Patent Application
20150186965
The present disclosure is generally directed to a web-based service and an electronic computing device with a mobile app for enabling users to create a coordinated outfit or ensemble.
It is not uncommon for a novice dresser to erroneously mix and match fashion articles to create an ensemble that “clashes” in texture, style, and/or coloring. Therefore, they often require the assistance of stylists or store employees to assist them in coordinating an outfit.
A fabric's texture refers to the tactile and/or visual sensation is triggers. Tactile is texture that can be felt by the touch (smooth, leather, etc.). Visual is texture that can be seen (matte, dull, shiny). An ensemble has clashing textures when the fabrics are mismatches in tactile and/or visual qualities, such as silk fabric with metallic material.
The “style” of clothing may be used in the fashion industry to indicate the fashion category and/or fashion subculture that an ensemble fits into. The term may thus refer to the image or theme the wearer is trying to project, such as: classic, preppy, punk, heavy metal, sophisticated, sporty, vintage, western, nautical, etc.
The color of an item of clothing may be derived from a color wheel as shown in
Color coordinating a fashionable outfit, or ensemble, using colors defined by such a color wheel may comprise intentionally selecting analogous colors in a primary (e.g. pants) and secondary (e.g. shirt) article. Analogous colors are three colors next to each other on a color wheel; therefore, an ensemble comprising them is expected to be easy on the eye. On the other hand, complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel, so an ensemble comprising them would make the wearer standout, which is not the intended effect if the s/he is trying to create a sophisticated impression.
In the fashion industry, the twelve colors of the color wheel are not sufficient to describe the multitude of different pigments used in fabrics, often with ten or more dominating any particular fashion season. Therefore, other methods have been developed to designate color pigments. For example, Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black (CMYK) is a color model in which all colors are described as a mixture of these four process colors. A CMYK color identification code (e.g. C:29 M:38 Y:54 K:2) is four digit, with each digit representing the relative amount or percentage of cyan (29%), magenta (38%), yellow (54%) or black (2%) in a color.
Likewise, Pantone is another standardized color matching system often used in the fashion industry. The Pantone Solid palette consists of 1,341 colors, identified by three or four digit numbers, followed by a C or U suffix. Automated tools exist for converting CMYK to Pantone color identification codes, and vice versa.
What is needed within the fashion industry are various tools to assist a shopper (online, mobile app, or in the store) to efficiently create a coordinated ensemble (in texture, style, color, etc.) without requiring the assistance of other individuals, such as store personnel. This includes having information about a fashion article (i.e. an article of clothing) readily available to the user. Examples of such are the following: the name of the designer or brand, care instructions, material (e.g. % organic cotton), color and even the article's unique features (such as heat absorbing technology, uniqueness of the thread, etc.).
The present disclosure comprises various embodiments to assist an in-store shopper of clothing with Internet access via an electronic computing device (e.g. mobile device), to create an outfit that is coordinated in style, texture, color, etc. The user may be shopping to coordinate the outfit using fashion articles that they already own, and/or they may be comparing various articles that they are considering purchasing.
In one or more aspects of the present invention, a user's electronic computing device with a computer program product installed upon it (e.g. “mobile app”), is utilized to compute an article's color identification code, and then to assist the user in searching online or in-person (within a store or their home closet) for articles with matching color codes to create a coordinated ensemble. The user would scan each item physically or online to see if they possess the matching colors.
Additional aspects of the invention comprise utilizing the user's electronic computing device to access a web site comprising additional fashion coordination features. One aspect comprises one or more tags attached to an article of fashion (e.g. clothing), wherein one tag is permanently attached to the article and comprises a URL with a unique identification code specific to the article (e.g. www.myfashionmatch.com:ID#484042). By typing the URL into an electronic computing device web browser (e.g. laptop), or scanning it in with a mobile device, the user will be directed to a webpage displaying a full description about features of the article of clothing, such as cleaning and care instructions, material compositions (e.g. cashmere), color & unique features (e.g. single breasted jacket).
The article may also comprise a removable tag comprising a quick response (QR) code that encodes the same or a similar URL as the permanent tag's, which comprises a unique identification code specific to the article. When the user scans the QR code with their mobile device, they will be directed to the same or a similar webpage as encoded in the permanent tag's link. The webpage will disclose one or more of the following: a full description about features of the article of clothing, such as cleaning and care instructions, material compositions, and color & unique features.
Another aspect comprises a web-based system and computerized method of directing a user to a website that provides assistance to the user to create a coordinated ensemble by displaying for each article one or more of the following features:
As per the outline supra, a website of the present invention will automatically display fashion articles with matching colors from, for example, a store's on-line catalogue.
In another aspect, a user's electronic computing device (e.g. “mobile device”) with a computer program product installed in it (e.g. “mobile app”), can compute the color identification code of a user's skin shade and display colors that match the skin shade color identification code.
In another aspect, a user's electronic computing device (e.g. “mobile device”) with a computer program product installed in it (e.g. “mobile app”), can compute the color identification code of a primary and secondary article of fashion, and compute whether the two codes are a “color match”. The computation of “a match” may further comprise computing a percentage of compatibility of the two color codes based upon a color wheel (e.g. see
In another aspect, a user's electronic computing device (e.g. “mobile device”) with a computer program product installed upon it (e.g. “mobile app”), can further use the computed user's skin color identification code to compute a color match with a fashion article, such as a dress, shirt, blazer.
In another aspect, a user's electronic computing device (e.g. “mobile device”) with a computer program product installed in it (e.g. “mobile app”) can further use the computed user's skin identification code as an additional factor or variable when computing the color compatibility of a primary and secondary fashion article.
In one or more aspects of the present invention, the color may be computed and displayed in CMYK and/or Pantone color identification codes. And/or the user may request the system (mobile app or remote server) to convert from one color designation (CMYK—Pantone) to the other, and display it on the user's device screen.
The present invention may further comprise a web-based service (i.e. “first website”) to facilitate a user to create a coordinated ensemble; and, to enable a manufacturer and/or retailer to market their fashion line to the website's users. The service may comprise one or more of the following features:
Any item with a QR code tethered to a clothing item will already have a stylist review. The stylist receives the clothing item in advance and offers advice on what to pair it up with. Hence, when the QR code is scanned a stylist statement is already written. When we charge a clothing company the item placement fee, it actually covers the price to upload and describe the clothing item in detail (the manufacturer's info) along with 1-2 stylist's reviews.
This stylist option may further comprise a user video chatting in real-time with a stylist, wherein the stylist is able to view the user's article from the stylist's computing device after the user scans in its QR code or image, such as two articles in their closet, or one or more items they from a store. The stylist can then transmit advice, verbal or written, to the user such as whether their two articles match, and/or recommendations for other articles within the first website's database comprising images and product identification codes. The stylist's fee may be paid by the user, be part of a website subscription service, or be covered by the retailer or manufacturer of a product line that is advertised on the first website.
The present invention may also comprise a web-based service which involves a web administrator who creates an account on a remote database for third parties to advertise their fashion line. The third parties, such as manufactures and retailers, compensate the first website operators for uploading and maintaining their fashion line within the first website's database. (e.g. FIG. 12—“Manage Brand”). The third parties may sell articles with the temporary or permanent clothing tags as disclosed herein that direct the user's to the administrator's website, and/or they may advertise by other means on the administrator's computer program product (e.g. mobile app) of the present invention (e.g. logos, promotional offers, etc.).
The present invention will now be further described through various embodiments in reference to the accompanying drawings comprising:
As disclosed herein, the term “Article” or “Fashion Article” refers to any item of a coordinated outfit or ensemble, to include clothing, accessories, shoes, pursues, scarves, etc.
As disclosed herein, the term “Features” refers to the special or distinguishing characteristic of an article that are disclosed on the retailer's webpage, such as cleaning and care instructions, material compositions (e.g. % organic cotton), color, unique features (e.g. breast pocket) and other descriptions the manufacturer/retailer provides.
As disclosed herein, the term “Clothing Article Type” or just “Type” refers to a fashion article's description of its basic type of item of clothing (e.g. pants, short sleeve shirt, etc.), and any distinguishing features—functional or appearance wise (e.g. button down shirt, plaid print, etc.). A style listed on the website could comprise “Long-sleeved shirt in woven fabric with printed pattern. Button-down collar and one chest pocket. Regular fit.”
As disclosed herein, the term “Texture” refers to both or either one of the two types of texture commonly used in the fashion industry: tactile and/or visual. Tactile is texture that can be felt by the touch (smooth, leather, etc.). Visual is texture that can be seen (matte, dull, shiny).
As used herein, the term “Mobile or Client Electronic Computing Device” or “Mobile Device” refers to an electronic communications device with Internet connectivity and camera imaging and scanning of images. In particular, the device has the ability to scan and process QR codes comprising a URL and immediately directing the device's web-browser to the webpage encoded in the URL. The device also has the ability and scan an image of the article, and then compute the various colors within the article, and other colors that match them. The device comprises smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the user's device is an iOS Internet-enabled device with the scanning modules installed to read and process QR codes.
As used herein, the terms “Module” and “Algorithm” refer to a portion of a computer program or software code that carries out a specific function and may be used alone or combined with other modules or algorithms of the same program.
As used herein, the term “QR code” refers to a code printed on a tag temporarily attached to the article. The QR code comprises black modules (square dots) arranged in a square grid on a white background, which can be read by an imaging device (such as a mobile phone camera or scanned using a smartphone or tablet. The data is extracted from patterns present in both horizontal and vertical components of the image. In the present disclosure, the data comprises a URL address for a webpage on a retailer's website that describes the features of the article to which the tag is attached.
The user's device 210 may further have installed within its memory a color analysis mobile app as per
The system may have additional user electronic computing devices 220, such as a laptop, desktop, tablet, etc. with Internet connectivity. Devices 220 can be used to navigate to and utilize the fashion coordination services of the first website server 240 (e.g. see
Devices 210 and 220 communicate through the network 250 with a remote system server 240, such as a first website server, and with third party servers 242 (e.g. retailers and manufactures who advertise on the first website). Devices 210 and 220 may navigate via a posted link to a third party server's website when they indicate on the first website that they would like to purchase a listed product.
Server 240 comprises a network connection, one or more central processing units (CPU's), a memory storing amongst other software, the color analysis modules as disclosed in
Network 250 may comprise the Internet that the user's electronic computing device 210, 220 may connect to via a variety of methods, such as a phone modem, wireless (i.e. smartphone 210-cellular, satellite, microwave, infrared, radio, etc.) network, Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or any such means as necessary to communicate to the system server 240.
In one embodiment as illustrated in
In another embodiment, or aspect, memory 330 may further comprise modules to scan and process the QR code from the article's tag (e.g. camera capturing QR code image via scanning app).
The devices' CPU executes the instructions provided on computer readable media, such as on memory, a magnetic hard disk, a removable magnetic disk, a magnetic cassette, an optical disk, or from a communication connection, which may also be viewed as a non-transitory computer readable medium.
The storage may be incorporated into, or it may be peripheral to, or it may be removable from the device, such as hard disk drives, and optical disk drives.
Input interfaces 350 enable a user to enter data and/or instructions to the device 210, 220 through one or more corresponding input devices, such as an image scanner w/camera, a touch screen, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. Similarly, examples of input interfaces that may be used to connect the input devices to the bus 310 include a serial port, a parallel port, a game port, a universal serial bus (“USB”), a firewire (IEEE 1394), or another interface.
Output interfaces connect one or more corresponding output devices to the system bus, such as a monitor or display screen, a speaker and a printer. An output device can integrated with or peripheral to device, such as a video adapter, an audio adapter, a parallel port, and the like.
Devices 210 and 220 are in communication with the server 240 via network interfaces (wireless means for Internet connectivity). The network interface 370 enables the device 210, 220 to exchange information and may include hardwired and/or wireless links. Examples of network interfaces include a network adapter for connection to a local area network (“LAN”) or a modem, wireless link, or other adapter for connection to a wide area network (“WAN”), such as the Internet. In a networked system, accessible program modules or portions thereof may be stored in a remote memory storage device.
One embodiment of the present disclosure comprises an article with one permanent tag 410 and one temporary tag 420 comprising a QR code, as illustrated in
The steps of the CPU of device 210 comprise: scanning the QR code attached to the article (step 510); decoding the URL embedded in the QR code (step 520); navigating the web-browser of device 210 to the URL (step 530); and, displaying features of the article on a webpage encoded by the URL (step 540).
The present disclosure further comprises computerized methods of analyzing the main colors of an article, and then computing colors that match the main colors. Colors may match via five primary types derived from a color wheel as listed below and in the table of
The user may also have the ability to request converting from the CMYK value to the Pantone color value, or vice versa. For example, if the server transmits back to and displays on the user's device a list of CMYK values, or color images with their CMYK values overlaid, that match the user's original inputted color, then the user can request that the CMYK values be converted to Pantone color values with one user input (e.g. 1-click action on a tab, icon, etc. that is displayed on a webpage or device screen).
In step 610, the system server 240 displays a webpage, or a screen on a user's device 210,220 that is displayed by a mobile app, comprising a means for the user to indicate the color(s) in the article they are trying to match. The display may comprise, for example, a drop down menu of colors by their common name, and/or by their CMYK and/or Pantone value, and/or with an image of the actual color. For example, the CMYK and/or Pantone color value can be overlaid on an image of the actual color as per
In step 620, the mobile device's 210, 220 processor receives the user's manual input, or it is transmitted via the network 250 to the remote server 240, wherein it is received by the system processor.
Then, as illustrated in
Alternatively, as illustrated in
In step 640, the matching colors are then displayed on the screen of the user's device 210,220 by their common name, and/or their CMYK and/or Pantone color value, and/or an image of the actual colors (step 640). For example, the CMYK and/or Pantone color value can be overlaid on an image of the actual color as per
The system may further identify fashion articles comprising the matching colors so as to create a coordinated ensemble, such as from a retailer's catalogue. For example, if the user's article was a shirt, the user's device 210, 220 may log into the remote server 240, search for, and display pants, shoes, jackets, etc. comprising an identified matching color (step 660—optional).
The automated embodiment thus comprises a user's electronic computing device (e.g. a “mobile device”) 210 with a computer program product 350 (e.g. “mobile app”) installed within the device's memory and/or 220 (laptop, desktop, tablet, etc.), and its method of use, to scan a camera image of a fashion article (
In an additional aspect (optional), and as per
A user's electronic computing device with the computer program product for color matching installed within memory on the device may be used in the following steps to compute a coordinated outfit:
1) the device scans an image of a color, such as one in a primary article of fashion that the user wants build an outfit around;
2) the processor of the device computes that color identification code(s) of the article, such as the CMYK and/or Pantone code(s);
3) the device will display different styles for the user to select from, such as “Basic”, “Traditional”, “Stylish”, “Chic”, etc.;
4) in response to the user selecting a style, then the processor will compute and display the colors from a color wheel that match the colors identified in step (2), for example:
In another aspect, the computer program product 350 installed on the user's electronic computing device, and/or color matching modules accessed on the remote server 240 via the network, has the ability to scan a user's primary article of clothing, such as a pair of pants, and then to scan a secondary item of clothing, such as a shirt that the user's believes may be a good color match for the primary item. The device's processor would then compute whether the two items match. If they do not, the device will display an option of allowing the user to scan another secondary item, and then it will re-compute whether or not a match exists, or rate the extent to which is does.
As illustrated in the flowchart of computer steps in
In another embodiment, the user's undertone is also analyzed by the device processor from a scanned image of their skin on their wrist. The undertone measures the color of the veins residing beneath the surface of the skin. For example, a user's skin that is analyzed to comprise pink, blue, or red tinge, is labelled a “cool” undertone for which specific hues of pink, purple, blue and green fashion articles are recommended to the user by the system. If the user's skin undertone is determined to be “warm” based on upon the detection of green or olive hues, then the system will recommend fashion articles in colors comprising orange, yellow, olive green, etc.
In yet a further aspect of automated color comparison of one or two articles of fashion, the skin tone color value can be used as an additional variable when computing the color compatibility of the primary and secondary articles (See
In another embodiment, the user can utilize their mobile device 210 or 220 with the computer program product 350 installed thereon to compute if two articles of fashion color coordinate. In an alternative embodiment, if the user's device does not have the program 350 installed thereon, then the device 210, 220 can connect with the remote server 240 to compute the same.
As illustrated in
In step 1030, the user's device 210, 220 then scans a secondary fashion article that the user is trying to match to the primary article. In step 1040, the user's device's processor computes the CMYK and/or Pantone color values of the secondary article, and may optionally display the value(s).
In step 1050, the user's device's processor compares the primary article's color value(s) with the secondary article's color value(s) and determines if there is a color match. The determination may be based on a percentage and/or comparative language.
In step 1060, the user's device displays a numerical value or comparative language, such as “Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Perfect Match”, wherein “Poor” would be about 0-45%, “Fair” would be about 46-70%, “Good” would be about 71-80%, “Very Good” would be about 81-90%, and a “Perfect” match would be above 90%.
Automated Color Comparison of One or Two Articles with Skin Color
The steps of
In another embodiment, the user's skin tone is compared with the primary and secondary articles of fashion. In step 1140, the user's device computers color values of the primary and secondary articles as per
As illustrated in
Each third party account may by be designated as a “Brand” (e.g.
They may also edit this information for previously created products, as shown in
The website may further provide a means to purchase an advertised fashion article online, via a link displayed to the third party's or other entity's website, or to purchase it directly on the administrator's website.
The website administrator may further provide the third party the temporary 410 and permanent 420 tags comprising links to the webpages advertising their product on the website.
The aforementioned diagrams, figures, and flowcharts illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of computer systems, methods, and devices comprising computer program products (aka computer code) and/or computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code stored thereon according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, a step(s) in a flowchart may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s).
It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the flowcharts may occur out of the order in which they are presented. For example, steps shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the steps may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each step of a computer flowchart, and combinations of steps, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
And, in the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments.
