Method and system for managing and displaying product images with progressive resolution display

• US 10,614,513 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2017
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph R. Dollens
• Original Assignee: Joseph R. Dollens
• Inventors: Dollens, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Georgalas, Anne M
• Application Number:
  US15/632,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20170293971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• 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 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/04 Texture mapping
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/36 Level of detail

Abstract

A method and system displaying and managing images of consumer products with cloud computing. One or more consumer products are selected. An N-layer digital image is created that includes an M-layer hierarchy of vector images and/or visual overlays stored in one or more cloud storage objects in progressive resolution format and allows progressive resolution display without loss of image quality on the selected plural consumer products that appear in the N-layer digital image. Selected consumer products are placed in a graphical shopping cart/bag that provides progressive resolution display directly from the graphical shopping cart/bag and allows new or different consumer products to be selected directly from the graphical shopping cart/bag.

Claims

1. A method for displaying and managing products in a virtual display environment with a cloud communications network, comprising:

creating with a cloud application in a non-transitory computer readable medium on a cloud server network device with one or more processors connected to a cloud communications network, a first set of a plurality of vector images from a plurality of corresponding raster images of a set of consumer products, wherein the created first set of the plurality of vector images include selected ones of the created first set of the plurality of vector images created at different views of the set of consumer products and also include other selected ones of the created first set of the plurality of vector images created at varying levels of detail from general details to specific details for the set of consumer products;

creating with the cloud application a second set of a plurality of vector images for pre-determined groups of the set of consumer products comprising a plurality of visual overlays;

adding with the cloud application a first set of electronic links to individual vector images in the created first set of the plurality of vector images, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the first set of electronic links added to an individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for an individual consumer product from the set of consumer products is displayed;

adding with the cloud application a second set of electronic links to the created second set of the plurality of vector images for the created plurality of visual overlays, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the second set of electronic links added to the individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for an individual visual overlay from the created plurality of visual overlays is displayed;

creating with the cloud application a multi-resolution mosaic (MRM) digital image stored in one or more cloud storage objects in a progressive resolution format for a pre-determined display layout of the set of consumer products with the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and the added first and the added second sets of electronic links,

wherein the created MRM digital image includes an layered vector image hierarchy of the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and wherein the layered vector image hierarchy includes selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the general details for the set of consumer products at a first set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy and other selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the specific details for the set of consumer products at lowest levels in the layered hierarchy and selected ones from the created second set of the plurality of vector images displaying the created plurality of visual overlays of varying level of details from the general details to specific details for the pre-determined groups of the set of consumer products at a second set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy;

displaying with the cloud application the created MRM digital image with a progressive resolution display from the one or more cloud storage objects via the cloud communications network to allow virtual shopping via the cloud communications network, thereby creating a seller customized on-line store of the set of consumer products with the created MRM digital image;

displaying with the cloud application from the one or more cloud storage objects the created MRM digital image with the progressive resolution display of the set of consumer products with the created plurality of vector images in the layered vector image hierarchy, the progressive resolution display including displaying, zooming in and zooming out on selected portions of the created MRM digital image and displaying selected ones of the added first set or second set of electronic links in the plurality of vector image layers and allowing linking to one or more sets of electronic information from different vector image layers in the plurality of vector image layers during the progressive resolution display of the created MRM digital image, wherein the progressive resolution display of the created MRM digital image displays only the selected ones of electronic links added to a vector image layer currently being viewed in the created MRM digital image,

wherein varying from general electronic information to specific electronic information as lower layers are viewed in the plurality of vector image layers;

displaying with the cloud application from the one or more cloud storage objects with the progressive resolution display of the created MRM digital image the created plurality of vector images in the plurality of vector image layers without converting any of the created plurality of vector images to another format or downloading any raster images associated with the created plurality of vector images over the cloud communications network;

displaying with the cloud application from the one or more cloud storage objects a graphical product selection tool via the cloud communications network;

receiving one or more selection inputs on the graphical product selection tool from a target network device with one or more other processors on the cloud application on the cloud server network device via the cloud communications network to select one or more consumer products in the set of consumer products from the created MRM digital image;

creating from the graphical product selection tool on the cloud application on the cloud server network device on the created plurality of vector images from the created MRM digital image a plurality of graphical markers and a plurality of new electronic links for the selected one or more consumer products received in the one or more selection inputs, thereby creating a further seller customized on-line store of the selected one or more consumer products as a customized MRM digital image;

storing with the cloud application in the one or more cloud storage objects the customized MRM digital image;

displaying with the cloud application on the cloud server network device from the one or more cloud storage objects in the progressive resolution display, the customized MRM digital image with the plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of new electronic links created with the graphical product selection tool on the created plurality of vector images and on the customized MRM digital image on the target network device via the cloud communications network;

receiving one or more second selection inputs from the target network device on the cloud application on the cloud server network device via the cloud communications network to purchase a desired set of one or more consumer products from the customized MRM digital image; and

displaying on the target network device from the cloud application on the cloud server network device from the one or more cloud storage objects in a graphical shopping purchase object, vector images of the desired set of one or more selected consumer products including the plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of new electronic links at the lowest levels in the layered hierarchy of the customized MRM digital image and allowing progressive resolution display from the lowest levels in the layered hierarchy back up to the highest levels layered hierarchy and back down to the lowest levels in the layered hierarchy in the customized MRM digital image directly from the graphical shopping purchase object, the progressive resolution display also allowing a new or different second desired set of consumer products from the set of consumer products to be selected directly from the graphical shopping purchase object.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the cloud storage object includes one or more of a REpresentational State Transfer (REST) or Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) cloud storage objects, portions thereof, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the cloud application offers the cloud computing Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), the cloud computing Platform, as a Service (PaaS) and offers Specific cloud Electronic Image Creation and Display services as a Service (SaaS) including a cloud software service, wherein the IaaS, PaaS and SaaS include one or more of automatic secure electronic image creation and display services comprising networking, storage, server network device, virtualization, operating system, middleware, run-time, data or application services, or plural combinations thereof, on the cloud communications network.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the cloud automatic secure electronic image creation and display services are provided via internet television services, search engine services and/or social networking services on the cloud communications network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the target network device includes desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, mobile phones, non-mobile phones, smart phones, personal digital/data assistants (PDA), digital cameras, portable game consoles, non-portable game consoles, wearable network devices, cable television (CATV) set-top boxes, satellite television boxes, or digital televisions including high-definition (HDTV) and three-dimensional (3D) televisions.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the vector images including the visual overlays include a plurality of vector images comprising, brand information, sub-brand information, product category information or product information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of electronic links or the second set of electronic links includes electronic links to print advertising, audio advertising, video advertising, or web-sites accessible via the cloud communications network including additional information about the consumer products.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical markers include graphical icons for new products, products on sale, all natural products, anti-age products, products with new ingredients, products with sun screen, products for specific pre-defined demographic groups, products associated with a brand or products at similar price level.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical markers include graphical icons for a plurality of different types of personal shoppers for a plurality of different age groups for both male and female personal shoppers.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the consumer products include books, music, consumer electronics, tools, clothing, shoes, personal care products including skin care, personal cleansing, hair care, hair styling aids and hair colorants, feminine care products, male care products, baby care products, food products, groceries, and cleaning products.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the consumer products include a plurality of products for pets or other animals.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the customized MRM digital image comprises a web-site used on another cloud server network device on the cloud communications network.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the customized MRM digital image comprises an advertising platform available on internet television services, search engine services and/or social networking services via the cloud communications network.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical shopping purchase object includes a graphical shopping cart or a graphical shopping bag.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the cloud communications network includes wired or wireless connections between the target network device and the cloud server network device.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions for causing one or more processors to execute a processor implemented method including steps comprising:

creating with a cloud application in a non-transitory computer readable medium on a cloud server network device with one or more processors connected to a cloud communications network, a first set of a plurality of vector images from a plurality of corresponding raster images of a set of consumer products, wherein the created first set of the plurality of vector images include selected ones of the created first set of the plurality of vector images created at different views of the set of consumer products and also include other selected ones of the created first set of the plurality of vector images created at varying levels of detail from general details to specific details for the set of consumer products;

creating with the cloud application a second set of a plurality of vector images for pre-determined groups of the set of consumer products comprising a plurality of visual overlays;

adding with the cloud application a first set of electronic links to individual vector images in the created first set of the plurality of vector images, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the first set of electronic links added to an individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for an individual consumer product from the set of consumer products is displayed;

adding with the cloud application a second set of electronic links to the created second set of the plurality of vector images for the created plurality of visual overlays, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the second set of electronic links added to the individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for an individual visual overlay from the created plurality of visual overlays is displayed;

creating with the cloud application a multi-resolution mosaic (MRM) digital image stored in one or more cloud storage objects in a progressive resolution format for a pre-determined display layout of the set of consumer products with the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and the added first and the added second sets of electronic links,

wherein the created MRM digital image includes an layered vector image hierarchy of the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and wherein the layered vector image hierarchy includes selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the general details for the set of consumer products at a first set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy and other selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the specific details for the set of consumer products at lowest levels in the layered hierarchy and selected ones from the created second set of the plurality of vector images displaying the created plurality of visual overlays of varying level of details from the general details to specific details for the pre-determined groups of the set of consumer products at a second set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy;

displaying with the cloud application the created MRM digital image with a progressive resolution display from the one or more cloud storage objects via the cloud communications network to allow virtual shopping via the cloud communications network, thereby creating a seller customized on-line store of the set of consumer products with the created MRM digital image;

displaying with the cloud application from the one or more cloud storage objects the created MRM digital image with the progressive resolution display of the set of consumer products with the created plurality of vector images in the layered vector image hierarchy, the progressive resolution display including displaying, zooming in and zooming out on selected portions of the created MRM digital image and displaying selected ones of the added first set or second set of electronic links in the plurality of vector image layers and allowing linking to one or more sets of electronic information from different vector image layers in the plurality of vector image layers during the progressive resolution display of the created MRM digital image, wherein the progressive resolution display of the created MRM digital image displays only the selected ones of electronic links added to a vector image layer currently being viewed in the created MRM digital image,

wherein varying from general electronic information to specific electronic information as lower layers are viewed in the plurality of vector image layers;

displaying with the cloud application from the one or more cloud storage objects with the progressive resolution display of the created MRM digital image the created plurality of vector images in the plurality of vector image layers without converting any of the created plurality of vector images to another format or downloading any raster images associated with the created plurality of vector images over the cloud communications network;

displaying with the cloud application from the one or more cloud storage objects a graphical product selection tool via the cloud communications network;

receiving one or more selection inputs on the graphical product selection tool from a target network device with one or more other processors on the cloud application on the cloud server network device via the cloud communications network to select one or more consumer products in the set of consumer products from the created MRM digital image;

creating from the graphical product selection tool on the cloud application on the cloud server network device on the created plurality of vector images from the created MRM digital image a plurality of graphical markers and a plurality of new electronic links for the selected one or more consumer products received in the one or more selection inputs, thereby creating a further seller customized on-line store of the selected one or more consumer products as a customized MRM digital image;

storing with the cloud application in the one or more cloud storage objects the customized MRM digital image;

displaying with the cloud application on the cloud server network device from the one or more cloud storage objects in the progressive resolution display, the customized MRM digital image with the plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of new electronic links created with the graphical product selection tool on the created plurality of vector images and on the customized MRM digital image on the target network device via the cloud communications network;

receiving one or more second selection inputs from the target network device on the cloud application on the cloud server network device via the cloud communications network to purchase a desired set of one or more consumer products from the customized MRM digital image; and

displaying on the target network device from the cloud application on the cloud server network device from the one or more cloud storage objects in a graphical shopping purchase object, vector images of the desired set of one or more selected consumer products including the plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of new electronic links at the lowest levels in the layered hierarchy of the customized MRM digital image and allowing progressive resolution display from the lowest levels in the layered hierarchy back up to the highest levels layered hierarchy and back down to the lowest levels in the layered hierarchy in the customized MRM digital image directly from the graphical shopping purchase object, the progressive resolution display also allowing a new or different second desired set of consumer products from the set of consumer products to be selected directly from the graphical shopping purchase object.

17. A system for displaying and managing products in a virtual display environment on a cloud communications network, comprising in combination:

a cloud communications network;

a graphical shopping purchase object on a non-transitory computer readable medium on a cloud server network device with one or more processors providing progressive resolution display of multi-layer digital images stored on the graphical shopping purchase object;

a cloud application on the non-transitory computer readable medium on the cloud server network device with the one or more processors connected to the cloud communications network, the cloud application on the cloud server network device configured;

for creating with the cloud application in the non-transitory computer readable medium on the cloud server network device with the one or more processors connected to the cloud communications network, a first set of a plurality of vector images from a plurality of corresponding raster images of a set of consumer products, wherein the created first set of the plurality of vector images include selected ones of the created first set of the plurality of vector images created at different views of the set of consumer products and also include other selected ones of the created first set of the plurality of vector images created at varying levels of detail from general details to specific details for the set of consumer products;

for creating with the cloud application a second set of a plurality of vector images for pre-determined groups of the set of consumer products comprising a plurality of visual overlays;

for adding with the cloud application a first set of electronic links to individual vector images in the created first set of the plurality of vector images, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the first set of electronic links added to an individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for an individual consumer product from the set of consumer products is displayed;

for adding with the cloud application a second set of electronic links to the created second set of the plurality of vector images for the created plurality of visual overlays, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the second set of electronic links added to the individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for an individual visual overlay from the created plurality of visual overlays is displayed;

for creating with the cloud application a multi-resolution mosaic (MRM) digital image stored in one or more cloud storage objects in a progressive resolution format for a pre-determined display layout of the set of consumer products with the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and the added first and the added second sets of electronic links,

wherein the created MRM digital image includes an layered vector image hierarchy of the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and wherein the layered vector image hierarchy includes selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the general details for the set of consumer products at a first set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy and other selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the specific details for the set of consumer products at lowest levels in the layered hierarchy and selected ones from the created second set of the plurality of vector images displaying the created plurality of visual overlays of varying level of details from the general details to specific details for the pre-determined groups of the set of consumer products at a second set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy;

for displaying with the cloud application the created MRM digital image with a progressive resolution display from the one or more cloud storage objects via the cloud communications network to allow virtual shopping via the cloud communications network, thereby creating a seller customized on-line store of the set of consumer products with the created MRM digital image;

for displaying with the cloud application from the one or more cloud storage objects the created MRM digital image with the progressive resolution display of the set of consumer products with the created plurality of vector images in the layered vector image hierarchy, the progressive resolution display including displaying, zooming in and zooming out on selected portions of the created MRM digital image and displaying selected ones of the added first set or second set of electronic links in the plurality of vector image layers and allowing linking to one or more sets of electronic information from different vector image layers in the plurality of vector image layers during the progressive resolution display of the created MRM digital image, wherein the progressive resolution display of the created MRM digital image displays only the selected ones of electronic links added to a vector image layer currently being viewed in the created MRM digital image,

wherein varying from general electronic information to specific electronic information as lower layers are viewed in the plurality of vector image layers;

for displaying with the cloud application from the one or more cloud storage objects with the progressive resolution display of the created MRM digital image the created plurality of vector images in the plurality of vector image layers without converting any of the created plurality of vector images to another format or downloading any raster images associated with the created plurality of vector images over the cloud communications network;

for displaying with the cloud application from the one or more cloud storage objects a graphical product selection tool via the cloud communications network;

for receiving one or more selection inputs on the graphical product selection tool from a target network device with one or more other processors on the cloud application on the cloud server network device via the cloud communications network to select one or more consumer products in the set of consumer products from the created MRM digital image;

for creating from the graphical product selection tool on the cloud application on the cloud server network device on the created plurality of vector images from the created MRM digital image a plurality of graphical markers and a plurality of new electronic links for the selected one or more consumer products received in the one or more selection inputs, thereby creating a further seller customized on-line store of the selected one or more consumer products as a customized MRM digital image;

for storing with the cloud application in the one or more cloud storage objects the customized MRM digital image;

for displaying with the cloud application on the cloud server network device from the one or more cloud storage objects in the progressive resolution display, the customized MRM digital image with the plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of new electronic links created with the graphical product selection tool on the created plurality of vector images and on the customized MRM digital image on the target network device via the cloud communications network;

for receiving one or more second selection inputs from the target network device on the cloud application on the cloud server network device via the cloud communications network to purchase a desired set of one or more consumer products from the customized MRM digital image; and

for displaying on the target network device from the cloud application on the cloud server network device from the one or more cloud storage objects in a graphical shopping purchase object, vector images of the desired set of one or more selected consumer products including the plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of new electronic links at the lowest levels in the layered hierarchy of the customized MRM digital image and allowing progressive resolution display from the lowest levels in the layered hierarchy back up to the highest levels layered hierarchy and back down to the lowest levels in the layered hierarchy in the customized MRM digital image directly from the graphical shopping purchase object, the progressive resolution display also allowing a new or different second desired set of consumer products from the set of consumer products to be selected directly from the graphical shopping purchase object.