PERSONALIZED SHOPPING AVATAR

• US 20110022965A1
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tiscareno, Victor, Lawrence, Cindy, Ng, Stanley
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/747
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

This is directed to a personalized avatar providing a true representation of the user'"'"'s body, such that the avatar provides a substantially accurate graphical representation of the user'"'"'s body. The avatar can be defined using any suitable approach, including by providing measurements of the user'"'"'s body or extracting measurements from photographs of the user. The user can direct an electronic device to apply selected articles of clothing, accessories, or other items to the user'"'"'s avatar to preview the appearance of the items on the user. In some embodiments, an electronic device can recommend different clothing items or other objects based on the user'"'"'s body type.

Claims

1. A method for virtually previewing an article of clothing on a user, comprising:

identifying a personalized avatar of the user, wherein the dimensions of the avatar substantially correspond to the user'"'"'s dimensions;

identifying first article of clothing and a second article of clothing of interest to the user, wherein the first article of clothing is characterized by a a fabric of the article and a thickness of the fabric of the article;

applying the identified first article of clothing to an external surface of the identified avatar using an electronic device, wherein specific elements of the first article of clothing are positioned adjacent to corresponding specific elements of the avatar such that portions of the first article of clothing between the specific elements of the first article are draped in a manner reflecting the surface between the specific elements of the avatar;

overlaying the identified second article of clothing at least in part over the identified first article of clothing, wherein the second article of clothing is offset from a surface of the avatar by an amount at least equal to the thickness of the fabric of the article; and

displaying the avatar with the applied first article of clothing and second article of clothing using the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the portions of the first article of clothing between the specific elements of the first article of clothing sag or stretch across the surface between the specific elements of the avatar.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the specific elements of the first article of clothing from metadata associated with the identified first article of clothing.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a friction quantity associated with the first article of clothing;

applying the identified second article of clothing over the identified first article of clothing, wherein the second article of clothing moves relative to the first article of clothing by an amount determined from the friction quantity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the outer surface of the avatar is colored to match the user'"'"'s skin color.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the ratio of measurements of at least two components of the avatar substantially matches the ratio of measurements of the corresponding at least to components of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the measurements of at least two components comprise measurements of at least two of:

arm length;

leg length;

height;

waist circumference;

shoulder width;

neck circumference;

chest circumference;

bust length;

hip circumference;

thigh circumference;

calf circumference; and

head circumference.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the avatar with the first and second articles of clothing to a remote device for review.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an instruction to move a portion of the avatar;

moving the portion of the avatar;

revising the appearance of the applied first and second articles of clothing to reflect the movement of the portion of the avatar.

10-23. -23. (canceled)

24. Computer readable media for virtually previewing an article of clothing on a user, comprising computer readable code recorded thereon for:

identifying a personalized avatar of the user, wherein the dimensions of the avatar substantially correspond to the user'"'"'s dimensions;

identifying first article of clothing and a second article of clothing of interest to the user, wherein the first article of clothing is characterized by a a fabric of the article and a thickness of the fabric of the article;

applying the identified first article of clothing to an external surface of the identified avatar, wherein specific elements of the first article of clothing are positioned adjacent to corresponding specific elements of the avatar such that portions of the first article of clothing between the specific elements of the first article are draped in a manner reflecting the surface between the specific elements of the avatar;

overlaying the identified second article of clothing at least in part over the identified first article of clothing, wherein the second article of clothing is offset from a surface of the avatar by an amount at least equal to the thickness of the fabric of the article; and

displaying the avatar with the applied first article of clothing and second article of clothing.

25. The computer-readable media of claim 24, comprising further computer readable code recorded thereon for:

determining whether the portions of the first article of clothing between the specific elements of the first article of clothing sag or stretch across the surface between the specific elements of the avatar.

26. The computer-readable media of claim 24, comprising further computer readable code recorded thereon for:

retrieving the specific elements of the first article of clothing from metadata associated with the identified first article of clothing.

27. An electronic device for previewing an article of clothing, comprising a display and control circuitry, the control circuitry operative to:

retrieve a personalized avatar, wherein shape of the avatar substantially corresponds to the shape of the user'"'"'s body;

receive a selection of an article of clothing, wherein the article of clothing is defined by a fabric, a thickness of the fabric of the article of clothing, and a plurality of contact points, wherein each contact point is associated with a specific element of the user'"'"'s body;

apply the selected article of clothing to the avatar, wherein the contact points of the article of clothing are substantially aligned with portions of the avatar corresponding to the specific elements of the user'"'"'s body, and wherein an external surface of the article of clothing is offset from a surface of the avatar by an amount at least equal to the thickness of the fabric of the article of clothing; and

direct the display to display the article of clothing applied to the avatar.

28. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

determine a distance between specific elements of the user'"'"'s body;

determine the amount of fabric between contact points of the article of clothing;

compare the determined distance and the determined amount of fabric; and

determine whether to stretch or let sag the determined amount of fabric based on the comparison.

29. The electronic device of claim 28, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

define the orientation of gravity; and

direct the fabric to sag in the defined gravity orientation.

30. The electronic device of claim 28, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

retrieve at least one attribute of the fabric, wherein the attribute defines at least one of the texture and stiffness of the fabric; and

adjust the manner in which the fabric lies over the avatar based on the retrieved at least one attribute.

31. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

receive a request to change the perspective of the avatar; and

direct the display to display the avatar and the article of clothing from a different perspective.

32. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to:

receive a selection of a second article of clothing;

apply the selected second article of clothing over the selected article of clothing, wherein an internal surface of the second article of clothing is offset from a surface of the avatar by an amount at least equal to the thickness.