FULFILLMENT OF ORDERS FOR ITEMS USING 3D MANUFACTURING ON DEMAND

• US 20150052025A1
• 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 9,672,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.81
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/25 Housings, e.g. machine housings
• 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 computer-implemented method comprising:

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

providing an electronic marketplace with items for consumption, the electronic marketplace including a network page presenting;

information about a first item;

a first option for consumption of the first item, the first option associated with a first price a first time of delivery and a first delivery method involving manufacturing the first item based on 3D manufacturing instructions for manufacturing the first item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus, wherein the 3D manufacturing instructions are accessible to the electronic marketplace; and

a second option for consumption of the first item, the second option associated with a second price, a second time of delivery, and a second delivery method not involving manufacturing the first item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus;

responsive to selection of the first option, instructing manufacturing of the first item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions, and instructing delivery of the first item via the first delivery method; and

responsive to a selection of the second option, instructing delivery of the first item via the second delivery method.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the network page of the electronic marketplace further presents at least a second item having a third option, the third option being different than the first option and different than the second option, and wherein the third option is associated with a third price and a third time of delivery, the method further comprising responsive to a selection of the third option, instructing a third delivery method not involving manufacturing the second item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein 3D manufacturing instructions for manufacturing the second item are not accessible to the electronic marketplace.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first price and the second price are different.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first time of delivery and the second time of delivery are different.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first option is associated with a first material, wherein the second option is associated with a second material, and wherein the first material and the second material are different.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first delivery method includes providing information to a user for manufacturing the first item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus of the user, and wherein manufacturing the first item via the 3D manufacturing apparatus of the user is based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first delivery method includes providing instructions to a 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the first item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions and providing instructions for transporting said manufactured first item.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

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

providing an electronic marketplace with items for consumption, wherein each item is designated as either a first-type item or a second-type item, the first-type items designated for production via manufacturing based on 3D manufacturing instructions, the second-type items not designated for production via manufacturing based on 3D manufacturing instructions;

responsive to receiving a request for a first-type item, providing instructions to manufacture the first-type item based on 3D manufacturing instructions and providing instructions for providing said manufactured first-type item; and

responsive to receiving a request for a second-type item, providing instructions for obtaining the second-type item and providing instructions for providing said obtained second-type item.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

responsive to receiving an order from a user for an item of the marketplace, determining either to provide a request for a first-type item to fulfill the order from the user or to provide a request for a second-type item to fulfill the order from the user, wherein the determination is based at least in part upon at least one of a time associated with the first-type item, a cost associated with the first-type item, a time associated with the second-type item, or a cost associated with the second-type item; and

based on the determination, providing a request for a first-type item or providing a request for a second-type item.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein providing instructions to manufacture the first-type item based on 3D manufacturing instructions and providing instructions for providing said manufactured first-type item comprises providing to a user instructions for manufacturing the first-type item based on a 3D manufacturing instructions via a manufacturing apparatus associated with the user.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein providing instructions to manufacture the first-type item based on 3D manufacturing instructions includes providing instructions to a 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the first-type item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions, and wherein providing instructions for providing said manufactured first-type item includes providing instructions for transporting said manufactured first-type item.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

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

providing an electronic marketplace with items for consumption, the electronic marketplace providing at least a first item and a second item for consumption, wherein the first item and the second item are versions of the same item,

wherein the first item is associated with a first price and a first fulfillment method, the first fulfillment method involving manufacturing the first item based on 3D manufacturing instructions for manufacturing the first item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus; and

wherein the second item is associated with a second price and a second fulfillment method, the second fulfillment method not involving manufacturing the second item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the first fulfillment method involves manufacturing the first item via a mobile 3D manufacturing apparatus.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the mobile 3D manufacturing apparatus is located in a vehicle.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the first price is different from the second price.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the first fulfillment method is associated with a first amount of time, wherein the second fulfillment method is associated with a second amount of time, and wherein the first amount of time and the second amount of time are different.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the first item is associated with a first material, wherein the second item is associated with a second material, and wherein the first material and the second material are different.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the first fulfillment method includes providing information to a user for manufacturing the first item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus of the user, wherein manufacturing the first item via the 3D manufacturing apparatus of the user is based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the first fulfillment method includes providing instructions to a 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the second item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions and providing instructions for transporting said manufactured second item.

21. A computer-implemented method comprising:

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

providing an electronic marketplace with items for purchase;

responsive to a purchase of an item in the electronic marketplace, providing at least a first delivery option for the item and at least a second delivery option for the item, wherein the first delivery option includes manufacturing the purchased item based on 3D manufacturing instructions for manufacturing the purchased item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus; and

wherein the second delivery option does not include manufacturing the purchased item based on 3D manufacturing instructions for manufacturing the purchased item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the first delivery option is associated with a first cost, wherein the second delivery option is associated with a second cost, and wherein the first cost and the second cost are different.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the first delivery option is associated with a first amount of time, wherein the second delivery option is associated with a second amount of time, and wherein the first amount of time and the second amount of time are different.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the first delivery option includes providing information to a user for manufacturing the purchased item via a 3D manufacturing apparatus of the user, wherein manufacturing the purchased item via the 3D manufacturing apparatus of the user is based at least in part on the 3D manufacturing instructions.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 21 wherein the first delivery option includes providing instructions to a 3D manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the purchased item based on the 3D manufacturing instructions and providing instructions for transporting said manufactured purchased item.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the first delivery option is associated with a first material, wherein the second delivery option is associated with a second material, and wherein the first material and the second material are different.