Order Fulfillment and Content Management Systems and Methods

Abstract

An order fulfillment and content management system and method configured to fulfill a product order for a customized cover for a consumer product. In various embodiments, an order can be placed for a cover in an on-demand nature. In other words, a user can select and customize a cover over a network and the resulting cover is manufactured in accordance with that order. Furthermore, various processes can be integrated and moved in concert with one another to provide an efficient and timely fulfillment of the order. The system can also have several stake holders that can quickly review and identify any problems in an order and arrive at a quick resolution path.

1 . An order fulfillment system for fulfilling customized orders for covers for consumer devices, the consumer devices having been pre-manufactured by a third party, comprising:
 a networked computer system comprising one or more processors and one or more memory devices coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the networked computer system is configured to:
 receive, via a computer network, a customized order for a cover associated with a particular consumer device selected by a user from a plurality of consumer devices, the customized order defining an image to be applied to the cover; 
 retrieve, from the one or more memories, a first CAD record defining a first template corresponding to physical dimensions of at least one portion of the particular consumer device selected by the user, the CAD record suitable for display to the user via the computer network to assist the user in making the customized order; 
 retrieve, from the one or more memories, a second CAD record defining a second template corresponding to the physical dimensions of the at least one portion of the particular consumer device, the second template defining a bleed region extending beyond the physical dimensions of at least one portion of the particular consumer device; 
 retrieve, from the one or more memories, an image record defining the image to be applied to the cover as specified by the customized order, wherein the image record defines the image to include one or more of production artwork and user-provided image data; 
 create a production layout based on at least the image record and the second CAD record; and 
 output signaling to cause the image to be applied to at least a portion of the cover in accordance with the production layout, wherein when used in cooperation with the particular consumer device, the cover alters an appearance of and protects at least a portion of the particular consumer device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the outputting the signaling comprises outputting signaling to a printing device to cause the printing device to print the image to the at least the portion of the cover in accordance with the production layout. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the outputting the signaling comprises outputting signaling to cause the image to be applied to a portion of a bulk material in accordance with the production layout. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising outputting signaling to cause the cover to be separated from the bulk material to create the cover. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the customized order is for an adhesive cover associated with the particular consumer device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the customized order is for a flexible cover associated with the particular consumer device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the customized order is for an adhesive skin cover associated with the particular consumer device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more memories further store a device record representative of the consumer device and a form factor record linked to the device record and describing physical characteristics of the consumer product; wherein the first CAD record and the second CAD record are linked to the form factor record.