WO2021137703A1

WO2021137703A1 - System and method for network-based management of 3d digital data objects

Info

Publication number: WO2021137703A1
Application number: PCT/NO2020/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dragan STANOJEVIC
Original assignee: Printuitiv As
Priority date: 2020-01-01
Filing date: 2020-10-22
Publication date: 2021-07-08
Also published as: NO20200001A1

Abstract

The present invention discloses a system and method for network-based management of 3D digital data objects. The system for network-based management of 3D digital data objects integrates all actors during life-cycle of the 3D digital data object, including 3D designer nodes, 3D printing provider nodes, and point of sale (POS) nodes, all linked by a multi-server node consisting of the computing platform for 3D digital objects printing. The method for network-based management of 3D digital data objects is characterized by the automatic selection of suitable 3D printers for each newly created 3D digital object by matching technical characteristic of 3D printers with corresponding attributes of 3D digital data object, as well as the automatic displaying of the corresponding 3D product in the selected POS nodes by matching attributes of a POS nodes with corresponding attributes of 3D digital data object.

Description

System and Method for Network-based Management of 3D Digital Data Objects

Field of the invention

This invention relates generally to the technical field of three-dimensional (3D) printing of digital objects. More particularly, the present invention relates to 3D digital objects printing services in network environment. Associated IPC codes are: B33Y10/00, H04N21/258, G06F3/12 and G06Q50/00.

Background of the invention

The 3D printing technology allows the design of a complex objects with simplified manufacturing process. The process starts with a transformation of a CAD 3D model to a ‘printable’ 3D digital model, which is layered into multiple slices and written into 3D printable file format. These 3D digital files are read by 3D printer that creates product by stacking layers of material until final shapes are reached.

3D printing marketplaces are web-based platforms that enable presenting, sharing and printing of digital 3D printable files. There are many different types of 3D printing marketplaces. The Shapeways is well-known web-based platform that enables end-users to choose and order 3D design from different web-stores, and consequently to print it in its own factory. 3DHubs is a web-based platform that enables end-users to print-on-demand their industrial prototypes by uploading design and selecting recommended local 3D printing provider. The platform Threeding allows sharing / trading of 3D printable files. The web-based platforms such as MyMiniFactory or Pinshape offer certain combination of capabilities of previously mentioned platforms, i.e. sharing of 3D designs and their printing which is provided by third parties.

There are many recent patents and patent applications that consider the context of 3D printing related services. The patent US8189220 B2, published May 292012, discloses the system and method for finding a remote printer according criteria designed by the client, while the patent application EP2788910 A1 published October 152014 assess availability of 3D printers based on signals received from printers’ sensors. The patent US9818147 B2 that is published November 142017, describes a system and method for performing 3D printing services in a marketplace environment that includes selection of 3D printing providers among a federated networks of 3D printing providers which is based on specific 3D printer identifier metric. Similarly, the patent application US2018300491 A1 published September 292016, also discloses a method and system for managing 3D printing which includes ranking of the plurality of 3D service providers. The methods and system for providing items manufacturing on user demand, is presented in a patent US9898776 B2, published February 202018, and includes selection of manufacturing apparatus based on the 3D manufacturing instructions associated to item demanded by the user and generating the delivery instructions of selected item to the user.

There is a growing need for a new 3D printing service that enables various actors in the 3D printing process to be connected in a functional and efficient manner. The main problem in connection with that is how to integrate 3D designers, 3D printing providers and points of sale (POS) into the network- based management system of 3D digital data objects, simultaneously providing a high level of 3D printing process automation in different stages of the life-cycle of 3D digital data objects. The solution to this problem is a particular achievement of the present invention.

Summary of invention

The present invention describes the multi-role network-based computing platform for support and management of all activities needed in the process of 3D product printing. The presented invention integrates in networked computing environment all actors involved in the process of 3D product printing. The network-based computing platform for 3D product printing consists of multiple nodes with different roles: 3D designers, 3D printing providers and point of sale (POS). The 3D designer node creates new 3D product by entering appropriate 3D digital object printable file and associated metadata related to design and printing information. The 3D printing provider node can be linked to the current 3D digital object if data defining 3D digital object match data characterizing the 3D printing provider node. The POS node, which is appropriate for offering to end-users a new 3D product, is also connected to corresponding 3D digital object. The process of selection, linking and managing interaction and processing of data exchange between all multi-role nodes, i.e. 3D designers, 3D printing providers and POS, is performed using the multi-server node.

The disclosed method starts by entering 3D object printable file and associated metadata related to design and printing information which is performed by 3D designer node. The multi-server node performs the first selection procedure for creation of the list of suitable 3D printing provider nodes. In the resulting list are included 3D printing provider nodes which best matches multiple criteria given by the 3D designer node. This selection procedure is characterized by the following two features: 1) it uses a product delivery long-term time interval as of the criteria; and 2) history records of previously selected 3D printing providers by the same 3D designer node is utilized. In that way, the selection of 3D printing providers is performed using technical characteristics as well as ’subjective’ 3D designer’s preferences. The notification step of the method allows to all selected 3D printing provider nodes, as well as the 3D designer node to confirm the association of the 3D digital object to any of notified 3D printing provider nodes. Next, the multi-server node is able to offer 3D digital object to POS nodes which are most appropriate to become a retail places for corresponding 3D product. The selection of the final 3D printing provider node is conducted based on the criteria given by the POS node. In comparison with the first selection procedure, following differences exist: 1) the estimation of the shortterm delivery time of a 3D product is used as one of a criteria; 2) only one 3D printing provider node is selected; 3) the history of the finally chosen 3D printing providers for 3D product printing is being considered from the point of view of a particular end-user or the POS.

The disclosed system represents the computing platform for 3D digital object printing. The system incorporates all actors in the life-cycle of the 3D printing-based products realized as computer network processing nodes, including 3D designer nodes, 3D printing provider nodes and point of sale (POS) nodes. The central part of the system, i.e. the computing platform for 3D digital object printing, is organized in three layers: Presentation layer; Logic & Communication layer; and Data layer. The system’s presentation layer consists of a web server, an internal POS, and a presentation layer part of the front-end that contains panels for 3D digital object data handling. The Logic & Communication layer contains an application server, which consists of a front-end and back-end component. Data layer contains a file server, web repository, database server and database. The application server is a central part of the system where all procedures and communications with applications are executed. The application server exchanges 3D object related data, including pictures, media files and metadata, with a file server, web repository, database, internal POS and external POS components using two- way communication. The back-end is the most important component of the application server, as well as the whole 3D digital object printing system by providing essential characteristics of this invention. The back-end performs a set of following microservices: web service API, core business logic, 3D digital object management, 3D printing provider selection, and POS filtration management. The web service API microservice primarily serves as a communication intermediary to external applications running on external POS, or to the data layer components of the system. Next, the core business logic microservice manages all business-related procedures and data. The 3D digital object management microservice, as the most complex microservice, performs a list of procedures, including: Interaction with the 3D printing provider selection procedures, handling of 3D digital object design-related files and metadata, creation of a new 3D digital object attributes, and interaction with other microservices and system’s components. The 3D printing provider selection microservice allows automatic execution of the first selection procedure of 3D printing providers by interaction with the 3D designer panel and the 3D digital object management microservice. The last back-end microservice is the POS filtration management microservice. It allows an internal POS to define a set of criteria and automatic execution of the second selection during the 3D printing provider procedure.

The foregoing explanations and characteristics of the present invention will be presented in more detail in the following detailed description, drawings and claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The following detailed description of the invention, which describes exemplary embodiments of the invention, should be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents functional diagram illustrating all actors of multi-role computing platform for 3D digital object printing

Figure 2 represents components of the multi-server node of the network-based computing platform for 3D digital object printing

Figure 3 represents the block diagram of the method for network-based management of 3D digital objects printing

Figure 4 represents the computing platform for 3D digital objects printing

Figure 5 represents a list of factors and parameters used in the first selection of the 3D printer providers’ algorithm Figure 6 represents a list of factors and parameters used in the second selection of the 3D printer provider’s algorithm

Figure 7 represents an illustration of the central part of the database structure

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 shows all the actors of a multi-role computing platform for 3D digital object printing. The goal of this multi-role computing platform is to support and manage all activities needed in the process of 3D product manufacturing. All nodes in the network communicate with each other through the multiserver node (100) of this network-based platform in a process which forms a chain of activities necessary to prepare and execute manufacturing of a 3D product. Each node in the network must have at least one of the following roles: 3D designer (110), 3D printing provider (120) or point of sale POS (130). All actors that can potentially be involved in the activity chain must be pre-registered on the platform under the same role with which they will participate in the process of 3D digital object printing. During the registration every actor is identified by a unique name, and a set of attributes related to 3D printing technology, product/design class, and geographic location.

The node with the role 3D designer (110) creates a new design in the form of a 3D digital object with associated data related to design and printing. The 3D designer uploads new design in the form of a numeric 3D digital printable file. Then, design-related metadata should be entered including the name of the 3D object, its description in one or more languages, class and subclass of this object, 3D object/design price, etc. After that, the 3D designer should enter printing-related attributes such as criteria needed to be fulfilled from 3D printing providers, fabrication materials recommendations, etc. The 3D printing provider (120) node defines all data related to its technology and business attributes during its registration. It is connected to a given 3D digital object if it is included in the list of possible 3D printing providers. The server may generate the list of selected 3D printing providers by matching the criteria given by the respective 3D designer (110). The 3D printing provider (120) can set an option for automatic confirmation and an option that allow a change of printing-related attributes.

The POS node (130) can be a POS terminal (internal POS) or a virtual website (external POS). The POS node during its registration sets attributes of the filter used for selection of an interesting type, class of product designs including also preferred 3D designers, fabrication materials and 3D printing providers. The multi-server node (100) performs automatic transfer of the given 3D product to a POS node (130) if the required criteria are met.

The end-user (140) is a customer that purchases a specific 3D product offered by the POS node (130), shipped and delivered by the 3D printing provider (120) node.

A multi-server (100) node represents a collection of connected computing devices and computer programs that provide specific services for multi-role nodes of the computing platform for 3D digital object printing. Components of the multi-server (100) node shown in Figure 2 perform various data computing, storing and transmitting operations which are associated to specific multi-server components. The components included in the multi-server node are: web server (210), application server (220), file server (230), web repository (240) and database (250). The web server (210) uses Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) protocol to process and deliver content to multi-role nodes, according to the method for network-based management of 3D digital objects printing, disclosed in the following text. A web server (210) controls ways of receiving content from multi-role nodes, such as: submitting web forms for retrieving or modifying information from database (250), uploading of files, etc.

The application server (220) is an essential component of the multi-server (100) node where all business logic operations are executed. More precisely, the application server (220) is communicating with other components of the multi-node (100) in accordance to the network-based management method of 3D digital objects printing. It receives a request from the web server (210), it signalizes that the application is running and informs which operation should be executed next.

The file server (230) is a program that enables 3D digital object files sharing over a network. It enables processes of 3D digital object file’s storing into the web repository (240) and facilitates processes of file uploading and downloading using HTTPS and SFTP communication protocols.

The web repository (240) is a physical storage of 3D digital object files and media files that can be accessed by the multi-role nodes through the file server’s (230) HTTPS and SFTP communication protocols.

A database (250) is driven by the Database Management System (DBMS) software. It holds data records related to all participants of the computing platform for 3D digital object printing, as well as metadata records related to all 3D digital data objects. By request, required information from the database (250) is passed back over the network to the multi-role nodes.

The following text gives an explanation of the most important data that can be used in the selection of appropriate 3D printing providers, i.e. technology, fabrication material, quality, manufacturing time, and location.

Technology: The first and most important factor is determined by a 3D printing technology used by machines available to the particular 3D printing provider. There are numerous 3D printing technologies present in the domain of additive manufacturing. 3D printing technologies are mainly characterized by the way how layers of material are deposited to create parts and in the materials that are used. Some 3D printing technologies soften the material to produce the layers, such as selective laser melting or sintering, while others cure liquid materials using light processing.

Material: Next, a very important factor is the type of material used in the process of 3D printing. Naturally, the selection of material type used in the 3D printing process determines the compatible type of 3D printing materials and 3D printers. The most common 3D printing materials are plastic, nylon, ceramic, a mix of different metals, etc.

Quality: The following text describes several factors that may affect the quality of 3D printing. Key influencing factors are the quality of the material, proper selected temperature of manufacturing and layer thickness used during printing, printing speed, and configured retraction parameter. However, the crucial factor of printing quality is quality assessment determined by the end-user, i.e. persons who requested the product and subjectively score their satisfaction after receiving the printed product. Either way, that score is primarily influenced by previously mentioned objective factors. The end-users are asked to rate the quality of every received product that they previously ordered. The end-user should express their satisfaction with the received product’s quality by rating it compared to the expected quality, but other factors as well, such as the ordered product’s punctual time of manufacturing. Rating is on a scale of 5 to 1 , with the following meanings: 5 - very satisfied; 4 - satisfied; 3 - neutral; 2 - dissatisfied; 1 - very dissatisfied.

Manufacturing/delivery time: The manufacturing or delivery time of 3D printing is influenced by several factors, including 3D printer occupation and numerous technology-driven factors, such as the part’s size and orientation, the amount and type of material for printing, filament and layer thickness, print temperature, and so on. Therefore, as 3D printing production line occupation is influenced by many technical and production factors, 3D product delivery times are very variable.

The method of the proposed invention contains different ways of estimating manufacturing time that are used within the two steps of selecting 3D printing providers. First selection step is the selection of a list of suitable 3D printing providers that is executed based on the criteria appointed by a 3D designer. The 3D designer defines which factors will be taken into account and with which priority. The second selection step of selection of the final 3D printing provider is activated by an end-user using a POS actor.

In the first selection step, creating a list of suitable 3D printing providers takes a long-term manufacturing time of the 3D product. The long-term manufacturing time is calculated as the average manufacturing time of all products delivered from a given 3D printing provider over a long period of time, for instance in the last six months.

In the second selection step, selection of the final 3D printing provider takes a short-term manufacturing time of the 3D product. The short-term manufacturing time is calculated as the average manufacturing term of specific class and subclass products delivered from a given 3D printing provider in a short-term period. This short-term period can be defined as last week, or for instance, the last three days. If there is an available manufacturing/delivery data for a plurality of 3D products of the same class manufactured by the 3D printing providers and delivered to the requested POS, this information is taken into account when calculating the short-term manufacturing time.

Location: 3D printing providers that are geographically closer to the 3D designer or a POS terminal have an advantage. The location is determined automatically, based on the platform clients’ IP addresses. The country code or area code, which have been entered into the profile data during registration, can also serve as a location indicator.

The selection procedure of a 3D printing provider is one of the key features of this invention. It uses data generated by all actors of the 3D digital objects management method. This data represents criteria that enable the creation of a list with preferred 3D printing providers. These criteria include the previously described data: 3D printing technology and materials used, quality, manufacturing/delivery time and its location. Besides this data, the preferences between specific 3D designer and 3D printing providers, or POS and 3D printing providers respectively, are taken into consideration.

The selection procedure of suitable 3D printing providers is used twice during the entire procedure, but with certain discrepancies. The selection procedure of suitable 3D printing providers is first called based on the 3D designer’s criteria. The output of this method is a list of recommended 3D printing providers by the defined 3D designer’s criteria of the 3D product. The second call of the selection procedure for selecting the final 3D printing provider is based on a request issued by a POS node.

Main steps of the method for network-based management of 3D digital objects printing are shown on Figure 3. The whole process initiates a 3D designer node. The 3D designer node creates a 3D digital data object, sends and prepares additional associated data. The server receives a 3D object in the form of numerical 3D design data file from the 3D designer node and a set of associated metadata (300). This associated metadata can be classified into metadata related to design and metadata related to printing. Design-related metadata includes: 3D object name, multilingual object description, the product class and subclass, design price, etc. Another set of attributes and printing-related metadata consists of conditions and criteria needed to be fulfilled by the 3D printing providers, including fabrication materials recommendations, a criteria list for selecting 3D printing providers, etc. As a creator of a specific 3D design, from the multi-role computing platform point of view, the 3D designer may claim author’s rights on his/her creation associated with the 3D digital data object.

All received data related to the provided 3D digital data object is being collected and stored in phase (310). 3D design data file and associated media files are stored in web repository (240), while associated metadata including files’ URLs are stored in database (250).

The first selection procedure of a list suitable 3D printing providers (320) is called based on the 3D designer’s criteria. It is necessary to emphasize that part of the data comes from the 3D printing provider. Data entered by the 3D designer is considered as desired or preferred values of the 3D product, while data from the 3D printing providers represent characteristics of their manufacturing abilities. Specificity of this version of the selection procedure is that it uses a product delivery longterm time interval. The procedure for selecting a list of suitable 3D printing providers finds 3D printing providers that best match the characteristics required by the 3D designer. In order for the selection procedure to be as efficient as possible, database records of previously selected 3D printing providers by the same 3D designer are utilized. This is second specific feature of the selection procedure. In that way, a database of preferred 3D printing providers is created for particular 3D designers, as well as for each 3D object classes and subclasses. Based on the provider’s characteristics and its previous selections by particular 3D designers for 3D objects of specific classes, clusters with pattern vectors of similar 3D printing providers are created in a database. They form a search space suitable for searching and finding the most appropriate 3D printing providers of a particular 3D designer and a particular 3D object class. For pattern vector similarity, a similarity metric is used, such as cosine or Euclidean distance. The similarity metric’s aim is to find the most suitable 3D printing provider based on technical characteristics, as well as subjective designer’s preferences.

Notification of the 3D designer and 3D printing provider nodes is done in phase (330). The 3D designer who initiated the process for the provided 3D digital object, together with all 3D printing provider nodes presented in the list of selected 3D printing providers, is notified by the multi-server node (100). The list of selected 3D printing providers is the result of the first selection (320). Notified 3D printing providers have the ability to view data related to the given 3D digital object and its printing attributes. If it is specified in the registration stage, the 3D printing provider may confirm or reject the offered involvement in the list of potential printing providers, or it may change the value of any of the printing attributes that are allowed to be modified, e.g. the price of printing in a specific country. Similarly, a responsible 3D designer may or may not confirm the received list of 3D printing providers or may remove some 3D printing providers by his own choice. A 3D design data file can be downloaded only by selected group of 3D printing providers. This group is verified by a responsible 3D designer who is owner of the 3D design file and in this way, intellectual property protection level is improved.

Next, the multi-server node (100) offers a provided 3D digital object to the POS nodes (340). Namely, the multi-server node (100) is able to match specified attributes’ values of a given 3D digital object to corresponding attributes of POS nodes. Any POS node may to define the matching criteria. For instance, 3D object attributes, such as class and/or subclass, can be compared to attributes of POS nodes that correspond to a class and/or subclass of products of interest. Also, other matching criteria can be applied, e.g. product price range, fabrication material, etc. Every POS node whose matching criteria are satisfied becomes a retail place for the particular 3D digital object. Any 3D digital object visible to end-users through the internal or external POS becomes a 3D product.

The second selection of the 3D printing provider (350) calls another version of the procedure for selecting a suitable 3D printing provider which is based on a request issued by an end-user using a POS node. Only 3D printing providers present in the output list of the first selection procedure (320) are considered. This version of the procedure is characterized by two differences in comparison with the previous selection procedure: 1) the estimation of the short-term delivery of a 3D product is used as one of criteria; 2) after verifying the list of 3D printing providers by the POS participants, only one 3D printing provider is selected. The algorithm of the selection procedure is the same, but uses a different database of pattern vectors, since the history of the finally chosen 3D printing providers for 3D product printing is being tracked. Therefore, selection of the final 3D printing provider (350) is conducted based on the criteria that are set by the POS node (130). An advantage among potential 3D printing providers have the ones that have proven to be better in a short-time period based on data related to the particular POS. Likewise, an advantage among potential 3D printing providers may hold those who have proven themselves to be better for a particular end-user in a short-term time interval. The final phase of this network-based management method for 3D digital objects printing is sending printing instructions to the selected 3D printing provider (360). This phase is activated by an end-user purchase of the given 3D product. The selection of the final 3D printing provider is done in the phase (350).

The computing platform for 3D digital objects printing is a system divided into three layers of components. Each component of the 3D digital objects printing system (400) has a defined role in the managing process of 3D digital objects printing and has an impact on every stage of 3D digital object’s life-cycle. Layers of the 3D digital object printing system (400) are: Presentation layer; Logic & Communication layer; and Data layer.

Presentation layer consists of the web server (210), the internal POS (470), the presentation layer of front-end (430), or more precisely a presentation layer of 3D digital object management panels that contains a set of panels (431), (432), (433), and (434). Logic & Communication layer contains the application server (220), front-end (430) and backend (440).

Data layer contains the file server (230), web repository (240), database server (460) and database (250).

The web server (210) belongs to the presentation layer of the 3D digital objects printing system (400). It uses the HTTPS communication protocol to process and deliver content to web pages upon request, or receive content from web pages. More concretely, the web server (210) transmits content between the components on the presentation layer, i.e.: internal POS (470) and front-end (430) as part of the application server (220).

The application server (220) belongs to the logic and communication layer of the 3D digital objects printing system (400). It is a central part of the system (400) where all technical procedures and business logic operations are executed, as well as the entire communication with external devices and applications. The application server (220) gets a request from the web server (210) and signalizes it to the application which operation should be executed.

Two-way communications of the application server (220) are present towards the following components of the 3D digital objects printing system (400):

The internal POS (470) and external POS (480):

The application server (220) sends presentation settings and 3D object related data, including pictures, media files and metadata;

The application server (220) receives criteria for 3D product filtration and selection of 3D printing providers, 3D object product printing orders, end-user data, etc.;

The file server (230), web repository (240), and database (250):

The application server (220) sends and receives 3D digital object files, media files and metadata.

The front-end (430) is a component of the application server (220) and primarily belongs to the logic and communication layer of the 3D digital objects printing system (400). However, the front-end (430) is also a part of the presentation layer due to user interactions offered by the web server (210) that uses HTTPS communications. The front-end (430) contains the following panels:

The system administration panel (431) is intended for the system administrator who defines system parameter settings.

The 3D designer panel (432) is intended for 3D designers who initiate the creation of their own 3D digital product by uploading a 3D digital object file and filling-in design-related metadata and some printing-related metadata.

3D printing provider panel (433) is intended for 3D printing providers who define printing-related metadata for the 3D digital product.

Internal POS management panel (434) is intended for a plurality of users that use the internal POS management panel (434) in order to manage content of their personal profiles, as building blocks of the internal POS (470).

The back-end (440) is an element of the application server (220) and belongs to the logic and communication layer of the 3D digital objects printing system (400). As a central part of the logic and communication layer, the back-end (440) interacts with all components of the 3D digital object printing system (400).

The back-end (440) is the most important component of the 3D digital objects printing system (400). It provides essential characteristics of the invention with a set of the following microservices: the web service API (441), core business logic (442), 3D digital object management (443), 3D printing provider selection (444), and POS filtration management (445). Each of these microservices is described in more detail in the following text.

The web service API (441) as a part of the back-end (440) and it belongs to the logic and communication layer of the 3D digital objects printing system (400). The web service API (441) primarily serves as a communication software intermediary to external applications running on the external POS (480), or to the data layer components of the 3D digital objects printing system (400). The web service API (441) provides to the external POS the access to its functionalities. An external application, i.e. the external POS (480) presented on independent network sites uses a two-way communication through the web service API (441). Upon request, the web service API (441) returns data as JSON objects to the external POS that includes 3D digital object files, media files and metadata. The web service API (441) presents 3D digital objects and metadata to the end-user (140) in a form of 3D digital products ready to be ordered and manufactured by the selected 3D printing provider.

The next part of the back-end (440) is the core business logic microservice (442). It includes all business-related fields, e.g. business model definition, rules, parameters, settings, calculations, product classes, sales assortments, order records, sales records, tax and financial records, payment system, etc.

The 3D digital object management microservice (443) is the most important part of the back-end (440) component of the 3D digital objects printing system (400). This microservice is managing 3D digital object files and all associated metadata during its life-cycle based on multi-role user data inputs and defined business logic. Main operations performed within the 3D digital object management microservice (443) are:

Handling 3D digital object design files, media files and design-related metadata inputs collected using the 3D designer panel (432).

Interaction with the 3D printing provider selection procedures (320), from the 3D printing provider selection microservice (444), and handling the preliminary list of 3D printing providers and final 3D printing provider, as well as sending notifications to a 3D designer and 3D printing providers that are participating in the process of 3D printing provider selection.

Handling 3D printing-related metadata inputs collected using the 3D printing provider panel (433).

Creates additional metadata based on defined business logic data and rules, as well as settings from the system administration panel (431).

Combines 3D digital object design files, media files, design-related metadata and printing- related metadata in order to create a data structure in the form of a universal 3D digital product suitable for processing and displaying using POS nodes (130), i.e. the internal POS (470) and the external POS (480). They are able to easily extract and display only 3D digital object attributes suitable to the current request (e.g. only plastic toys, just Spanish language description, 3D product printed and delivered in California, US, etc.).

Stores 3D digital object design files and media files in the web repository (240), and stores associated metadata in the database (250).

Making new 3D digital object attributes available to POS filtration management microservice (445) by matching attributes of a new 3D digital object to criteria defined by the internal POS (470) and stored in a database (250). As a result, all internal POSs (470) interested in a new 3D digital object are found.

The 3D printing provider selection microservice (444) is a part of the back-end (440) component of the 3D digital objects printing system (400). It interacts with the 3D designer panel (432) and the 3D digital object management microservice (443). This microservice (444) makes it technically possible for a 3D designer to define and prioritize factors that are taken into account during the first automatic selection procedure of the 3D printing provider selection (320).

It practically means that each 3D designer (110) is able to modify predefined parameters in the selection algorithm, which is an explicit function of various factors, mathematical and logical operators, as well as priority indicators. The most important factors are included in the criteria list: 3D printing technology; fabrication materials; 3D printing provider manufacturing and service quality rating; delivery time; and geographic locations of the 3D printing provider. Moreover, the 3D designer (110) can also include historical records of its previously selected 3D printing providers, which can be added to the list of criteria. Data entered by the 3D designer (110) is based on expected 3D product quality and availability, while data from the 3D printing providers (120) represents characteristics of their manufacturing abilities. These factors processed by the first automatic selection procedure of the 3D printing provider selection (320) produces a preliminary list of 3D printing providers.

Figure 5 displays a list of factors and related parameters used in the first selection of the 3D printer providers’ algorithm (320). The first column contains ‘Priority’ of the ‘Factor’, given in the second column. The ‘Priority’ indicator can have one out of three values: ‘MUST HAVE’, ‘NICE TO HAVE’, or ‘NOT’. The second column ‘Factor’ contains factors from the list of criteria used by the first selection algorithm (320). The third column named Operator AT contains the first arithmetic operator selected from a set of predefined arithmetic operators: =, >=, >, <=, <, <>, which are compatible with arithmetic operators used in the SQL language. The fourth column named ‘Value T has values of specified factors which are selected from the database of historical values for a particular factor. The fifth column Operator L2’ represents the fact that the second logical operator exists only if Operator A2’ and ‘Value 2’ are present. The value of Operator L2’ can be selected from a set of pre-defined logical operators: AND, OR, NOT, which are compatible with logical operators used in the SQL language.

In Figure 5, a comprehensive tabular illustration shows an example of how 3D designers (110) can define parameters required in the first 3D printing provider selection procedure (320). These parameters shown in Figure 5 are stored in the database (250) and used by the 3D digital object management microservice (443) when the procedure for the first selection of 3D printer providers (320) is triggered. As a result, this microservice (444) identifies the requested 3D printing providers and returns a list to the 3D digital object management microservice (443).

The POS filtration management microservice (445) is a part of the back-end (440) of the 3D digital object printing system (400). It interacts with the internal POS management panel (434) and the 3D digital object management microservice (443). Using the internal POS management panel (434), each internal POS (470) can define its own criteria that should match a specific set of 3D digital object attributes and store it in the database (250). If required criteria are met when a 3D digital object is offered by the 3D digital object management microservice (443) to the internal POS (470), it triggers an automatic transfer of the given 3D product to that internal POS (470). It practically means that each internal POS (470) is able to define a set of criteria in the second selection of the 3D printing provider (350) algorithm, which is an explicit function of various factors, mathematical and logical operators, as well as priority indicators. The most important factors are: class and subclass of 3D product designs; 3D product description languages; fabrication materials; preferred 3D designers; preferred 3D printing providers; geographic locations in terms of 3D product delivery; 3D product price range; interesting types of 3D products, etc.

Figure 6 displays a list of factors and related parameters used in the second selection of the 3D printer provider algorithm (350). The structure and functionality of the table given in Figure 6 are identical to that presented in Figure 5 and in the associated description. The only difference is found in the usage of different factors. A comprehensive tabular illustration in Figure 6 shows an example of how the internal POS (470) can define its own criteria used to match a specific set of 3D digital object attributes. These parameters shown in Figure 6 are stored in the database (250) and used by the 3D digital object management microservice (443) when the procedure for the second selection of 3D printer providers is triggered. As a result, this microservice (445) identifies such internal POS (470) and returns it as a list to the 3D digital object management microservice (443).

File server (230) belongs to the data layer of the 3D digital object printing system (400). File server (230) is a program that enables 3D digital object files sharing over a network using the HTTPS and SFTP protocols (users with certain access rights have the possibility to use SFTP protocol for file transfer). In this 3D digital object printing system (400), it also enables processing of 3D digital object files stored into the web repository (240) and facilitates processes of file uploading and downloading. File server (230) is indirectly communicating with the rest of the 3D digital object printing system (400) using the API.

Web repository (240) also belongs to the data layer of the 3D digital object printing system (400). Web repository (240) is a physical storage of 3D digital object files and associated media files that can be accessed by end-users (130) of the 3D digital object printing system (400) through the file server’s (230) HTTPS and SFTP protocols.

Database server (460) is another component belonging to the data layer of the 3D digital object printing system (400). Database server (460) holds the Database Management System (DBMS) and the database (250). The function of this server is to store 3D object metadata records in the database (250), or to search the database (250) for selected 3D object metadata records and pass it back to end-users (130) over a network. It is indirectly communicating with the rest of the 3D digital object printing system (400) through the API.

Database (250) stores associated 3D object metadata, including URLs of the 3D digital object files and media files, stored in the web repository (240). It also stores all global system data and applications data, e.g. global system settings from the system administrator, business logic and operation data, end-user data, etc. Interaction with the rest of the 3D digital object printing system (400) is through the database server (460).

Internal POS (470) belongs to the presentation layer of the 3D digital object printing system (400). It interacts with the web server (210) on the presentation layer, as well as with the back-end (440) on the application layer. Internal POS (470) makes 3D digital objects and metadata visible to the end-user (140) in a form of 3D products with all relevant data that needs to be included in the printing instructions. Internal POS (470) requires a selection of material, shipping location and a 3D printing provider before purchasing a 3D product. Only 3D printing providers in the output list of the first selection procedure (320) are available to be selected by the end-user (140).

External POS (480) is not a part of the 3D digital object printing system (400). It represents a part of an independent network site with similar software architecture to the internal POS (470). The minimum functional similarity implies that the external POS (480) can use and display selected 3D products and therefore allow a completion of the purchase process. After the initial API setting process, the external POS (480) is able to communicate with the 3D digital object printing system (400) through a web service API. Upon request, the API returns data as a JSON object that includes 3D digital object associated media (e.g. picture) and metadata. Such API is not available to the public, but only for registered external POS (480) with proper application settings. External POS (480) makes 3D digital objects and metadata visible to the end-user (140) in a form of 3D products with all relevant data that needs to be included in a printing instruction. External POS (480) requires selection of product material, shipping location and 3D printing provider before purchasing a 3D product. Only 3D printing providers in the output list of the first selection procedure (320) are available to be selected by the end-user (140).

End-user (140) interacts in the same way with both internal POS (470) and external POS (480). At this point, and end-user (140) can see and order a 3D printed product by automatic selection of the 3D printing provider and automatic sending of the printing instruction to the 3D printing provider (120). Illustration of the data structure in the central part of the database (250) is presented in Figure 7. It consists of three tables and several the most relevant data fields for 3D product creation and manufacturing:

- Table "3d_designs" (710) contains a unique 3D design identifier "3d_design_id", followed by a

3D designer identifier named "3d_designer_id" and multiple design-related metadata.

- Table "3d_products" (720) contains a unique 3D product identifier "3d_product_id", which is a unique combination of 3D design ("3d_design_id") and material ("materialjd") identifiers. It also contains data fields defining material status in fabrication. - Table "3d_product_countries" (730) contains a unique combination of a 3D product identifier "3d_product_id", product shipping country identifier ("shipping_country_id"), and a 3D printing provider identifier ("3d_printing_provider_id"), as well as multiple printing-related metadata. Data structure given in Figure 7 allows creating and storing a complex data containing multiple combinations of 3D designs, materials, shipping countries and 3D printing providers.

The present invention has been presented within detail embodiments descriptions and the charts that illustrate the implementation of specified procedures, components and their relationships. The representative procedures and components described herein may be implemented in computers representing networked computing nodes on integrated circuits including ASIC, FPGA, etc. This invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternative implementations with respect to a given number of embodiments discussed above. For instance, further re-combining or re-ordering of operations or system’s components described in embodiments would be obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this invention.

Claims

1 . A method for network-based management for 3D digital data objects printing among a plurality of data processing nodes in communication and with different roles, including 3D designer nodes (110), 3D printing provider nodes (120), and point of sale (POS) nodes (130), using a multi-server node (100) that integrates a plurality of data processing nodes during printing of the 3D digital data objects, characterized by a multi-server node (100) that receives (300) the 3D digital object data that comprises of a numerical 3D printable file and associated metadata, which are created and sent by the 3D designer node (110), a multi-server node (100) stores (310) the 3D digital object data and performs the first selection (320) of a list of 3D printing providers by matching technical characteristics of the 3D digital object and suitable 3D printing provider nodes (120), as well as the 3D designer node’s (110) preferences, a multi-server node (100) performs the notification (330) of 3D designer and confirmed 3D printing providers, requesting from the 3D designer node (110) to agree with the selection of each 3D printing provider node (120) from the preliminary list of 3D printing provider nodes, and a multi-server node (100) allows each selected 3D printing provider node (120) to separately validate its association with the 3D digital object, a multi-server node (100) offers (340) a 3D digital object to POS nodes (130) by matching the 3D digital object attributes and corresponding attributes of POS nodes (130), a multi-server node (100) performs the second selection (350) of the printing provider by selecting the final 3D printing provider node (120) using the multiple criteria given by the POS node (130), a multi-server node (100) sends (360) printing instructions of the 3D digital object to the selected final 3D printing provider node (120).

2. A method according to claim 1 , characterized by the reception (300) of 3D digital object data, where the associated metadata is comprised of the 3D digital object’s description, 3D object class and subclass, 3D printing criteria and 3D fabrication material.

3. A method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the reception (300) of 3D digital object data, where said 3D digital object’s description consists of a plurality of descriptions in different languages.

4. A method according to claim 1 , characterized by the first selection (320) of a list of 3D printing providers, where said 3D designer node’s preferences are determined using multi-server node’s database records from the 3D designer node’s history of 3D printing providers selections.

5. A method according to claim 1 , characterized by the first selection (320) of a list of 3D printing providers, where matching technical characteristics of the 3D digital object and suitable 3D printing provider nodes comprises of an evaluation for the long-term manufacturing time.

6. A method according to claim 1 , characterized by the notification (330) of a 3D designer and confirmed 3D printing providers, where the 3D designer node (110) needs to confirm the preliminary list of 3D printing provider nodes (120) or to remove a 3D printing provider node (120) by self-choice.

7. A method according to claim 1 , characterized by the notification (330) of a 3D designer and confirmed 3D printing providers, where the selected 3D printing provider node (120) is allowed to confirm or reject the association with the 3D digital object.

8. A method according to claim 1 , characterized by offering (340) of a 3D digital object to POS nodes, which (130)is based on a comparison of attributes’ values, including class and/or subclass, price range, fabrication material, etc.

9. A method according to claim 1 , characterized by the second selection (350) of a printing provider with a multiple criteria-based procedure, which comprises of short-term delivery time estimation for the POS node (130) or the end-user that made the purchase.

10. A system for network-based management for 3D digital objects printing integrates all actors in the life-cycle of printing 3D digital objects, including 3D designer nodes, 3D printing provider nodes, and point of sale (POS) nodes, all linked by a multi-server node, which consists of a computing platform for 3D digital object’s printing, comprising a web server (210), internal POS (470), web repository (240), database (250) and application server (220), which includes front-end (430) panels and back-end (440) microservices, characterized by the application server’s (220) back-end (440), comprising of a web service API microservice

(441), 3D digital object management microservice (443), 3D printing provider selection microservice (444), and POS filtration management microservice (445), wherein the web service API microservice (441) is a communication intermediary that communicates to an external POS (480), a web repository (240) or a database (250), the 3D digital object management microservice (443) allows defining of 3D printing provider selection factors’ priorities by interacting with the 3D printing providers selection microservice

(444), it combines 3D digital object-related metadata suitable for displaying using an internal

POS (470) and/or an external POS (480), and it makes new 3D digital object available to the

POS filtration management (445) microservice, the 3D printing provider selection microservice (444) interacts with the 3D designer panel

(432) and said 3D digital object management microservice (443), and the POS filtration management microservice (445) allows the internal POS to set attributes for selecting 3D digital objects by interaction with the internal POS management panel (434).

11 . A system according to claim 10, characterized in that the POS node (130) can be an internal POS (470) or an external POS (480).

12. A system according to claim 10, characterized in that the front-end (430) comprises of a system administration panel (431), a 3D designer panel (432), a 3D printing provider panel

(433) and an internal POS management panel (434).

13. A system according to claim 10, characterized in that said actors in the life-cycle of printing 3D digital objects are registered with their role and determined printing technology, their availability status, fabrication material, geographic location and product class.