Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02331572 2001-O1-18
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ELECTRONIC COMMERCE USING OBJECT
CHARACTERIZATION DATA SETS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and system for electronic commerce
using
characterization data sets representing products, and more specifically to a
computer implemented method for electronically recreating a natural shopping
process for a purchaser of goods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When shopping in a store with physical products, consumers use visual images
as
the primary source of information. Visual information about a product is
obtained by
interacting with the product and viewing it in all 3-dimensions. Since a
consumer
obtains most information about a product visually, it is natural to search for
a product
in the same manner. That is, a common method of searching is query by example
where physical attributes of one object are used as a base for searching for a
similar
object that more closely meets the consumer's desired product.
Searching for a product visually creates a "hop around" method of shopping.
Once
given an idea for a product a consumer may create a visual model of the
desired
product by taking various characteristics of products they have seen. The
shape of
one product, the size of another, and the colour of yet another may form the
desired
product. This visual model is formed by jumping from an image of one product
to an
image of another until desirable characteristics are identified. Without being
able to
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search based on images, "natural" shopping is not possible using traditional
electronic commerce systems.
Current methods of electronic shopping restrict a consumer in the way products
can
be browsed. This is often a result of how product databases can be searched.
Product entries in a traditional database often include an image of the
product but
the entries themselves are typically defined for searching purposes by a
series of
keywords. The consumer may search for products only in the way that products
are
defined in a database, in this case by keyword. The keywords chosen to define
a
product in a database form a static definition that is limited in vocabulary
and the
languages used to form this definition. This makes it difficult to reach a
broad
consumer population as users of wide area networks used in electronic
commerce,
such as the Internet, come from many countries and speak many languages.
Consumer's have a difficult time purchasing products that they cannot interact
with
and view in all 3 spatial dimensions. This has been one of the factors
affecting the
acceptability of electronic commerce especially for certain products such as
clothes,
furniture, etc. Consumers want to be given a similar level of interaction with
a
product through electronic commerce as in a store before purchasing the
product.
The large majority of electronic commerce stores available on the Internet use
only
2-dimensional images. The few electronic commerce stores that provide 3-
dimensional viewing of images (i.e. www.landsend.com,
http://wwwservices1.landsend.com/mvm/default.sphlMVM.exe?FNC=simLoain Alo
ain htm sid=0950728266351 "Your Personal ModeIT"~") are often slow in viewing
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the images and offer a limited selection of products for 3-dimensional viewing
or only
offer pseudo 3-dimensional viewing. Further, these electronic stores do not
provide
a method for searching based on images but rather rely entirely on keyword
searching.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide electronic commerce that
recreates a
natural shopping process.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide electronic commerce
using 3-
dimensional representations of products.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide electronic commerce
using 3-
dimensional representations of products for which an image-based search method
is
used.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
computer
implemented method for electronically recreating a natural shopping process
for a
user comprising the steps of: (a) presenting at least one initial image
representative
of a product for conducting a product search for a desired product; (b)
receiving from
the user an indication of a selected product image on which to base the
product
search; (c) retrieving product information for products whose characteristics
match
within predetermined limits characteristics of the selected product image; (d)
providing the user with means by which to manipulate the characteristics of a
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product image; and (e) iteratively repeating steps (b) to (d) until the
desired product
is identified.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable
instructions
for electronically recreating a natural shopping for a user comprising the
steps of: (a)
presenting at least one initial image representative of a product for
conducting a
product search; (b) receiving from the user an indication of a selected
product image
on which to base the product search; (c) retrieving product information for
products
whose characteristics match within predetermined limits characteristics of the
selected product image; (d) providing the user with the ability to manipulate
the
characteristics of a product image; and (e) iteratively repeating steps (b) to
(d) until a
desired product is identified.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention there is
provided a
computer system for recreating a virtual natural shopping process, the
computer
system being connected to a product database containing 3-dimensional product
models and 2-dimensional images representative of the 3-dimensional product
models comprising: search criteria manipulation means for accepting a selected
product image specified by the user for manipulation and manipulating
characteristics of the selected product image; characteristic importance
selection
means for weighting the importance of at least one characteristic of the
selected
product image on which a search is based; searching means for searching for 3-
dimensional product models in the database for products whose characteristics
match within pre-determined limits characteristics of the selected product
image
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received from the search criteria manipulation means; and results operating
means
for enabling purchase of products revealed by the search.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided
a
5 computer system for recreating a virtual natural shopping process, the
computer
system being connected to a product database containing 3-dimensional product
models and 2-dimensional images representative of the 3-dimensional product
models comprising: a search criteria manipulation tool for accepting a
selected
product image specified by the user for manipulation and manipulating chosen
characteristics of the selected product image; a characteristic importance
selection
tool for weighting the importance of at least one characteristic of the
selected product
image on which a search is based; a searching tool for searching for 3-
dimensional
product models in the database for products whose characteristics match within
pre-
determined limits characteristics of the selected product image received from
the
search criteria manipulation means; and a results operation tool for enabling
purchase of products revealed by the search.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is
provided an
Internet node to electronically recreate a natural shopping process,
comprising: a
database interface for connecting the Internet node with a product database
containing 3-dimensional product models and 2-dimensional images
representative
of the 3-dimensional product models; a search criteria manipulation tool for
accepting a user selected product image for manipulation and manipulating
chosen
characteristics of the user selected product image; a characteristic
importance
selection tool for weighting the importance of at least one characteristic of
the user
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selected product image on which a search is based; a searching tool for
searching
for 3-dimensional product models in the database for products whose
characteristics
match within pre-determined limits characteristics of the user selected
product image
received from the search criteria manipulation means; and a results operation
tool for
executing user product purchase tasks on the results of a search.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention there is
provided a
computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer
program logic stored therein for electronically recreating a natural shopping
process,
said computer program logic comprising: a search criteria manipulation tool to
enable a computer to accept a user selected product image for manipulation and
manipulating chosen characteristics of the user selected product image; a
characteristic importance selection tool to enable a computer to weight the
importance of at least one characteristic of the user selected product image
on which
a search is based; a searching tool to enable a computer to search for 3-
dimensional
product models in the database for products whose characteristics match within
pre-
determined limits characteristics of the user selected product image received
from
the search criteria manipulation means; and a results operation tool for
enabling
purchase of products revealed by the search.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an exemplary implemented embodiment of the
present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary session from a user's (client's)
perspective;
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FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the exemplary session of FIG. 2 from a server's
perspective;
FIG. 4 is an exemplary interface of an implementation of the method of the
present
invention; and
FIGS. 5 A to E show an exemplary interface and the details of this interface
according to an implementation of the method of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Figure 1 shows a system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention
for
electronic commerce using 3-dimensional representations of products. A user
interacts with the system 10 by interfacing with a client computer 12. A
server
computer 14 contains tools that enable the features and functions of the
system 10.
A connection 30 between the client computer 12 and the server computer 14 in
the
electronic commerce system 10 can be over a network, such as the Internet.
Alternatively, the client 12 and server 14 can be part of the same physical
computer.
The server computer 14 is connected to one or more databases 16 containing
information about products available for review and possible purchase. The
database 16 contains 3-dimensional models of products as well as at least one
2-
dimensional image of the product for rapid viewing. The 2-dimensional
thumbnail
image facilitates viewing the product over a network. By using only a 2-
dimensional
image, the size of the image is reduced thereby allowing for faster
downloading of
the picture for viewing than if a 3-dimensional image is used. If a series of
2-
dimensional images, each representing a different view of the product, is used
then
complete information about the product can be available to the user without
the need
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for large 3-dimensional images. The database entry for a 3-dimensional product
model may also contain a characterization data set containing a representation
of
various characteristics of the model. These characteristics may include such
attributes as colour, size, shape, etc. The database entry for a product may
optionally contain a written description of the product.
The server computer 14 has a database searching tool 20 by which product
models
in the one or more databases 16 may be searched in response to information
from
the user. The client computer 12 accepts search parameters from the user and
sends them to the database searching tool 20 of the server 14 for searching
the
product models in the database 16 for products matching the parameters
specified
by the user. The user searching parameters can be text or image based. The
parameters selected for an image based search are representative of various
characteristics of an image such as shape, size and colour. If the parameters
are
image based then the user has selected a picture and the searching tool 20
performs
an image based search of the database 16. If the parameters are text based
then
the search will be similar to a traditional database search using keywords
that define
the products in the database 16.
An example of such an image-based search method for 3-dimensional images is
disclosed in Applicant's U.S. Patent No. 6,016,487 issued January 18, 2000 and
Applicant's related continuation-in-part application filed December 22, 1999
both
titled "Method of Searching Three-Dimensional Images" both of which are
incorporated herein by reference. This image-based searching method allows
rapid
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searching of a database based on a number of variable characteristics of the
images.
The database searching tool 20 accepts information from a search criteria tool
18
and a criteria ranking tool 26. The search criteria tool 18 provides the user
with a
series of tools by which the user can manipulate a chosen image to create an
image
that more closely represents the desired product. These manipulations can
include
stretching, modifying the colour and/or texture, morphing multiple objects to
create
one, etc. Manipulation of an image can help create a representation of the
desired
product that will better enable the database searching tool 20 to find the
correct
product based on the desired product in a more time efficient manner for the
user.
The criteria ranking tool 26 provides the user with a series of tools by which
the
importance of various characteristics of a product can be set. This allows the
user to
search for a product using a single or multiple characteristics. For example,
the user
can search for all products in the database having the same shape but being of
different colours and textures.
The server computer 14 contains an interaction tool 22 to allow a user to
interact
with information about a product. The interaction tool 22 allows a user to
manipulate
the point of view from which the product is seen thereby simulating
interaction with a
3-dimensional product.
The server computer 14 contains a results operation tool 32 containing a
search
save tool 24 and a product purchase tool 28. The search save tool 24 allows
the
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user to save the results of the current search to be retrieved at a later
time. The
product purchase tool 28 allows the user to purchase a selected product.
Figure 2 shows an exemplary transaction 40 according to an embodiment of the
5 present invention from the point of view of the user interacting with the
client 12. The
user chooses one of a number of images or pieces of text provided by the
server 14
to form a search criteria in step 42. For a first search the images and/or
text may be
provided by the server 14 and may represent broad categories of products. For
subsequent searches the chosen image may be one of the images that resulted
from
10 a previous search. At decision box 44 the user can choose to manipulate the
characteristics of the selected product on which a product search will be
based.
These manipulations performed in step 46 may include modifying the shape,
colour,
or even making the new search criteria a conglomeration of multiple images
choosing the desirable characteristics from each image. That is, if the user
chooses
two images as the third search criteria these images may be completely morphed
together creating a product that is a conglomeration of the two original
products in
shape, colour and texture. Alternatively, different characteristics of each
product
may form the search criteria such as the shape of the first product with the
colour of
the second product.
If the user chooses not to change any characteristics of the selected product
image
or when the user has finished changing the characteristics of the image then
the
selected product image, either as originally selected or with changed
characteristics,
is sent from the client 12 to the server 14 with a search request in step 48.
This
search is a 3-dimensional image based search, one possible method of which is
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discussed in U.S. Patent 6,016,487. The results of this search are received by
the
client 12 for review by the user in step 50. Based on the results of this
search a
product may be selected in step 52 as either the desired product for purchase
or as
a product on which to base another search. In decision box 54 if the product
selected in step 52 is not the desired product for purchase then the process
returns
to step 42 and another search is performed based on this new selected product
image. If the product selected in step 52 is the desired product for purchase
then the
user can save the search in step 56. The user can also proceed to purchase the
desired product in step 58. While Fig. 2 demonstrates the case where search
results
are saved and then the product is purchased, both step 56 and 58 need not
necessarily both occur in this order or even at all.
Figure 3 is a flow diagram 70 illustrating the method 40 of Fig.2 from the
point of
view of the server 14. The server 14 presents the user through the client 12
with a
series of images or text on which to base the search in step 72. For a first
search the
images and/or text may be provided by the server 14 and may represent broad
categories of products. For subsequent searches the chosen image may be one of
the images that resulted from a previous search. After providing the user with
product images, in decision box 84 the server 14 checks to see if the user,
through
the client 12, has requested a characteristic change. If the user has
requested a
characteristic change then the server 14 activates the search criteria tool 18
in step
86. The search criteria tool 18 can modify characteristics such as the shape,
colour,
or even making the new search criteria a conglomeration of multiple images
choosing the desirable characteristics from each image. That is, if the user
chooses
two images as the third search criteria these images may be completely morphed
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together creating a product that is a conglomeration of the two original
products in
shape, colour and texture. Alternatively, different characteristics of each
product
may form the search criteria such as the shape of the first product with the
colour of
the second product.
If the server 14 does not receive a characteristics change request of after
the
characteristic of a selected product image have been modified then the server
14
receives a search request that includes an image on which to base a product
search
in step 88. This image may or may not have modified characteristics. The
server 14
then performs an image based search. This search is a 3-dimensional image
based
search, one possible method of which is discussed in U.S. Patent 6,016,487.
The
server 14 then sends the results of this search to the client 12. The server
14 then
checks to see if there has there is an indication of the user's desire to stop
searching
in decision box 94. This indication may be in the form of the user requesting
a
purchase. Alternatively, the user's request to perform another search may
indicate
that searching is not yet finished. If the user does not indicate a desire to
finish
searching then the process returns to step 82 where searching will continue
until a
desired product is identified. If searching is finished then the sever 14 will
respond to
a user's request to save the search results in step 96 and purchase the
product. As
mentioned in connection with Fig. 2 steps 96 and 98 need not necessarily occur
in
that order nor do they both need to be present. Step 96 may also occur prior
to
decision box 94.
The server computer 14 may be a server for a single e-commerce store (i.e.
website)
or it may be connected to multiple stores. In the case where the server 14 is
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connected to multiple stores the server computer 14 may act as a single
interface
site through which comparison shopping or similar product searching may take
place.
Figures 4 to 5 (A to E) illustrate an exemplary interface in connection with
the
method of the present invention. The exemplary interface in Fig. 4 has a
search
criteria image display 100, search criteria ranking 102, product category
selection
108, task selection 106 and a section for displaying results 104. Figure 4
provides
an exemplary start-up interface wherein the images in the result display 104
represent a series of product categories.
Figure 5A provides an exemplary interface showing the results from a search
based
on only the shape of a car as specified in the shape criteria ranking dialog
box 102
by the value 1 while all other criteria have a value of 0. Figure 5B
illustrates the
exemplary interface of Figure 5A wherein the product category selection dialog
box
108 is expanded. Figure 5C illustrates the exemplary interface of Figure 5A
wherein
the task selection dialog box 106 is expanded. The possible tasks listed in
the task
selection dialog box 106 includes such things as purchasing a product,
interacting
with the product to view the images of the product in three dimensions, a
feedback
tool, etc. The tasks illustrated in Figure 5C are only an exemplary subset of
the
possible tasks. Figure 5D illustrates the exemplary interface of Figure 5A
wherein
the colour criteria ranking dialog box 102 is expanded. The values associated
with
the colour dialog box 102 are representative of the importance of that feature
in
performing a current product search. Figure 5E illustrates the exemplary
interface of
Figure 5A wherein the task of viewing a selected product 100 in three
dimensions
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has been chosen. The viewing window 106 wherein the selected product 100 may
be interacted with allows for rotation, zooming, etc.
Through the use of an image-based search method, the present invention
provides
an electronic commerce experience that closely matches that of traditional
shopping.
Using characteristics of an image enables the use of an image-based search
method
which is the basis for an electronic commerce system that recreates a natural
shopping process. Modifications and variations of the method and system for
electronic commerce using object characterization data sets will be obvious to
those
skilled in the art. Such modifications and variations are intended to come
within the
scope of the appended claims.
