JPH09319792A - Commodity selection support system using image composition - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and properly decide whether a commodity is coincident with the one that is desired by a member by preparing a constitution where the member receives a synthetic image from a provider to display it and deciding whether or not the commodity is adopted based on the displayed image. SOLUTION: A member 21 inputs his identification number and the product number of an overcoat to be purchased from a commodity offerer 31 via the keyboard of a personal computer 111. Then the image information on a whole body of the member is read out of a member image RAM 8 and also the image information on the relevant overcoat is read out of a commodity image RAM 9. These two image information are synthesized together and shown on the display of an image synthesizing part 10. This synthetic image is sent to the member 21 and shot on the display of the computer 111. Then the member 21 can decide whether the overcoat fits him in the actual feeling approximate to the trial wearing of it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system that utilizes image synthesis to provide members with information regarding products desired by members and to assist members in selecting products.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Up to now, in a cosmetics department, by incorporating a three-dimensional image of a customer's face into a computer, synthesizing an image with lipstick or eyelashes on the computer, and displaying the image on the screen, the customer's individuality and taste can be improved. A sales method is adopted that makes it possible to easily select a suitable product and stimulates purchasing. In addition, dentists have implemented a treatment method by displaying on the computer screen in advance changes in the appearance of a denture or after orthodontics.

On the other hand, in mail-order sales that provide a wide variety of products, the customer judges the suitability of the product based only on the photograph and its description in the catalog and places an order, so that the delivered product is It may not be what you imagined, and it may result in a disappointing customer. There are also mail-order sales that display video catalog photos with audio explanations on the screen using wired or wireless broadcast media, but they appear on the screen by using the product and wearing it. Many are models, and although the selection of products became easier as the amount of information increased, I still had to imagine whether the products would suit me.

[0004]

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to easily and appropriately determine whether or not a product meets the wishes of members. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new product selection support system that assists members in selecting products.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention synthesizes an image representing a member by a provider and an image of a product which the member desires to use, in response to a request from the member. A system used to assist a member in selecting a product by providing the member with an image of the product being used by the member, wherein the provider is an image representing the member. A member image storage unit that stores the image, a product image storage unit that stores an image representing the product, an image read from the member image storage unit, and an image read from the product image storage unit. Image combining means for outputting a composite image to the member, and the member is provided with means for receiving and displaying the composite image from the provider. Providing product selection support system and determining whether to adopt the goods.

[0006] The member further comprises means for sending an adoption signal to the provider when the member decides to adopt the product, and when the provider receives the adoption signal, the provider indicates to that effect. It further comprises means for communicating to the provider.

[0007] Specifically, the image representing the member is one of the image of the face of the member, the image of the whole body, the image of walking, the photograph of furniture, the photograph of building, and a combination thereof. Any one of them, the image representing the product,
It is any one of an image of an article that can be mail-ordered, an image representing an event plan, and an image of a store.

[0008] Preferably, it enables dialogue between the member and the provider, and allows the member to request the provider to exchange a product in the composite image for another product. .

The provider further includes means for identifying whether or not the member is a pre-registered member before establishing a line with the member, thereby maintaining confidentiality of the image representing the product. It becomes possible to do.

[0010]

1 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of a commodity selection support system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the product selection support system includes a computer of a provider 1 (hereinafter referred to as a center computer) and a plurality of members 2 registered in advance.
It is constructed by connecting a line between personal computers installed at 1, 22, ..., 2m and personal computers installed at the product providers 31, 32, ..., 3n. The center computer of the provider 1 and the personal computers of the members 21, 22, ..., 2 m are connected by cables 41, 42, ... 4 m, and the center computer of the provider 1 and the product providers 31, 32. , ... Cables 51, 52, 53, and 3n personal computers
-Connected by 5n.

These cables 41, 42, ... 4
Each of m, 51, 52, 53, ..., 5n is illustrated as one in FIG. 1, but in reality, a large-capacity cable having a capacity capable of transmitting image information and a command or A small capacity cable that can transmit a signal such as an answer is a set, and the large capacity cable and the small capacity cable are appropriately switched and used according to the type of information to be transmitted. In order to realize this, between the personal computers 111, 112, ..., 11m and one ends of the cables 41, 42 ,.
Between the other end of 1, 42, ..., 4 m and the center computer 6, personal computers 121, 122 ,.
.., 12 m and one end of the cables 51, 52, ..., 5 m, and between the other ends of the cables 51, 52 ,. A switching control device (for example, a modem device) CL for switching between the small capacity cable and the small capacity cable is arranged.

Center computer 6 of provider 1
Are cables 41, 42, ... 4 m and cables 51,
42, ..., An input / output unit 7 connected to one end of 5n,
The member image RAM 8 which is a storage device capable of storing image information provided by the members 21, 22, ...
Image information read from the product image RAM 9, which is a storage device capable of storing and reading the image information of the products provided from 1, 32, ..., 3 m, the member image RAM 6, and the product image RAM 7. An image synthesizing unit 10 that synthesizes and supplies to the input / output unit 7 is provided. Member image RAM8
The operations of the product image RAM 9 and the image composition unit 10 are performed under the control of the input / output unit 7.

The images provided by the members 21, 22, ..., 2m are, for example, the images of the faces of the members from the left and right and the front, the whole body image seen from the front, back, left, and right, while walking or golfing. Not only images of when you are exercising, etc., but also photos of artworks and furniture owned by members, photos of shops and buildings, photos of products, etc., combined with images of products provided by product providers. Includes images of people and objects for which the suitability of the product is judged.

On the other hand, personal computers 111, 112, ..., 11m of members 21, 22, ..., 2m are connected to the other ends of the cables 41, 42 ,. , 5n are connected to personal computers 121, 122, ..., 12n of product providers 31, 32, ..., 3n, respectively.

The members 21, 22, ..., 2 m are personal computers 111, 112, ...
, 11m and the other end of the cables 41, 42, ... 4m, when receiving a special command from the provider 1, the personal computers 111, 112 ,.
When a control unit that operates to turn on the power of 1 m is connected, the members 21, 22, ...
・ It is possible to send images to 2m at any time.
In addition, when a connection request is made by a member, it is identified whether or not the member is a pre-registered member, and the control unit that turns on the power of the center computer 6 only when the pre-registered member is turned on is connected to the cable 41. , 42, ...
By connecting between one end of 4 m and the center computer 6, it is preferable to prevent persons other than pre-registered members from obtaining the product information provided by the product provider. These control units can be incorporated in the switching control device CL of FIG.

When constructing this product information providing system, the members 21, 22, ..., 2m are provided with relevant predetermined image information, for example, left and right images of the face as seen from the front, front and rear images as seen from the left and right. A full-body image, a moving image while walking in the city, etc. Member image RAM8 of the center computer 6
It is stored in advance or at a required time. For this purpose, the members 21, 22, ..., 2m receive the relevant predetermined image information from their personal computers 111, 11 respectively.
Image data is input to 2, ..., 11m and digitized, and provider 1 is provided through cables 41, 21, ..., 4m.
To the center computer 6 of. The input / output unit 7 of the center computer 6 has members 21, 22, ...
・ Receive the image information sent from 2 m and store it in a predetermined storage location of the member image RAM 8. The product providers 31, 32, ..., 3n display images of the products to be sold on the personal computers 121, 122, ...
.., 12n to input an image, digitize it, and send it to the center computer 6 of the provider 1 to send the product image R
It is stored in a predetermined storage location of AM 9 in advance or at a required time. The image information stored in the member image RAM 8 and the product image RAM 9 is preferably updated in a timely manner, and may be transferred to and stored in a large-capacity memory (not shown).

The members 21, 22, ...
The 2m may send a video tape having its own image taken to the provider 1, and the video tape may be read by the center computer 6 and stored in the member image RAM 8. Similarly, each product provider 3
It is also possible to send video tapes of the products 1, 32, ..., 3n to the provider 1 and store them in the product image RAM 9.

1 is a mail order system, and a member 21 having a personal computer 111 wishes to purchase an overcoat sold by a product provider 31 as an example. The operation of the product information providing system will be described. In addition, as an initial state,
The member image RAM 8 has all the members 21, 22, ...
It is assumed that image information representing a 2 m whole-body image is stored, and that the product image RAM 9 stores image information of all products provided by the product provider 31. First, the member 21 uses the keyboard of the personal computer 111 to input the identification number representing the member 21 and the product number representing the overcoat sold by the product provider 31. When the input / output unit 7 of the provider 1 receives the input signal representing the identification number and the product number through the cable 41, the input / output unit 7 decodes the signal and outputs the member image RAM 8 to the member 21. The image information of the whole body image of the member 21 is read out, the image information of the overcoat desired to be purchased by the member 21 is read out from the product image RAM 9, and the image information of the read whole body image and the overcoat image is combined. It is displayed on the display (not shown) of the section 10. Therefore, the provider 1 synthesizes an image of the member 21 wearing the overcoat by using the whole-body image and the image of the overcoat displayed on the display, and the synthesized image is sent to the member via the cable 41. Send to 21.

The composite image sent from the provider 1 is displayed on the display or other display device (not shown) of the personal computer 111 of the member 21. As a result, the member 21 can determine whether or not the overcoat fits him / herself with a feeling close to when the overcoat is tried on. As a result, Member 2
1 performs any one of the following operations (1) to (3).

(1) If the member 21 decides to purchase the overcoat, the member 21 sends a purchase request signal from the keyboard of the personal computer 111 to the provider 1.
To the center computer 6 of. The purchase request signal is decoded by the input / output unit 7, and the input / output unit 7 sends the identification number of the member 21 and the product number of the overcoat to the personal computer 121 of the product provider 31 to order the overcoat, and then the center. The computer 6 is returned to the initial state. The product provider 31 ships the overcoat to the member 21 based on the identification number and the product number sent from the provider 1. The member 21 confirms that the overcoat sent is in accordance with the order, and pays the price by a predetermined method.

(2) If the member 21 decides not to purchase the overcoat, the member 21
The disapproval signal is sent to the center computer 6 by the keyboard 11 of the computer. The input / output unit 7 of the center computer 6 detects this disapproval signal and stops the operation of the image synthesizing unit 10 to return the center computer 6 to the initial state.

(3) "Try on" an overcoat of a different color or size from the overcoat in the combined image
The member 21 personal computer 111 when he wants to
Enter the product number of the overcoat of another color or size using the keyboard of. Upon receiving this, the input / output unit 7 of the center computer 6 reads out the image information of the overcoat of the product number from the product image RAM 9 and outputs it to the image composition unit 10. Therefore, the provider 1 combines the image information of the overcoat of another color or size with the image information that has already been read from the member image RAM 8, and sends the combined image to the member 21. After that, the member 21 performs any one of the operations (1), (2), and (3). In addition, the member 21 informs the provider 1 by telephone of the desire to try on an overcoat of another color or size while connecting the center computer 6 and the personal computer 111, and the provider 1 responds to the request. It is also possible to operate the image synthesizing unit 10 to synthesize a desired image and send it to the member 21.

The outline of the operation of the product selection support system in FIG. 1 has been described above by taking the purchase of an overcoat as an example. With this system, lipstick, cosmetics, earrings,
Products such as necklaces, glasses, hats, walking sticks, shoes, and sports goods can also be sold online. When purchasing lipstick or glasses by this product information providing system, the member needs to store the image of his / her face in the member image RAM 8. In the case of mail-order sales of lipstick, cosmetics, earrings, necklaces, etc., the member should store the color image of the face in the member image RAM 8.

The center computer 6 is further provided with a memory for storing images of landscapes of famous cities, resort areas, ski resorts, golf courses, tennis courts, etc., so that members can purchase the provider 1 from this memory. It is also possible to read out an image serving as a background suitable for the desired product and send the member a composite image of the member image, the product image, and the landscape image.

Another application example of the product selection support system shown in FIG. 1 is event planning. The member can view the still image, walking image, or product image produced by the member as the member image R.
The image is stored in the AM 8 and the product provider stores the assumed image of the planned event in the product image RAM 9. Therefore,
The provider 1 sends the member an image in which the member image and the product image are integrated in response to the request from the member. This allows
Members can grasp the specific image of the event, and can decide whether to participate in the event, the type of product to be displayed, the color, etc. For example, taking the presentation of a new product developed by the member 21 as an example, the member 21 digitizes the color image of the new product, sends it to the provider 1, and stores it in the member image RAM 8 of the center computer 6. Further, the product provider 31 who is in charge of decorating the venue of the recital makes the color images of the plurality of venue plans electronic and stores them in the product image RAM 9. Therefore, in response to the request from the member 21, the provider 1 sends to the member 21 a composite image in which the new product of the member 21 and the venue plan planned by the product provider 31 are variously combined, and based on the composite image, the member 1 21 can get the image of the presentation of the new product, and can easily adopt the venue plan that matches the new product.

Similarly, when planning an event for sales promotion in a shopping street, the image of the shopping street is displayed as the member image R.
By storing the event in the AM 8 and the event planner in the product image RAM 9 by storing the event that the event planner can provide, the provider 1 can send an image in which the image of the shopping street and the event there are combined. The side can work on the event planning with a sense of reality, and can be useful for correcting the project and solving problems in execution.

In addition, images of the shopping street, images of the interiors of the respective stores, actual images of the store owner, etc. are stored in the product image RAM 9, and the walking image of the customer is stored in the member image RAM 8 in advance. By doing so, the customer can obtain an image of walking in the shopping street or individual shops from the provider 1, so that the customer can see the products and the shops, and go to the shops as if shopping. You can enjoy shopping as if you were there.

Still another application example of the product selection support system of FIG. 1 is selection of a signboard of a store. For example, the product provider 31
Is a signboard manufacturer, the product provider 31 stores images of various signs in the product image RAM 9. Therefore,
A member store owner, for example, the member 21, sends an image of his or her store to the provider 1 and stores it in the member image RAM 8 when a new signboard is placed or when the signboard is replaced. Therefore, the provider 1 synthesizes the image of the store of the member 21 and the image of one of the billboards provided by the product provider 31 and sends the image of the state in which the billboard is placed in the store of the member 21 to the member. From this image, the member 21 determines whether the signboard matches his store. in this way,
Members can quickly adopt their favorite signs while staying at home.

[0029]

As is apparent from the description of the embodiments and the use examples of the present invention, the present invention provides members with an image in which images related to members and images of products desired by the members are combined. Since it can be provided, members can get an image that is close to the state that they are using the product, it is possible to definitely select the optimal or favorite product, and the sales promotion effect of the product Is also big.
Further, by using the moving images of the member and the product, it is possible to provide the member with an image that is closer to the actual use, and thus it is possible to further reduce the selection error of the product by the member.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a product selection support system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Provider, 21-2m: Member, 31-3
n: Product provider, 41-4m, 51-5n: Cable,
6: Center computer, 7: Input / output unit, 8: Member image RAM, 9: Product image RAM, 10: Image composition unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G09G 5/36 520 G06F 15/21 Z 15/66 450

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In response to a request from a member, a provider synthesizes an image representing the member with an image of a product that the member wants to use, and an image of a state in which the member uses the product is displayed by the member. A system used to assist a member in selecting a product by providing the member with a member image storage unit that stores an image representing the member, and an image representing the product. A product image storage unit; and an image composition unit that combines the image read from the member image storage unit and the image read from the product image storage unit and outputs a composite image to the member, The member is provided with means for receiving and displaying the composite image from the provider, and the member decides whether or not to adopt the product based on the composite image. Assistance system. 2. The product selection support system according to claim 1, wherein the member decides to adopt the product,
Further comprising means for sending an adoption signal to the provider, wherein the provider, when receiving the adoption signal,
A product selection support system further comprising means for transmitting the effect to the product provider. 3. The product selection support system according to claim 1, wherein the image representing the member is a face image of the member, an image of the whole body of the member, an image of walking, furniture photos, and architecture. It is any one of a photograph of a product and a combination thereof, and the image representing the product is any one of an image of an article that can be mail-ordered, an image representing an event plan, and an image of a store. Product selection support system characterized by being one. 4. The product selection support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the member and the provider are allowed to have a dialogue with each other, and the member is in the composite image. A product selection support system, which makes it possible to request the provider to select an optimum product or exchange a product for another product. 5. The product selection support system according to claim 1, wherein the member is registered in advance before the provider makes a line with the member. A product selection support system characterized by further comprising means for identifying whether or not a member is present, whereby the confidentiality of images representing products can be maintained.