Abstract: A user communication device retrieves shape information from active labels and performs an image based search on the shape files to find locally available acceptable replacement parts. The user communication device may use only the shape files from the active label, or the user communication device may use a combination of images from both the active label and images generated by a user to search for an acceptable replacement part for a faulty system. Using the active label system, the user communication device directly pings replacement parts at local retailers independently of the computer networks operated by the retailers. The user communication device receives back data from replacement parts and provides the user with a list of locally available parts.

Abstract: A method of defining input to an image-based search engine includes displaying and image on a screen and detecting at least three points touched by a user on the image. An object in the image is identified having the at least three points as vertices. The identified object is inputted to an image-based search engine. Portions of the image not included within the object are excluded from the input to the image-based search engine.

Abstract: A method of providing an input to an image-based search engine, including enabling a user to view an image of an object on a display screen of an electronic device. A plurality of templates are provided to the user. A selection of one of the templates is received from the user. The selected template is presented on the display screen in association with the image of the object on a display screen. The user is enabled to adjust a viewpoint of the image of the object on the display screen to match a viewpoint of the selected template. An image of the object is captured from the adjusted viewpoint. The captured image is transmitted to, and received by, the image-based search engine. The search engine is used to identify in a database image data best representing the captured image.

Abstract: A user communication device retrieves shape information from active labels and performs an image based search on the shape files to find locally available acceptable replacement parts. The user communication device may use only the shape files from the active label, or the user communication device may use a combination of images from both the active label and images generated by a user to search for an acceptable replacement part for a faulty system. Using the active label system, the user communication device directly pings replacement parts at local retailers independently of the computer networks operated by the retailers. The user communication device receives back data from replacement parts and provides the user with a list of locally available parts. In another variation of the invention, the user communication device uses the shape files to find three dimensional model files from manufacturers that can be utilized to create replacement parts for the faulty system.

Abstract: A method of providing a searchable parts database includes collecting component part data from a plurality of users to form a component part database. An exclusive group is formed including a subset of the users. User members of the exclusive group are provided with access to the component part data contributed to the database by other user members of the exclusive group. Users excluded from the exclusive group are denied access to the component part data contributed to the database by the user members of the exclusive group. The user members in the exclusive group are enabled to provide images of desired component parts and to search the component part database based upon the images of desired component parts.

Abstract: A method of providing a 3D printing database includes collecting 3D printing data from a plurality of users to form a 3D printing database. A first exclusive group is formed including a first subset of the users. Users who are members of the exclusive group are provided with access to a first portion and to other portions of the 3D printing database. The first portion is contributed to the database by the users who are members of the exclusive group. Users excluded from the exclusive group are denied access to the first portion of the component part database. The users excluded from the exclusive group are provided with access to the other portions of the 3D printing database. Each of the users is enabled to furnish an image of a desired component part and to search only the portions of the 3D printing database to which the user has been provided access. The searching is based upon the furnished image of the desired component part.

Abstract: A method of defining input to an image-based search engine includes displaying and image on a screen and detecting at least three points touched by a user on the image. An object in the image is identified having the at least three points as vertices. The identified object is inputted to an image-based search engine. Portions of the image not included within the object are excluded from the input to the image-based search engine.

Abstract: A method of providing a 3D printing database includes collecting 3D printing data from a plurality of users to form a 3D printing database. A first exclusive group is formed including a first subset of the users. Users who are members of the exclusive group are provided with access to a first portion and to other portions of the 3D printing database. The first portion is contributed to the database by the users who are members of the exclusive group. Users excluded from the exclusive group are denied access to the first portion of the component part database. The users excluded from the exclusive group are provided with access to the other portions of the 3D printing database. Each of the users is enabled to furnish an image of a desired component part and to search only the portions of the 3D printing database to which the user has been provided access. The searching is based upon the furnished image of the desired component part.

Abstract: A method of providing a searchable parts database includes collecting component part data from a plurality of users to form a component part database. An exclusive group is formed including a subset of the users. User members of the exclusive group are provided with access to the component part data contributed to the database by other user members of the exclusive group. Users excluded from the exclusive group are denied access to the component part data contributed to the database by the user members of the exclusive group. The user members in the exclusive group are enabled to provide images of desired component parts and to search the component part database based upon the images of desired component parts.

Abstract: A method of providing a searchable parts database includes collecting component part data from a plurality of users to form a component part database. An exclusive group is formed including a subset of the users. User members of the exclusive group are provided with access to the component part data contributed to the database by other user members of the exclusive group. Users excluded from the exclusive group are denied access to the component part data contributed to the database by the user members of the exclusive group. The user members in the exclusive group are enabled to provide images of desired component parts and to search the component part database based upon the images of desired component parts.