System and method for providing paper model replicas over a wide area computer network

• US 7,546,356 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paper Models LLC
• Original Assignee: Lon S. Safko
• Inventors: Safko, Lon S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang; Jungwon
• Application Number:
  US11/475,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20060248170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 446/488, 446/388, 283/81, 493/325, 703/3, 345/646, 345/653
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A system for providing paper models over a wide area computer network includes a user computer that communicates with a model server via the Internet. The model server includes a database of paper model files, e.g., the pieces of the models and assembly instructions. The corresponding method allows a user to access the model server via the Internet and download paper models. The paper models are printed at a printer connected to the user computer. A user can then assemble the paper models following the assembly instructions.

Claims

1. A method for providing three-dimensional models of objects comprising:

generating one or more model files at least in part using photographs of the objects;

storing the one or more model files on a data storage device, the data storage device being coupled to a model server on a computer network, and the one or more model files including representations that can be made into the three-dimensional models of the objects;

allowing a user to access the one or more model files through the computer network; and

permitting the user to print the one or more model files onto a substrate.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing instructions regarding manipulation of the substrate to form the three-dimensional models.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

allowing a user to access the one or more model files comprises;

allowing the user to download the one or more model files from the model server over the computer network to a computer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer network is the internet.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating accounting data, wherein;

the accounting data is used to charge the user for the one or more model files.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

generating the accounting data occurs after allowing a user to access the one or more model files.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more model files printed on the substrate include model indicia.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one more model files printed on the substrate include instructions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a paper substrate.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the three-dimensional models are three-dimensional paper models.

11. A method for providing three-dimensional models of actual objects comprising:

generating representations with model indicia of the actual objects using at least in part photographs of the actual objects;

providing instructions regarding manipulation of a substrate on which the representations with model indicia are printed to form the three-dimensional models of the actual objects;

storing the instructions and the representations with the model indicia in one or more files in a model database, the model database being coupled to a server on a computer network;

allowing a user to access the one or more files through the computer network by making the one or more files available to the user through a site on the computer network;

providing at least one model page on the site;

permitting the user to access the at least one model page; and

permitting the user to print the one or more tiles from the at least one model page onto a substrate.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating accounting data, wherein;

the accounting data is used to charge the user for the one or more files.