Devices, frameworks and methodologies for enabling user-driven determination of body size and shape information and utilisation of such information across a networked environment

• US 9,996,963 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2014
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mport Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mport Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Ray, Dipra, Shiue, Melody, Wu, Tsung Yuan, Quinn, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajnik, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/890,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20160093085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1072 measuring distances on the body, e.g. measuring length, height or thickness A61B5/1076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4561 Evaluating static posture, e.g. undesirable back curvature A61B5/1116 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6888 Cabins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/85 Contour of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/62 posture
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/04 involving 3D image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/08 involving all processing steps from image acquisition to 3D model generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/12 involving antialiasing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10048 Infrared image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/16 Cloth
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/44 : Morphing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2215/16 : Using real world measurements to influence rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2016 : Rotation, translation, scaling
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2021 : Shape modification
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 : Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/70 : Denoising; Smoothing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 : Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 : for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 : Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A scanning booth with a user interface. The interface receives user identification or registration data and provides instructional prompts for the user to assume various predefined positions, stances and postures. Image data of each pose is captured using scanning devices in the booth. A three dimensional avatar is generated based on the mapping or morphing of image data to a generic avatar model. Data from the generated model is transmitted to a server where it is stored in a database for later account application in, for example, garment sizing, display or fitting, or health monitoring.

Claims

1. A scanning booth system configured to enable determination of physical body shape data for a user, the system including:

a processing system, wherein the processing system is configured to receive measurement input data from a plurality of connected sensor devices;

a structural assembly defining a booth interior, wherein the booth interior is securely concealed from exterior view, and wherein the booth interior is sized thereby to enable undressing and dressing of a user contained therein;

a standing area including floor markings that define a predetermined foot position, wherein the floor markings are provided on a weight scale, wherein the weight scale defines one of the plurality of connected sensor devices;

a height sensor device positioned vertically above the standing area, wherein the height sensor defines one of the plurality of connected sensor devices, wherein the height sensor device is configured to measure height of a user standing in the predetermined foot position;

a user interface device configured to receive identification information from a user, wherein the user interface device includes a touchscreen terminal positioned to be in front of a user standing in the predetermined foot position;

one or more stimuli devices coupled to a control device, wherein the control device is configured to implement a logical instructions process flow thereby to provide, via the one or more stimuli devices, instructions to a user contained within the booth interior, wherein the instructions include instructions for the user to adopt a predefined stance, position and posture, wherein the one or more stimuli devices include a display unit of the touchscreen terminal;

a plurality of scanning devices configured to derive measurements representative of size of a body contained within the booth interior, wherein the plurality of scanning devices include a plurality of infrared scanners configured to collectively capture a 360 degrees scan of a user standing in the predetermined foot position, wherein the plurality of scanning devices define a subset of the plurality of connected sensor devices;

a communications module configured to enable communication between the scanning booth and a central server, wherein the communications module is configured to transmit, to the central server, user health data including body scan data derived from the plurality of connected sensor devices, including output of the one or more scanning devices; and

a display unit configured to provide to the user a visual representation of a three dimensional avatar defined based upon the output of the one or more scanning devices;

wherein;

the identification information received by the user is processed by the central server thereby to identify a user profile for an identified user, wherein the user profile is associated with historical user health data for the identified user including body scan data derived from the scanning booth system or another similar networked scanning booth system; and

the central server is configured to compare the user health data including body scan data with the historical user health data including body scan data, thereby to generate report data representative of tracking against one or more goals, wherein the goals are defined relative to desired changes in future user health data including body scan data.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the structural assembly includes handles which are configured to be manually grasped, thereby to provide instructions as to body pose.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the structural assembly includes a floor including a primary-textured region and a secondary-textured region, such that a user is able to determine when they are standing in the secondary-textured region, thereby to provide instructions as to stance.

4. A system according claim 1 wherein the user interface device is configured to enable each of the following:

input of user identification information representative of a user account previously created at the scanning booth;

input of user identification information representative of a user account previously created at a further scanning booth;

input of user identification information representative of a user account previously created via a user client terminal that interacts with a web server; and

generation of a new user account.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional avatar is generated by morphing a generic base avatar based on comparison with measurements devices from operation of the one or more scanning devices, thereby to define an avatar having size parameters representative of the user.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the three-dimensional avatar is generated by applying a shrink-wrapping and smoothing algorithm to point cloud data obtained from infrared scan data thereby to provide an indicative representation of the user based on the user'"'"'s size parameters.

7. A system according to claim 5 wherein the three dimensional avatar is not a direct graphical representation of the user.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the three dimensional avatar is uploaded to the server, and made available for embedding into user interface objects in third party websites.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the three dimensional avatar is configured to provide a graphical indication size of a specified garment relative to size of the user.

10. A data management system including:

an input interface configured to receive, from a plurality of scanning booth systems, body scan data respectively defined for a plurality of users;

a data repository configured to maintain user record data, wherein the user record data is configured to include, for each of a plurality of users, user registration data and user body scan data; and

one or more integration modules, wherein the integration modules are configured to provide one or more aspects of the body scan data to one or more third party platforms;

wherein each of the plurality of scanning booth systems include a scanning booth system configured to enable determination of physical body shape data for a user, the system including;

a processing system, wherein the processing system is configured to receive measurement input data from a plurality of connected sensor devices;

a structural assembly defining a booth interior, wherein the booth interior is securely concealed from exterior view, and wherein the booth interior is sized thereby to enable undressing and dressing of a user contained therein;

a standing area including floor markings that define a predetermined foot position, wherein the floor markings are provided on a weight scale, wherein the weight scale, wherein the weight scale defines one of the plurality of connected sensor devices;

a height sensor device positioned vertically above the standing area, wherein the height sensor defines one of the plurality of connected sensor devices, wherein the height sensor device is configured to measure height of a user standing in the predetermined foot position;

a user interface device configured to receive identification information from a user, wherein the user interface device includes a touchscreen terminal positioned to be in front of a user standing in the predetermined foot position;

one or more stimuli devices coupled to a control device, wherein the control device is configured to implement a logical instructions process flow thereby to provide, via the one or more stimuli devices, instructions to a user contained within the booth interior, wherein the instructions include instructions for the user to adopt a predefined stance, position and posture, wherein the one or more stimuli devices include a display unit of the touchscreen terminal;

a plurality of scanning devices configured to derive measurements representative of size of a body contained within the booth interior, wherein the plurality of scanning devices include a plurality of infrared scanners configured to collectively capture a 360 degrees scan of a user standing in the predetermined foot position, wherein the plurality of scanning devices define a subset of the plurality of connected sensor devices;

a communications module configured to enable communication between the scanning booth and a central server, wherein the communications module is configured to transmit, to the central server, user health data including body scan data derived from the plurality of connected sensor devices, including output of the one or more scanning devices; and

a display unit configured to provide to the user a visual representation of a three dimensional avatar defined based upon the output of the one or more scanning devices;

wherein;

the identification information received by the user is processed by the central server thereby to identify a particular set of the user record data for an identified user, wherein the user profile is associated with historical user health data including body scan data for that identified user derived from the scanning booth system or another similar networked scanning booth system; and

the central server is configured to compare the user health data including body scan data with the historical user health data including body scan data, thereby to generate report data representative of tracking against one or more goals, wherein the goals are defined relative to desired changes in future user health data including body scan data.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the one or more third party platforms include third party web pages.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein each third party web page includes embedded code referencing a widget object served by the one or more integration modules.

13. A system according to claim 10 wherein the one or more third party platforms include third party software applications which interact with the one or more integration modules via an API.

14. A system according to claim 11 wherein the integration modules include an integration module configured to assist in identifying garments, displayed on a third party website, which are suitable based on a given user'"'"'s sizing data as derived from body scan data.

15. A system according to claim 10 wherein the one or more integration modules provide functionalities including:

size-based filtering of garments advertised for sale at a third party website.

16. A system according to claim 10 wherein the one or more integration modules provide functionalities including:

provision of a clothing alteration service.