3D Print Job Processing with Secure File Location Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cloud-based 3D printing systems expose intellectual property data to service providers due to the need for print files to travel through public clouds, leading to potential unauthorized access and sharing concerns.

Innovation Solution

A cloud-based printing system that processes print jobs using software modules to manage links to user-controlled storage locations, ensuring that only location indicators are shared, keeping the actual print files behind a firewall or private network, thus preventing service providers from accessing the data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If print files are transmitted through public cloud infrastructure, then cloud-based printing functionality is enabled, but intellectual property data security deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecloud-based printing functionalityVSAvoidintellectual property data security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the print file data from the cloud transmission path and stores it locally on the user's device. Only metadata (print job ID, printer ID, status information) is transmitted through the cloud, while the actual intellectual property data remains isolated in the local storage environment, thus enabling cloud functionality without compromising data security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the printing process into distinct components: local file storage, cloud-based job management, and printer communication. This segmentation allows the sensitive print files to remain locally stored while still utilizing cloud services for job scheduling and status monitoring, resolving the contradiction between cloud functionality and data security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If cloud-based printing systems are implemented, then printing convenience is improved, but data access control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting convenienceVSAvoiddata access control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary local storage system that acts as a buffer between the user's print files and the cloud infrastructure. This intermediary maintains full user control over data access while still enabling cloud-based printing operations through selective metadata exchange, thus improving convenience without sacrificing access control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12554447B2System for processing 3D print jobs

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 ULTIMAKER BV

AI summary

A system (100) for processing 3D print jobs is described with a first software module (102) to receive a print job request (111) from a user application (101) running on a remote computing device, the print job request comprising a location indicator indicating a storage location of a print file to be printed. The first software module is arranged to send a print job ID (111′) back to the user application. A second software module (103) receives a print request call (115) from the user application, comprising the print job ID and a printer ID. The second software module is arranged to send the print job ID (116) to the first software module, and to receive a print job response (116′) back from the first software module, the print job response comprising the print job ID, the print job name and the location indicator of the print file.