Manufacturing control system

• US 8,286,236 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Secure3Dp+ Pte. Ltd. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, JR., Lowell L., Jung, Edward K. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORTHY, ARAVIND K
• Application Number:
  US12/012,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20090165126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 726/21, 726/30, 713/165, 713/168, 713/189, 700/98, 700/103, 700/116, 700/117, 700/145, 700/159
• US Class Current: 726/21
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 70/00 Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

Methods and systems for a manufacturing control system include but are not limited to identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine; confirming that an authorization code is associated with the object data file, the authorization code configured to be received by the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing machine adapted to receive the authorization code; and enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions.

Claims

1. A method for secure manufacturing to control object production rights, the method comprising:

identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine;

confirming that an authorization code is associated with the object data file, the authorization code configured to be received by the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing machine adapted to receive the authorization code; and

enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions,

wherein the manufacturing machine is configured for at least one or more of additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, extrusion manufacturing, melting manufacturing, solidification manufacturing, ejection manufacturing, die casting, or a stamping process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine includes:

receiving a file at a control system coupled to the manufacturing machine, the control system receiving the file including the authorization code and the object data file as one or more of a binary file and/or a stereolithography (STL) file and/or a computer-aided design (CAD) solid model file and/or a self executing data file and/or a basic machine tool instruction file.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine includes:

identifying the at least one object data file, wherein the object data file is configured to produce the object via attaching, printing, painting, engraving and/or tattooing by the manufacturing machine.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine includes:

receiving the object data file as a computer-aided design (CAD) model file configured to create one or more physical objects, the object data file including the authorization code configured as a checksum of the CAD model file.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the receiving the object data file as a computer-aided design (CAD) model file configured to create one or more physical objects, the object data file including the authorization code configured as a checksum of the CAD model file includes:

enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file when the one or more predetermined conditions are met, the one or more predetermined conditions including a pass condition following a logical operation on the checksum.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the confirming that an authorization code is associated with the object data file, the authorization code configured to be received by the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing machine adapted to receive the authorization code includes one or more of:

extracting the authorization code as a checksum code; and

comparing the checksum code to a stored checksum code, the stored checksum code determined by a generated machine identifier associated with the manufacturing machine.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions includes:

enabling the manufacturing machine to perform if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions, including performing additive manufacturing using one or more of a metal, ABS (Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene), ABSi (ABS with high impact strength), ABS M-30 (Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene), PC (Polycarbonate), PC-ISO (Polycarbonate-ISO), PC/ABS (Polycarbonate/ABS Blend), PPSF (Polyphenylsulfone), clear and/or colored resin.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the confirming that an authorization code is associated with the object data file, the authorization code configured to be received by the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing machine adapted to receive the authorization code includes:

removing a header from a file, the header including the authorization code, the file organized to include the header and the object data file.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the confirming that an authorization code is associated with the object data file, the authorization code configured to be received by the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing machine adapted to receive the authorization code includes:

running an application to extract the authorization code, the application configured to run a hash algorithm, the application determining whether the one or more predetermined conditions are met.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions includes:

enabling a physical component of the manufacturing machine to function if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions includes:

enabling a read function of the manufacturing machine if the authorization code meets a checksum requirement prior to opening the object data file.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions includes:

enabling a physical component of the manufacturing machine to function if the authorization code matches one or more codes in an accessible list of codes coupled to the manufacturing machine.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions includes:

enabling the object data file to become readable by the manufacturing machine if the authorization code matches a machine identifier associated with the manufacturing machine.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling the manufacturing machine to perform one or more of stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), computer numerical control (CNC), and fused deposition modeling (FDM) if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling the manufacturing machine to perform if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions, including performing additive manufacturing using one or more of ABS (Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene), ABSi (ABS with high impact strength), ABS M-30 (Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene), PC (Polycarbonate), PC-ISO (Polycarbonate-ISO), PC/ABS (Polycarbonate/ABS Blend), PPSF (Polyphenylsulfone), clear and/or colored resin.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling the manufacturing machine to perform if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions, including performing three-dimensional manufacturing using one or more of metal, wood, ice, stone, glass, nuclear materials, pharmaceuticals, edible substances, sand, ceramic materials, aluminum, silicon, carbides, silicon nitrides, silicon carbides, metal/ceramic combinations including aluminum/silicon nitride, aluminum/silicon carbide, aluminum/zirconia and aluminum/aluminum nitride including materials alterable by friction, heating and cooling.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling the manufacturing machine to perform if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions, including manufacturing using one or more of skin, textiles, edible substances, paper, and silicon printing.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more digital rights management codes is associated with the at least one object data file.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the manufacturing machine is enabled to perform as a function of an authorization status based on the one or more digital rights management codes, the authorization status being provided by a database of digital rights management codes.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the authorization status is determined by a licensing status.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the authorization status is determined by a royalty status.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the authorization status is determined by an expiration date.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the authorization status is determined by a number of manufacturing runs permitted according to a license.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more digital rights management codes includes a GUID predetermined for an owner of the at least one object data files.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions comprises:

enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the GUID predetermined for an owner of the object data file is associated with the object data file.

26. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to perform one or more acts for performing secure manufacturing, the one or more acts comprising:

one or more instructions for identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine;

one or more instructions for confirming that an authorization code is associated with the object data file, the authorization code configured to be received by the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing machine adapted to receive the authorization code;

one or more instructions for enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions,

wherein the manufacturing machine is configured for at least one or more of additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, extrusion manufacturing, melting manufacturing, solidification manufacturing, ejection manufacturing, die casting, or a stamping process.

27. The computer program product of claim 26 further comprising signal-bearing storage media for encoding the instructions for executing the one or more acts for performing secure additive manufacturing.

28. The computer program product of claim 26 further comprising signal-bearing communication media for encoding the instructions for executing the one or more acts for performing the secure additive manufacturing.

29. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the one or more instructions for identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine includes:

one or more instructions for receiving a file at a control system coupled to the manufacturing machine, the control system receiving the file including the authorization code and the object data file as one or more of a binary file and/or a stereolithography (STL) file and/or a computer-aided design (CAD) solid model file and/or a self executing data file and/or a basic machine tool instruction file.

30. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the one or more instructions for identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine includes:

one or more instructions for identifying the at least one object data file, wherein the object data file is configured to produce the object via attaching, printing, painting, engraving and/or tattooing by the manufacturing machine.

31. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the one or more instructions for identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine includes:

one or more instructions for receiving the object data file as a computer-aided design (CAD) model file configured to create one or more physical objects, the object data file including the authorization code configured as a checksum of the CAD model file.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein the one or more instructions for receiving the object data file as a computer-aided design (CAD) model file configured to create one or more physical objects, the object data file including the authorization code configured as a checksum of the CAD model file includes:

one or more instructions for enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file when the one or more predetermined conditions are met, the one or more predetermined conditions including a pass condition following a logical operation on the checksum.

33. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the one or more instructions for identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine includes:

one or more instructions for extracting the authorization code as a checksum code; and

one or more instructions for comparing the checksum code to a stored checksum code, the stored checksum code determined by a generated machine identifier associated with the manufacturing machine.

34. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the one or more instructions for identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine includes:

one or more instructions for enabling the manufacturing machine to perform if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions, including performing additive manufacturing using one or more of a metal, ABS (Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene), ABSi (ABS with high impact strength), ABS M-30 (Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene), PC (Polycarbonate), PC-ISO (Polycarbonate-ISO), PC/ABS (Polycarbonate/ABS Blend), PPSF (Polyphenylsulfone), clear and/or colored resin.

35. The computer program product of claim 26 further comprising:

one or more instructions for enabling the manufacturing machine to perform one or more of stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), computer numerical control (CNC), and fused deposition modeling (FDM) if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions.

36. The computer program product of claim 26 further comprising:

one or more instructions for enabling the manufacturing machine to perform if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions, including performing additive manufacturing using one or more of ABS (Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene), ABSi (ABS with high impact strength), ABS M-30 (Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene), PC (Polycarbonate), PC-ISO (Polycarbonate-ISO), PC/ABS (Polycarbonate/ABS Blend), PPSF (Polyphenylsulfone), clear and/or colored resin.

37. The computer program product of claim 26 further comprising:

one or more instructions for enabling the manufacturing machine to perform if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions, including performing three-dimensional manufacturing using one or more of metal, wood, ice, stone, glass, nuclear materials, pharmaceuticals, edible substances, sand, ceramic materials, aluminum, silicon, carbides, silicon nitrides, silicon carbides, metal/ceramic combinations including aluminum/silicon nitride, aluminum/silicon carbide, aluminum/zirconia and aluminum/aluminum nitride including materials alterable by friction, heating and cooling.

38. The computer program product of claim 26 further comprising:

one or more instructions for enabling the manufacturing machine to perform if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions, including manufacturing using one or more of skin, textiles, edible substances, paper, and silicon printing.

39. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the one or more instructions for confirming that an authorization code is associated with the object data file, the authorization code configured to be received by the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing machine adapted to receive the authorization code includes:

one or more instructions for removing a header from a file, the header including the authorization code, the file organized to include the header and the object data file.

40. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the one or more instructions for confirming that an authorization code is associated with the object data file, the authorization code configured to be received by the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing machine adapted to receive the authorization code includes:

one or more instructions for running an application to extract the authorization code, the application configured to run a hash algorithm, the application determining whether the one or more predetermined conditions are met.

41. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein the one or more instructions for enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions includes:

one or more instructions for enabling a physical component of the manufacturing machine to function if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions.

42. A manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing comprising:

a processor;

a data store coupled to the processor, the data store configured to contain authorization guideline data including one or more authorization codes, the data store adapted for identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine;

a confirmation module coupled to the processor, the confirmation module configured to confirm that an authorization code is associated with the object data file, the authorization code configured to be received by the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing machine adapted to receive the authorization code; and

an authorization module coupled to the processor, the authorization module configured to enable the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions,

wherein the manufacturing machine is configured for at least one or more of additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, extrusion manufacturing, melting manufacturing, solidification manufacturing, ejection manufacturing, die casting, or a stamping process.

43. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 42 wherein the object data file is a computer-aided design (CAD) solid model file configured to enable the manufacturing machine to create one or more physical objects, the file including the authorization code configured as a checksum of the CAD solid model file.

44. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 42 wherein the manufacturing machine is adapted to interface with the object data file when the one or more predetermined conditions are met, the one or more predetermined conditions including a pass condition following a logical operation on the checksum.

45. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 42 wherein the confirmation module is configured for extracting the authorization code as a checksum code;

and wherein the manufacturing control system further comprises a comparison module configured for comparing the checksum code to a stored checksum code, the stored checksum code determined by a generated machine identifier associated with the manufacturing machine.

46. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 42 further comprising:

a transceiver coupled to the processor; and

a controller coupled to the transceiver and the manufacturing machine, the control system adapted to receive a file including the authorization code and the object data file as one or more of a binary file and/or a stereolithography (STL) file and/or a computer-aided design (CAD) solid model file, the controller configured to control production of a physical object.

47. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 46 wherein the controller is configured for enabling a physical component of the manufacturing machine to function if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions.

48. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 46 wherein the controller is configured for enabling a physical component of the manufacturing machine to function if the authorization code meets the one or more predetermined conditions.

49. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 46 wherein the controller is configured for enabling a read function of the manufacturing machine if the authorization code meets a checksum requirement prior to opening the object data file.

50. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 46 wherein the controller is configured for enabling a physical component of the manufacturing machine to function if the authorization code matches one or more codes in a stored list of codes.

51. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 46 wherein the controller is configured to control production via a network connection.

52. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 51 wherein the network connection is one or more of an internet connection, a local area network connection, a metropolitan area network connection, a wide area connection and an intranet connection.

53. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 42 wherein the data store includes authorization guideline data having one or more of authorization codes, digital certificates, and private/public key data.

54. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 42 wherein the data store includes authorization guideline data adapted for identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object via additive manufacturing, three dimensional manufacturing, two-dimensional manufacturing, rapid prototyping, three-dimensional printing, two-dimensional printing, freeform fabrication, solid freeform fabrication, and/or stereolithography.

55. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 42 wherein the data store includes authorization guideline data adapted for identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object via subtractive manufacturing, drilling, milling, turning, laser cutting, waterjet cutting, plasma cutting, wire electrical discharge cutting, cold forging, warm forging, hot forging, metal fabrication, computer numerical controlled fabrication, and/or injection molding.

56. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 42 wherein the data store includes authorization guideline data adapted for identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object via manufacturing using one or more of skin, textiles, edible substances, paper, and silicon printing.

57. The manufacturing control system for secure manufacturing of claim 42 wherein the data store includes authorization guideline data adapted for identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object via stamping, extrusions, melting, die-casting, and/or solidifying.