{
  "patent_number": "US 4528643",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval",
  "original_title": "System for reproducing information in material objects at a point of sale location",
  "summary": "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_does": "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_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."
  ],
  "filed": "1983-01-10",
  "granted": "1985-07-09",
  "expires": "2003-01-10",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "FPDC Inc",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/fpdc-inc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Charles C. Freeny, Jr.",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/charles-c-freeny-jr"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 498,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software",
    "telecommunications",
    "ecommerce",
    "mechanical",
    "retail"
  ],
  "abstract": "The present invention contemplates a system for reproducing information in material objects at a point of sale location wherein the information to be reproduced is provided at the point of sale location from a location remote with respect to the point of sale location, an owner authorization code is provided to the point of sale location in reponse to receiving a request code from the point of sale location requesting to reproducing predetermined information in a material object, and the predetermined information is reproduced in a material object at the point of sale location in response to receiving the owner authorization code.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4528643/digital-distribution-point-of-sale",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4528643/digital-distribution-point-of-sale/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US4528643",
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}