Patent Description:
<CIT> describes generating customized packaging for an item associated with an order in which a user may upload images for application to personalized packaging.

For a better understanding of examples described herein, and to show more clearly how the examples may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the following drawings in which:.

<FIG> shows a consumer product in the form of a bottle <NUM>, for example containing a beverage. The bottle <NUM> acts as a part of the packaging of the beverage, and it is expected that the beverage may be kept in the bottle <NUM> while it is being used. Thus, the beverage may be consumed direct from the bottle <NUM>, or may be dispensed from the bottle <NUM> at the time of use.

A label <NUM> is applied to the bottle <NUM>. The label <NUM> may contain legally required product information, and may also contain advertising material such as a manufacturer's trade mark. In addition, the label <NUM> contains decorative material. Alternatively, this material may be printed directly onto packaging, such as a bottle or other drinks container such as a can.

<FIG> shows a second consumer product in its packaging. In this case, the packaging is in the form of a box <NUM>, made of cardboard or a similar material. The product is supplied within its packaging, and it is expected that the product will be removed from its packaging before its first use. The packaging may then be discarded. The box <NUM> may have printed on it legally required product information, advertising material such as a manufacturer's trade mark, and decorative material.

<FIG> shows how the box <NUM> is formed from a blank <NUM>, made of cardboard or a similar material, that can be folded to produce the box. The legally required product information, the advertising material, and the decorative material may be printed on the blank <NUM> before folding to make the box <NUM>. Alternatively, the material may be printed onto a sheet material before the blank is cut out and folded to make the box.

In many cases, it is intended that the packaging of a mass-produced consumer item should be completely consistent for every individual item. It is now recognized that it would be desirable in some cases for every individual item to be provided with unique packaging, in order to generate attachment between the consumer and the item. However, if this is achieved by modifications to the manufacturing machinery, the cost is likely to be prohibitive for many possible applications.

<FIG> illustrates a printing system <NUM> for use in some examples. In this example, the printing system includes a computer system <NUM> and a printer <NUM>.

The computer system <NUM> acts as a printer controller and includes a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a user input <NUM>, a display <NUM> and a printer interface <NUM>, all interconnected by a bus system <NUM>. The memory <NUM> includes a program memory <NUM> and a data memory <NUM>. The program memory <NUM> stores machine readable instructions suitable for causing the processor <NUM> to carry out the processes described herein.

The computer system <NUM> is shown here as a single device but, in other embodiments, the relevant components may be distributed between multiple devices, which may be present at different locations. The computer system <NUM> acting as the printer controller may be associated with the printer <NUM>, or may be separate therefrom. Thus, the computer system <NUM> may act as the printer controller for multiple printers. The multiple printers may be located at a single site, or may be located at multiple sites, including at multiple geographical locations. In that case, the computer system <NUM> can act such that each packaging item printed at a site is unique, even when considering the items printed at the other sites.

Although in this example a printer is illustrated and described, other image forming systems may be used for applying an image to an item.

<FIG> is a flow chart, illustrating a process as an example of the invention. Although the process of <FIG> is described with reference to its use in printing a packaging item, the same process can be used to generate images for any type of item.

To start the process, a user produces a template for a design of a packaging item. For example, in the case of a product of the type shown in <FIG>, the packaging item may be the label <NUM> that is intended to be applied to the bottle <NUM>. In the case of a product of the type shown in <FIG>, the packaging item may be the cardboard blank <NUM>, which is intended to be used to form the box <NUM>.

The template may be produced using a software package intended for such design work, for example such as the HP SmartStream Designer™ software package running on the computer system <NUM>, or may be produced in some other format on a separate computer system.

In step <NUM> of the process shown in <FIG>, the computer system <NUM> stores the template for the design of the packaging item. This may apply whether the template was created using the computer system <NUM> or was created in some other way.

<FIG> shows an example of a template design for the label <NUM>. Specifically, in this example, the template contains four separate areas <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In this example, the first area <NUM> is intended to contain material that will be the same on every printed label, such as basic information about the product, and a manufacturer's logo, as examples.

The second area <NUM> is intended to contain an image that differs from one printed label to the next, as described in more detail below.

The third area <NUM> is intended to contain an index key that also differs from one printed label to the next, again as described in more detail below.

The fourth area <NUM> is intended to contain additional material that will be the same on every printed label, such as legally required information that is specific to the product.

In this example, the second area <NUM> contains three variable image channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, but the number of image channels may be as small as one or as large as required to produce the intended degree of image variety.

In step <NUM> of the process shown in <FIG>, the computer system <NUM> presents the user with a number of possible image seeds for each of the variable image channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the user may be presented on the display <NUM> of the computer system <NUM> with multiple image seeds, and may select one of the available image seeds for each of the variable image channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> by means of the user input device <NUM> of the computer system <NUM>. As an example, the multiple image seeds may be simple geometrical shapes. Other images may also be provided as image seeds, for example in the form of pictures, or complex forms such as Mandelbrot fractals.

The user may select a single image seed to be used in each of the variable image channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or the user may be able to select a different image seed for each of the variable image channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

In step <NUM> of the process shown in <FIG>, the computer system <NUM> stores the respective image seeds selected by the user for each of the variable image channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

In this example, the computer system <NUM> presents the user with a set of modification attributes. In response, the user selects a subset of these modification attributes that can be applied to the image seeds. In another example, the computer system <NUM> selects a set of modification attributes that can be applied to the image seeds. In either case, in step <NUM>, the selected modification attributes are stored.

For example, the modification attributes may be a degree of magnification (or zooming), a degree of rotation, a degree of lateral movement of the image seeds in horizontal and vertical directions, reflection of the image seeds, distortion or skewing of the image seeds, and colorization or transparency effects to be applied to the image seeds. The set of available modification attributes may be the same for each of the image seeds, or may be different between the different image seeds. The set of available modification attributes may depend on the image seed that was selected by the user, or the set of available modification attributes may be the same for each of the available image seeds. For each modification attribute, there is a range of possible values. For example, where the modification attribute is the amount of zooming, there may be a maximum zoom and a minimum zoom, giving a maximum size and a minimum size of the resultant modified image. Where the modification attribute is the amount of distortion, there may be a maximum amount and a minimum amount, giving maximally and a minimally distorted modified images. The user may select the full range of possible values to be available, or may select a subset of the possible values from the range.

Thus, as another example, where one of the modification attributes relates to colorization, the range of modifications that the computer system <NUM> presents to the user may include a full palette of colours. In response, the user may for example select a subset of those colours.

In step <NUM>, the computer system selects a set of index keys to be used. Each index key is a piece of data, and the set of index keys is chosen such that it is possible to associate a different index key with each label <NUM> that is intended to be printed.

As an illustrative example, the set of index keys could be the set of all <NUM> digit numbers, and this would allow one billion (<NUM><NUM>) unique index keys to be chosen. Similarly, the set of index keys could be a set of combinations of nine letters. If the set of index keys is the set of all combinations of <NUM> letters, this would allow <NUM><NUM> unique index keys to be chosen. The index keys could also be a combination of letters and digits. For example, each index key may include a group of letters that act as an identifying code of some sort, plus a group of digits that act as a sub-identifier.

In step <NUM>, the computer system selects a start index key from the set of index keys. The start index key may be selected in such a way that every index key is only ever used once, and hence that the index key itself identifies the template and the selected image seeds.

In step <NUM>, the computer system uses the current index key to generate modified images from the respective image seeds selected by the user for each of the variable image channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

The composition of the images may be performed using a suitable software package, for example with a suitable modification to the HP SmartStream Composer™ software package running on the computer system <NUM>.

The system is provided with a method for performing modifications to the image seeds, where the specific modifications that are performed depend on the current index key. In certain embodiments, there is a <NUM>:<NUM> mapping from the index key to the modified images. That is, each index key results in a unique modified image.

In step <NUM>, the computer system generates an output, which may for example be in the form of a. JPG file or a. The output file may be available for preview, or may be sent direct to the printer <NUM> for printing on the label <NUM> or other packaging item. The output may include the modified images and the current index key, so that the images and the index key can be printed on the item. The output may include a single set of modified images for printing on a single item. Alternatively, multiple sets of modified images, for printing on respective item, can be provided in a single output file in a suitable format.

As mentioned above, the respective index key may also be printed on each item, in the area <NUM> in the example shown in <FIG>. Where the index key contains digits and/or letters, these can be represented in a primarily human-readable form, for example as text, or can be represented in a primarily machine-readable form, for example as a barcode, as a quick response (QR) code, or as Personalized URL (PURL). In addition, information identifying the template and the selected image seeds may be printed at this stage.

In step <NUM>, it is determined whether the print run is complete, that is, whether all required items have been printed. If so, the process passes to step <NUM>, and ends. If not, the process passes to step <NUM>, in which a new index key is generated, for example by incrementing the previous index key.

The process then returns to step <NUM>, and a new set of modified images is generated from the new index key.

When the packaging item has been printed, it is applied to the consumer product. Where the packaging item is a label, it is applied to the product container. Where the packaging item is a blank for a box, or the like, the box is constructed from the blank and the product is inserted.

Thus, this enables easy generation of very large numbers of unique packages, to generate interest among consumers and a high degree of attachment to the unique product that they buy. This increases the possibility that the package itself will be regarded as collectable, and allows the end user to order other items with the same guaranteed unique image.

<FIG> illustrates two labels 12a, 12b generated by successive iterations of the process shown in <FIG>.

In this simple example case, the image seeds selected by the user for each of the variable image channels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are all equilateral triangles. The set of modification attributes that can be applied to the image seeds comprises ten different sizes, ten different rotation angles, and ten different colours. The set of index keys comprises the set of all <NUM> digit numbers.

Thus, a first digit in the index key is used to determine the size of the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM>, a second digit in the index key is used to determine a rotation angle of the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM>, a third digit in the index key is used to determine a colour of the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM>, a fourth digit in the index key is used to determine the size of the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM>, a fifth digit in the index key is used to determine a rotation angle of the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM>, a sixth digit in the index key is used to determine a colour of the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM>, a seventh digit in the index key is used to determine the size of the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM>, an eighth digit in the index key is used to determine a rotation angle of the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM>, and a ninth digit in the index key is used to determine a colour of the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM>.

In other embodiments, different modification attributes are applied to different items. One way to achieve this is to select a first set of modification attributes, but to set a maximum index value for which that set of modification attributes applies. For example, index values in the range from <NUM> - <NUM> may define one set of attributes, while indexes from <NUM> upwards define a different set of attributes.

In some embodiments, the process shown in <FIG> proceeds by incrementing the index key by <NUM> at each iteration of step <NUM>, and the process by which the index key value maps to the attribute modifications is a generally linear process. Thus, a series of items produced from successive index keys might differ from each other only slightly.

In other embodiments, the process by which the index key determines the properties of the final image can be regarded as a pseudorandom process, so that a series of items produced from successive index keys are significantly different from each other. For example, the index key is used as an input to a pseudorandom number generator, with the output pseudorandom number being used to determine the attribute modifications to be applied to the image seed or seeds. This has the advantage that a series of items produced successively might differ from each other quite significantly, thereby producing a more visually distinctive appearance when the products are displayed together. It is also advantageous in this embodiment that the index key is applied to a pseudorandom number generator, and not a true random number generator, to determine the attribute modifications that are to be applied, because this makes it possible to generate the same final image repeatedly by using the same index key.

Thus, in <FIG>, in the first label 12a, the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM> has a first size, a first rotation angle, and a first colour; the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM> has a second size, a second rotation angle, and a second colour; and the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM> has the first size, a third rotation angle, and the first colour. In the second label 12b, the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM> has the first size, the first rotation angle, and the second colour; the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM> has the second size, a fourth rotation angle, and a third colour; and the equilateral triangle in the image channel <NUM> has the first size, a fifth rotation angle, and the first colour.

As described above, one example of the process is in printing items that will be distributed to the public, and the intention is that the number of available index keys, and hence the number of different images that can be printed, will exceed the number of images that are actually printed. Therefore, each image is unique.

An advantage of printing the index key with the image is that the consumer can supply the manufacturer with the index key, and the same image can be reprinted because the modifications that are performed are determined by the image key alone, and every index key results in a unique image. Because the images themselves are created on the fly, they may be deleted after production, avoiding the need for large dedicated memory for storing the images that are created.

<FIG> shows a process of reprinting the image.

In step <NUM>, the system receives an order specifying an index key. For example, the order may be received from a purchaser of a first consumer item to which a unique image, and the associated index key, were applied.

In step <NUM>, the system retrieves the template and the selected image seeds. As described above, the index key may itself uniquely define the template and the image seeds, or the printed index key may be associated with other information identifying the template and the image seeds. As another alternative, the order received at step <NUM> may identify the template and the image seeds in some other way, for example by identifying the first consumer item to which the unique image was applied.

In step <NUM>, the image modifications corresponding to the index key are identified, and applied to the image seeds. As described above, there may be a <NUM>:<NUM> mapping between the image seeds and the image modifications, so that applying the image modifications results in the same unique image that was applied to the first consumer item.

In step <NUM>, the resulting modified image is printed on a second consumer item. The material that is printed on the second consumer item may be only the customer's unique image, or may also include other material from the original printed item, such as basic information about the first product, or a manufacturer's logo. The index key may also be printed on the second consumer item, allowing the process of <FIG> to be repeated as often as required.

Thus, the manufacturer can provide merchandise items, such as T-shirts, mugs or the like, and can print the consumer's unique image on to the merchandise item on request.

Claim 1:
A method of manufacturing a plurality of packaging items, comprising:
defining a template for packaging items, comprising at least one individualized image area;
storing the template;
selecting at least one image seed;
storing the selected at least one image seed;
selecting a set of image attribute modifications and, for each selected image attribute modification, defining a range of values; and,
for each of a plurality of packaging items, repeating the steps of:
selecting an index key from a set of index keys;
based on the selected index key, determining a plurality of image attribute modifications from within said defined plurality of ranges such that the determined image attribute modifications depend on the selected index key;
applying said determined image attribute modifications to said at least one image seed to generate at least one respective image; and
applying the or each generated image to the respective individualized image area of the packaging item.