Method and systems for incorporating advertisements in objects printed on three-dimensional printers

• US 9,830,536 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ganesh, Shriram, Menendez, Jose Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Sorkowitz, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/455,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20160042255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 705 144
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/10 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable advertisements (e.g., promotions, signs, logos, samples, etc.) to be part of the 3-D printing process. In an embodiment, advertisements (i.e., “ads”), such as partial product samples, may be 3-D printed prior to 3-D printing a purchased 3-D printable good. In another embodiment, ads may be 3-D printed on a 3-D printable good itself (e.g., embossed, impressed, as a tag, etc.). In a further embodiment, users may select the ads to be 3-D printed on their goods in return for compensation from advertisers.

Claims

1. A method for three-dimensional (3-D) printing, comprising:

receiving, by a server, an indication of a 3-D design for a first 3-D printable product to be printed on a 3-D printer of a user;

selecting, by the server, a 3-D ad for a second 3-D printable product to be printed on the 3-D printer in addition to the 3-D design for the first 3-D printable product, wherein the 3-D ad is a portion of the second 3-D printable product;

generating, by the server, a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad;

sending, by the server, the 3-D printable data model to the 3-D printer;

receiving, by the server, a request for raw material to print the second 3-D printable product;

determining, by the server, whether the portion of the second 3-D printable product was previously printed on the 3-D printer of the user;

determining, by the server, whether the portion of the second 3-D printable product is capable of being fused with a remaining portion of the second 3-D printable product in response to determining that the portion of the second 3-D printable product was previously printed; and

sending, by the server, an indication that less than a full amount of the raw material for printing the remaining portion is needed to complete printing of the second 3-D printable product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting, at the server, a 3-D ad comprises:

determining, at the server, ad requirements based on the 3-D design;

determining, at the server, user ad restrictions based on information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer; and

selecting, at the server, a 3-D ad that meets the ad requirements and user ad restrictions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer include one or more of a user preference, a user printing history, a 3-D printer capability, and a 3-D printing supply level.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer is stored in a database maintained in the server.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer transmitted to the server by the 3-D printer of a user as metadata associated with the indication of the 3-D design to be printed on the 3-D printer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the server, an indication of a 3-D ad print completion; and

transferring from an advertiser account to a user account an ad payment for the 3-D ad in response to receiving the indication of the 3-D ad print completion.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting, at the server, a 3-D ad comprises:

determining, at the server, ad requirements based on the 3-D design;

determining, at the server, user ad restrictions based on information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer;

selecting, at the server, possible 3-D ads that meet the ad requirements and user ad restrictions;

generating, at the server, renderings of the 3-D design and all the selected 3-D ads;

determining, at the server, ad characteristics associated with the generated renderings;

sending, from the server to a 3-D printer system processor, the generated renderings and determined ad characteristics; and

receiving, at the server, an indication of a user selected rendering of one of the generated renderings;

generating, at the server, a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad comprises generating, at the server, a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad associated with the user selected rendering.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the ad characteristics are ad payment amounts and advertiser credibility ratings.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second 3-D printable product is related to the first 3-D printable product.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second 3-D printable product is a cross section of the second 3-D printable product.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the 3-D printable data model is configured to print the 3-D ad before completing the printing of the 3-D design.

12. A server, comprising:

a network interface; and

a processor connected to the network interface, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving, via the network interface, an indication of a 3-D design for a first 3-D printable product to be printed on a 3-D printer of a user;

selecting a 3-D ad for a second 3-D printable product to be printed on the 3-D printer in addition to 3-D design for the first 3-D printable product, where the 3-D ad is a portion of the second 3-D printable product;

generating a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad;

sending the 3-D printable data model to the 3-D printer via the network interface;

receiving a request for raw material to print the second 3-D printable product;

determining whether the portion of the second 3-D printable product was previously printed on the 3-D printer of the user;

determining whether the portion of the second 3-D printable product is capable of being fused with a remaining portion of the second 3-D printable product in response to determining that the portion of the second 3-D printable product was previously printed; and

sending an indication that less than a full amount of the raw material for printing the remaining portion is needed to complete printing of the second 3-D printable product.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to perform operations such that selecting a 3-D ad comprises:

determining ad requirements based on the 3-D design;

determining user ad restrictions based on information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer; and

selecting a 3-D ad that meets the ad requirements and user ad restrictions.

14. The server of claim 13, wherein:

information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer include one or more of a user preference, a user printing history, a 3-D printer capability, and a 3-D printing supply level.

15. The server of claim 13, wherein the information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer is stored in a database maintained in the server.

16. The server of claim 13, wherein the information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer transmitted to the server by the 3-D printer of a user as metadata associated with the indication of the 3-D design to be printed on the 3-D printer.

17. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving an indication of a 3-D ad print completion via the network interface; and

transferring from an advertiser account to a user account an ad payment for the 3-D ad in response to receiving the indication of the 3-D ad print completion.

18. The server of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to perform operations such that selecting a 3-D ad comprises:

determining ad requirements based on the 3-D design;

determining user ad restrictions based on information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer;

selecting possible 3-D ads that meet the ad requirements and user ad restrictions;

generating renderings of the 3-D design and all the selected 3-D ads;

determining ad characteristics associated with the generated renderings;

sending to a 3-D printer system processor via the network interface the generated renderings and determined ad characteristics;

receiving an indication of a user selected rendering of one of the generated renderings via the network interface; and

generating a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad comprises generating, at the server, a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad associated with the user selected rendering.

19. The server of claim 18, wherein the ad characteristics are ad payment amounts and advertiser credibility ratings.

20. The server of claim 12, the second 3-D printable product is related to the first 3-D printable product.

21. The server of claim 12, wherein the portion of the second 3-D printable product is a cross section of the second 3-D printable product.

22. The server of claim 12, wherein the 3-D printable data model is configured to print the 3-D ad before completing the printing of the 3-D design.

23. A server, comprising:

means for receiving an indication of a 3-D design for a first 3-D printable product to be printed on a 3-D printer of a user;

means for selecting a 3-D ad for a second 3-D printable product to be printed on the 3-D printer in addition to the 3-D design for the first 3-D printable product, wherein the 3-D ad is a portion of the second 3-D printable product;

means for generating a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad;

means for sending the 3-D printable data model to the 3-D printer;

means for receiving a request for raw material to print the second 3-D printable product

means for determining whether the portion of the second 3-D printable product was previously printed on the 3-D printer of the user;

means for determining whether the portion of the second 3-D printable product is capable of being fused with a remaining portion of the second 3-D printable product in response to determining that the portion of the second 3-D printable product was previously printed; and

means for sending an indication that less than a full amount of the raw material for printing the remaining portion is needed to complete printing of the second 3-D printable product.

24. The server of claim 23, wherein means for selecting a 3-D ad comprises:

means for determining ad requirements based on the 3-D design;

means for determining user ad restrictions based on information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer; and

means for selecting a 3-D ad that meets the ad requirements and user ad restrictions.

25. The server of claim 23, wherein means for selecting a 3-D ad comprises:

means for determining ad requirements based on the 3-D design;

means for determining user ad restrictions based on information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer;

means for selecting possible 3-D ads that meet the ad requirements and user ad restrictions;

means for generating renderings of the 3-D design and all the selected 3-D ads;

means for determining ad characteristics associated with the generated renderings;

means for sending to a 3-D printer system processor the generated renderings and determined ad characteristics;

means for receiving an indication of a user selected rendering of one of the generated renderings; and

means for generating a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad comprises generating, at the server, a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad associated with the user selected rendering.

26. The server of claim 23, wherein the second 3-D printable product is related to the first 3-D printable product.

27. A non-transitory processor readable medium having stored thereon processor executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations, comprising:

receiving an indication of a 3-D design for a first 3-D printable product to be printed on a 3-D printer of a user;

selecting a 3-D ad for a second 3-D printable product to be printed on the 3-D printer in addition to the 3-D design for the first 3-D printable product, wherein the 3-D ad is a portion of the second 3-D printable product;

generating a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad;

sending the 3-D printable data model to the 3-D printer;

receiving a request for raw material to print the second 3-D printable product;

determining whether the portion of the second 3-D printable product was previously printed on the 3-D printer of the user;

determining whether the portion of the second 3-D printable product is capable of being fused with a remaining portion of the second 3-D printable product in response to determining that the portion of the second 3-D printable product was previously printed; and

sending an indication that less than a full amount of the raw material for printing the remaining portion is needed to complete printing of the second 3-D printable product.

28. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 27, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that selecting a 3-D ad comprises:

determining ad requirements based on the 3-D design;

determining user ad restrictions based on information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer; and

selecting a 3-D ad that meets the ad requirements and user ad restrictions.

29. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 27, wherein the stored processor executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that selecting a 3-D ad comprises:

determining ad requirements based on the 3-D design;

determining user ad restrictions based on information regarding the user and the user'"'"'s 3-D printer;

selecting possible 3-D ads that meet the ad requirements and user ad restrictions;

generating renderings of the 3-D design and all the selected 3-D ads;

determining ad characteristics associated with the generated renderings;

sending to a 3-D printer system processor the generated renderings and determined ad characteristics;

receiving an indication of a user selected rendering of the generated renderings; and

generating a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad comprises generating, at a server, a 3-D printable data model for the 3-D design and the 3-D ad associated with the user selected rendering.

30. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 27, wherein the second 3-D printable product related to the first 3-D printable product.