Interactive beauty analysis

• US 20030065552A1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Pruche, Francis, Rubinstenn, Gilles
• Application Number:
  US10/024,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20030065552A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1034 by means of colour cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/444 Evaluating skin marks, e.g. mole, nevi, tumour, scar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/446 Scalp evaluation or scalp disorder diagnosis, e.g. dandruff
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7267 involving training the classification device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects

Abstract

A method of performing a beauty analysis is disclosed. The method includes providing in a data structure a plurality of questions related to beauty, enabling a subject to access a system for presenting at least some of the plurality of questions to the subject, enabling presentation to the subject of directions for conducting at least one physical self-test, providing instructions to the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the self-test, and enabling selection, from the plurality of questions, of a subset of questions to be presented to the subject. A number of questions contained in the subset and identities of questions contained in the subset may be a function of the furnished information.

Claims

1. A beauty analysis method, comprising:

storing in a data structure a plurality of questions related to beauty;

enabling a subject to access a system for presenting at least some of the plurality of questions to the subject;

presenting to the subject directions for conducting at least one physical self-test;

instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the self-test;

selecting, from the plurality of questions, a subset of questions to be presented to the subject, wherein a number of questions contained in the subset and identities of questions contained in the subset are a function of the furnished information; and

presenting the subset of questions to the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing physical transmission to the subject of a package containing materials for conducting the at least one self-test.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the package further contains at least one of an image capture device and a driver for an image capture device, and wherein the method further comprises encouraging the subject to conduct an auto-evaluation using the image capture device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the system includes a network, and wherein the at least some of the plurality of questions are stored at a location remote from a location of the subject.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling a subject to access a system includes providing the subject with software configured to run on the subject'"'"'s computer.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the materials include at least one of a pH indicator, sebutape, and a corneodisque indicator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting directions for conducting at least one physical self-test includes at least one of transmitting instructions to the subject over a network, providing instructions to the subject in the form of software, and providing instructions to the subject in hard-copy form.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the self-test includes directing the subject on how to interpret the results of the self-test and directing the subject on how to provide the interpreted results to at least one of a client-based processor and a network-based processor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a subset of questions includes providing at least one of a client-based algorithm and a server-based algorithm for narrowing the plurality of questions to the subset of questions as a function of the information reflecting results of the self-test.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the algorithm is based on artificial intelligence.

11. The method of claims 9, further comprising maintaining in a data base, beauty information on a plurality of individuals, and wherein the algorithm narrows the plurality of questions to the subset of questions by comparing subject provided information with information in the data base.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a response from the subject to the subset of questions, and prescribing at least one beauty product to the subject as a function of at least one of the self test information and at least some of the responses to the subset of questions.

13. A beauty analysis method, comprising:

storing in a data structure a plurality of questions related to beauty;

enabling a subject to access a system for presenting at least some of the plurality of questions to the subject;

presenting at least a first question subset from the plurality of questions to the subject;

receiving a first response set to the first question subset;

identifying, as a function of the first response set, at least one physical self-test to be conducted by the subject;

presenting directions for conducting the at least one physical self-test to the subject;

instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the physical self-test;

identifying a second question subset chosen from the plurality of questions, wherein a make-up of the second question subset is at least partially a function of the furnished information;

presenting the second question subset to the subject;

receiving a second response set to the second question subset; and

prescribing at least one beauty product to the subject as a function of the first response set, the second response set, and the information reflecting results of the physical self-test.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising physically transmitting to the subject a package containing materials for conducting the at least one physical self-test.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the package further contains at least one of an image capture device and a driver for an image capture device, and wherein the method further comprises encouraging the subject to conduct an auto-evaluation using the image capture device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the system includes a network, and wherein the at least some of the plurality of questions are stored at a location remote from a location of the subject.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein enabling a subject to access a system includes providing the subject with client-side software.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the materials include at least one of a pH indicator, sebutape, and a corneodisque indicator.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein presenting directions for conducting at least one physical self-test includes at least one of transmitting instructions to the subject over a network, providing instructions to the subject in the form of software, and providing instructions to the subject in hard-copy form.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the self-test includes directing the subject on how to interpret the results of the self-test and directing the subject on how to provide the interpreted results to at least one of a client-based processor and a network-based processor.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying, as a function of the first response set, at least one physical self-test to be conducted by the subject, is accomplished using a selection algorithm.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of identifying a second question subset and prescribing a beauty product is accomplished using a selection algorithm.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the selection algorithm employs artificial intelligence.

24. The method of claims 23, further comprising maintaining in a data base, beauty information on a plurality of individuals, and wherein the algorithm compares information about the subject with information in the data base.

66. The method of claim 22, wherein the selection algorithm employs artificial intelligence.

25. A beauty analysis system, comprising:

means for storing a plurality of questions related to beauty;

means for enabling a subject to access a system for presenting at least some of the plurality of questions to the subject;

means for presenting directions for conducting at least one physical self-test to the subject;

means for instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the self-test;

means for selecting, from the plurality of questions, a subset of questions to be presented to the subject, wherein a number of questions contained in the subset and identities of questions contained in the subset are a function of the furnished information; and

means for presenting the subset of questions to the subject.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for causing physical transmission to the subject of a package containing materials for conducting the at least one self-test.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the package further contains at least one of an image capture device and a driver for an image capture device, and wherein the system further comprises means for encouraging the subject to conduct an auto-evaluation using the image capture device.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the system for presenting questions includes a network, and wherein the at least some of the plurality of questions are stored at a location remote from a location of the subject.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein means for enabling a subject to access a system includes means for providing the subject with software configured to run on the subject'"'"'s computer.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the materials include at least one of a pH indicator, sebutape, and a corneodisque indicator.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein means for presenting directions for conducting at least one physical self-test includes at least one of means for transmitting instructions to the subject over a network, means for providing instructions to the subject in the form of software, and means for providing instructions to the subject in hard-copy form.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein means for instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the self-test includes means for directing the subject on how to interpret the results of the self-test and means for directing the subject on how to provide the interpreted results to one or more of a client-based processor and a network-based processor.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein means for selecting a subset of questions includes at least one of a client-based algorithm and a server-based algorithm for narrowing the plurality of questions to the subset of questions as a function of the information reflecting results of the self-test.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the algorithm is based on artificial intelligence.

35. The system of claims 33, further comprising means for maintaining in a data base, beauty information on a plurality of individuals, and wherein the algorithm narrows the plurality of questions to the subset of questions by comparing subject provided information with information in the data base.

36. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for receiving a response from the subject to the subset of questions, and means for prescribing at least one beauty product to the subject as a function of at least one of the self test information and at least some of the responses to the subset of questions.

37. A beauty analysis system, comprising:

means for storing in a data structure a plurality of questions related to beauty;

means for enabling a subject to access a system for presenting at least some of the plurality of questions to the subject;

means for presenting at least a first question subset from the plurality of questions to the subject;

means for receiving a first response set to the first question subset;

means for identifying, as a function of the first response set, at least one physical self-test to be conducted by the subject;

means for presenting directions for conducting the at least one physical self-test to the subject;

means for instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the physical self-test;

means for identifying a second question subset chosen from the plurality of questions, wherein a make-up of the second question subset is at least partially a function of the furnished information;

means for presenting the second question subset to the subject;

means for receiving a second response set to the second question subset; and

means for prescribing at least one beauty product to the subject as a function of the first response set, the second response set, and the information reflecting results of the physical self-test.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising means for physically transmitting to the subject a package containing materials for conducting the at least one physical self-test.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the package further contains at least one of an image capture device and a driver for an image capture device, and wherein the method further comprises encouraging the subject to conduct an auto-evaluation using the image capture device.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the system for presenting includes a network, and wherein the at least some of the plurality of questions are stored at a location remote from a location of the subject.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein means for enabling a subject to access a system includes means for providing the subject with client-side software.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the materials include at least one of a pH indicator, sebutape, and a corneodisque indicator.

43. The system of claim 37, wherein means for presenting directions for conducting at least one physical self-test includes at least one of means for transmitting instructions to the subject over a network, means for providing instructions to the subject in the form of software, and means for providing instructions to the subject in hard-copy form.

44. The system of claim 37, wherein means for instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the self-test includes means for directing the subject on how to interpret the results of the self-test and means for directing the subject on how to provide the interpreted results to one or more of a client-based processor and a network-based processor.

45. The system of claim 37, wherein means for identifying, as a function of the first response set, at least one physical self-test to be conducted by the subject, is accomplished using a selection algorithm.

46. The system of claim 37, wherein at least one of means for identifying a second question subset and means for prescribing a beauty product is accomplished using a selection algorithm.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the selection algorithm employs artificial intelligence.

48. The system of claims 47, further comprising means for maintaining in a data base, beauty information on a plurality of individuals, and wherein the algorithm compares information about the subject with information in the data base.

67. The system of claim 45, wherein the selection algorithm employs artificial intelligence.

49. A computer program product for performing a beauty analysis, the computer program product comprising computer-readable media having computer-readable code, the computer program product comprising the following computer-readable program code for effecting actions in a computing platform:

program code for storing in a data structure a plurality of questions related to beauty;

program code for enabling a subject to access a system for presenting at least some of the plurality of questions to the subject;

program code for presenting directions for conducting at least one physical self-test to the subject;

program code for instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the self-test;

program code for selecting, from the plurality of questions, a subset of questions to be presented to the subject, wherein a number of questions contained in the subset and identities of questions contained in the subset are a function of the furnished information; and

program code for presenting the subset of questions to the subject.

50. The computer program product of claim 49, further comprising program code for causing physical transmission to the subject of a package containing materials for conducting the at least one self-test.

51. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein program code for enabling a subject to access a system includes program code configured to run on the subject'"'"'s computer.

52. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein program code for presenting directions for conducting at least one physical self-test includes at least one of program code for transmitting instructions to the subject over a network, program code for providing instructions to the subject in the form of software, and program code for providing instructions to the subject in hard-copy form.

53. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein program code for instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the self-test includes program code for directing the subject on how to interpret the results of the self-test and program code for directing the subject on how to provide the interpreted results to one or more of a client-based processor and a network-based processor.

54. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein program code for selecting a subset of questions includes program code for at least one of a client-based algorithm and a server-based algorithm for narrowing the plurality of questions to the subset of questions as a function of the information reflecting results of the self-test.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the program code is based on artificial intelligence.

56. The computer program product of claims 54, further comprising program code for maintaining in a data base, beauty information on a plurality of individuals, and wherein the program code narrows the plurality of questions to the subset of questions by comparing subject provided information with information in the data base.

57. The computer program product of claim 49, further comprising program code for receiving a response from the subject to the subset of questions, and program code for prescribing at least one beauty product to the subject as a function of at least one of the self test information and at least some of the responses to the subset of questions.

58. A computer program product for performing a beauty analysis, the computer program product comprising computer-readable media having computer-readable code, the computer program product comprising the following computer-readable program code for effecting actions in a computing platform:

program code for storing in a data structure a plurality of questions related to beauty;

program code for enabling a subject to access a system for presenting at least some of the plurality of questions to the subject;

program code for presenting at least a first question subset from the plurality of questions to the subject;

program code for receiving a first response set to the first question subset;

program code for identifying, as a function of the first response set, at least one physical self-test to be conducted by the subject;

program code for presenting directions for conducting the at least one physical self-test to the subject;

program code for instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the physical self-test;

program code for identifying a second question subset chosen from the plurality of questions, wherein a make-up of the second question subset is at least partially a function of the furnished information;

program code for presenting the second question subset to the subject;

program code for receiving a second response set to the second question subset; and

program code for prescribing at least one beauty product to the subject as a function of the first response set, the second response set, and the information reflecting results of the physical self-test.

59. The computer program product of claim 58, further comprising program code for physically transmitting to the subject a package containing materials for conducting the at least one physical self-test.

60. The computer program product of claim 58, wherein program code for presenting directions for conducting at least one physical self-test includes at least one of program code for transmitting instructions to the subject over a network, program code for providing instructions to the subject in the form of software, and program code for providing instructions to the subject in hard-copy form.

61. The computer program product of claim 58, wherein instructing the subject on how to furnish information reflecting results of the self-test includes directing the subject on how to interpret the results of the self-test and directing the subject on how to provide the interpreted results to one or more of a client-based processor and a network-based processor.

62. The computer program product of claim 58, wherein program code for identifying, as a function of the first response set, at least one physical self-test to be conducted by the subject, is accomplished using a selection algorithm.

63. The computer program product of claim 58, wherein at least one of program code for identifying a second question subset and program code for prescribing a beauty product is accomplished using a selection algorithm.

64. The computer program product of claim 63, wherein the selection algorithm employs artificial intelligence.

65. The computer program product of claim 64, further comprising program code for maintaining in a data base, beauty information on a plurality of individuals, and wherein the algorithm compares information about the subject with information in the data base.

68. A beauty analysis method, comprising:

accessing a data structure containing a plurality of questions;

presenting to a subject at least one of the plurality of questions;

receiving at least one answer to the at least one question;

based on the received at least one answer, identifying at least one physical test to be conducted on the subject, the test providing results relating to a beauty analysis; and

instructing the subject to perform the test.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising receiving information reflective of the results of the test.

70. The method of claim 69, further comprising, based on the information, selecting at least one additional question from the plurality of questions for presentation to the subject.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein receiving information includes receiving the information via a network.

72. The method of claim 68, wherein at least a portion of the data structure is located at a location remote from the subject.

73. A beauty analysis method, comprising:

presenting to a subject directions for conducting at least one physical self-test;

receiving information reflecting results of the test;

selecting, from a plurality of questions stored in a data structure, at least one question to be presented to the subject, wherein the selecting of at least one question is a function of the received information; and

presenting the at least one selected question to the subject.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein receiving information includes receiving the information via a network.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein at least a portion of the data structure is located at a location remote from the subject.

76. A beauty analysis method, comprising:

presenting at least one question to a subject;

receiving a response to the at least one question;

identifying, as a function of the response, at least one physical self-test to be conducted by the subject;

presenting directions for conducting the at least one physical self-test to the subject;

receiving information reflecting results of the physical self-test; and

prescribing at least one beauty product to the subject as a function of at least the information reflecting results of the physical self-test.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein receiving information includes receiving the information via a network.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein the at least one question is stored in at least a portion of the data structure located at a location remote from the subject.