Reusable networked 3-D printing
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorsJames H. Pratt, Marc Andrew Sullivan, Ari Craine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A service is provided over a communication network. Initially, information indicative of physical characteristics of an item specified by a requester is received along with a request to generate a physical three dimensional model for the item. The information is transformed into model data used to generate the three dimensional model. Components for generating the physical three dimensional model are obtained from storage. A physical three dimensional model for the item specified by the remote requestor is generated, and imagery descriptive of the physical three dimensional model is sent to the remote requestor via the communication network. The components used to generate the physical three dimensional model are returned to storage.
Claims20
A method of providing a service over a communication network, the method comprising:
- receiving, via the communication network from a remote requester, information indicative of physical characteristics of an item specified by the remote requester and a request to generate a physical three dimensional model for the item specified by the remote requester;
- transforming, using a processor of a computer, the information indicative of the physical characteristics of the item into model data used to generate the physical three dimensional model;
- obtaining components for generating the physical three dimensional model from storage;
- generating, using sound waves generated by an array of speakers and based on the model data, the physical three dimensional model for the item specified by the remote requester;
- sending imagery of the physical three dimensional model to the remote requester via the communication network, and
- returning the components used to generate the physical three dimensional model to the storage,
- wherein the array of speakers are each selectively controlled by the processor of the computer, and
- wherein the array of speakers are angled offset from a vertical position, such that the sound waves generated are biased upwards.
A non-transitory tangible computer readable storage medium that stores a computer program, the computer program, when executed by a processor, causing a computer apparatus to perform processes comprising:
- receiving, via a communication network from a remote requester, information indicative of physical characteristics of an item specified by the remote requester and a request to generate a physical three dimensional model for the item specified by the remote requester;
- transforming the information indicative of the physical characteristics of the item into model data used to generate the physical three dimensional model;
- obtaining components for generating the physical three dimensional model from storage;
- generating, using sound waves generated by an array of speakers and based on the model data, the physical three dimensional model for the item specified by the remote requester;
- sending imagery of the physical three dimensional model to the remote requester via the communication network, and
- returning the components used to generate the physical three dimensional model to the storage,
- wherein the array of speakers are each selectively controlled by the processor of the computer apparatus, and
- wherein the array of speakers are angled offset from a vertical position, such that the sound waves generated are biased upwards.
A computer apparatus, comprising:
- a memory that stores instructions, and
- a processor that executes the instructions,
- wherein, when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- receiving, via a communication network from a remote requester, information indicative of physical characteristics of an item specified by the remote requester and a request to generate a physical three dimensional model for the item specified by the remote requester;
- transforming, using the processor, the information indicative of the physical characteristics of the item into model data used to generate the physical three dimensional model;
- obtaining components for generating the physical three dimensional model from storage;
- generating, using sound waves generated by an array of speakers and based on the model data, the physical three dimensional model for the item specified by the remote requester;
- sending imagery of the physical three dimensional model to the remote requester via the communication network, and
- returning the components used to generate the physical three dimensional model to the storage,
- wherein the array of speakers are each selectively controlled by the processor of the computer apparatus, and
- wherein the array of speakers are angled offset from a vertical position, such that the sound waves generated are biased upwards.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.