Method and apparatus for obtaining images of merchandise as arranged by a customer

• US 7,765,129 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accessify, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Setem Software II Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Haseltine, Florence P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MISIASZEK, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/462,963
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

Generic information provided by printed and online catalogs may be supplemented or replaced by information that is customized for or related to the consumer, enabling a third party to more fully understand the purchase decision and thus offer more informed feedback. A party accessing a merchant system may be provided electronic access to consumer-customized nonverbal information by, e.g., collecting an electronic version of consumer-customized nonverbal information at a merchant site, and displaying the electronic version of the consumer-customized nonverbal information for a party accessing the merchant system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a first image of a first item of merchandise that is available from a first merchant as physically arranged according to a consumer at a physical location having the first item;

obtaining a second image of a second item of merchandise that is available from a second merchant as physically arranged according to the consumer at a physical location having the second item;

storing, by a merchant computer system, the first image and second image in a data record associated with a password specified by the consumer to enable selective access to the data record;

authenticating, by the merchant computer system, a remote device to access the data record based at least in part upon receiving the password from the remote device; and

communicating, by the merchant computer system, the data record including the first image in conjunction with the second image to the remote device over a network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating the data record including the first image in conjunction with the second image comprises sending a web page to a browser of the remote device, the web page configured to enable access to the first image and the second image.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving feedback from a party that accesses the first image or the second image via the remote device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein receiving the feedback includes receiving authorization for purchase of the first item of merchandise or the second item of merchandise.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein receiving the feedback includes receiving a recommendation for purchase.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the first image of the first item includes obtaining the first image of the first item of merchandise as arranged by the consumer at a merchant'"'"'s physical premises.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving input from the consumer to direct physical arrangement of the first item of merchandise at the merchant'"'"'s physical premises.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising capturing the first image of the first item of merchandise as physically arranged by the consumer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the first image includes obtaining one or more still photos of the first item of merchandise.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the first image includes obtaining a video clip of the first item of merchandise.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the first image of the first item of merchandise includes obtaining the first image that reflects at least one clothing garment as arranged by the consumer.

12. One or more computer-readable memories storing instructions that, responsive to being executed by one or more devices of a merchant computing system, cause the one or more devices of the merchant computer system to perform operations comprising:

creating a data record secured by identifying information specified by a consumer;

storing, in the data record, a first image of a first item of merchandise as physically arranged at a physical location having the first item according to the consumer in conjunction with a second image of a second item of merchandise as physically arranged according to the consumer at a physical location having the second item;

authenticating a remote device to access the data record responsive to receiving the identifying information from the remote device; and

communicating the data record including the first image in conjunction with the second image to the remote device over a network.

13. One or more computer-readable memories of claim 12 wherein communicating the first image in conjunction with the second image includes sending a web page to a browser of the remote device, the web page configured to enable access to the first image and the second image.

14. One or more computer-readable memories of claim 12 wherein the operations caused by the instructions further comprise receiving feedback from a party that accesses the first image or the second image.

15. One or more computer-readable memories of claim 14 wherein the feedback includes authorization for purchase of the first item of merchandise or the second item of merchandise.

16. One or more computer-readable memories of claim 14 wherein the feedback includes a recommendation for purchase.

17. One or more computer-readable memories of claim 12 wherein the operations caused by the instructions further comprise outputting a user interface to enable input from the consumer to direct physical arrangement of the first item of merchandise at a merchant'"'"'s physical premises.

18. One or more computer-readable memories of claim 17 wherein the operations caused by the instructions further comprise receiving, via the user interface, the input from the consumer to direct physical arrangement of the first item of merchandise at the merchant'"'"'s physical premises.

19. One or more computer-readable memories of claim 18 wherein the operations caused by the instructions further comprise capturing the first image of the first item of merchandise as physically arranged by the consumer.

20. One or more computer-readable memories of claim 12 wherein the first image includes one or more still photos.

21. One or more computer-readable memories of claim 12 wherein the first image includes a video clip.

22. One or more computer-readable memories of claim 12 wherein the first item of merchandise includes at least one clothing garment and the first image reflects the clothing as arranged by the consumer.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a computing device;

computer readable memory; and

computer instructions embodied on the computer readable memory and executable via the computing device to;

capture a first image of a first item of merchandise that is available from a first merchant as physically arranged according to a consumer at a physical location having the first item;

capture a second image of a second item of merchandise that is available from a second merchant as physically arranged according to the consumer at a physical location having the second item;

create a webpage configured to display the first image in conjunction with the second image;

secure the webpage using identifying information selected by the consumer; and

output the webpage configured to display the first image in conjunction with the second image to enable viewing at a remote device over a network responsive to authenticating the remote device based on the identifying information.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first image includes one or more still photos.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first image includes a video clip.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the computer instructions further comprise instructions executable via the computing device to:

collect feedback input at the remote device responsive to output of the webpage; and

communicate the feedback to the consumer.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the feedback comprises a recommendation regarding purchase of the first item or the second item.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the feedback comprises an authorization to purchase the first item or the second item.

29. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the computer instructions further comprise instructions executable via the computing device to:

request authorization, from a remote party that accesses the webpage via the remote device, to purchase one of said items of merchandise; and

automatically complete a purchase transaction for one of said items of merchandise when authorization is received.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the identifying information comprises an email address.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the identifying information comprises a password selected by the consumer.