Method and system for product selection

• US 6,925,196 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Robert Allen Group
• Original Assignee: The Robert Allen Group
• Inventors: Luba, Paul, Kass, Ronald, Bright, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choobin, Barry
• Application Number:
  US10/051,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20020106111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 382/111, 382/165, 382/189, 382/203, 382/209, 382/214, 382/305, 705/26, 356/238.1, 356/238.2, 356/429, 434/72, 700/130, 700/131, 700/144, 428/292.1, 428/13, 428/207, 345/593
• US Class Current: 382/111
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method and system for guiding consumers through a sophisticated evaluation process for selecting a product that satisfies desired aesthetic and physical objectives. An embodiment of the method and system enables a consumer from his/her home to select a fabric by systematically and efficiently evaluating a multitude of colors, as well as, other criteria, such as, design and material construction. From a virtual showroom of swatches, the system presents the consumer an image of the swatches that best satisfy the selected criteria.

Claims

1. An automated method for identifying products that possess certain aesthetic and physical features, comprising the steps of:

displaying a list of product offerings to a user;

displaying samples of colors to apply to a product offering selected by the user;

displaying samples of variations of a color selected by the user;

indicating a variation of a color selected by the user;

displaying an aesthetic criterion for the product for selection by the user;

displaying a list of options categorized within the aesthetic criterion;

displaying a physical criterion for the product for selection by the user;

displaying a list of options categorized within the physical criterion;

comparing the selected product offerings with the variation of color, aesthetic criterion, and physical criterion selected by the user;

displaying an image of at least one product from the selected product offering that corresponds to the variation of color, aesthetic criterion, and physical criterion selected by the user; and

providing a description of the at least one product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the product is from the group consisting of fabric and trims.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

displaying an object;

applying the image of the at least one product to an image of the object, thereby modifying an appearance of the object.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the object is a furnishing.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the aesthetic criterion is chosen from a group consisting of architectural, botanical, crinkled, damask, ethnic, flame stitch, floral, geometric/abstract, herringbone, ikat, juvenile, moire, novelty, paisley, plaid, pleated, small-scale, solid, stitchery, stripe, toile, and tropical designs.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the physical criterion is chosen from a group consisting of texture woven, Damask-Jacquard, silk, faux silk, velvet-mohair, tapestry-embroidery, cotton-duck-linen, prints, sheers-casements, suede, lining, boucle, chenille, and chintz construction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the description of the at least one product is communicated through a communications network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the communications network is the Internet.

9. A system for identifying products that possess certain aesthetic and physical features, comprising:

means for displaying a list of product offerings to a user;

means for displaying samples of colors to apply to a product offering selected by the user;

means for displaying samples of variations of a color selected by the user;

means for indicating a variation of a color selected by the user;

means for displaying an aesthetic criterion for the product for selection by the user;

means for displaying a list of options categorized within the aesthetic criterion;

means for displaying a physical criterion for the product for selection by the user;

means for displaying a list of options categorized within the physical criterion;

means for comparing the product offerings with the variation of color, aesthetic criterion, and physical criterion selected by the user;

means for displaying an image of at least on e product from the selected product offering that corresponds to the variation of color, aesthetic criterion, and physical criterion selected by the user; and

means for providing a description of the at least one product.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one product is from the group consisting of fabric and trims.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for displaying an object;

means for applying the image of the at least one product to an image of the object, thereby modifying an appearance of the object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the object is a furnishing.

13. An automated method for identifying products that possess certain aesthetic and physical features, comprising the steps of:

selecting a product offering from a list of product offerings;

reviewing samples of colors to apply to the product offering;

selecting a color;

reviewing samples of variations of the selected color;

selecting a variation of the selected color;

identifying an aesthetic criterion for the selected product offering;

selecting an option from a listing within the aesthetic criterion;

identifying a physical criterion for the selected product offering;

selecting an option from a listing within the physical criterion;

viewing an image of at least one product from the selected product offering that corresponds to the variation of color, aesthetic criterion, and physical criterion; and

viewing a description of the at least one product.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one product is from the group consisting of fabric and trims.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

identifying an object;

requesting the image of the at least one product be applied to an image of the object, thereby modifying an appearance of the object.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the object is a furnishing.

17. A computer system for identifying products that possess certain aesthetic and physical features, comprising:

a communications component, wherein the communications component;

displays product offerings to a user;

displays samples of colors to apply to a product offering selected by the user;

displays samples of variations of a color selected by the user;

indicates a variation of a color selected by the user;

displays an aesthetic criterion for the product area for selection by the user;

displays a list of options categorized within the aesthetic criterion;

displays a physical criterion for the product offering for selection by the user; and

displays a list of options categorized within the physical criterion;

a data storage component containing information regarding the product offering for comparison with the variation of color, aesthetic criterion, and physical criterion selected by the user;

wherein the communications component sends the user an image of at least one product from the selected product offering that corresponds to the variation of color, aesthetic criterion, and physical criterion selected by the user; and

wherein the communications component sends the user a description of the at least one product.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one product is from the group consisting of fabric and trims.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the communications component sends an image of an object;

and modifies the image by applying the image of the at least one product onto the image of the object.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the object is a furnishing.