Selection interface system

• US 7,861,179 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colleen Romero
• Original Assignee: George William Reed
• Inventors: Reed, George William
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chuong, Truc T
• Application Number:
  US11/833,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20080040671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 715/763, 715/840, 715/841, 715/850, 715/851, 715/853
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A user selection interface system comprises one or more circular selectors linked to selectable characteristics, and a display linked to the selectors, for display of an image which corresponds to the selected characteristics. The interface is typically linked to a database comprising stored image and other information which corresponds to the selectable characteristics, whereby an image that corresponds to an item which meets a selected characteristic is retrieved and displayed. Information other than the image which corresponds to the selectable characteristics may also be retrieved and displayed. In some embodiments, the stored images comprise a single image, which matches all the selected characteristics. In alternate embodiments, the displayed image comprises a composite image that is based upon stored images which correspond to different selected characteristics. In some embodiments, the user selection interface comprises a graphic user interface. In alternate embodiments, the user selection interface comprises a mechanical interface. Some preferred embodiments of the user selection interface provide links for merchandising functions, such as for ordering, purchasing, inventories, and/or shipping.

Claims

1. A computer implemented selection interface system, comprising:

a database comprising a stored image of an item and information which corresponds to a plurality of selectable characteristics that each comprise a set of parameters that modify the appearance or features of said item;

a processor configured to effect the display of a plurality of circular selectors, each of said circular selectors uniquely linked to one of the selectable characteristics of said item and operable to select any of a corresponding one of said set of parameters associated with said one of said characteristics, said circular selectors defining a common central region;

said processor configured to provide a selection lock associated with at least one of said circular selectors and operable to lock a selected parameter within a selectable characteristic, wherein only items which meet a locked parameter are available for presentation to a user; and

said processor configured to effect the display of an image window located within the central region linked to the selectors, for display of an image which corresponds to the item as modified by the selected parameters associated with the selected characteristics of said item;

whereby the image that corresponds to each parameter selected from each a selected characteristic is retrievably displayable on the image window.

2. The selection interface system of claim 1, at least a portion of the information is retrievably displayable on the image window.

3. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein the image comprises a single image which matches the selected characteristics.

4. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein the image comprises a composite image which matches the selected characteristics.

5. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein the circular selectors further comprise a mechanical interface.

6. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein the circular selectors comprise a graphic user interface.

7. The selection interface system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for displaying an alternate image which corresponds to the selected characteristics.

8. The selection interface system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for displaying an movie which corresponds to the selected characteristics.

9. The selection interface system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for presenting sound information which corresponds to the selected characteristics.

10. The selection interface system of claim 1, wherein the selectable characteristics are associated with any of a product, commodity, item, material, and entity.