System and method for creating customized products

• US 9,176,497 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jostens Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jostens Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, James (Bobby)
• Primary Examiner(s): Fennema, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Norton, Jennifer L
• Application Number:
  US13/929,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20130289759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 700/115, 206/232, 206/424, 283/64, 283/70, 283/81, 414/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 3/02 made of special materials covers of loose-leaf binders made of special materials B42F13/0013
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/02 Forms or constructions layered products B32B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for creating customized products using a product identification device. In some embodiments, the process involves receiving an aggregate order for yearbooks, creating a master list associated with the aggregate order and including single orders, associating at least one number with each single order, manufacturing a first portion of a yearbook for each single order with a first identifier associated with that portion and also being associated with the at least one number, manufacturing a second portion of the yearbook for the single order with a second identifier associated with that portion and also being associated with the at least one number, and combining the first portion with the second portion.

Claims

1. A method of creating a customized product including a first portion and a second portion, the method comprising:

processing an order for the customized product;

associating an order number with the order;

associating a tracking number with the order number;

manufacturing a first portion of the customized product, wherein the first portion is associated with the tracking number;

manufacturing a second portion of the customized product, wherein the second portion is associated with the tracking number; and

combining the first portion and the second portion wherein associating a tracking number with the order number comprises associating a first tracking number and a second tracking number with the order and wherein the first portion is associated with the first tracking number and the second portion is associated with the second tracking number, and

wherein the first tracking number is associated with the first portion using a bar code for a first portion of the manufacturing process and then is associated with the first portion using an RFID chip for a second portion of the manufacturing process.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the manufacturing process includes combining the first portion and the second portion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second tracking number is associated with the second portion using a bar code for a first portion of the manufacturing process and then is associated with the second portion using an RFID chip for a second portion of the manufacturing process.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second portion of the manufacturing process includes combining the first portion and the second portion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking number comprises a sequence number used to ensure the first portion and/or the second portion are in order inn the manufacturing process.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, reading the tracking number with a machine reader.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising halting manufacturing when reading by the machine reader establishes an error.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the error is a sequence error.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first portion is a book block.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second portion is a cover.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion is a book block.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing the bar code and applying an RFID chip to the book block between the first and second portions of the manufacturing process.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second portion is a cover.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the first portion is a book block.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second portion is a cover.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising removing the bar code and applying an RFID chip to the book block between the first and second portions of the manufacturing process.