Virtual showroom method

• US 7,346,543 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andra Group, LP
• Original Assignee: Tomima L Edmark
• Inventors: Edmark, Tomima L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart; Matthew S.
• Application Number:
  US09/564,372
• Time in Patent Office: 2,877 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27, 434/395, 434/396
• US Class Current: 705/27.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2014 Reading out of stimulable sheets, e.g. latent image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/388 using mutual authentication without cards, e.g. challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns

Abstract

The present invention provides a network server with enhanced graphics and improved methods for displaying articles offered for purchase, to allow a purchaser to fully evaluate the article while shopping “on-line.” In a particular embodiment, a virtual showroom associated with the network server may be provided, for displaying first and second articles. A first electronic image representing the first article and a second electronic image representing the second article may also be provided. The second article may be complementary to the first article, such that the second article may be worn in conjunction with the first article. In another embodiment, a user may have the option to overlay the first electronic image with the second electronic image. In a particular embodiment, the second electronic image may include an at least partially translucent depiction of a substantial portion of the second article.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a first article within a virtual showroom associated with a network server, comprising:

providing a user with access to a web page of a virtual showroom, via the world wide web;

displaying, on said web page, a first electronic image of a first article of clothing within a master display field;

displaying the first article of clothing at least partially over a human form in a manner that the first article of clothing would be worn by a human;

displaying, on said web page, a plurality of graphical objects, each object representing a complementary article of clothing suitable to be worn with the first article of clothing, wherein a user of said network server may select one of said plurality of complementary articles of clothing for display with said first article of clothing within said master display field;

displaying a selected one of said plurality of complementary articles at least partially over the human form in a manner that the selected one of said complementary articles would be worn by the human; and

displaying the selected one of said plurality of complementary articles at least partially over the first article of clothing in a manner that the selected one of said plurality of complementary articles would be worn over the first article of clothing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising overlaying a second electronic image representing said one of said plurality of complementary articles of clothing selected by said user over the first electronic image and storing a third electronic image, representing said second electronic image overlaying said first electronic image within a database accessible by said network server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying said selected one of said plurality of complementary articles comprises displaying a line drawing which displays an outline of said one of said plurality of complementary articles selected by said user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying said one of said plurality of complementary articles of clothing comprises displaying an at least partially translucent depiction of a substantial portion of said one of said plurality of complementary articles selected by said user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying different perspective views of said first article.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of graphical objects is equal to or greater than three.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a distinctive characteristic to said one of said plurality of complementary articles selected by said user;

and

wherein said distinctive characteristic includes a first color scheme of said one of said complementary articles selected by said user, wherein each of said plurality of complementary articles not selected by said user include a second color scheme.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a distinctive characteristic to said one of said plurality of complementary articles selected by said user, wherein said distinctive characteristic includes a first size of said one of said complementary articles selected by said user, wherein each of said plurality of complementary articles not selected by said user includes a second size.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a distinctive characteristic to said one of said graphical objects selected by said user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said plurality of graphical objects is equal to or greater than three.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said distinctive characteristic includes a first color scheme of said one of said graphical objects selected by said user, wherein each of said plurality of graphical objects not selected by said user include a second color scheme.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said distinctive characteristic includes a first size of said one of said graphical objects selected by said user, wherein each of said plurality of graphical objects not selected by said user includes a second size.

13. The method of claim 1,

wherein the selected one of said plurality of complementary articles is at least partially translucent and allows the purchaser to view the first article through the selected one of said plurality of complementary articles.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the display of the selected complementary article comprises a line drawing of at least portions of the selected complementary article.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the display of the selected complementary article comprises a scaled map.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the scaled map conforms to contours of the selected complementary article.