METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING AND DISPLAYING PRODUCT IMAGES WITH CLOUD COMPUTING

• US 20140052549A1
• Filed: 10/07/2013
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joesph R. Dollens
• Original Assignee: Joesph R. Dollens
• Inventors: DOLLENS, Joesph R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,691,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.73
• 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 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

A method and system displaying and managing images of consumer products with cloud computing. A layout for plural selected consumer products is selected. An N-layer digital image of a shelf layout on which consumer products are displayed is created and stored in one or more cloud storage objects. The created N-layer digital image 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. The created N-layer digital image is displayed via a cloud communications network. The created image provides a virtual shopping experience that emulates a shopping experience in an actual retail store.

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 comprising;

one or more public communication networks, one or more private networks, one or more community networks and one or more hybrid networks, a first set of a plurality of vector images from a plurality of corresponding raster images 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 consumer products and also include other selected ones of the created plurality the first set of plurality of vector images created at varying levels of detail from the general details to the specific details for the consumer products;

creating with the cloud application a second set of a plurality of vector images for pre-determined groups 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 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 a consumer product 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 an individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for a visual overlay from the 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 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 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 consumer products or groups 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 plurality of vector images displaying the specific details for the consumer products at lowest levels in the layered hierarchy and selected ones from the created second set of vector images displaying visual overlays of varying level of details from the general details to specific details for the pre-determined groups 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 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 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 one or more sets 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 MRM digital image displays only those one or more sets of electronic links added to a vector image layer currently being viewed in the MRM digital image;

displaying with the cloud application from the one or more cloud storage objects with the progressive resolution display of different vector images and different sets of electronic links providing vector images and electronic links to selected electronic information 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 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;

displaying from the graphical product selection tool a plurality of types of different consumer product categories and a plurality of pre-determined demographic groups;

receiving one or more selection inputs on the graphical product selection tool on the cloud application on the cloud server network device via the cloud communications network to select one or more of the plurality of types of different consumer product categories or one or more of plurality of pre-determined demographic groups;

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 MRM digital image a plurality of graphical markers and a plurality of electronic links only for any selected ones of the plurality of selected types of different consumer product categories or the pre-determined demographic groups received in the one or more selection inputs, thereby creating a further seller customized on-line store of consumer products with the created MRM digital image;

storing with the cloud application the created plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of electronic links created with the graphical product selection tool with the created MRM digital image in the one or more cloud storage objects; and

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 created MRM digital image with the plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of electronic links created with the graphical product selection tool on the created plurality of vector images and on the MRM digital image on one or more target network devices each with one or more processors via the cloud communications network.

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 1 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 cloud communications network includes on-demand automatic secure electronic image creation and display services and broadband network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity and measured network services for cloud automatic secure electronic document registration services.

6. 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, cable television (CATV) set-top boxes, satellite television boxes, or digital televisions including high-definition (HDTV) and three-dimensional (3D) televisions.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the cloud server network device and the target network device include a wireless networking interface comprising a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) wireless networking interface with 4^th generation (4G) wireless speeds or faster for communicating with the cloud communications network.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the cloud service network device and the target network device include a wireless networking interface for communicating with each other and other network devices on the cloud communications network comprising a near field communications (NFC) wireless interface or a machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless communications interface.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

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

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

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the created 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

17. 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 comprising;

one or more public communication networks, one or more private networks, one or more community networks and one or more hybrid networks, a multi-resolution mosaic (MRM) digital image stored in one or more cloud storage objects in a progressive resolution format,

the MRM digital image including an layered vector image hierarchy of a plurality of vector images created from a plurality of raster images of consumer products and wherein the layered vector image hierarchy includes selected ones of the plurality of created vector images displaying general details for the consumer products or groups 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 plurality of created vector images displaying specific details for the consumer products at lowest levels in the layered hierarchy and still other selected ones from the created plurality of vector images displaying visual overlays of varying level of details from the general details to specific details in the layered vector image hierarchy; and

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 created MRM digital image on one or more target network devices each with one or more processors via the cloud communications network.

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

a cloud application on a non-transitory computer readable medium on a cloud server network device with one or more processors connected to a cloud communications network comprising one or more public communication networks, one or more private networks, one or more community networks and one or more hybrid networks, the cloud application on the cloud server network device configured for;

for 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 comprising;

one or more public communication networks, one or more private networks, one or more community networks and one or more hybrid networks, a first set of a plurality of vector images from a plurality of corresponding raster images 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 consumer products and also include other selected ones of the created plurality the first set of plurality of vector images created at varying levels of detail from the general details to the specific details for the consumer products;

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

for adding with the cloud application on the cloud server network device a first set of electronic links to individual vector images in the created first set of 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 a consumer product is displayed;

for adding with the cloud application on the cloud server network device 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 an individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for a visual overlay from the plurality of visual overlays is displayed;

for creating with the cloud application on the cloud server network device 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 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 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 consumer products or groups 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 plurality of vector images displaying the specific details for the consumer products at lowest levels in the layered hierarchy and selected ones from the created second set of vector images displaying visual overlays of varying level of details from the general details to specific details for the pre-determined groups of consumer products at a second set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy;

for displaying with the cloud application on the cloud server network device 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 consumer products with the created MRM digital image;

for displaying with the cloud application on the cloud server network device from the one or more cloud storage objects the created MRM digital image with the progressive resolution display 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 one or more sets 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 MRM digital image displays only those one or more sets of electronic links added to a vector image layer currently being viewed in the MRM digital image;

for displaying with the cloud application on the cloud server network device from the one or more cloud storage objects with the progressive resolution display of different vector images and different sets of electronic links providing vector images and electronic links to selected electronic information 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 on the cloud server network device from the one or more cloud storage objects with the progressive resolution display of the 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 on the cloud server network device from the one or more cloud storage objects a graphical product selection tool via the cloud communications network;

for displaying from the graphical product selection tool a plurality of types of different consumer product categories and a plurality of pre-determined demographic groups;

for receiving one or more selection inputs on the graphical product selection tool on the cloud application on the cloud server network device via the cloud communications network to select one or more of the plurality of types of different consumer product categories or one or more of plurality of pre-determined demographic groups;

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 MRM digital image a plurality of graphical markers and a plurality of electronic links only for any selected ones of the plurality of selected types of different consumer product categories or the pre-determined demographic groups received in the one or more selection inputs, thereby creating a further seller customized on-line store of consumer products with the created MRM digital image;

for storing with the cloud application on the cloud server network device the created plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of electronic links created with the graphical product selection tool with the created MRM digital image in the one or more cloud storage objects; and

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 created MRM digital image with the plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of electronic links created with the graphical product selection tool on the created plurality of vector images and on the MRM digital image on one or more target network devices each with one or more processors via the cloud communications network.