Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network and device for carrying out said method

• US 20090204335A1
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technet Trading Limited
• Original Assignee: Linda Wang Quek Swee Ling
• Inventors: Wang, Kenneth Kuk-Kei
• Granted Patent: US 7,826,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network, wherein said data is used for producing and/or delivering ready-made individually dimensioned clothes by at least one of the plurality of manufacturers. The inventive method consists, at a preliminary stage, in forming a first data base (3) on human body profiles by storing standard data sizes in a first computer system, in acquiring (6, 10), at a subsequent stage, representative current data of the morphology of said persons by means of a computerised acquisition system and in selecting (5, 8) personal data nearest to current data (6, 9) of each person from standard data. Said method is characterised in that personal data (12) is selected on a second computer system from a second database (4, 7), wherein standard data is organised by size ranges according to each manufacturer.

Claims

1. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network, these morphological data being intended for the manufacture and/or provision, as ready-to-wear, of individually dimensioned garments made by at least one of a number of manufacturers, said method being of the kind consisting of establishing, in the course of a preliminary step, a first database (3) of human body profiles storing a set of standard data in a first computer system (56) and, in a subsequent step, acquiring (6, 10) the current data representing the morphology of these persons by means of a computerised acquisition system (23, 45, 66) and selecting (5, 8) from these standard data the personal data which are closest to the current data (6, 9) of each of these persons, characterised in that the personal data (12) are selected in a second computer system (59), from a second database (4, 7) in which the standard data are organised in ranges of sizes according to each of the manufacturers.

2. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 1, characterised in that the classification of said standard data in said second database (4, 7) further comprises:

a) parameters of predetermined categories, including location,

b) general standard parameters (4) comprising sex, age group, height, crotch height, and weight,

c) standard three-dimensional parameters representing three-dimensional virtual standard mannequins corresponding to the standard data,

d) two-dimensional standard parameters (7) representing standard two-dimensional silhouettes corresponding to standard views of predetermined categories of the mannequins.

3. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 2, characterised in that the categories of said standard views comprise a front view, a side view and a top view.

4. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 1, characterised in that said computerised system (23, 45, 66) for acquiring the current data consists of a scanning booth (23).

5. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 4, characterised in that said current data comprise current two-dimensional parameters (9) representing current two-dimensional silhouettes and are extracted from the scanning data (10) obtained from the scanning booth (23).

6. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 1, characterised in that said subsequent step additionally comprises acquiring current general parameters (6) relating to said persons, including in particular their sex, age group, ethnicity, height, crotch height and weight, by means of said acquisition system (23, 45, 66).

7. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 6, characterised in that the height, crotch height and weight are measured automatically.

8. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 6, characterised in that the sex, age group and ethnicity are entered by each of the persons themselves.

9. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 6, depending on any one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that target standard data are pre-selected (5) on said second computer system (59) from the standard data the general standard parameters (4) of which correspond to said current general parameters (6).

10. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 9, characterised in that said personal data (12) are said target standard data, the two-dimensional standard parameters (7) of which are the best approximation of said current two-dimensional parameters (9).

11. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 10, characterised in that said best approximation is evaluated as a function of tolerance levels on each of the standard two-dimensional parameters (7) determined by said manufacturers.

12. Method for acquiring and managing morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 10, characterised in that said standard virtual mannequins corresponding to said personal data (12) are displayed on a screen (45) of a third computer system (66).

23. Apparatus for acquiring and managing the morphological data of persons on a computer network, suitable for carrying out the method according to claim 1, said morphological data being intended for the manufacture and/or provision of individually dimensioned garments by at least one of a plurality of manufacturers, said apparatus comprising:

a first communication network (58),

a first computer system (56) comprising first processing means, first memory means, a first database (57) of human body profiles storing a set of standard data, and first means for selecting from said standard data, said first computer system (56) being connected to said first network (58) by first communication means,

a computerised acquisition system (23, 45, 66) adapted to acquire the current data (6, 9) representing the morphology of said persons,

characterised in that it further comprises;

a second computer system (59) connected to said first network (58) by second communication means, and comprising second processing means, second memory means and a second database (60) in which said standard data are linked with data representing said manufacturers and with data representing the ranges of sizes according to each of said manufacturers, and are selected by second selecting means,

a third computer system (66) comprising third processing means, third memory means and connected to said first network (58) by third communication means transmitting said current data (6, 9) to said second selection means via said second communication means for the purpose of selecting the personal data (12) which are closest.

24. Apparatus for acquiring and managing the morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 23, characterised in that the linked fields of said second database (59) comprise fields representative of:

a) predetermined parameters of categories, including location,

b) standard general parameters (4) including sex, age group, height, crotch height and weight,

c) standard three-dimensional parameters representing standard virtual three-dimensional mannequins corresponding to said standard data,

d) standard two-dimensional parameters (7) representing standard two-dimensional silhouettes corresponding to standard views of predetermined categories of said mannequins.

25. Apparatus for acquiring and managing the morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 24, characterised in that the categories of said standard views comprise a front view, a side view and a top view.

26. Apparatus for acquiring and managing the morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 24, characterised in that said acquisition system (23, 45, 66) consists of a scanning booth (23) comprising:

a vertical cell substantially in the shape of a prism or a straight cylinder, delimited by a floor (24), a ceiling (25) and side panels, said cell being intended to accommodate inside it each of said persons in a vertical position, in a predetermined zone (30) of said floor (24), facing a first edge (31) of said prism or a first generatrix of said cylinder,

a first apparatus for taking digital photographs (33) which is provided on said first edge (31) of the prism or said first generatrix of the cylinder and is oriented towards the torso of said person in a first direction,

a second apparatus for taking digital photographs (34), arranged on a second edge (32) of said prism or a second generatrix of said cylinder, and directed towards the side of the torso of said person, in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction,

a third apparatus for taking digital photographs (35), which is arranged underneath said ceiling (25) and directed towards said predetermined zone (30) of the floor where the person is standing.

28. Apparatus for acquiring and managing the morphological data of persons according to claim 26, characterised in that said booth (23) also comprises means (41) for dispensing a blue or green body-hugging garment.

29. Apparatus for acquiring and managing the morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 26, characterised in that it comprises a module for extracting current two-dimensional silhouettes and for representing said silhouettes by current two-dimensional parameters executed by said third processing means of said third computer system (66) on the basis of the signals obtained from said first, second and third photographic apparatus (33, 34, 35).

30. Apparatus for acquiring and managing the morphological data of persons according to claim 26, characterised in that said booth (23) also comprises:

an automatic weighing scale (42) located underneath said predetermined zone (30) on the floor,

a laser ruler (43) arranged underneath said ceiling (25) and directed towards said predetermined zone (30),

a crotch height measuring device sensor (44).

31. Apparatus for acquiring and managing the morphological data of persons on a computer network according to claim 30, characterised in that said booth (23) also includes:

a keyboard (45) and

a monitor (45).

13-22. -22. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

32-50. -50. (canceled)