Product options framework and accessories

• US 9,355,421 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zazzle, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zazzle, Inc.
• Inventors: Beaver, Robert Irven III, Harvill, Leslie Young, Bean, Richard Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Phuong Thao
• Application Number:
  US14/508,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20150025994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 707/758, 707/948
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/16 involving adaptation to the client's capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/36 Level of detail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0019 on souvenir-type products or the like, e.g. T-shirts or mugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3871 the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3875 combined with enlarging or reducing enlarging or reducing per se H04N1/393
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/948 Product or catalog
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/962 Entity-attribute-value

Abstract

Techniques are described for describing and associating custom products. In an embodiment, a first attribute value that defines an attribute of a custom product is received from a user that is customizing the custom product. In response to receiving the first attribute value, a legal set of attribute values for a second attribute of the custom product or an accessory product may be determined. The legal set of attribute values identifies one or more attribute values of the second attribute of the custom product or accessory product that are compatible with the first attribute value. The legal set of attribute values may identify a continuous range of values where any value within the continuous range of values is compatible with the first attribute value. In an embodiment, the user may be limited to selecting accessory products having a legal attribute value.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server computer from a user that is customizing a custom product, a first attribute value that defines an attribute of the custom product;

in response to receiving the first attribute value, generating, by the server computer based at least in part on the first attribute value and one or more other attributes of the custom product, a particular key-value expression that includes a plurality of key attributes and values;

matching, by the server computer, the particular key-value expression to a set of one or more render files stored in volatile or non-volatile storage;

based on the set of one or more render files, rendering an image of the custom product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first attribute value is an arbitrary attribute value selected by the user that is customizing the custom product.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising matching the particular key-value expression to a set of default attribute values for the custom product;

and causing display of the set of default attribute values for the custom product.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the custom product is part of a product bundle that associates the custom product with a second product;

the method further comprising rendering a particular view of the product bundle using the set of one or more render files.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising matching the particular key-value expression to at least one filter that defines allowed rendering views for a product bundle that includes the custom product;

and determining the allowed rendering views for the product bundle that includes the custom product based on the at least one filter.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing display of a plurality of images based on the set of one or more render files;

wherein the plurality of images include an image for at least one of an alternative product, an accessory that is compatible with the custom product, or a bundle that includes the custom product.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein rendering the image of the custom product comprises rendering a three dimensional model into a two dimensional graphical image for display by a browser interface.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a view for displaying the custom product based on the particular key-value expression.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of one or more render files include declaratory statements for matching to key-value expressions based on set operations.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the user that is customizing the custom product, a second attribute value that defines a second attribute of the custom product;

in response to receiving the second attribute value, generating, based at least in part on the second attribute value and one or more other attributes of the custom product, an updated key-value expression for the custom product;

matching the updated key-value expression for the custom product to an updated set of render files; and

rendering an updated image for the custom product based on the updated set of render files.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed, cause performance of:

receiving, from a user that is customizing a custom product, a first attribute value that defines an attribute of the custom product;

in response to receiving the first attribute value, generating, based at least in part on the first attribute value and one or more other attributes of the custom product, a particular key-value expression that includes a plurality of key attributes and values;

matching the particular key-value expression to a set of one or more render files;

based on the set of one or more render files, rendering an image of the custom product.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the first attribute value is an arbitrary attribute value selected by the user that is customizing the custom product.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, further storing instructions causing performance of:

matching the particular key-value expression to a set of default attribute values for the custom product; and

causing display of the set of default attribute values for the custom product.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the custom product is part of a product bundle that associates the custom product with a second product;

the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media further storing instructions causing performance of rendering a particular view of the product bundle using the set of one or more render files.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, further storing instructions causing performance of matching the particular key-value expression to at least one filter that defines allowed rendering views for a product bundle that includes the custom product;

and determining the allowed rendering views for the product bundle that includes the custom product based on the at least one filter.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, further storing instructions causing performance of displaying a plurality of images based on the set of one or more render files;

wherein the plurality of images include an image for at least one of an alternative product, an accessory that is compatible with the custom product, or a bundle that includes the custom product.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein instructions for rendering the image of the custom product comprise instructions for rendering a three dimensional model into a two dimensional graphical image for display by a browser interface.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17, further storing instructions causing performance of determining a view for displaying the custom product based on the particular key-value expression.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17, wherein the set of one or more render files include declaratory statements for matching to key-value expressions based on set operations.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11, further storing instructions causing performance of receiving, from the user that is customizing the custom product, a second attribute value that defines a second attribute of the custom product;

in response to receiving the second attribute value, generating, based at least in part on the second attribute value and one or more other attributes of the custom product, an updated key-value expression for the custom product;

matching the updated key-value expression for the custom product to an updated set of render files; and

rendering an updated image for the custom product based on the updated set of render files.