Customization of manufactured products

摘要

A system, apparatus and method for a person to communicate customized design information for an object, such as a product at a time prior to its manufacture. A network accessible communications channel and user interface is provided that enables the person to communicate design information, including a visual representation of the product, prior to its manufacture.

主权项

1. A method for communication of customized design information for a display board to be manufactured, the design information including a visual representation of the display board in accordance with directives provided by a person, said method including the steps of:
providing a data communications channel between said person and a manufacturer; providing a user interface to said person via said data communications channel that enables said person to construct a custom visual representation of a design for the display board that is to be manufactured from a plurality of materials and that is to be printed upon with a least a portion of said visual representation, said user interface having a plurality of controls designed to enable said person to construct an image by locating and dimensioning at least one of text and graphics within at least one constructed multi-cell grid template defined by a hierarchical relationship; displaying said visual representation to said person including the constructed image; enabling the constructed image including the at least one multi-cell grid template to be selectively adjusted by the person using the user interface in which the hierarchical relationship is defined by at least one root cell with dimensions inputted using the user interface, and wherein modifying the dimensions of an cell using the user interface automatically adjusts the dimensions of all descendent cells of the modified cell, for purposes of the constructed image; receiving approval from said person via said data communication channel for proceeding to manufacture of said display board; manufacturing said display board in accordance with said visual representation.