Method and system for managing and displaying product images

• US 8,554,639 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph R. Dollens
• Original Assignee: Joseph R. Dollens
• Inventors: Dollens, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): GEORGALAS, ANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/984,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20110125614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 705/26.61, 705/26.62, 705/26.64, 382/276, 382/302
• US Class Current: 705/26.64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

A method and system for displaying and managing images of consumer products. A multi-resolution mosaic (MRM) digital image of a shelf layout on which consumer products, including those for pre-determined demographic groups, are displayed is created. The created MRM digital image includes a layered hierarchy of vector images and/or visual overlays stored in progressive resolution format and allows progressive resolution display without loss of image quality on the selected plural consumer products that appear in the MRM digital image. The created MRM digital image is displayed via a communications network and provides a virtual shopping experience that emulates a shopping experience in an actual retail store.

Claims

1. A method for displaying and managing products in a virtual display environment, comprising:

creating with an application in a non-transitory computer readable medium on a server network device with one or more processors connected to a communications network, a first set of a plurality of vector images from a plurality of corresponding raster images of consumer products, wherein the created first set of the plurality of vector images include selected ones of the created first set of the plurality of vector images created at different views of the consumer products and also include other selected ones of the created first set of the plurality of vector images created at varying levels of detail from general details to specific details for the consumer products;

creating with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a second set of a plurality of vector images for pre-determined groups of consumer products comprising a plurality of visual overlays;

adding with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a first set of electronic links to individual vector images in the created first set of the plurality of vector images, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the first set of electronic links added to an individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for a consumer product is displayed;

adding with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a second set of electronic links to the created second set of the plurality of vector images for the created plurality of visual overlays, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the second set of electronic links added to an individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for a visual overlay from the plurality of visual overlays is displayed;

creating with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a multi-resolution mosaic (MRM) digital image stored in a progressive resolution format for a pre-determined display layout of the consumer products with the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and the added first and the added second sets of electronic links,

wherein the MRM digital image includes a layered vector image hierarchy of the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and wherein the layered vector image hierarchy includes selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the general details for the consumer products or groups of consumer products at a first set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy and other selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the specific details for the consumer products at lowest levels in the layered hierarchy and selected ones from the created second set of the plurality of vector images displaying visual overlays of varying level of details from the general details to the specific details for the pre-determined groups of consumer products at a second set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy;

displaying with the application from the non-transitory computer readable medium the MRM digital image with a progressive resolution display via the communications network to allow virtual shopping via the communications network, thereby creating a seller customized on-line store of consumer products with the MRM digital image;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium the MRM digital image with the progressive resolution display of the consumer products with the created plurality of vector images in the layered vector image hierarchy, the progressive resolution display displaying, zooming in and zooming out on selected portions of the MRM digital image and displaying selected ones of the added one or more sets of electronic links in the plurality of vector image layers and allowing linking to one or more sets of electronic information from different vector image layers in the plurality of vector image layers during the progressive resolution display of the MRM digital image, wherein the progressive resolution display of the MRM digital image displays only those one or more sets of electronic links added to a vector image layer currently being viewed in the MRM digital image;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium with the progressive resolution display of different vector images and different sets of electronic links providing vector images and electronic links to selected electronic information varying from general electronic information to specific electronic information as lower layers are viewed in the plurality of vector image layers;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium with the progressive resolution display of the MRM digital image the created plurality of vector images in the plurality of vector image layers without converting any of the created plurality of vector images to another format or downloading any raster images associated with the created plurality of vector images over the communications network;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a graphical product selection tool via the communications network;

displaying from the graphical product selection tool a plurality of types of different consumer product categories and a plurality of pre-determined demographic groups;

receiving one or more selection inputs on the graphical product selection tool on the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium to select one or more of the plurality of types of different consumer product categories or one or more of the plurality of pre-determined demographic groups;

creating from the graphical product selection tool on the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium on the created plurality of vector images from the MRM digital image a plurality of graphical markers and a third set of electronic links only for any selected ones of the plurality of the selected types of the different consumer product categories or the pre-determined demographic groups received in the one or more selection inputs, thereby creating a further seller customized on-line store of consumer products with the MRM digital image; and

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium in the progressive resolution display the MRM digital image with the plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of electronic links created with the graphical product selection tool in on the created plurality of vector images and on the MRM digital image.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the vector images including the visual overlays include a plurality of vector images comprising, brand information, sub-brand information, product category information or product information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adding with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a first set of electronic links to individual vector images in the created first set of the plurality of vector images includes adding the first set of electronic links to a plurality of pre-determined locations on the individual vector images of the consumer products.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the third set of electronic links includes graphical icons.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the graphical icons include graphical icons for new products, products on sale, all natural products, anti-age products, products with new ingredients, products with sun screen, products for specific pre-defined demographic groups, products associated with a brand or products at similar price level.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of electronic links or the second set of electronic links includes electronic links to print advertising, audio advertising, video advertising, or web-sites accessible via the communications network including additional information about the consumer products.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adding with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a second set of electronic links to the second set of the plurality of vector images for the created plurality of visual overlays includes adding the second set of electronic links to a plurality of pre-determined locations on the individual vector images of the created plurality of visual overlays.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the MRM digital image is used as a home page on a website available on the communications network.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of creating the MRM digital image further includes:

storing with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a plurality of database entries in a database associated with the server network device, wherein the stored plurality of database entries allow individual vector images in the MRM digital image to be retrieved and displayed in a progressive resolution format at pre-determined display locations.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

reading with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a database entry from the database associated with the server network device for a selected vector image;

determining an set of display coordinates from the database entry for the selected vector image; and

displaying with the application from the non-transitory computer readable medium the selected vector image in the MRM digital image with the progressive resolution display using the determined set of display coordinates.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the progressive resolution display further includes:

displaying with the application from the non-transitory computer readable medium the MRM digital image with the progressive resolution display by displaying the created vector images for the created visual overlays at a first level; and

displaying with the application from the non-transitory computer readable medium other vector images for the consumer products at a second lower level beneath the first level.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of displaying the graphical product selection tool includes displaying client specific product information and product information specifically related to the pre-determined client demographic groups.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions for causing one or more processors to execute the steps of:

creating with an application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a first set of a plurality of vector images from a plurality of corresponding raster images of consumer products, wherein the created first set of the plurality of vector images include selected ones of the created first set of the plurality of vector images created at different views of the consumer products and also include other selected ones of the first set of the plurality of vector images created at varying levels of detail from general details to specific details for the consumer products;

creating with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a second set of a plurality of vector images for pre-determined groups of consumer products comprising a plurality of visual overlays;

adding with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a first set of electronic links to individual vector images in the created first set of the plurality of vector images, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the first set of electronic links added to an individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for a consumer product is displayed;

adding with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a second set of electronic links to the created second set of the plurality of vector images for the created plurality of visual overlays, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the second set of electronic links added to an individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for a visual overlay from the plurality of visual overlays is displayed;

creating with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a multi-resolution mosaic (MRM) digital image stored in a progressive resolution format for a pre-determined display layout of the consumer products with the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and the added first and the added second sets of electronic links,

wherein the MRM digital image includes a layered vector image hierarchy of the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and wherein the layered vector image hierarchy includes selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the general details for the consumer products or groups of consumer products at a first set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy and other selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the specific details for the consumer products at lowest levels in the layered hierarchy and selected ones from the created second set of the plurality of vector images displaying visual overlays of varying level of details from the general details to the specific details for the pre-determined groups of consumer products at a second set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy;

displaying with the application from the non-transitory computer readable medium the MRM digital image with a progressive resolution display via the communications network to allow virtual shopping via the communications network, thereby creating a seller customized on-line store of consumer products with the MRM digital image;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium wherein the MRM digital image with the progressive resolution display of consumer products with the created plurality of vector images in the layered vector image hierarchy, the progressive resolution display displaying, zooming in and zooming out on selected portions of the MRM digital image and displaying selected ones of the added one or more sets of electronic links in the plurality of vector image layers and allowing linking to one or more sets of electronic information from different vector image layers in the plurality of vector image layers during the progressive resolution display of the MRM digital image, wherein the progressive resolution display of the MRM digital image displays only those one or more sets of electronic links added to a vector image layer currently being viewed in the MRM digital image;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium with the progressive resolution display of different vector images and different sets of electronic links providing vector images and electronic links to selected electronic information varying from general electronic information to specific electronic information as lower layers are viewed in the plurality of vector image layers;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium with the progressive resolution display of the MRM digital image the created plurality of vector images in the plurality of vector image layers without converting any of the created plurality of vector images to another format or downloading any raster images associated with the created plurality of vector images over the communications network;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a graphical product selection tool via the communications network;

displaying from the graphical product selection tool a plurality of types of different consumer product categories and a plurality of pre-determined demographic groups;

receiving one or more selection inputs on the graphical product selection tool on the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium to select one or more of the plurality of types of different consumer product categories or one or more of the plurality of pre-determined demographic groups;

creating from the graphical product selection tool on the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium on the created plurality of vector images from the MRM digital image a plurality of graphical markers and a plurality of electronic links only for any selected ones of the plurality of the selected types of the different consumer product categories or the pre-determined demographic groups received in the one or more selection inputs, thereby creating a further seller customized on-line store of consumer products with the created MRM digital image; and

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium in the progressive resolution display the MRM digital image with the plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of electronic links created with the graphical product selection tool in on the created plurality of vector images and on the MRM digital image.

14. A system for displaying and managing products in a virtual display environment, comprising in combination:

a server network device with one or more processors connected to a communications network; and

an application on a non-transitory computer readable medium on the server network device,

the server network device configured for;

creating with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium, a first set of a plurality of vector images from a plurality of corresponding raster images of consumer products, wherein the created first set of the plurality of vector images include selected ones of the first set of the plurality of vector images created at different views of the consumer products and also include other selected ones of the first set of the plurality of vector images created at varying levels of detail from general details to specific details for the consumer products;

creating with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a second set of a plurality of vector images for pre-determined groups of consumer products comprising a plurality of visual overlays;

adding with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a first set of electronic links to individual vector images in the created first set of the plurality of vector images, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the first set of electronic links added to an individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for a consumer product is displayed;

adding with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a second set of electronic links to the created second set of the plurality of vector images for the created plurality of visual overlays, wherein only selected ones of electronic links from the second set of electronic links added to an individual vector image are visible and displayable when the individual vector image for a visual overlay from the plurality of visual overlays is displayed;

creating with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a multi-resolution mosaic (MRM) digital image stored in a progressive resolution format for a pre-determined display layout of the consumer products with the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and the added first and the added second sets of electronic links,

wherein the MRM digital image includes a layered vector image hierarchy of the created first set and the created second set of the plurality of vector images and wherein the layered vector image hierarchy includes selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the general details for the consumer products or groups of consumer products at a first set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy and other selected ones of vector images from the created first set of the plurality of vector images displaying the specific details for the consumer products at lowest levels in the layered hierarchy and selected ones from the created second set of the plurality of vector images displaying visual overlays of varying level of details from the general details to the specific details for the pre-determined groups of consumer products at a second set of highest levels in the layered vector image hierarchy;

displaying with the application from the non-transitory computer readable medium the MRM digital image with a progressive resolution display via the communications network to allow virtual shopping via the communications network, thereby creating a seller customized on-line store of consumer products with the MRM digital image;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium the MRM digital image with the progressive resolution display of the consumer products with the created plurality of vector images in the layered vector image hierarchy, the progressive resolution display displaying, zooming in and zooming out on selected portions of the MRM digital image and displaying selected ones of the added one or more sets of electronic links in the plurality of vector image layers and allowing linking to one or more sets of electronic information from different vector image layers in the plurality of vector image layers during the progressive resolution display of the MRM digital image, wherein the progressive resolution display of the MRM digital image displays only those one or more sets of electronic links added to a vector image layer currently being viewed in the MRM digital image;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium with the progressive resolution display of different vector images and different sets of electronic links providing vector images and electronic links to selected electronic information varying from general electronic information to specific electronic information as lower layers are viewed in the plurality of vector image layers;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium with the progressive resolution display of the MRM digital image the created plurality of vector images in the plurality of vector image layers without converting any of the created plurality of vector images to another format or downloading any raster images associated with the created plurality of vector images over the communications network;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium on the server network device a graphical product selection tool via the communications network;

displaying from the graphical product selection tool a plurality of types of different consumer product categories and a plurality of pre-determined demographic groups;

receiving one or more selection inputs on the graphical product selection tool on the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium via the communications network to select one or more of the plurality of types of different consumer product categories or one or more of the plurality of pre-determined demographic groups;

creating from the graphical product selection tool on the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium on the created plurality of vector images from the MRM digital image a plurality of graphical markers and a plurality of electronic links only for any selected ones of the plurality of the selected types of the different consumer product categories or the pre-determined demographic groups received in the one or more selection inputs, thereby creating a further seller customized on-line store of consumer products with the MRM digital image;

displaying with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium in the progressive resolution display the MRM digital image with the plurality of graphical markers and the plurality of electronic links created with the graphical product selection tool in on the created plurality of vector images and on the MRM digital image.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

reading with the application in the non-transitory computer readable medium a database entry from a database associated with the server network device for a selected vector image;

determining an set of display coordinates from the database entry for the selected vector image; and

displaying with the application from the non-transitory computer readable medium the selected vector image in the MRM digital image with a the progressive resolution display using the determined set of display coordinates.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the graphical product selection tool includes displaying specific product information and product information specifically related to the pre-determined demographic groups.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the vector images including the visual overlays include a plurality of vector images comprising, brand information, sub-brand information, product category information or product information.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the first set of electronic links or the second set of electronic links includes electronic links to print advertising, audio advertising, video advertising, or web-sites accessible via the communications network including additional information about the consumer products.