Multi-user computer-numerically-controlled machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11835936-B2
Application number	US-202217959024-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2022
Priority date	Nov 25, 2016
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

A method for accessing a computer-numerically-controlled machine can include receiving a command to be executed by the computer-numerically-controlled machine. A hardware state of a component in the computer-numerically-controlled machine can be determined by receiving, from the component, data indicative of the hardware state. An origin of the command including a user identification of a user who sent the command and/or a machine identification of a device that sent the command can be determined. Whether the computer-numerically-controlled machine is allowed to execute the command can be determined by applying a set of rules and based on the hardware state and/or the origin of the command. In response to determining that the computer-numerically-controlled machine is allowed to execute the command, the command can be executed at the computer-numerically-controlled machine.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) machine comprising:
at least one processor;
non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to:
determine that a first user device has permission to receive image data acquired via at least one sensor of the CNC machine;
determine that a second user device has permission to receive image data acquired via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine;
at a first time, based on determining that the first user device has permission, transmit first image data to the first user device, the first image data depicting a material positioned within an interior space defined by a housing of the CNC machine;
at a second time that is after the first time but before a third time, based on determining that the second user device has permission, transmit second image data to the second user device, the second image data depicting the material positioned within the interior space;
at the third time, receive, from the first user device, a command for the CNC machine to execute a first set of instructions to deliver electromagnetic energy to the material and thereby effect one or more changes in the material;
begin executing the first set of instructions to deliver electromagnetic energy to the material and thereby effect the one or more changes in the material; and
while executing the first set of instructions, transmit an indication to the second user device that the CNC machine is unavailable to execute a second set of instructions from the second user device.

2. The CNC machine of claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to:
while executing the first set of instructions, acquire, via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine, third image data depicting the material positioned within the interior space; and
transmit the third image data to the second user device.

3. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to determine that the first user device has permission to receive image data acquired via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to determine that the first user device is associated with a first user account that has permission to receive image data acquired via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine.

4. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the first image data is the same as the second image data.

5. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to transmit the first image data to the first user device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to transmit the first image data to the first user device based on a request from the first user device for image data acquired via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine.

6. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to transmit the first image data to the first user device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to transmit the first image data to the first user device based on data received via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine.

7. The CNC machine of claim 6 , wherein the data received via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine comprises data indicating that a lid of the CNC machine is closed.

8. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to determine that the first user device has permission to receive image data acquired via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to determine that the first user device has permission to receive image data acquired via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine based on determining that the first user device and the CNC machine are both connected to a same local area network (LAN).

9. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to determine that the second user device has permission to receive image data acquired via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to determine that the second user device has permission to receive image data acquired via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine based on determining that the second user device and the CNC machine are both connected to a same local area network (LAN).

10. The CNC machine of claim 1 , wherein the command is a first command, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to:
while executing the first set of instructions, receive, from the second user device, a second command for the CNC machine to execute the second set of instructions to deliver electromagnetic energy to the material and thereby effect one or more additional changes in the material after executing the first set of instructions, wherein the second set of instructions is generated by the second user device while the CNC machine is executing the first set of instructions.

11. The CNC machine of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to, while executing the first set of instructions, transmit the indication to the second user device that the CNC machine is unavailable to execute the second set of instructions from the second device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the CNC machine is configured to transmit the indication to the second user device based on receiving, from the second user device, the second command for the CNC machine to execute the second set of instructions.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) machine to:
determine that a first user device has permission to receive image data acquired via at least one sensor of the CNC machine;
determine that a second user device has permission to receive image data acquired via the at least one sensor of the CNC machine;
at a first time, based on determining that the first user device has permission, transmit first image data to the first user device, the first image data depicting a material positioned within an interior space defined by a housing of the CNC machine;
at a second time that is after the first time but before a third time, based on determining that the second user device has permission, transmit second image data to the second user device, the second image data depicting the material positioned with

Assignees

• Glowforge Inc

Inventors

• Shapiro Daniel
• Gosselin Mark
• Wright Anthony
• Haug Scott
• Wright Linden

Classifications

• G05B19/4068 Primary

  Verifying part program on screen, by drawing or other means · CPC title

• G05B19/409 Primary

  characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters (G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence) · CPC title

• G05B19/4063

  Monitoring general control system (G05B19/4062 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/048

  Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title

• G06F21/305

  by remotely controlling device operation · CPC title