Selection interface systems and methods
First Claim
1. A computer implemented selection interface system, comprising:
- at least one database comprising storage of information associated with a plurality of items, wherein the information associated with each corresponding item comprisesone or more characteristics that correspond to the item, andat least one image of at least a portion of the item;
a user interface comprisingan image window, andat least one feature selector for user selection of one or more selectable characteristics, wherein at least one of the feature selectors comprises a rotatable selector; and
a processor;
wherein upon user selection of one or more of the selectable characteristics by a user through the interface, the processor is configured todetermine which of the plurality of items in the database have characteristics that match the characteristics selected by the user,retrieve at least one corresponding image for each of the items that are determined to have characteristics that match the characteristics selected by the user, anddisplay the at least one retrieved image within the image window;
wherein the processor is configured to provide at least one selection lock that is operable to lock a selected parameter within a selectable characteristic, wherein only items that meet a locked parameter are available for presentation to a user within the image window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user selection interface system comprises one or more rotatable selectors linked to selectable characteristics, and a display linked to the selectors, for display of an image that 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.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A computer implemented selection interface system, comprising:
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at least one database comprising storage of information associated with a plurality of items, wherein the information associated with each corresponding item comprises one or more characteristics that correspond to the item, and at least one image of at least a portion of the item; a user interface comprising an image window, and at least one feature selector for user selection of one or more selectable characteristics, wherein at least one of the feature selectors comprises a rotatable selector; and a processor; wherein upon user selection of one or more of the selectable characteristics by a user through the interface, the processor is configured to determine which of the plurality of items in the database have characteristics that match the characteristics selected by the user, retrieve at least one corresponding image for each of the items that are determined to have characteristics that match the characteristics selected by the user, and display the at least one retrieved image within the image window; wherein the processor is configured to provide at least one selection lock that is operable to lock a selected parameter within a selectable characteristic, wherein only items that meet a locked parameter are available for presentation to a user within the image window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method, comprising the steps of:
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storing information associated with a plurality of items in at least one database, wherein the information associated with each corresponding item comprises one or more characteristics that correspond to the item, and at least one image of at least a portion of the item; providing a user interface comprising an image window, and at least one feature selector for user selection of one or more selectable characteristics, wherein at least one of the feature selectors comprises a rotatable selector; providing at least one selection lock that is operable to lock a selected parameter within a selectable characteristic; receiving a selection of one or more of the selectable characteristics by a user through the interface; determining which of the plurality of items in the database have characteristics that match the characteristics selected by the user; retrieving at least one corresponding image for each of the items that are determined to have characteristics that match the characteristics selected by the user; and displaying the at least one retrieved image within the image window; wherein only items that meet a locked parameter are available for presentation to a user within the image window.
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Specification