How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval
This patent describes a system where a store can make a custom product for a customer, but only after getting permission and the necessary design information from a central, remote office.
Original patent title: “System for reproducing information in material objects at a point of sale location”
This patent describes a system where a store can make a custom product for a customer, but only after getting permission and the necessary design information from a central, remote office. Granted to FPDC Inc in 1985 with 59 claims and 498 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent outlines a method for creating personalized items directly in a store. It uses an "information manufacturing machine" at the "point of sale location" to reproduce information onto "material objects." First, the machine receives the design information from a remote source, identified by a "catalog code." When a customer wants an item, the machine sends a "request reproduction code" to a remote "information control machine." This control machine then sends back an "authorization code," allowing the in-store machine to create the product. For example, a customer could order a custom-designed phone case at a mall kiosk. The kiosk would request the specific design from a central server, get approval, and then print the design onto a blank phone case.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover manufacturing systems where all design information and authorization are stored and processed entirely within the local store machine.
- Does not cover making digital-only products, as it specifically requires reproducing information into "material objects" like physical items.
- Does not cover large-scale factory production that is not located at a "point of sale location" where customers directly purchase the item.
- Does not cover systems where the authorization for reproduction is not tied to a specific request code and a unique catalog code for the information.
- Does not cover systems where the manufacturing machine itself is not uniquely identified when requesting authorization.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The truly novel aspect was combining the remote delivery of specific product information with a remote authorization system for in-store manufacturing. This allowed a central entity to control what could be made, where, and when, ensuring quality and managing intellectual property, all while offering immediate customization to customers.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
In-store custom t-shirt printing kiosks
Personalized gift shops offering on-the-spot engraving or printing
On-demand book printing machines in bookstores, like the Espresso Book Machine
Retail photo printing services for custom photo albums or prints
Customized phone case printing services at mall kiosks
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Filed in 1983, this patent was an early vision for on-demand manufacturing and product personalization in retail. It provided a framework for businesses to offer custom goods without needing to stock large inventories of pre-made personalized items. This approach helps reduce waste and allows for a wider variety of product offerings directly to consumers.
Filed
January 10, 1983
Granted
July 9, 1985
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like HP, through its various printing and digital manufacturing solutions, continue to develop systems that enable on-demand production. Retailers offering custom apparel, personalized gifts, or print-on-demand services, such as Zazzle or CafePress, operate within the broader scope of distributed manufacturing and remote content delivery that this patent envisioned. Many modern retail technology providers also build systems for in-store customization.
Market impact
This patent helped lay the groundwork for a shift in retail towards personalized products and reduced inventory. It enabled new business models where goods could be manufactured only when ordered, minimizing storage costs and waste. This concept became foundational for the growth of custom product markets and distributed manufacturing networks, allowing businesses to offer a vast array of unique items without physical stock.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent outlines a method for creating personalized items directly in a store. It uses an "information manufacturing machine" at the "point of sale location" to reproduce information onto "material objects." First, the machine receives the design information from a remote source, identified by a "catalog code." When a customer wants an item, the machine sends a "request reproduction code" to a remote "information control machine." This control machine then sends back an "authorization code," allowing the in-store machine to create the product. For example, a customer could order a custom-designed phone case at a mall kiosk. The kiosk would request the specific design from a central server, get approval, and then print the design onto a blank phone case.
The clever bit
The truly novel aspect was combining the remote delivery of specific product information with a remote authorization system for in-store manufacturing. This allowed a central entity to control what could be made, where, and when, ensuring quality and managing intellectual property, all while offering immediate customization to customers.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover manufacturing systems where all design information and authorization are stored and processed entirely within the local store machine.
- Does not cover making digital-only products, as it specifically requires reproducing information into "material objects" like physical items.
- Does not cover large-scale factory production that is not located at a "point of sale location" where customers directly purchase the item.
- Does not cover systems where the authorization for reproduction is not tied to a specific request code and a unique catalog code for the information.
- Does not cover systems where the manufacturing machine itself is not uniquely identified when requesting authorization.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$115K – $369K
Midpoint $230K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
59 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Jr., C. C. F. (1985). How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval (U.S. Patent No. 4,528,643). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4528643/digital-distribution-point-of-sale
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval cover?
This patent describes a system where a store can make a custom product for a customer, but only after getting permission and the necessary design information from a central, remote office.
Who owns patent US 4528643?
FPDC Inc owns this patent, granted in 1985.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 4528643 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 498 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Filed in 1983, this patent was an early vision for on-demand manufacturing and product personalization in retail. It provided a framework for businesses to offer custom goods without needing to stock large inventories of pre-made personalized items. This approach helps reduce waste and allows for a wider variety of product offerings directly to consumers.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover manufacturing systems where all design information and authorization are stored and processed entirely within the local store machine.
Patent monitoring