Computerized system for selecting, adjusting, and previewing framing product combinations for artwork and other items to be framed

• US 5,870,771 A
• Filed: 11/15/1996
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Larry B. Oberg
• Original Assignee: Larry B. Oberg
• Inventors: Oberg, Larry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Loomis, John C.
• Application Number:
  US08/749,418
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 707/517, 707/502, 707/527, 345/962, 345/964, 345/968
• US Class Current: 715/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/962 Operator interface for marketing or sales
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools

Abstract

A computerized system having means for displaying a digital image of an object such as an object of artwork supplied by the user, analyzing the color composition of the image, searching a database for coordinating frame and matting material products, developing composite images of the user'"'"'s input with the matching selections, and presenting the digital images to the user so the items may be previewed before placing an order. The system interfaces with a mobile digital camera system for taking digital pictures of input supplied by the customer. The image may be cropped or otherwise altered and combined with the selected frame moulding and matting material combinations. The user may experiment with various features such as color, shape, size, width, number of openings, and other characteristics of frames and matting material until the desired combination is achieved. The system also includes a database of merchandising information such as products and materials, colors and designs available, model numbers, size, material type, cost, and supplier source. The system is capable of generating a printout of the composite image and associated data, and of storing the data for later use.

Claims

1. A method of selecting, adjusting, and previewing frame moulding and matting material combinations for artwork comprising the following steps:

supplying an image of artwork to be input to a microprocessor through an input device;

displaying the input image on an output device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor;

searching a storage device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor for digital images of framing supplies;

selecting the desired framing supplies;

generating a composite image of the input image and the selected framing supplies;

outputting the composite image to at least one output device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor;

altering the image of the selected framing supplies through input to the image processing software program; and

outputting the composite image to the output device.

2. The method disclosed in claim 1 further comprising the step of altering the input image with an image processing software program being executed by the microprocessor and updating the displayed image as it is altered.

3. An interactive computerized system for selecting, adjusting, and previewing combinations of frame moulding and matting material products for artwork comprising:

at least one microprocessor capable of executing one or more software programs that perform input and output control, and digital image processing and analysis, and provide related information;

at least one input device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor capable of accepting input data required by the software program to accomplish its functions, the image processing software program having means to accept an image input by the user, allow the user to modify the input image, allow the user to select the frame moulding, the matting material, and the size, shape, and placement of the opening to be cut in the matting material, and generate a composite image of the frame moulding and matting material combinations superimposed on the input image;

at least one output device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor capable of displaying images and data output by the software program;

at least one storage device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor capable of storing image data of artwork, frame mouldings, and matting material products and allowing the data to be retrieved and stored by the input and output control software programs.

4. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the image data of the frame mouldings and matting material are stored in a space saving format whereby only nonrepetitive segments are stored and the image processing program calculates the number of image segments to place together to generate images of frame mouldings and matting material that surround the periphery of the input image.

5. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the image processing software is capable of determining the color composition of the input image and searching the database for coordinating products.

6. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the output device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is capable of storing digital images and related data output by the software program.

7. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the output device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is capable of transmitting images and related data output by the software program.

8. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the output device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is capable of generating audible signals.

9. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the input device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is a keyboard.

10. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the input device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is a mouse.

11. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the input device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is a touch screen.

12. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the input device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is a digital camera.

13. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the input device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is a voice recognition system.

14. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the software programs generate customer order information.

15. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the software programs generate accounting information.

16. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the software programs generate inventory information.

17. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the image processing software is capable of generating multiple openings in the matting material and allowing the user to indicate the size, placement, and orientation of the openings.

18. The system disclosed in claim 3 wherein the storage device is capable of storing merchandising information related to the frame mouldings and matting material.

19. A computerized system for selecting, adjusting, and previewing combinations of frame moulding and matting material products for artwork comprising:

at least one microprocessor having memory means and capable of executing one or more software programs that perform input and output control, and digital image processing and analysis functions;

at least one input device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor capable of accepting data required by the software program to accomplish its functions;

at least one storage device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor capable of storing image data of artwork, frame mouldings, and matting material products, and allowing the data to be retrieved and stored by the input and output control software programs, the image processing software program having means to retrieve image data from the database, allow the user to modify the image, allow the user to select the framing products, and the number, size, shape, and placement of openings to be cut in the matting material, and generate a composite image of the framing product combinations superimposed on the input image; and

at least one output device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor capable of displaying images output by the software program.

20. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the image data of the framing products are stored in a space saving format whereby only nonrepetitive segments of the products are stored and the image processing program calculates the number of image segments to place together to generate images of frame mouldings and matting material that surround the periphery of the input image.

21. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the image processing software is capable of determining the color composition of the input image and searching the database for coordinating products.

22. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the output device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is capable of storing digital images and related data output by the software program.

23. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the output device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is capable of transmitting digital images and related data output by the software program.

24. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the output device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is capable of generating audible signals.

25. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the input device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is a keyboard.

26. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the input device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is a mouse.

27. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the input device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is a touch screen.

28. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the input device connected in electronic communication with the microprocessor is a data file.

29. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the software programs generate customer order information.

30. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the software programs generate accounting information.

31. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the software programs generate inventory information.

32. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the image processing software is capable of generating multiple openings in the matting material and allowing the user to indicate the size, placement, and orientation of the openings.

33. The system disclosed in claim 19 wherein the storage device is capable of storing merchandising information related to the framing products.