System and method of changing attributes of an image-based product

• US 20030065590A1
• Filed: 11/03/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
• Original Assignee: Paul Haeberli
• Inventors: Haeberli, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 6,941,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for changing attributes of an image-based product in which an attribute of a first image is automatically identified and a new value for a product attribute of the image-based product is automatically selected based on the image attribute. Also, a user interface can be provided that allows a user to actuate a user interface control in order to select a new value for a product attribute of an image-based product. Such techniques can be used to offer image-based products for sale over a computer network such as the Internet so that the user can change attributes of the image-based products before ordering.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

automatically identifying an attribute of a first image;

automatically selecting a new value, for a product attribute of an image-based product incorporating at least a portion of the first image, based on the image attribute; and

receiving an order for the image-based product.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a first preview image of the image-based product.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying the first preview image of the image-based product.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the first preview image of the image-based product includes:

downloading the first preview image to a client computer; and

displaying the first preview image on the client computer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the first image.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the first image includes uploading the first image.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first image is uploaded from a client computer to a server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first image is uploaded using a computer network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer network includes the Internet.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the first image includes storing the first image.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first image is stored in an image database.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein a plurality of images are received.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a selection of the first image from the plurality of images.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying the plurality of images.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically identifying the image attribute includes analyzing the first image.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the new value for the product attribute is automatically selected based on the analysis of the first image.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein analyzing the first image includes generating a set of representative colors from the first image.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein generating the set of representative colors includes generating a color map for the first image.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein generating the color map includes performing a median cut algorithm on the first image.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein automatically selecting the new value for the product attribute includes selecting a color as a function of at least one of the representative colors.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein selecting the color as a function of at least one of the representative colors includes selecting a color that matches at least one of the representative colors.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein selecting the color that matches at least one of the representative colors includes selecting a color that complements at least one of the representative colors.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein selecting the color as a function of at least one of the representative colors includes selecting the color from the set of representative colors.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein selecting the color from the set of representative colors includes selecting the most popular color.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein selecting the color from the set of representative colors includes selecting the color at random from the set of representative colors.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the product attribute is a border color product attribute of the image-based product and the new value is the selected color.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising generating a second preview image of the image-based product having a border, wherein the color of the border is the color specified by the border color product attribute.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a new value for the product attribute includes selecting the new value at random.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the selection of the new value is constrained based on previous values of the product attribute.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a new value for the product attribute includes selecting the new value at psuedo-random.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the selection of the new value is constrained based previous values of the product attribute.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a new value for the product attribute includes selecting the new value from a predetermined ordering of values.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the product attribute relates to which images are incorporated in the image-based product, and the image-based product further incorporates at least a portion of a second image.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of images;

automatically identifying an image attribute of each of the received images; and

automatically selecting the first and second images from the received images based on the image attributes of the received images.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein automatically identifying an image attribute of each of the received images includes determining the orientation of each of the received images.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first and second images are selected from a subset of the received images having a portrait orientation.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the first and second images are selected from a subset of the received images having a landscape orientation.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the first and second images are selected from a subset of the received images having similar image attributes.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the image-based product is a diptych.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the image-based product is a triptych.

41. The method of claim 1, further comprising fulfilling the order for the image-based product.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the image-based product is an image print.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein the image-based product is a framed image print.

44. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing state information about the first image.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the state information is updated each time a new value for the product attribute is selected.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the state information includes information about a current state of the product attribute.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the state information includes information about a past state of the product attribute.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the information about the past state of the product attribute includes undo information for undoing the selection of the new value for the product attribute.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

receiving an undo command; and

undoing the selection of the new value for the product attribute based on the undo information.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the information about the past state of the product attribute includes redo information for redoing the selection of the new value for the product attribute.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising:

receiving a redo command; and

redoing the selection of the new value for the product attribute based on the redo information.

52. A server comprising:

a web front end that connects the server to a computer network;

a print lab, in communication with the web front end, that generates an image-based product incorporating a first image;

wherein the server further includes software, tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions operable to cause the server to;

receive a first image via the computer network;

automatically identify an image attribute of the first image; and

automatically select a new value, for a product attribute of an image-based product incorporating at least a portion of the first image, based on the image attribute.

53. The server of claim 52, wherein the software further comprises instructions operable to cause the server to:

generate a first preview image of the image-based product.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the software further comprises instructions operable to cause the server to:

download the first preview image to a client computer.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the software further comprises instructions operable to cause the server to:

display the first preview image on the client computer.

56. The system of claim 52, wherein the software further comprises instructions operable to cause the server to:

receive the first image from a client computer connected to the server using the computer network.

57. The server of claim 52, wherein the computer network includes the Internet.

58. The server of claim 52, further comprising an image database, in communication with the web front end, that stores the first image.

59. The server of claim 52, wherein the software further comprises instructions operable to cause the server to:

receive a plurality of images.

60. The server of claim 59, wherein the software further includes instructions operable to cause the server to receive a selection of the first image from the plurality of images.

61. The server of claim 60, wherein the selection is received from a client computer connected to the computer network.

62. The server of claim 59, wherein the software further includes instructions operable to cause the server to receive a selection of the first image from the plurality of images.

63. The server of claim 52, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to automatically identify an image attribute of the first image include instructions operable to cause the server to:

analyze the first image.

64. The server of claim 63, wherein the new value for the product attribute is automatically selected based on the analysis of the first image.

65. The server of claim 63, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to analyze the first image include instructions operable to cause the server to:

generate a set of representative colors from the first image.

66. The server of claim 65, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to generate the set of representative colors include instructions operable to cause the server to:

generate a color map for the first image.

67. The server of claim 66, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to generate a color map for the first image include instructions operable to cause the server to:

perform the median cut algorithm on the first image.

68. The server of claim 64, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to automatically select a new value for a product attribute of the image-based product based on the image attribute include instructions operable to cause the server to:

select a color as a function of at least one of the representative colors.

69. The server of claim 68, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to select a color as a function of at least one of the representative colors include instructions operable to cause the server to:

select a color that matches at least one of the representative colors.

70. The server of claim 69, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to select the color that matches at least one of the representative colors include instructions operable to cause the server to:

selecting a color that complements at least one of the representative colors.

71. The server of claim 68, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to select the color as a function of at least one of the representative colors include instructions operable to cause the server to:

select the color from the set of representative colors.

72. The server of claim 71, wherein the instructions operable to select the color from the set of representative colors include instructions operable to cause the server to select the most popular color.

73. The server of claim 71, wherein the instructions operable to select the color from the set of representative colors include instructions operable to cause the server to select the color at random from the set of representative colors.

74. The server of claim 68, wherein the product attribute is a border color product attribute of the image-based product and the new value is the selected color.

75. The server of claim 74, wherein the software further includes instructions operable to cause the server to generate a second preview image of the image-based product having a border, wherein the color of the border is the color specified by the border color product attribute.

76. The method of claim 52, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to automatically select a new value for a product attribute of the image-based product based on the image attribute include instructions operable to cause the server to:

select a new value for the product attribute includes selecting the new value at random.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the selection of the new value is constrained based on previous values of the product attribute.

78. The system of claim 52, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to automatically select a new value for a product attribute of the image-based product based on the image attribute include instructions operable to cause the server to:

selecting a new value for the product attribute includes selecting the new value at psuedo-random.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the selection of the new value is constrained based on previous values of the product attribute.

80. The system of claim 52, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to automatically select a new value for a product attribute of the image-based product based on the image attribute include instructions operable to cause the server to:

select a new value for the product attribute includes selecting the new value from a predetermined ordering of values.

81. The server of claim 52, wherein the product attribute relates to which images are incorporated in the image-based product, and the image-based product incorporates at least a portion of a second image.

82. The server of claim 81, wherein the software further includes instructions operable to cause the server to:

receive a plurality of images;

automatically identify an image attribute of each of the received images; and

automatically select the first and second images from the received images based on the image attributes of the received images.

83. The server of claim 82, wherein the instructions operable to cause the server to automatically identify an image attribute of each of the received images include instructions operable to cause the server to determine the orientation of each of the plurality of images.

84. The server of claim 83, wherein the first and second images are selected from the subset of images having a portrait orientation.

85. The server of claim 83, wherein the first and second images are selected from the subset of images having a landscape orientation.

86. The server of claim 81, wherein the image-based product is a diptych.

87. The server of claim 81, wherein the image-based product is a triptych.

88. The server of claim 52, wherein the software further includes instructions operable to cause the server to receive an order for the image-based product.

89. The server of claim 88, wherein the software further includes instructions operable to cause the server to fulfill the order for the image-based product.

90. The server of claim 52, wherein the image-based product is an image print.

91. The server of claim 52, wherein the image-based product is a framed image print.

92. The server of claim 52, wherein the software further comprises instructions operable to cause the server to store state information about the first image.

93. The server of claim 92, wherein the software further comprises instructions operable to cause the server to update state information each time a new value for the product attribute is selected.

94. The server of claim 92, wherein the state information includes information about a current state of the product attribute.

95. The server of claim 92, wherein the state information includes information about a past state of the product attribute.

96. The server of claim 95, wherein the information about the past state of the product attribute includes undo information for undoing the selection of the new value for the product attribute.

97. The server of claim 96, wherein the software further comprises instructions operable to cause the server to:

receive an undo command; and

undo the selection of the new value for the product attribute based on the undo information.

98. The server of claim 95, wherein the information about the past state of the product attribute includes redo information for redoing the selection of the new value for the product attribute.

99. The server of claim 98, wherein the software further comprises instructions operable to cause the server to:

receive a redo command; and

redo the selection of the new value for the product attribute based on the redo information.

100. A method for providing a user on a client computer an interface for changing one or more product attributes of an image-based product that incorporates at least a portion of a first image, the client computer being in communication with a server and having a display and a pointing device operatively coupled to a cursor displayed on the display, the method comprising:

displaying a border width control that, when actuated, supplies a new border size value to the server so that the server can change a border product attribute of the image-based product to the new border size value; and

displaying a preview image of the image-based product.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein the border width control is a button associated with a minimum border size.

102. The method of claim 100, wherein the border width control is part of web page that is downloaded by a browser executing on the client computer.

103. The method of claim 100, further comprising:

displaying a print size control that, when actuated, supplies a new print size value to the server so that the server can change a print size product attribute of the image-based product to the new print size value.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein the print size control is a selection box having a plurality of print size selections a user can select.

105. The method of claim 103, wherein the print size control is part of web page that is downloaded by a browser executing on the client computer.

106. A method for providing a user on a client computer an interface for changing one or more product attributes of an image-based product that incorporates at least a portion of a first image, the client computer being in communication with a server and having a display and a pointing device operatively coupled to a cursor displayed on the display, the method comprising:

displaying an image selection control that, when actuated, supplies an image selection to the server, the image selection identifying an image;

displaying a text entry control that, when actuated, supplies text to the server; and

displaying a text position selection control including a plurality of versions of the image, each version of the image including at a least a portion of the text located in a different text position on the image, wherein the text position selection control, when actuated, supplies a text position selection to the server, the text position selection corresponding to one of the text positions.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein the image selection control is part of web page that is downloaded by a browser executing on the client computer and includes a plurality of thumbnail images, wherein the user can actuate the image selection control by clicking on a thumbnail image.

108. The method of claim 106, wherein the text entry control is a text entry field in which a user can enter text.

109. The method of claim 106, wherein the text entry control is part of a web page that is downloaded by a browser executing on the client computer.

110. The method of claim 106, wherein the text position selection control is part of a web page that is downloaded by a browser executing on the client computer.

111. The method of claim 106, wherein a user can actuate the text position selection control by clicking on one of the versions of the image.