1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple-reference based system and a method for ordering eyeglasses. Particularly, the present invention relates to a system and a method for selecting and ordering eyeglass frames through a public network with a mobile device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, customers who want to purchase eyeglass frames for their prescription lenses visit an optometrist's or optician's shop, try on different frames in front of a mirror. One problem with this method is that a wide variety of frames must always be physically present in the shop to accommodate for the many different tastes, styles and size requirements of customers. Attempts to solve the above-discussed problem have resulted in ordering systems that permit the customer to go through electronic catalogue of eyeglass frames, virtually try on the glasses and place an order remotely.
Further, it has been proposed a system for ordering eyeglasses, comprising a data processing center suitable for users to assess through a public communication network with a user terminal display, a matching and selection unit, a user portrait image and data uploading platform which is connected with the data processing center through the public communication network.
However, even if the prior eyeglasses ordering systems may shortlist those eyeglass frames matched with the frame size requirements of the eyeglasses wearer for the eyeglasses wearer to try on and order eyeglasses remotely, there is still a wide variety of frames with different styles for selection which may take the eyeglasses wearer a long time to go through the whole list. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an eyeglasses ordering system comprising a consultation function, wherein a list of eyeglass frames are recommended according to style requirements of eyeglasses wearers so that the shortlisted eyeglass frames may better reflect the eyeglasses wearer's preferences and the time required for going though the list of eyeglass frames may be greatly reduced.
In general, an eyeglasses made-to-order system includes a computer controlled display screen for the operator to determine eyeglasses specifications necessary for ordering eyeglasses; a basic design selecting function for selecting from the display screen any of a plurality of basic frame designs stored in a database in advance; a portrait capturing function for taking portraits for the eyeglasses wearers; a try-on function comprising generating a synthetic image by overlaying the image of the selected frames over the portrait on the screen and displaying the synthetic image on the display screen; one or more changing functions for changing, revising or inputting necessary items on the display screen, relating to each of the plurality of structural members of the eyeglasses, including the frame type, lens shape, and parts, based on the basic frame design selected using the basic design selecting function; a storing function for storing data including one or more images of the eyeglasses attained on the display screen; a comparing/examining function for comparing or examining the one or more eyeglass images, including the eyeglass images stored in the storing means, displayed on the display screen, deciding upon one of those, or returning to the step for performing the changing function, and a order placing function for the operator of place a order for the selected eyeglass frame.
For abovementioned try-on function, different methods for determining reference points of the facial portraits of the eyeglasses wearer were tried, wherein the coordinates of both corneal vertexes are found on the portrait and a line connecting the corneal vertexes is found, and the bisection point of that line is determined to be a reference point for the portrait and the frame image is laid over on the portrait with the reference point of the frame image matched to the reference point for the portrait.
However, in the abovementioned methods, the reference points of the facial portrait of the eyeglasses wearer are determined according to the positions of corneal vertexes which may not be able to accommodate the situation where the facial features of eyeglasses wearer are not symmetrical. For example the eyeglasses wearer may have strabismus (so called crossed eyes) which is a condition which eyes do not line up properly. In this situation, the bisection point of the line connecting the corneal vertexes may not align with the reference point of the eyeglass frame.
With consideration of the asymmetry of facial features, a method is proposed wherein reference points for the portrait captured are determined using actual measurements relative to the placement of the eyeglasses wearer's eye such as the measured values of the distances from the bridge of the eyeglasses wearer's nose to each of the corneal vertexes. The point at which a line connecting the corneal vertexes on the portrait is divided according to the ratio of the aforesaid measure distances to the vertexes is a reference point for the aforesaid portrait (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,418, for example).
However, in the abovementioned method, it is not feasible to match the specific reference points of the facial portrait with the corresponding reference points of eyeglass frame stored in a database of eyeglass frames which are available in the market place, as it is a standard that the left and right parts of an eyeglass frame are symmetrical. Moreover, the information of positions of corneal vertexes is not good enough for recommending a style of eyeglass frames because the size of eyes also has significant impact to the outlook of wearing eyeglasses. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system and a method for the same wherein the reference points of the facial portrait for matching the corresponding reference points of the eyeglass frame is determined by measuring the size and positions of eyes on the facial portrait so that the system may recommend a list of eyeglass frames of styles better fit the eyeglasses wearer's facial features.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved system and a method for the same wherein the reference points of the facial portrait for matching the structural feature points of the eyeglass frame is determined by measuring the size and positions of eyes on the facial portrait so that the eyeglasses ordering system may recommend a list of eyeglass frames of styles better fit the eyeglass wearer's facial features.
Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for ordering eyeglasses comprising:
In another aspect of the present invention, the desired design data of the eyeglass frame include the height of the lens holders of the eyeglass frame which is equal to a predefined parameter, H1, which is determined from a look up table in dependence upon the style of lens-holder inputted by the user.
In another aspect of the present invention, the corresponding specific reference points and/or lines of the eyeglass frame are determined with the design rules as listed below:
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved system and a method for the same comprising a consultation function wherein a list of eyeglass frames are recommended according to style requirements of eyeglasses wearers so that the shortlisted eyeglass frames may better reflect the eyeglass wearer's preferences such as colors, material, weight, style of eyeglasses, and the time required for going though the list of eyeglass frames may be greatly reduced.
Accordingly, in another aspect of the present invention, the abovementioned system for ordering eyeglasses further comprising:
Advantageously, in another aspect of the present invention, the user can arbitrarily select and perform any one or more of the user interfacing function, the image capturing function, the image processing function, the design function, the matching function, the tele-consultation function, the virtual try-on function or the order handling function.
Preferably, in further aspect of the present invention, the abovementioned system can be is arranged to be implemented in a mobile device such as mobile-phones and smart-phones.
Referring to
The user interfacing function 101 is for the user to input or change eyeglass frame design preference parameters and information required for making eyeglasses, displaying lists of recommended eyeglass frames and portraits wearing the eyeglass frame for the user to select and confirm purchasing orders. Preferably, the eyeglass frame design preference parameters may include colors, materials, weight, styles of eyeglass frames and styles of lens holders. The information required for making eyeglasses may include lens prescriptions, pupillary distances and other facial measurement data.
The image capturing function 102 is for obtaining at least one images of front view of a portrait and at least one images of side view of a portrait of an eyeglasses wearer. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the images of the portrait of the eyeglasses wearer may be captured with the built-in camera of a mobile device.
The image processing function 103 is for analyzing the images of the portrait of the eyeglasses wearer obtained by the image capturing function 102 to generate a 3D model of the portrait of the eyeglasses wearer and determine at least one specific reference points of the portrait of the eyeglasses wearer.
Referring to
The design function 104 is for determining desired design data and corresponding specific reference points and/or lines of eyeglass frames by applying a plurality of design rules in dependency on the specific reference points of the portrait of the eyeglasses wearer determined by the image processing function 103 and/or design preference parameters input by the user.
Referring to
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the predefined distance Y1 is in the range from 0.5 to 1.5 cm. Preferably, the predefined distance Y1 is 1 cm.
The predefined distance W1 may be determined from a 1st look-up table in dependence upon the styles of eyeglass frame input by the user as shown below:
The predefined parameter H1 is determined from a 2nd look-up table in dependence upon the styles of lens-holders input by the user as shown below:
Accordingly, eyeglass frames may be grouped into 9 groups based on the styles of lens-holder and the styles of eyeglass frame, namely, Sporty Narrow, Sporty Normal, Sporty Oversize, General-Use Narrow, General-Use Normal, General-Use Oversize, Stylist Narrow, Stylist Normal and Stylist Oversize, wherein the a Table of Style Selection as shown below may be displayed with the user interfacing function 101 to the user to select among the said 9 groups of eyeglass frames.
The central database 105 is for storing design data and corresponding specific reference points and/or lines of eyeglass frames which are available in the marketplace. The design data may include but not limited to colors, materials, weight of eyeglass frames and heights of lens holders of eyeglass frames.
The matching function 106 is for matching the design data and the corresponding specific reference points and/or lines of eyeglass frames determined by the design function 104 with the design data and the corresponding specific reference points and/or lines of eyeglass frames stored in the central database 105 to generate a list of matched eyeglass frames.
The tele-consultation function 107 is for recommending a list of eyeglass frames out of the matched eyeglass frames generated by the matching function 106 according to the eyeglass frame design preference parameters input by the user and transmitting the list of recommended eyeglass frames to the user interfacing function 101 to display for the user to select.
The virtual try-on function 108 is for overlaying the image of the eyeglass frame selected by the user on the portrait of the eyeglasses wearer obtained by the image capturing function (102) and transmitted an image of a portrait wearing the eyeglass to the user interfacing function 101 to display for the user to view and confirm a purchasing order;
The order handling function 109 is for handling a purchasing order of eyeglasses confirmed by the user, tracking order status and permitting the user to receive notifications regarding the said purchasing order through the user interfacing function 101.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may be implemented in a mobile device such as mobile-phones and smart-phones. The user interfacing function 101, the image processing function 103, the design function 104, the matching function 106, the tele-consultation function 107, the virtual try-on function 108 and the order handling function 109 may be implemented with the touch-screen display and the processor of the mobile device, the image capturing function 102 may be implemented with the built-in camera of the mobile device, and the central database 105 may be implemented with the memory of the mobile device. The central database 105 may be updated regularly by communicating with one or a plurality of central servers through public tele-communication networks. The central servers may be maintained by one or a plurality of eyeglass manufacturers or design houses.
With the system for ordering eyeglasses according to embodiment discussed in detail above, the user can arbitrarily select and perform any one or more of the functions and/or processes believed necessary for the design decisions can be made. Therefore, the said system can more efficiently fulfill the user's requirements and reflect eyeglasses wearer's preference and sensibility.