Cosmetic base matching system

• US 8,693,768 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2012
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Perfect Corp. (Cyberlink Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lisa Laforgia
• Inventors: LaForgia, Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayat, Ali
• Application Number:
  US13/545,206
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 382/162, 382/165, 382/167, 382/274, 348/453, 221/1, 222/1, 222/144.5
• US Class Current: 382/162
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization

Abstract

A system for matching a cosmetic base to a user'"'"'s skin tone using a mobile device application. The system analyzes the user'"'"'s skin tone from a captured image and determines a shade that matches the skin tone and that inconspicuously conceals a flaw or a blemish. The system instructs the user in lighting and dress so that a captured image is useful for analyzing skin tone. The system uses an app allowing the user to capture the image at home or in another convenient, discreet private location. The system allows the user to procure a commercially available matching shade, selectively providing a coupon, or order a custom manufactured matching shade. The system tracks orders and coupon redemption for a plurality of providers of cosmetic bases associated with the app.

Claims

1. A method for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone of a user using a mobile device, the mobile device having a camera for capturing images of the user having skin, the skin having a plurality of areas for covering by the cosmetic base, the images for use in matching a skin tone of the skin to the cosmetic base, the mobile device having an app having a color matching program, comprising:

instructing a user in capturing a plurality of images so that the user captures acceptable images with the mobile device camera;

capturing the images of the user;

defining the skin tone in the captured images by a plurality of mathematically defined color values defined by a color matching program analyzing the images; and

matching the mathematically defined color values of the skin tone to at least one shade of commercially available brand of cosmetic base by accessing through the Internet a database on a server, the database storing a plurality of mathematically defined color values associated with a plurality of shades, the shades associated with a plurality of commercially available brands of cosmetic base, the app matching the color values of the skin tone to the color values of the shades.

2. The method for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving and accepting a user profile information before the step of instructing a user in capturing a plurality of images.

3. The method for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone as described in claim 2, further comprising the step of determining if there is a local store that has the matching shade of cosmetic base for sale and if there is at least one local store, providing a list of the at least one local store that has the matching cosmetic base for sale after the step of matching the mathematically defined color values of the skin tone to at least one shade of the commercially available brand of cosmetic base.

4. The method for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone as described in claim 3, further comprising the step of providing a discount for the purchase of the matching shade of the commercially available brand of cosmetic base, thereby creating a referral, following the step of determining if there is a local store that has the matching shade of cosmetic base for sale.

5. The method for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone as described in claim 4, wherein the mobile device displays a scannable coupon.

6. The method for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone of a user using an app running on a mobile device as described in claim 5, wherein after the step of displaying the scannable coupon, the coupon having been redeemed creating a referral, the mobile device transmits a redemption to the database, the database storing and tracking the referral.

7. The method for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone as described in claim 3, wherein the step of determining if there is a local store that has the matching shade of cosmetic base for sale and providing the list of the at least one local store, the list containing a null set, is immediately followed by the step of directing the user to a website that provides an opportunity to order the matching cosmetic base, the website accessible through the Internet.

8. The method for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone as described in claim 7, wherein the step of directing the user to a website that provides an opportunity to order the matching cosmetic base and the user ordering the cosmetic base, creating a referral, is followed by the step of the mobile device transmitting the referral to the database, the database storing and tracking the referral.

9. The method for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone as described in claim 1, wherein the step of matching the mathematically defined color values of the skin tone to the mathematically defined color values of the shades of commercially available cosmetic bases produces a null set, is immediately followed by the step of transmitting an order to a cosmetology lab for development of a customized cosmetic base matching the skin tone of the user, thereby creating a referral.

10. The method for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone of a user using an app running on a mobile device as described in claim 9, wherein the step of transmitting an order to a cosmetology lab is followed by the step of the mobile device transmitting the referral to the database, the database storing and tracking the referral.

11. A method using an app on a mobile device for setting an image capturing session for capturing images of a user having skin, the skin having a plurality of areas for covering by a cosmetic base, the images for use in matching a skin tone of the user to a cosmetic base using the app running on a mobile device, the app having a color matching program, the mobile device having a camera for capturing images, comprising:

instructing a user in setting up a neutral background with a plurality of light bulbs for determining if the background and lighting is acceptable, and further instructing a user in wearing an acceptable white fabric and cleansing an area of skin for the image;

analyzing a captured image of the background and lighting to determine if the background and lighting is acceptable and further instructing the user on setting up if the background and lighting is not acceptable;

capturing images of the areas of skin of the user, the user placed in front of the background before the camera of the mobile device; and

analyzing the captured images by the color matching program of the app, assigning a plurality of numerical values defining the skin tone of the areas of skin of the user, the numerical values of the skin tone for matching with a cosmetic base.

12. The method for matching the cosmetic base to the skin tone of the user using the mobile device as described in claim 11, wherein the step of the color matching program assigning the numerical values defining the skin tone of the areas of skin of the user is followed by the step of the color matching program further analyzes the numerical values within the image, determining a difference in numerical values within the image and determining if the difference in numerical values exceeds a preset mathematical threshold.

13. The method for matching the cosmetic base to the skin tone of the user using the mobile device as described in claim 12, wherein the step of determining if the difference in numerical values exceeds a preset mathematical threshold is followed by the step of instructing the user to capture additional images of areas of skin having uniform skin tone.

14. A system for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone of a user, the user having skin, the skin having a plurality of areas for covering by a cosmetic base, comprising:

a mobile device having a camera, the camera capturing a plurality of images of the skin of the user, the mobile device having an app for instructing the user in capturing images of skin and the app analyzing the images of the skin of the user using a color matching program, the app analyzing the skin and determining the tone of the skin in the images and assigning a plurality of numerical color values, the mobile device connecting to the Internet; and

a server connected to the Internet, the server having a database, the database storing a plurality of numerical color values for a plurality of shades of a plurality of commercially available brands of cosmetic bases, the server having a database management system for searching the database, the database management system searching the database for numerical color values of the shades of commercially available brands of cosmetic bases matching the numerical color values of the skin tone of the skin of the user transmitted to the server from the mobile device in communication through the Internet.

15. The system for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone of a user as described in claim 14, wherein the database contains a plurality of local stores and the commercially available brands associated with each store, the store selling those associated brands and the database management system determines if there is at least one matching shade of the commercially available cosmetic bases and determines if there is a local store that has the matching shade of cosmetic base for sale and if there is at least one local store, the server transmits a list of the at least one local store that has the matching cosmetic base for sale to the mobile device.

16. The system for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone of a user as described in claim 15, wherein the mobile device has a display and the server further transmits a code for a scannable coupon for displaying on the mobile device, thereby giving the user a discount for the matching shade.

17. The system for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone of a user as described in claim 15, wherein the mobile device has a global positioning system that identifies the location of the device, the mobile device transmitting the location for determining if there is local store near to the location that has the matching shade of cosmetic base for sale.

18. The system for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone of a user as described in claim 17, wherein the mobile device presents a plurality of instructions for capturing images on the display.

19. The system for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone of a user as described in claim 18, wherein the mobile device has a voice synthesizer that audibly voices the instructions for capturing images.

20. The system for matching a cosmetic base to a skin tone of a user as described in claim 18, wherein when the list of the at least one local store that has the matching cosmetic base for sale to the mobile device is a null set, the server transmitting an order to a cosmetology lab for a custom manufactured matching shade of cosmetic base.