US7092899B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for generating a brick model
Assignee: Lego AS
•
Filing: 2000-10-31
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Granted: 2006-08-15
•
Expires: 2020-10-31
Abstract
Abstract An exemplary embodiment is a method for generating a brick model. The method includes receiving an electronic representation of an item to be represented by the brick model. The electronic representation is processed to generate building instructions for building the brick model and connected to an order interface for enabling the user to order bricks to make a model for shipment to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Angie Simas
- 👤 Peter Frank Andersen
- 👤 Dennis Leahy
- 👤 Ian Meredith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:59
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/10; G06F30/13; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0621; G06T; G06T17/00; G06T17/10; G06T19/00; G06T19/20; G06T2219/00; G06T2219/20; G06T2219/2012; G06T2219/2016; G06T2219/2021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for generating a brick model, the method comprising: receiving an electronic representation of an item to be represented by the brick model; and processing said electronic representation to generate building instructions for building the brick model using bricks, said bricks being physical, frictionally interconnecting, three-dimensional, discrete building elements wherein said processing includes: generating an electronic brick model including a plurality of brick elements corresponding to bricks based on said electronic representation; editing said electronic representation to affect said electronic brick model; and generating said instructions for said brick model in response to said electronic brick model.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for generating a brick model, the method comprising: receiving an electronic representation of an item to be represented by the brick model; and processing said electronic representation to generate building instructions for building the brick model using bricks, said bricks being physical, frictionally interconnecting, three-dimensional, discrete building elements wherein said processing includes: generating an electronic brick model including a plurality of brick elements corresponding to bricks based on said electronic representation; editing said electronic representation to affect said electronic brick model; and generating said instructions for said brick model in response to said electronic brick model.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic representation is a two-dimensional image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2 wherein: said generating said electronic brick model including brick elements corresponding to bricks is based on said two-dimensional image, said two-dimensional image including a plurality of pixels, each of said brick elements representing a combination of pixels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electronic representation is a three-dimensional representation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said three-dimensional representation is a CAD model.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said editing includes at least one of altering brightness, contrast, position, size and color.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising altering the topography of said electronic brick model.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: grouping brick elements in said electronic brick model to form a grouped electronic brick model including brick elements corresponding to bricks; and generating said instructions for said brick model in response to said grouped electronic brick model.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: generating a brick count of said bricks based on said electronic brick model.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said brick model includes at least one layer of bricks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10 wherein: said brick model includes a plurality of layers of bricks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said brick model comprises monochromatically colored bricks.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said brick model comprises bricks having multiple colors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said building instructions include brick indicators, each brick indicator including an indicia designating a type of brick.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 14 wherein: said indicia is an alphanumeric character.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 14 wherein: said indicia is a color.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: obtaining a number of bricks to build said brick model at a remote location and transferring said bricks to a user for building said brick model in accordance with said building instructions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 wherein: said number of bricks exceeds the number of bricks needed to build said brick model.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: adding predefined accessories to said electronic representation of the object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said brick model includes toy building elements.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for generating a brick model, the method comprising: receiving an electronic representation of an item to be represented by the brick model; and processing said electronic representation to generate building instructions for building the brick model using bricks, said bricks being physical, frictionally interconnecting, three dimensional, discrete building elements wherein said processing includes: generating an electronic brick model including a plurality of brick elements corresponding to bricks based on said electronic representation; editing said electronic representation to affect said electronic brick model; and generating said instructions for said brick model in response to said electronic brick model; obtaining a number of bricks to build said brick model at a remote location and transferring said bricks to a user for building said brick model in accordance with said building instructions; printing said building instructions and transferring said building instructions to the user.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for generating a brick model, the method comprising: receiving an electronic representation of an item to be represented by the brick model; and processing said electronic representation to generate building instructions for building the brick model using bricks, said bricks being physical, frictionally interconnecting, three dimensional, discrete building elements wherein said processing includes: generating an electronic brick model including a plurality of brick elements corresponding to bricks based on said electronic representation; editing said electronic representation to affect said electronic brick model; and generating said instructions for said brick model in response to said electronic brick model; obtaining a number of bricks to build said brick model at a remote location and transferring said bricks to a user for building said brick model in accordance with said building instructions; printing said building instructions and transferring said building instructions to the user.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for generating a brick model, the system comprising: a user system for selecting an electronic representation of an item to be represented by the brick model; and a host system coupled to said user system via a network; said user system and said host system operating to process said electronic representation to generate building instructions for building the brick model using bricks, said bricks being physical, frictionally interconnecting, three-dimensional, discrete building elements wherein: one of said user system and said host system generates an electronic brick model including a plurality of brick elements corresponding to bricks based on said electronic representation; one of said user system and said host system edits said electronic representation to affect said electronic brick model; and one of said user system and said host system generates said instructions for said brick model in response to said electronic brick model.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for generating a brick model, the system comprising: a user system for selecting an electronic representation of an item to be represented by the brick model; and a host system coupled to said user system via a network; said user system and said host system operating to process said electronic representation to generate building instructions for building the brick model using bricks, said bricks being physical, frictionally interconnecting, three-dimensional, discrete building elements wherein: one of said user system and said host system generates an electronic brick model including a plurality of brick elements corresponding to bricks based on said electronic representation; one of said user system and said host system edits said electronic representation to affect said electronic brick model; and one of said user system and said host system generates said instructions for said brick model in response to said electronic brick model.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said electronic representation is a two-dimensional image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 23 wherein: one of said user system and said host system generates an electronic brick model including brick elements corresponding to bricks based on said two-dimensional image, said two-dimensional image including a plurality of pixels, each of said brick elements representing a combination of pixels.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said electronic representation is a three-dimensional representation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said three-dimensional representation is a CAD model.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said editing includes at least one of altering brightness, contrast, position, size and color.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 22 wherein one of said user system and said host system operate to alter the topography of said electronic brick model.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 22 wherein: one of said user system and said host system groups brick elements in said electric brick model to form a grouped electronic brick model including a plurality of brick elements corresponding to bricks; and one of said user system and said host system generates said instructions for said brick model in response to said grouped electronic brick model.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 22 wherein: one of said user system and said host system generates a brick count of said bricks based on said electronic brick model.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 22 wherein: said brick model includes at least one layer of bricks.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 22 wherein: said brick model includes a plurality of layers of bricks.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 22 wherein: said brick model comprises monochromatically colored bricks.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 22 wherein: said brick model comprises bricks having multiple colors.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 22 wherein: said building instructions include brick indicators, each brick indicator including an indicia designating a type of brick.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 35 wherein: said indicia is an alphanumeric character.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 35 wherein: said indicia is a color.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 22 wherein: said host system initiates obtaining a number of bricks to build said brick model at a remote location and transfers said bricks to a user for building said brick model in accordance with said building instructions.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 38 wherein: said number of bricks exceeds the number of bricks needed to build said brick model.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 22 wherein: one of said user system and said host system adds predefined accessories to said electronic representation of the object.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said brick model includes toy building elements.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
197 words
A system for generating a brick model, the system comprising: a user system for selecting an electronic representation of an item to be represented by the brick model; and a host system coupled to said user system via a network; said user system and said host system operating to process said electronic representation to generate building instructions for building the brick model using bricks, said bricks being physical, frictionally interconnecting, three-dimensional, discrete building elements wherein: one of said user system and said host system generates an electronic brick model including a plurality of brick elements corresponding to bricks based on said electronic representation; one of said user system and said host system edits said electronic representation to affect said electronic brick model; and one of said user system and said host system generates said instructions for said brick model in response to said electronic brick model; said host system initiates obtaining a number of bricks to build said brick model at a remote location and transfers said bricks to a user for building said brick model in accordance with said building instructions; said host system prints said building instructions and transfers said building instructions to the user.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
197 words
A system for generating a brick model, the system comprising: a user system for selecting an electronic representation of an item to be represented by the brick model; and a host system coupled to said user system via a network; said user system and said host system operating to process said electronic representation to generate building instructions for building the brick model using bricks, said bricks being physical, frictionally interconnecting, three-dimensional, discrete building elements wherein: one of said user system and said host system generates an electronic brick model including a plurality of brick elements corresponding to bricks based on said electronic representation; one of said user system and said host system edits said electronic representation to affect said electronic brick model; and one of said user system and said host system generates said instructions for said brick model in response to said electronic brick model; said host system initiates obtaining a number of bricks to build said brick model at a remote location and transfers said bricks to a user for building said brick model in accordance with said building instructions; said host system prints said building instructions and transfers said building instructions to the user.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-08-14 | 2010-02-13 | 2010-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-08-14 | 2014-02-13 | 2014-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-08-14 | 2018-02-13 | 2018-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |