Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a personalized, image capture and display system

• US 8,098,283 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shaka Ramsay
• Original Assignee: Shaka Ramsay
• Inventors: Ramsay, Shaka
• Primary Examiner(s): BAYARD, DJENANE M
• Application Number:
  US11/832,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20090033772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 348/180, 348/206, 348/155, 348/207.1, 348/142, 348/144, 348/146
• US Class Current: 348/180
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for implementing image capture and display services are provided. The system includes an enclosure having an opening through which a subject enters, an imaging system encircling the enclosure, a computer processor device communicatively coupled to the imaging system, and an application executing on the computer processor device. The system also includes an image capture activation component in communication with the computer processor device and a display device in communication with the computer processor device. In response to activating the image capture activation component, the application issues a first command to the imaging system, the first command causing the imaging system to capture images of the subject in the enclosure.

Claims

1. A system for implementing image capture and display services, comprising:

an enclosure having an opening through which a subject enters;

an imaging system encircling the enclosure;

a computer processor device communicatively coupled to the imaging system;

an application executing on the computer processor device;

an image capture activation component in communication with the computer processor device; and

a display device in communication with the computer processor device;

wherein, in response to activating the image capture activation component, the application issues a first command to the imaging system, the first command causing the imaging system to capture images of the subject in the enclosure, the system further comprising;

a sensor in communication with the computer processor device and the imaging system, the sensor acquiring height data of the subject, the height data transmitted to the computer processor device;

wherein, in response to receiving the height data, the application calculates an optimum longitudinal placement of the imaging system, the optimum longitudinal placement established at a range between 40 to 60 percent of the height; and

wherein, the application issues a second command to a controller of the imaging system, the controller adjusting the longitudinal placement of the imaging system prior to activation of the image capture activation component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system captures images along a horizontal axis of the enclosure and at varying angles spanning substantially 360 degrees around the enclosure.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an image display activation component in communication with the computer processor device;

wherein, in response to activating the image display activation component, the application issues a third command to the display device, the third command causing the display device to display the captured images.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising memory for storing the captured images;

wherein activating the image display activation component further includes issuing a fourth command to retrieve multiple captured images and simultaneously display the multiple captured images on the display device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is a fitting room, the subject is an individual trying on a clothing item, and the captured images include a series of images captured from varying angles for each of the clothing items worn by the individual.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a subject identifier component that identifies the subject;

a clothing identifier component that identifies a selected captured image; and

a purchase activation component in communication with the computer processor device;

wherein, upon selecting the purchase activation component and the selected captured image, the application issues a fifth command to a purchasing system, the fifth command transmitting a purchase request to the purchasing system, the purchase request including the identifier of the subject and the identifier of the selected captured image.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging system comprises at least one of:

an image capturing device mounted on a motorized track, the image capturing device traversing the motorized track, the motorized track extending in a horizontal direction with respect to the enclosure and in parallel with a base of the enclosure; and

multiple image capturing devices fixably mounted on a frame that extends in a horizontal direction with the enclosure and in parallel with a base of the enclosure.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a multi-media interface component for transferring selected captured images to a remote device, the remote device including at least one of:

a cellular telephone;

a personal digital assistant; and

a personal computer.

9. A method for implementing image capture and display services, comprising:

activating an imaging system that encircles an enclosure, the enclosure including an opening through which a subject enters;

in response to the activating, the imaging system captures images of the subject in the enclosure; and

displaying the captured images on a display device;

wherein the imaging system captures the images along a horizontal axis of the enclosure and at varying angles spanning substantially 360 degrees around the enclosure, the method further comprising;

acquiring height data of the subject;

calculating an optimum longitudinal placement of the imaging system from the height data, the optimum longitudinal placement established at a range between 40 to 60 percent of the height; and

adjusting the longitudinal placement of the imaging system prior to activating the imaging system.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

retrieving multiple captured images from memory and simultaneously displaying the multiple captured images on the display device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the enclosure is a fitting room, the subject is an individual trying on a clothing item, the captured images include a series of images captured from varying angles for each of the clothing items worn by the individual, and the display device is disposed in the fitting room.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting a purchase request to a purchasing system in response to selecting a purchase activation component and a selected purchase, the purchase request including an identifier of the subject and an identifier of a selected captured image.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising transferring selected captured images to a remote device, the remote device including at least one of:

a cellular telephone;

a personal digital assistant; and

a personal computer.

14. A computer program product for implementing image capture and display services, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions embodied thereon, which when executed by a computer cause the computer to implement a method, the method comprising:

activating an imaging system that encircles an enclosure, the enclosure including an opening through which a subject enters;

in response to the activating, the imaging system captures images of the subject in the enclosure; and

displaying the captured images on a display device;

wherein the imaging system captures the images along a horizontal axis of the enclosure and at varying angles spanning a substantially 360 degrees around the enclosure, the method further comprising;

acquiring height data of the subject;

calculating an optimum longitudinal placement of the imaging system from the height data, the optimum longitudinal placement established at a range between 40 to 60 percent of the height; and

adjusting the longitudinal placement of the imaging system prior to activating the imaging system.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for implementing:

retrieving multiple captured images from memory and simultaneously displaying the multiple captured images on the display device.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the enclosure is a fitting room, the subject is an individual trying on a clothing item, the captured images include a series of images captured from varying angles for each of the clothing items worn by the individual, and the display device is disposed in the fitting room.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for implementing:

transmitting a purchase request to a purchasing system in response to selecting a purchase activation component and a selected purchase, the purchase request including an identifier of the subject and an identifier of a selected captured image.