manufacturing apparatus associated with the storage location.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein receiving the request comprises associating the request with a user account associated with the electronic marketplace.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 4,

wherein the electronic marketplace presents an assembly comprising a plurality of subcomponents;

and

wherein receiving the request comprises receiving an item selection including a subcomponent of the plurality of subcomponents.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein selecting a manufacturing apparatus comprises selecting a mobile manufacturing apparatus;

and

wherein generating delivery instructions includes instructions for transporting the item to a delivery location.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining available mobile manufacturing apparatuses;

wherein selecting a manufacturing apparatus comprises selecting an available mobile manufacturing apparatus based at least in part upon an amount of time associated with manufacturing the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions via the selected mobile manufacturing apparatus and transporting the item to a delivery location.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining available mobile manufacturing apparatuses;

wherein selecting a manufacturing apparatus comprises selecting an available mobile manufacturing apparatus based at least in part upon an amount of deviation from a route of the selected mobile manufacturing apparatus, wherein the amount of deviation is associated with manufacturing the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions via the selected mobile manufacturing apparatus and transporting the item to a delivery location.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a user preference associated with one or more delivery methods; and

wherein determining a delivery method comprises selecting the delivery method from the one or more delivery methods based at least in part upon the preference of the user.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a cost associated with one or more delivery methods; and

wherein determining a delivery method for the item comprises selecting the delivery method from the one or more delivery methods based at least upon the cost.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a time associated with one or more delivery methods; and

wherein determining a delivery method for the item comprises selecting the delivery method from the one or more delivery methods based at least upon the time.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein selecting a manufacturing apparatus comprises selecting a manufacturing apparatus of the user, and further comprising:

providing to the user, manufacturing information for manufacturing the item via a manufacturing apparatus, wherein manufacturing the item via a manufacturing apparatus is based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving apparatus information about a manufacturing apparatus of the user; and

wherein the manufacturing information includes instructions related to the manufacturing apparatus of the user.

20. A computer-implemented method comprising:

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

receiving a user request for an item, the item having 3D manufacturing instructions associated therewith;

identifying location information for the user;

selecting a 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item, using, at least in part, the 3D manufacturing instructions;

sending instructions to the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions; and

generating instructions to store the item at a storage location accessible by the user.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

generating a notification for the user, wherein the notification includes location information for the storage location.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

generating a notification for the user, wherein the notification includes access information for accessing the item at the storage location.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

generating a notification for the user, wherein the notification includes information associated with an availability of the item at the storage location.

24. A computer-implemented method comprising:

under one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving a user request for an item, the item having 3D manufacturing instructions associated therewith;

identifying location information for the user;

selecting a 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item using, at least in part, the 3D manufacturing instructions, the selection based at least in part on the location information;

sending instructions to the selected 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the item based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions; and

generating instructions to deliver the item based at least in part on the location information.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein generating instructions to deliver the item includes generating instructions for transporting the item from the 3D manufacturing apparatus to a delivery location associated with the location information for the user.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein selecting a 3D manufacturing apparatus comprises selecting a mobile 3D manufacturing apparatus, based at least in part upon the proximity of the mobile 3D manufacturing apparatus to a delivery location associated with the location information for the user;

and

wherein generating instructions to deliver the item based at least in part on the location information includes instructions for transporting the item to a delivery location associated with the location information for the user.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, further comprising:

determining available mobile 3D manufacturing apparatuses;

wherein selecting a 3D manufacturing apparatus comprises selecting an available mobile 3D manufacturing apparatus from the determined available mobile 3D manufacturing apparatuses based at least in part upon an amount of time associated with manufacturing the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions via the selected mobile 3D manufacturing apparatus and transporting the item to a delivery location associated with the location information for the user.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, further comprising:

determining available mobile 3D manufacturing apparatuses;

wherein selecting a 3D manufacturing apparatus comprises selecting an available mobile 3D manufacturing apparatus based at least in part upon an amount of deviation from a route of the selected mobile 3D manufacturing apparatus, wherein the amount of deviation is associated with manufacturing the item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions via the selected mobile 3D manufacturing apparatus and transporting the item to a delivery location associated with the location information for the user.