Method and system for 3-D printing of 3-D object models in interactive content items
According to at least one illustrative embodiment, a computer device and a corresponding method of enabling customization and 3-D prototyping of a 3-D representation of an object illustrated by an interactive content item comprise providing, by the computer device, an interactive content item including a representation of a three-dimensional (3-D) object to a client device. Upon an end user of the client device interacts with the interactive content item and provides one or more customization parameters for a 3-D representation of the 3-D object, the computer device receives the one or more customization parameters from the client device. The computer device then cause a 3-D representation of the 3-D object to be printed by a 3-D printer associated with the client device.
1. An apparatus for printing three-dimensional prototypes of objects, the apparatus comprising:
a network interface in communication with a client device, and a processor executing a resource server, the network interface is configured to:
provide, to the client device, a representation of a three-dimensional object for display on the client device; and
receive a request for a three-dimensional model of the three-dimensional object for printing a three-dimensional prototype of the three-dimensional object on a three-dimensional printer communicatively coupled to the client device; and
the resource server is configured to:
responsive to receipt of the request, generate the three-dimensional model of the three-dimensional object with an identifier embedded on a visible surface of the three-dimensional model of the three-dimensional object, the identifier comprising a coupon code or a promotion code; and
provide the three-dimensional model of the three-dimensional object to the client device for printing the three-dimensional prototype of the three-dimensional object on the three-dimensional printer communicatively coupled to the client device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the client device is limited to a number of three-dimensional object prototypes to be printed based on a counter.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network interface is further configured to receive information indicative of settings of the three-dimensional printer from the client device.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the resource server is further configured to generate the three-dimensional model based on the information indicative of the settings of the three-dimensional printer received from the client device.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional model is forwarded by the client device to the three-dimensional printer for printing the three-dimensional prototype.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network interface is further configured to provide a user interaction module for execution by the client device, the user interaction module providing an interface for initiating three-dimensional printing of the three-dimensional prototype.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the network interface is configured to provide the representation of the three-dimensional object to the client device within an interactive third party content item.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the interactive third party content item includes an interaction widget for initiating three-dimensional printing of the three-dimensional prototype.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises an identifier of a model of the three-dimensional object.
10. A method of printing three-dimensional prototypes of objects, the method comprising:
providing, by a computer server to a client device, a representation of a three-dimensional object for display on the client device;
receiving, by the computer server, a request for a three-dimensional model of the three-dimensional object for printing a three-dimensional prototype of the three-dimensional object on a three-dimensional printer communicatively coupled to the client device;
generating, by the computer server, responsive to receipt of the request, the three-dimensional model of the three-dimensional object with an identifier embedded on a visible surface of the three-dimensional model of the three-dimensional object, the identifier comprising a coupon code or a promotion code; and
providing the three-dimensional model of the three-dimensional object to the client device for printing the three-dimensional prototype of the three-dimensional object on the three-dimensional printer communicatively coupled to the client device.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the client device is limited to a number of three-dimensional prototype objects to be printed based on a counter.
12. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving information indicative of settings of the three-dimensional printer from the client device.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein generating the three-dimensional model is further based on the information indicative of the settings of the three-dimensional printer received from the client device.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the three-dimensional model is forwarded by the client device to the three-dimensional printer for printing the three-dimensional prototype.
15. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a user interaction module for execution by the client device, the user interaction module providing an interface for initiating three-dimensional printing of the three-dimensional prototype.
16. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing the representation of the three-dimensional object to the client device within an interactive third party content item.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the interactive third party content item includes an interaction widget for initiating three-dimensional printing of the three-dimensional prototype.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the identifier comprises an identifier of a model of the three-dimensional object.