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.

What it 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.

What it doesn't 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.

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.

Why it matters

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.

Real-world examples

• 1.In-store custom t-shirt printing kiosks
• 2.Personalized gift shops offering on-the-spot engraving or printing
• 3.On-demand book printing machines in bookstores, like the Espresso Book Machine
• 4.Retail photo printing services for custom photo albums or prints
• 5.Customized phone case printing services at mall kiosks