Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for generating a memorial product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12340404-B2
Application number	US-201916449980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2019
Priority date	Aug 27, 2013
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for generating memorial products using a memorial product design and ordering system (the “design system”). The design system may generally be configured to provide users with a platform, tools, design elements, automated processes, and/or the like for designing, customizing and ordering memorial products. The design system may be configured to present users with graphical or virtual representations of physical memorial products (“virtual product templates”) that may be customized by specifying product characteristics and adding various design elements. In some embodiments, the virtual product templates may be and/or may include photo-realistic and/or three-dimensional (3D) representations of the actual physical memorial products. In this manner, the design system may be configured to provide a customer with a realistic user experience from a virtual and/or online design tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for generating a virtual memorial product, the system comprising:
a processor;
a display device, wherein the display device comprises a web-based interface; and
a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
receive, via the web-based interface, subject information and customer information,
receive, via the web-based interface, one or more design elements and one or more memorial product characteristics associated with a three-dimensional memorial product, wherein the three-dimensional memorial product comprises at least one of a grave marker, a headstone, an urn, a vase, a plaque, a medal, a trophy, a sculpture, a statue, a scroll, granite, a niche plate, a crypt plate, crypt text, emblems, or a casket,
restrict a combination of the one or more design elements and the one or more memorial product characteristics based on design rule information,
generate at least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product, using at least one design function, based on the one or more memorial product characteristics, the at least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product comprising at least one memorial product template and at least one virtual design element selected based on the subject information and the customer information, wherein at least one virtual design function comprises a collision detection design function configured to detect whether a threshold distance exists between the one or more design elements and to detect whether each of the one or more design elements is affixed to a portion of the least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product,
display, on the web-based interface, the at least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product, and
generate an order for a physical three-dimensional memorial product based on the at least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product, wherein the at least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product is usable by a computing device to automatically print or produce at least part of the physical three-dimensional memorial product.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product comprises at least one of a grave marker, a headstone, an urn, a vase, a plaque, a medal, a trophy, an award, a sculpture, a statue, a sign, a picture, a display, and a combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product comprises a cast bronze memorial product.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the cast bronze memorial product comprises a cast bronze plaque.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one virtual design element further comprises at least one of an image, an emblem, a logo, a symbol, a religious symbol, a symbol of affiliation, a signature, a pattern, a design, a color, a texture, and a computer-readable element.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the subject information comprises at least one of name, age, gender, religion, nationality, native language, marital status, familial relationships, organizational affiliations, vocation, and education.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the customer information comprises information associated with a cemetery operator.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product is selected based on the cemetery operator.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one virtual design element is selected based on the cemetery operator.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one virtual design element comprises a border of the memorial product.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product and the at least one virtual design element are selected based on the cemetery operator.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
receive patron information,
wherein the at least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product is generated based on the subject information, the customer information, and the patron information.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
print or produce the physical three-dimensional memorial product based on the at least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product.

14. A system for generating a memorial product, the system comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
generate a virtual three-dimensional memorial product, wherein the three-dimensional memorial product comprises at least one of a grave marker, a headstone, an urn, a vase, a plaque, a medal, a trophy, a sculpture, a statue, a scroll, granite, a niche plate, a crypt plate, crypt text, emblems, or a casket, wherein the virtual three-dimensional memorial product comprises one or more design elements and one or more memorial product characteristics, in response to receiving a memorial product template selection from a client logic device, wherein the client logic device includes a display device and, wherein the display device comprises a web-based interface,
restrict a combination of the one or more design elements and the one or more memorial product characteristics based on design rule information,
add at least one virtual design element to the virtual three-dimensional memorial product using at least one design function in response to receiving at least one design element selection from the client logic device, wherein the at least one design function comprises a collision detection design function configured to detect whether a threshold distance exists between the one or more design elements and to detect whether each of the one or more design elements is affixed to a portion of the least one virtual three-dimensional memorial product,
transmit for display, on the client display device, via the web-based interface, the virtual three-dimensional memorial product, and
generate an order for a physical three-dimensional memorial product based on the virtual three-dimensional memorial product, wherein the virtual three-dimensional memorial product is usable by a computing device to automatically print or produce at least part of the physical three-dimensional memorial product.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the memorial product comprises a cast bronze memorial product.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one design function is a target location design function that is configured to select at least one target location based on at least one of a template, a customary placement location, a placement of at least one other virtual design element.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one design function is a placeholder design function that is configured to represent a virtual design element not included in a system design element inventory.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains one or more programming instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to:
receive subject information and customer inform

Assignees

• Matthews Int Corp

Inventors

• Jones Pete
• Cox Patrick Charles
• Titchnell Lamonica Jo

Classifications

• G06Q30/0635

  replenishment orders; recurring orders · CPC title

• E04H13/003

  Funeral monuments, grave sites curbing or markers not making part of vaults (E04H13/008 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61G99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• G06F30/13

  Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads · CPC title

• E04H13/001

  Accessories for grave sites, e.g. liners, covers, vault lowering devices (E04H13/003 takes precedence) · CPC title