3D printing: marketplace with federated access to printers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9229674-B2
Application number	US-201414170054-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2014
Priority date	Jan 31, 2014
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

Systems, methods, and media for optimizing and facilitating 3D printing services in a marketplace environment are provided. In one example, a system comprises a memory and at least one module, executing on one or more computer processors, to host or participate in a 3D printing service marketplace environment including marketplace participants and a federated network of 3D printing service providers. The at least one module receives a 3D printing request from a marketplace participant to print a 3D object at a 3D printing service provider, and communicates with at least some of the federated network of 3D printer service providers within the marketplace environment. In response to the received request, the at least one module lists at least some of the 3D printing service providers based on a 3D printer identifier metric.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a memory; and
at least one module, executing on one or more computer processors, to:
host a 3D printing service marketplace environment including a selection of 3D objects provided by marketplace participants, and 3D printing service providers from among a federated network of 3D printing service providers;
receive a 3D printing request to print a 3D object selected from among the selection of 3D objects;
responsive to the 3D printing request and the 3D object selected from among the selection of 3D objects, list at least some of the 3D printing service providers based on a 3D printer identifier metric, wherein the 3D printer identifier metric includes one or more of:
a 3D printing quality metric;
a 3D printer model number;
a 3D printer serial number; and
a 3D digital model type; and

receive a selection of a preferred 3D printing service provider from among the list of at least some of the 3D printing service providers.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D printer identifier metric further includes one or more of: a 3D printing quantity metric; and a 3D print file type.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one module is further to:
receive the 3D printer identifier metric from the marketplace participant requesting printing of the 3D object; and
list at least some of the 3D printing service providers based on the received 3D printer identifier metric.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one module is further to permit the marketplace participant to initiate a request for authorization to print the 3D object from an owner of digital rights in the 3D object.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D printing marketplace environment further includes a mobile 3D printing service; and
wherein the at least one module is further to specify, in the listing of at least some of the 3D printing service providers, a location of the mobile 3D printing service.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one module is further to receive a tender from at least one of the 3D printing services in the federated network of 3D printing service providers to fulfil the 3D printing request.

7. A method comprising:
hosting a 3D printing service marketplace environment including a selection of 3D objects provided by marketplace participants, and 3D printing service providers from among a federated network of 3D printing service providers;
receiving a 3D printing request to print a 3D object selected from among the selection of 3D objects;
responsive to the 3D printing request and the 3D object selected from among the selection of 3D objects, listing at least some of the 3D printing service providers based on a 3D printer identifier metric, wherein the 3D printer identifier metric includes one or more of:
a 3D printing quality metric;
a 3D printer model number;
a 3D printer serial number; and
a 3D digital model type; and

receiving a selection of a preferred 3D printing service provider from among the list of at least some of the 3D printing service providers.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the 3D printer identifier metric further includes one or more of: a 3D printing quantity metric; and a 3D print file type.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving the 3D printer identifier metric from the marketplace participant requesting printing of the 3D object; and
listing at least some of the 3D printing service providers based on the received 3D printer identifier metric.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving from the marketplace participant a request for digital rights authorization to print the 3D object.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising identifying, in the listing of at least some of the 3D printing service providers, a location of a mobile 3D printing service.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving a tender from at least one of the 3D printing services in the federated network of 3D printing service providers to fulfil the 3D printing request.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform a set of operations including:
hosting a 3D printing service marketplace environment including a selection of 3D objects provided by marketplace participants, and 3D printing service providers from among a federated network of 3D printing service providers;
receiving a 3D printing request to print a 3D object selected from among the selection of 3D objects;
responsive to the 3D printing request and the 3D object selected from among the selection of 3D objects, listing at least some of the 3D printing service providers based on a 3D printer identifier metric, wherein the 3D printer identifier metric includes one or more of:
a 3D printing quality metric;
a 3D printer model number;
a 3D printer serial number; and
a 3D digital model type; and

receiving a selection of a preferred 3D printing service provider from among the list of at least some of the 3D printing service providers.

Assignees

• Ebay Inc

Inventors

• Tapley John
• Leach Skot
• Walton Nathalie
• Kajamohideen Shakul Hameed

Classifications

• G06F3/1296 Primary

  Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling · CPC title

• G06Q50/50

  Business processes related to the communications industry (charging, metering or billing arrangements specially adapted for data communications H04L12/14; telephonic communication involving automatic or semi-automatic exchanges H04M3/00; arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication H04M15/00; prepayment telephone systems H04M17/00; accounting or billing for wireless communication networks H04W4/24) · CPC title

• G06F21/108

  Transfer of content, software, digital rights or licenses · CPC title

• G06Q30/0635 Primary

  replenishment orders; recurring orders · CPC title

• G06Q30/08

  Auctions · CPC title