3D Model Collaborative Customization via Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems do not allow multiple consumers to personalize the same 3D product simultaneously from different locations or devices, limiting collaborative customization in retail settings.
Innovation Solution
A method enabling multiple users to collaborate on customizing a 3D product by using invitations through social media authentication, allowing simultaneous editing from different devices while preventing conflicts through user-specific avatars and locking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single user personalizes a product using a single session or device, then the product customization is simple and manageable, but multiple users cannot collaborate simultaneously from different locations or devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the customization process by assigning specific product aspects to different users through a locking mechanism. When a user selects an aspect for customization, it becomes locked to that user, preventing conflicts while allowing other users to work on different aspects simultaneously. This segmentation enables multiple users to collaborate on the same product without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple users, manages invitations through social media authentication, and handles the locking/unlocking of product aspects. This intermediary layer enables collaborative customization by mediating user interactions and maintaining system state consistency across multiple devices and locations.
2Productivity
If multiple users can access and customize the same 3D product simultaneously from different devices, then collaborative customization is enabled, but user-specific changes and conflict prevention become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by sending invitations through social media authentication before users begin customization. This pre-establishes user identities and permissions, simplifying subsequent collaborative operations. The locking mechanism is also pre-configured to automatically prevent conflicts when multiple users attempt to customize the same aspect.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by allowing different users to have exclusive control over specific aspects of the product simultaneously. Each user's changes are localized to their assigned aspects, preventing conflicts while enabling parallel work. This localized control simplifies operation by making it clear which user is modifying which aspect.
3Loss of information
If users can share personalized products through screenshots via email or messaging, then product sharing is possible, but real-time collaborative customization cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a shared digital copy of the 3D product model that can be accessed simultaneously by multiple users from different locations. This cloud-based copy eliminates the need for screenshot sharing while enabling real-time collaborative customization, significantly reducing collaboration time while maintaining complete product design information.
Data Source
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AI summary
In current systems, only one consumer can personalize a product using a single session or at a single device (e.g., a computer, mobile device). In an embodiment, a method includes providing, at a user device via a network, a user interface displaying a three-dimensional (3D) model of a consumer product selected by a user. The method further includes customizing the 3D model of the consumer product based on selections and manipulations of the consumer product received at the provided user interface from at least two users. The method further includes, responsive to finalization of the customized 3D model by one of the users, submitting the customized 3D model for 3D printing. In this manner, multiple people can collaborate to create a single 3D printed product.