Viewing images for review in merged image form and with parameter-based image processing

• US 10,002,383 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tamiras Per Pte Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tamiras Per Pte Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Giannini, Robert, Crawford, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi, Hani M
• Application Number:
  US12/569,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,185 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261, 705 271
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0229 Multi-merchant loyalty card systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

A method involves on-line viewing of a first article through a linking node for virtual merging on another structure. A particular application of the invention is directed to on-line apparel shopping involving a matching scheme using codes provided with images to be merged. For example, on-line viewing of one article, such as clothing, on another structure, includes creating an item from image-data corresponding to an article selected by an on-line viewer from an on-line viewer site with an image of a structure selected by the on-line viewer, and indicating whether the article and the structure satisfy a category-matching criterion. In certain embodiments, the articles are represented by (search) parameters that permit organizational advantages.

Claims

1. A method for implementation by a programmable computer that executes instructions to cause the programmable computer to perform the following steps:

providing a web interface for access by remote computers operated by on-line viewers;

receiving one or more search parameters from the remote computers;

providing a search feature that searches for articles matching the one or more search parameters and offered for sale at remote websites operated by respective and different retailers;

providing links to the remote websites that correspond to the searched articles;

linking the remote computers to the remote websites that correspond to the searched articles in response to selection data received from the remote computers;

returning to the web interface from the remote websites that correspond to the searched articles;

receiving image data for at least two articles from at least two different remote websites;

merging the image data from the at least two articles with image data of a structure to generate merged image data of the article placed on the structure;

providing the merged image data to, and for display at, at least one of the remote computers; and

storing the image data from the at least two articles in a virtual closet for access by an on-line viewer and allocating a limited amount of storage in the virtual closet for the on-line viewer.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of categorizing the searched articles according to one or more categorization parameters;

and configuring the web interface to display the searched articles in categories.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of displaying advertising for articles offered for sale by the retailers;

and charging the retailers for the advertisement.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of tracking purchases made by the on-line viewers using the search feature;

and in response to the tracking, providing demographic information to one or more of the retailers.

5. The method of claim 4, further including the step of charging retailers for the demographic information.

6. The method of claim 1, further including the step of providing a selectable icon for enabling the search feature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more search parameters includes identification of selected retailers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more search parameters includes selection of an outline of the searched articles.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a server including at least one programmable computer, wherein the server is configured for;

providing a web interface for access by remote user-operable computers;

receiving one or more search parameters from the remote user-operable computers;

providing a search feature that searches for articles matching the one or more search parameters and offered for sale at remote websites operated by respective and different retailers;

providing links to the remote websites that correspond to the searched articles;

linking the remote user-operable computers to the remote websites that correspond to the searched articles in response to selection data received from the remote user-operable computers;

returning to the web interface from the remote websites that correspond to the searched articles;

receiving image data for at least two articles from at least two different remote websites;

merging the image data from the at least two articles with image data of a structure to generate merged image data of the article placed on the structure;

providing the merged image data to, and for display at, at least one of the remote user-operable computers; and

storing the image data from the at least two articles in a virtual closet for access by an online-viewer and allocating a limited amount of storage in the virtual closet for the online-viewer.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the server is further configured for tracking purchases made by on-line viewers using the search feature;

and in response to the tracking, providing demographic information to one or more of the retailers.

19. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the server is further configured for charging retailers for the demographic information.

10. An apparatus comprising:

server means, including at least one processor means that includes a programmable computer, for;

providing a web interface for access by remote user-operable computers;

receiving one or more search parameters from the remote user-operable computers;

providing a search feature that searches for articles matching the one or more search parameters and offered for sale at remote websites operated by respective and different retailers;

providing links to the remote websites that correspond to the searched articles;

linking the remote user-operable computers to the remote websites that correspond to the searched articles in response to selection data received from the remote user-operable computers;

returning to the web interface from the remote websites that correspond to the searched articles;

receiving image data for at least two articles from at least two different remote websites;

merging the image data from the at least two articles with image data of a structure to form merged image data of the article placed on the structure;

providing the merged image data to, and for display at, at least one of the remote user-operable computers; and

storing the image data from the at least two articles in a virtual closet for access by an online-viewer and allocating a limited amount of storage in the virtual closet for the online-viewer.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the server means is further configured for categorizing the searched articles according to one or more categorization parameters;

and configuring the web interface to display the searched articles in categories.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the server means is further configured for displaying advertising for articles offered for sale by the retailers;

and charging the retailers for the advertisement.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the server means is further configured for tracking purchases made by on-line viewers using the search feature;

and in response to the tracking, providing demographic information to one or more of the retailers.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the server means is further configured for charging retailers for the demographic information.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the server means is further configured for providing a selectable icon for enabling the search feature.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one of the one or more search parameters includes identification of selected retailers.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one of the one or more search parameters includes selection of an outline of the searched articles.