Methods and systems for selecting an image in a network environment

• US 9,400,996 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Latin-Stoermer, Toby R., Bhaktwatsalam, Abhoy, Chung, Randy C., Kan, Chi Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLOOM, NATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US14/311,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20150016727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0002 Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/948 Product or catalog
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/962 Entity-attribute-value

Abstract

Systems and methods for collecting, selecting, and displaying an image or image set in a network based environment are described. The systems and methods can collect multiple images for any given item from multiple sources, select a desired image (or set of images) that best depicts that item, and then display that selected image (or image set) in the network based environment. The desired image (or image set) that best depicts the item can be selected using any number or combination of pre-selected criteria. By using the pre-selected criteria, the process needs no manual intervention, and can therefore be automated or semi-automated to save both time and cost.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for selecting a set of images for display, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a request to display a product page for a product;

generating, by the computing device, a first image set by aggregating images of the product from a plurality of sellers of the product based on the image request;

scoring, by the computing device, individual images of the first image set based on determined scoring criteria, wherein the scoring criteria comprises at least one of pixel analysis criteria, image size criteria, image granularity criteria, or image color criteria;

ranking, by the computing device, individual images of the first image set based on individual scores associated with the images;

generating, by the computing device, a second image set from the first image set by selecting one or more images based at least in part on the ranking associated with individual images;

determining, by the computing device, whether the second image set is complete based, at least in part, on whether each of a defined set of views of the product is represented by at least one image of the second image set, wherein the defined set of views comprises two or more views representing different views of the product;

based on a determination that each of the defined set of views of the product is represented by at least one image of the second image set, making, by the computing device, the images of the second image set that represent the defined set of views of the product available for display on the product page over a network.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising automatically displaying the second image set.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

subsequent to generating the second image set, receiving at least one selection criteria for filtering the second image set;

creating, by the computing device, a filtered image set of the product by selecting images from the second image set based at least in part on the at least one selection criteria.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising filtering, by the computing device, images of the first image set prior to scoring the individual images of the first image set to form a filtered image set, wherein only images in the filtered image set are scored.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein creating the filtered image set of the product by selecting images from the first image includes determining whether a background in two or more images depicts a substantially similar color.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein scoring individual images of the first image set based on determined scoring criteria includes identifying, by the computing device, images of the first second image set that portray the product based on an analysis of individual images in the first image set, wherein the analysis is based on at least one attribute of the product included in images of the first image set that portray the product.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the analysis of at least one attribute of the product includes determining whether more than a threshold number of pixels in one or more images depict a substantially similar color.

8. A computer-implemented system for selecting images for display, the system comprising:

a data store for storing a plurality of images from multiple sources; and

a computer processor in communication with said data store that is configured to;

receive a request to display a product page for a product;

generate a first image set by retrieving images of the product from multiple sources;

score individual images of the first image set based on determined scoring criteria, wherein in the scoring criteria comprises at least one of pixel analysis criteria, image size criteria, image granularity criteria, or image color criteria;

generate a second image set from the first image set by selecting one or more images based on the scores associated with individual images;

determine whether the second image set is complete based, at least in part, on whether each of a defined set of views of the product is represented by at least one image of the second image set, wherein the defined set of views comprises two or more views that represent different views of the product; and

based on a determination that each of the defined set of views of the product is represented by at least one image of the second image set, make the images of the second image set that represent the defined set of views of the product available for display on the product over a network.

9. The computer-implemented system of claim 8, wherein the computer processor is further configured to automatically collect criteria for scoring the first image set and rank the collected criteria before using the criteria to score the first image set.

10. The computer-implemented system of claim 8 further configured to rank images of the first image set based, at least in part, on the scores assigned to images of the first image set before generating the second image set.

11. The computer-implemented system of claim 8 further configured to determine whether images of the first second image set portray the product based on an the analysis of at least one attribute of the product, wherein the analysis includes determining whether more than a threshold number of pixels in one or more images depict a substantially similar color.

12. The computer-implemented system of claim 8, wherein the second image set includes a primary image and a plurality of secondary images.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer executable code for selecting images to display, wherein the computer executable code when executed by a computing apparatus causes the computing apparatus to:

receive a request to display a product page for a product;

generate a first image set by aggregating images of the product from a plurality of sources of the product based on the image request;

score individual images of the first image set based on determined scoring criteria;

generate a second image set from the first image set by selecting one or more images based on the ranking associated with individual images;

determine whether the second image set is complete based, at least in part, on whether each of a defined set of views of the product is represented by at least one image of the second image set, wherein the defined set of views comprises two or more views that represent different views of the product; and

based on a determination that each of the defined set of views of the product is represented by at least one image of the second image set, make the images of the second image set that represent the defined set of views of the product available for display on the product page over a network.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable code further causes the computing apparatus to automatically display the second image set.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable code further causes the computing apparatus to determine whether a background in two or more images depict a substantially similar color.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the determined scoring criteria includes at least one of pixel analysis criteria, size criteria, granularity criteria, or color criteria.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable code further causes the computing apparatus to rank images of the first image set based, at least in part, on the scores assigned to images of the first image set before generating the second image set.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable code further causes the computing apparatus to determine whether images of the second image set portray the product based on an the analysis of at least one attribute of the product, wherein the analysis includes determining whether more than a threshold number of pixels in one or more images depict a substantially similar color.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein generate a second image set from the first image set includes determining a primary image and a plurality of secondary images.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the plurality of secondary images depict two or more perspectives including at least one of a top view, a front view, or a side view of the product.