A MECHANISM TO ALLOW PURCHASE OF THE DIGITAL RIGHTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF DATA FILES REQUIRED TO PRINT ITEMS ON DISTRIBUTED 3D PRINTERS

MECANISME PERMETTANT L'ACHAT DES DROITS NUMERIQUES ET LA DISTRIBUTION DES FICHIERS DE DONNEES NECESSAIRES POUR IMPRIMER DES OBJETS SUR DES IMPRIMANTES 3D DISTRIBUEES

English Abstract

A process by which a network service can be used to secure the rights to print
3D copies of items
protected by trademark or other protection. Once rights are secured, the
process can make a file
available so the 3D printer can recreate the object, but not more copies than
allowed by the license.
The file will have metadata included to allow limitations to be placed on how
many times it can be
used to create the 3D object on the 3D printer.

Claims

Claims:
1. A system for transmitting data to support 3D printing of items and managing
the digital
rights for reproductions of the items on 3D printers, the system comprising:
(a) at least one web server available to select 3D items to be printed, and
allowing the user to
secure the rights to reproduce on a 3D printer one or more of the items
modeled in the 3D
file selected, and make payment for the same;
(b) client software running on a computer attached to a 3D printer that can
use web services
to contact the above noted web server to validate that the rights exist to
reproduce the object
on the attached 3D printer;
(c) One or more data files that contain the detailed computerized instructions
for a 3D printer
to print an item, and metadata indicating among other items, the purchaser of
the rights to
print, a digital serial number, print scale, and optionally a limit on number
of 3D
reproductions that are licensed for printing.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein data files supporting 3D printing can be
purchased along with
rights to reproduce those items which may be protected by trademark or other
protection for
which license may be granted.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein data files supporting 3D printing may be
downloaded with
metadata identifying who has purchased the rights to reproduce the item on a
3D printer, and
identifying the computer system(s) which may print these items.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein a computer application running on a
computer connected to a
3D printer may examine a file defined in claim 3, and use network web services
to determine
if the 3D file may be printed based on the license information for the user of
the application.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein a one or more web servers will allow the
computer
application of claim 4 to register itself as a 3D file consumer using a
network web service.
6. The computer application of claim 4 wherein the application may register
itself with the web
service of claim 5, allowing this registered computer application to obtain 3D
files of claim
3.
7. The computer application of claim 4 wherein the application will use web
services to update
the license information upon sending the print information to the 3D printer.
8. A method for securing on line payment for rights to reproduce 3D objects on
a 3D printer
9. A method for disbursing payments using network web services to the
holders of trademarks
and other right holders for permission to reproduce 3D objects protected by
them.

Description

CA 02836176 2013-12-12
Background: As 3D printers enter the general marketplace, certain trademarked
or otherwise
protected items may be made available for users of these computers to
reproduce. A consumer who
owns or has access to a 3D printer could purchase rights to reproduce these
trademarked items on
the 3D printer from a third party network service provider. The network
service provider will be
responsible for payment to the trademark holder.
Description:A mechanism by which the rights to print certain materials on 3D
printers can be
purchased over a public network, and files defining the 3D object may be
encrypted, transmitted,
and used at the location of a 3D printer to print the object. The encrypted
file will include the
definition of the 3D object to be printed, along with metadata indicating
among other items, the
purchaser of the rights to print, a digital serial number, print scale, and
optionally a limit on number
of 3D reproductions that are licensed for printing.
Software running on the computer of the individual or corporation who
purchased the rights to
reproduce the 3D image will decrypt the file, and allow the object to be
printed within the
constraints defined in the metadata. Once the licensed number of copies of the
3D object have been
printed, the software will prohibit additional copies from being produced
using that file. As each
licenced copy is produced, network web services will be used to update the
remaining allowable
items to print.
This process will make use of existing data encryption algorithms and network
transfer techniques.
The current 3D printing environment is starting to see some movement in the
file sharing arena, but
there is currently no processes in place that allow this to be monitized, or
the rights given to legally
reproduce items protected by trademark or other protections.
Example of intended use:
A parent wishes to obtain an action figure for their child. Instead of
ordering on line or driving to a
nearby toy store, the parent may purchase the rights to produce their own copy
of the action figure
on a nearby 3D printer and download the file required to do so, but may only
produce as may copies
of the action figure as they have purchased rights to.

Representative Drawing