Apparatus and method for facilitating a search for gem settings

• US 20050261989A1
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blue Nile Incorporated (Signet Jewelers Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blue Nile Incorporated (Signet Jewelers Limited)
• Inventors: Berg, Alexander W., Vadon, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/101,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261989A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Apparatus and method for facilitating a search for gem settings are described. In one embodiment, a computer-readable medium includes a gem search module to facilitate a search for a gem to be included in a jewelry item. The computer-readable medium also includes a gem setting search module to facilitate a search for a gem setting to be included in the jewelry item, and the gem setting search module is configured to provide a visual representation of the jewelry item as being worn.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium comprising:

a gem search module to facilitate a search for a gem to be included in a jewelry item, said gem search module being configured to provide a first user-interface element representing a first plurality of values of a gem attribute, said gem search module being configured to receive a selection of a first value from said first plurality of values and to identify said gem as being associated with said first value; and

a gem setting search module to facilitate a search for a gem setting to be included in said jewelry item, said gem setting search module being configured to provide a second user-interface element representing a second plurality of values of a gem setting attribute, said gem setting search module being configured to receive a selection of a second value from said second plurality of values and to identify said gem setting as being associated with said second value, said gem setting search module being configured to provide a visual representation of said jewelry item as being worn.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said gem attribute corresponds to one of carat weight, clarity, color, cut, length-to-width ratio, polish, price, shape, and symmetry.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said gem setting attribute corresponds to one of chain length, metal type, price, ring size, and setting style.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said gem setting search module is configured to provide said visual representation based on superimposing an image of said gem and said gem setting onto an image of a body part.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said visual representation corresponds to a first visual representation of said jewelry item as being worn, said gem setting search module being configured to provide a second visual representation of said jewelry item as being worn, said first visual representation and said second visual representation corresponding to different views of said jewelry item as being worn.

6. A computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions to:

facilitate creation of a first search query based on a first value of a gem setting attribute;

identify a first plurality of gem settings as being responsive to said first search query; and

in response to a selection of a first gem setting from said first plurality of gem settings, provide a first visual representation of said first gem setting as being worn.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein said executable instructions to facilitate creation of said first search query include executable instructions to provide a user-interface element representing a plurality of values of said gem setting attribute, said plurality of values including said first value.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein said gem setting attribute corresponds to metal type, and said first value corresponds to one of platinum, silver, yellow gold, and white gold.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein said gem setting attribute corresponds to setting style, and said first value corresponds to one of solitaire, sidestones, three-stone, and matching sets.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein said executable instructions to provide said first visual representation include executable instructions to provide a combined image of said first gem setting and a body part.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said executable instructions to provide said combined image include executable instructions to superimpose an image of said first gem setting onto an image of said body part.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising executable instructions to:

in response to a request for a different view of said first gem setting, provide a second visual representation of said first gem setting as being worn.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said first visual representation and said second visual representation correspond to different ones of an initial view, an enlarged view, and a reduced view of said first gem setting as being worn.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said first visual representation and said second visual representation corresponds to different ones of a perspective view, a side view, and a top view of said first gem setting as being worn.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising executable instructions to:

in response to a selection of a second gem setting from said first plurality of gem settings, provide a second visual representation of said second gem setting as being worn.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising executable instructions to:

facilitate creation of a second search query based on a second value of said gem setting attribute;

identify a second plurality of gem settings as being responsive to said second search query; and

in response to a selection of a second gem setting from said second plurality of gem settings, provide a second visual representation of said second gem setting as being worn.

17. A computer-implemented method of facilitating a search for gem settings, comprising:

identifying a first plurality of gem settings as being associated with a first value of a gem setting attribute; and

in response to a selection of a first gem setting from said first plurality of gem settings, providing a combined image of said first gem setting and a body part.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein said body part corresponds to a human hand.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein said providing said combined image includes superimposing an image of said gem setting onto an image of said human hand.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising:

in response to a selection of a second gem setting from said first plurality of gem settings, providing a combined image of said second gem setting and said body part.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising:

identifying a second plurality of gem settings as being associated with a second value of said gem setting attribute; and

in response to a selection of a second gem setting from said second plurality of gem settings, providing a combined image of said second gem setting and said body part.