EP3692490A1

EP3692490A1 - Method for computer-assisted determination of a cosmetic product

Info

Publication number: EP3692490A1
Application number: EP18782936.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tilak THIAGARAJAN; Max KEIL; HansGeorg KNUEBEL
Original assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 2017-10-05
Filing date: 2018-10-01
Publication date: 2020-08-12
Also published as: DE102017217727A1; US20200286152A1; WO2019068635A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for computer-assisted determination of a cosmetic product in various embodiments. The method can comprise providing an activation signal to a portable data processing device, the activation signal being designed to activate software in the portable data processing device; providing an item of product category information and an item of user location information to the portable data processing device; providing a plurality of possible target states in the portable data processing device, taking into account the product category information; selecting a desired target state from the plurality of possible target states by the user; determining at least one cosmetic product which is suitable for bringing about the desired target state from a plurality of cosmetic products from different manufacturers and for which data relating to achievable states are stored in an external database; determining the availability of the at least one cosmetic product at the user location; and presenting the at least one cosmetic product, taking into account the availability at the user location. Significant figure

Description

"Method for computer-assisted determination of a cosmetic product"

The invention relates to a method for computer-aided determination of a cosmetic product and a data processing device and a device for carrying out the method.

Today, a user (also referred to as a consumer or consumer) is confronted with an ever-growing number of products and product variants.

This also applies to the field of cosmetics, for example hair treatment products,

Skin treatment products, dental care products and decorative cosmetics. Some users feel overwhelmed when standing in front of a shelf of products at a point of sale.

Therefore, there is a need for quick and objective orientation and guidance from users to find a suitable product.

The most important questions from the user's perspective are:

1.) What do I want to achieve (including starting point and desired

Endpoint)?

2.) Which products enable me to achieve this goal?

3.) Where can I find the products?

In various embodiments, a mobile consultant is provided at the point of sale (also referred to as point-of-sale (POS)) who immediately provides his advice and helps users find the right product.

The consultant may have software that is portable, for example

Data processing devices (also referred to as devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops or Phablets / Smartlets) can run. The software may include a web page that is opened in a web browser installed on the mobile device, or an application (app) that is downloaded (once). Use of a web page may be advantageous in that its handling is simple (it does not need to be downloaded), that it requires little additional storage space (a web browser such as Safari, Google Chrome, Opera, Mozilla, ... is on virtually everyone smart device available so that no additional storage space is needed for the mobile advisor), and that it is inexpensive to program and update (the presence of different operating system for mobile devices such as iOS or Android requires programming and updating various applications and application versions).

The smart device can be triggered (triggered) in various embodiments to open the software. In other words, the software can be activated, e.g. by means of an activation signal.

Exemplary activation signals (triggers) are a readout of an NFC chip (NFC denotes a near field communication: a wireless data transmission, which is made possible over short distances by means of suitable components and protocols), which is attached to the POS (for example the product shelf) by means of the smart Device, reading a QR code, which is attached to the POS (for example, the product shelf), by means of the smart device on which a QR code reader is installed, reading a bar code, which at the POS (for example, the product shelf) attached it by means of the smart device, which has a bar code reader, entering a URL (by hand or as a voice input), which is attached to the POS (for example, the product shelf), recognize an acoustic command (noise, speech, music, jingle, .. .) By means of the smart device, which has a voice recognition module, and / or an on-hand activation by means of a touch-sensitive Interface (for example, opening an app by tapping).

The launched software may be used in various embodiments to guide a user through various processes of a method for determining a user

Cosmetic product lead. The method may include an analysis, a rating, and a recommendation in various embodiments.

The analysis may in various embodiments capture a desired target state (generally, a state expected after the application of the cosmetic product is referred to as a final state). The target state may, for example, have a certain hair color, a particular hairstyle (strong hold, flexible hold, long-lasting hold, ...), a normal skin moisture content, a sun protection factor of at least 50, strong shiny hair, smooth skin, more hair volume, less hair breakage , cleansed skin using a specific ingredient, cleansed hair without the use of one or more ingredients, etc.

During the analysis, further data, for example a start state (also referred to as an initial state or initial state) can also be detected. The starting state may be, for example, a source hair color, a hair shine, a skin moisture, a skin smoothness, etc. The initial state can be determined in various embodiments by means of a questionnaire. In various embodiments, alternatively or additionally, an analysis device may be used, for example an (eg optical) analysis device for determining the hair color (eg a camera) and / or a degree of hair damage (eg an NIR spectrometer, a microscope or the like), an analysis device for determining a

Skin moisture content (e.g., using electrodes), one (e.g., optical)

Analysis device for detecting hair smoothness (e.g., a camera), etc.

The questionnaire can be questions and predefined in various embodiments

Have answer options. The questions and answers may include images, for example, images with strands of hair of different colors, which make it possible to select a hair color (for example, the source hair color and / or the destination hair color).

Alternatively or additionally, other or additional desired (or even avoidable) properties of the cosmetic product can be detected by means of the questionnaire, for example additional properties of hair colors (as a result of a dyeing process), such as, for example, wash fastness, lightfastness, ability to gray cover, additional properties of Skin and / or hair care products, such as a consistency (e.g., cream, gel, oil, etc.), a mode of application (e.g., spray, cream), a need to use certain tools, or to follow precautions, the presence or absence of certain ingredients (for example, allergens , Parabens,

Preservatives, essential oils, etc.), particular properties of the ingredients or manufacturing process (for example, organic ingredients, without animal testing) or the like.

Answering the questionnaire can be made acoustically in various embodiments by the user, for which the portable electronic device with a

Speech recognition can be equipped, or for example by tapping a

touch-sensitive screen of the portable data processing device.

How extensive the analysis is, ie which questions are asked to the user, can depend on the wishes / needs of the user. In a preferred embodiment, the software can be started immediately with questions regarding the correct product category. If, for example, the user's request has a certain hair color, the analysis or acquisition can start with the questionnaire with a question regarding hair colors (eg the desired target hair color.) This can be achieved, for example, by using the start signal (the NFC chip, The URL, the voice command, ...), which starts the software, further comprises information regarding the product category Alternatively, after the start of the software, the product category can be requested, for example hair coloring, hair care, Skin care, for example as a selection menu (eg for tapping), as an acoustic query that expects a voice response, or the like.

The analysis of the user's desires / needs may in various embodiments involve determining a starting state (eg, current hair or skin condition, eg, initial hair color, possible allergies or intolerances) and the desired one

Target state (for example, the hair color or allergens to be avoided, which should be avoided).

In various embodiments, the analysis of the user's desires / needs may merely include determining the desired final state, for example, a paraben free shampoo, a more volume producing conditioner, a greasy skin care cream, skin care creams that have not been tested on animals, shampoos , which mainly contain natural ingredients, a hair spray, which creates a particularly strong hold, etc.

In various embodiments, the input of the user can be evaluated in an evaluation and suitable products can be determined therefrom. For this a database and / or an algorithm can be used. In various exemplary embodiments, the database can have rules for allocating products to a given user input.

The database can be stored in various embodiments in an external computer, so outside the portable data processing device. A data exchange can take place by means of a wireless data connection in a known manner.

In various embodiments, the database may alternatively or additionally be stored in the portable data processing device, for example as part of the app.

The external storage may be advantageous in that on the one hand in the portable data processing device no storage space for the entire database needs to be provided, because only information is provided regarding the judged as suitable products of the portable data processing device, and on the other hand

Updating / maintaining the database is simplified. For example, in an externally stored database, e.g. a centrally managed database, easily retrofitted

Information, such as new products, new trial results on existing products, customer reviews, etc.

The database may also, in various embodiments, store the compositions and / or treatment purposes for one or more products from a product category. The product categories may include, for example, hair dyes, shampoos, hair sprays, skin creams, toothpastes, deodorants, etc. A search program can then, in various embodiments, search or filter the compositions in response to user input. For example, the program can post

Search for shampoo compositions which have no parabens or silicones, or which achieve the desired effect (the desired target state).

In the case of the hair dye composition, in various embodiments, the dyeing result of at least two, for example, all, hair dye compositions applied to the selected initial hair color can be calculated using predictive analytics. Then, those hair dye compositions can be calculated which produce hair color results closest to the one desired

Target hair color are. For example, the color difference ΔΕ can be used.

The color difference ΔΕ can be used, for example, in such a way that all those products which have the expected color difference between the calculated color are judged suitable

Dyeing result and the desired target hair color is smaller than a predetermined limit, for example, a limit for the color distance at which the color difference between the desired target hair color and the Haarfärbeergebnis would be perceived as low (ΔΕ <2.0), would be noticeable only to the trained eye ( ΔΕ <1, 0) or almost imperceptible (ΔΕ <0.5).

The database and / or the algorithm may include an artificial system that learns by example and can generalize it after completion of the learning phase. This means that the examples are not easily remembered (stored, for example), but that patterns and irregularities in the learning data can be recognized. Different approaches can be followed. For example, supervised learning, partially supervised learning, supervised learning, empowering learning and / or active learning can be used.

In the recommendation phase, the software can recommend to the user one or more products which are suitable for fulfilling the wishes or needs of the user.

For example, optically and / or acoustically at least one, preferably at least two or more, suitable products can be presented to the user. A range of recommended products may include products from different companies / manufacturers.

In a case where more than one product is recommended, these products may be presented as a sorted or unsorted list. In the case of a sorted list, different sorting parameters may be used, for example, the list may be sorted based on a goodness of fit between the desired state and the expected state of use of the product, based on a score reflecting customer satisfaction, and taking into account a number of submitted ratings based on a placement in a list of the most frequently sold products, by price (descending or ascending, according to user preference), by sustainability of the product according to a sustainability index, based on whether the product is part of a recent advertising campaign (if applicable). at a discount), etc. The data on the basis of which a sorting of the recommended products carried out, for example

Customer satisfaction or customer ratings can come from different sources. These sources may include the websites of the product manufacturer, the websites of online sales platforms such as Amazon, the websites of rating portals and / or the websites of the online shop of the operator of the point of sale to which the user is located.

According to one embodiment, the software may be arranged to present to the user only those of the suitable products currently available at the point of sale, e.g. are storable. For this, the software may use availability information (e.g., stock information) relating to the point of sale (POS) where the user is currently located. The point of sale information may be in different

Embodiments are provided by means of the activation signal, for example by means of the NFC chip, the URL, the voice input or the like. The point of sale information may include, for example, a name of the store and / or an address of the store. The sales point information can be used to draw conclusions about the products available at this point of sale. The availability information can be in different

Embodiments of the operator of the store (for example, daily or possibly with a greater time interval) are provided and stored for example in the database.

According to one embodiment, the software may be arranged to present to the user only those of the suitable products that are actually available for sale at the point of sale, e.g. standing on the shelf. For this, the software (or other software) can analyze those products that are currently on the shelf. The basis for this can be, for example, an image. For example, the user may take one or more photos of the product shelf (for example, a product shelf on / in which

Hair dyeing products are arranged), and the (further) software can assign the photographed objects to certain products and, for example, based on a design of the product and / or on the product or shelf arranged barcode. through A restriction to actually available products can avoid user frustration.

As described above, in various embodiments, availability information may be used to limit the number of products recommended to the user based on their availability at a specific point of sale. In other words, the availability information is used to filter a selection of processed and / or presented products in the process flow.

In various embodiments, filtering may result in these products, which are not available at the point of sale, being completely removed from the process flow. In various other embodiments, the filtering may be used to present those products that are currently unavailable to the user in a manner other than the products available. For example, the list of recommended products may include a

Having partial area exhibit with available products and also a further subarea with currently unavailable products. For example, in a case where the user chooses one of the products that are currently unavailable, he may purchase that product through the online platform of the store.

The filtering may be performed in different embodiments at different stages of the process. For example, filtering may be performed during the evaluation process, which may limit the number of products that must be handled during a rating. Consequently, a number of products which may possibly be recommended to the user can be restricted.

In various embodiments, the user may be presented with a simulation of an expected result before or after presenting the cosmetic products that facilitate or approximate his or her desired outcome. For this, a photograph of the user may be used, which may be taken by means of a camera of the portable data processing device, for example, or a photograph provided to the portable data processing device, e.g. as submitted file.

The portable data processing device can be set up, for example by means of the software or by means of further software, in the photo to determine the area that would be affected by the application of the cosmetic product, eg the hair, and to display this area in such a way that a simulated representation appears of the user after the application of the respective cosmetic product results. This process may be in a manner known in principle be executed. For example, such a method is known for simulating newly dyed hair in a digital photograph of a user.

In various embodiments, the portable data processing device may be configured to allow the user, after presenting the expected result, to select (possibly further) from the presented plurality of possible products. In this case, displaying further information, e.g. for availability (including, where applicable, a shelf location where the product is found) to be limited to those products selected by the user. In other embodiments, further information may be displayed for all products of the plurality of possible products, where the amount of information for all possible products may be the same or different for the selected products and the non-selected products.

Various embodiments will be described below.

Example 1 is a method for computer-assisted determination of a cosmetic product. The method may include providing an activation signal to a portable one

A data processing device, wherein the activation signal is configured to activate software in the portable data processing device, providing a

Product category information and user location information to the portable

A data processing device, providing a plurality of possible target states in the portable data processing device taking into account the product category information, selecting a desired target state from the plurality of possible target states by the user, determining at least one cosmetic product capable of effecting the desired target state from a multi-vendor plurality cosmetic products for which data on achievable conditions are stored in an external database, determining availability of the at least one cosmetic product at the user location and presenting the at least one cosmetic product below

Consideration of availability at the user location.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 may further optionally include providing a plurality of possible start states in the portable data processing device taking into account the product category information and selecting an existing start state from the plurality of possible start states by the user

manufacturer-independent plurality of cosmetic products for the data on achievable states in the external database are stored further associated start states and wherein when determining the at least one cosmetic product, the start state is considered such that the suitable cosmetic product is adapted to bring about the desired target state from the start state. In Example 3, the subject matter of Example 1 or 2 may optionally comprise the

Activation signal by means of NFC, QR code scan, Barcodescan, text input, acoustic input or key input is provided.

In Example 4, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 3 may optionally include transmitting the activation signal and the product category information as a combined signal.

In Example 5, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 3 may optionally include transmitting the activation signal and the user location information as a combined signal.

In Example 6, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 3 may optionally include transmitting the activation signal, the product category information, and the user location information as a combined signal.

In Example 7, the subject matter of Example 3 may optionally include the acoustic input being a voice input, wherein the portable data processing device includes a voice input

Speech recognition software and may be configured to make the activation of the software when detecting a predetermined voice command.

In Example 8, the subject matter of Example 3 may optionally include the acoustic input being a tone sequence, wherein the portable data processing device includes a

Speech recognition software may be equipped and may be configured to activate the software when detecting a predetermined tone sequence, such as a jingle to make.

In Example 9, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 through 8 may optionally include the product category comprising a hair dyeing product, a hair care product, a hair styling product, a skin care product, a dental care product or a decorative cosmetic product.

In Example 10, the hair dye product of Example 9 may have a hair dye for permanent or temporary dyeing of hair.

In Example 11, the hair care product of Example 9 may comprise a hair shampoo, conditioner, hair conditioner, hair mask, hair oil, or hair care fluid.

In Example 12, the hair styling product of Example 9 may be a hair spray, a hair gel, a hair wax, or a hair remover, e.g. a permanent wave agent or a

Straightener, exhibit. In Example 13, the skin care product of Example 9 may comprise a body cream, body lotion, face cream, face toner, shower gel, facial cleanser, lip care cream, foot care cream, hand cream, sunscreen, or after-sun lotion.

In Example 14, the dentifrice product of Example 9 may have a toothpaste or mouthwash.

In Example 15, the decorative cosmetic product of Example 9 may comprise a lipstick, eyeshadow, mascara, tinted cream, powder, kohl, foundation, or rouge.

In Example 16, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 15 may optionally include the user location being a cosmetics product vending facility.

In Example 17, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 through 16 may optionally include activating the software to open a browser or launch an app.

In Example 18, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 through 17 may optionally include displaying the at least one cosmetic product, taking into account availability at the user's site, including dehorning the unavailable suitable cosmetic products.

In Example 18, the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 17 may optionally include presenting the at least one cosmetic product, taking into account availability at the user site, presenting the appropriate cosmetic products as a first group of available products and a second group of unavailable products ,

In Example 19, the subject matter of Example 18 may further optionally include, when selecting a product from the second group of unavailable products, providing a link and / or order form for online ordering.

In Example 20, the article of any one of Examples 1 to 19 may optionally further comprise, prior to presenting the at least one cosmetic product taking into account availability at the user site, filtering of the at least one cosmetic product taking into account at least one additional parameter.

In Example 21, the subject matter of Example 20 may include the at least one adjunct parameter containing an ingredient, a dosage form, an application method required application tool, a price and / or another property of

Cosmetic product concerns.

In Example 22, the at least one additional parameter of Example 20 or 21 may be used as a positive property, i. be formulated as a presence, ingredient, dosage form, method of administration, auxiliary agent of use, price and / or other property.

In Example 23, the at least one additive parameter of Example 20 or 21 may be used as a negative property, i. formulated as an absence, the ingredient, the dosage form, the method of administration, the required auxiliary agent, the price and / or the other property.

In Example 24, at least one positive property of Example 22 may be combined with at least one negative property of Example 23.

In Example 25, the subject matter of any of Examples 1 to 24 may further be presented prior to presenting the at least one cosmetic product, taking into account availability on

User site presenting the expected result using a user's photo.

In Example 26, the subject matter of Example 25 may optionally include the expected result being an expected hair color, wherein presenting the expected result may include presenting the user's photo having a hair area of the photo in which the user's hair is imaged are retanned, using the expected hair color.

Example 27 is a portable data processing apparatus for carrying out a method for computer-assisted determination of a cosmetic product, wherein the data processing apparatus is configured to execute the method according to any one of Examples 1 to 26.

In example 28, the subject matter of example 27 may optionally include the portable computing device being a smartphone, a tablet, a phablet, an iPad, or a laptop.

In example 29, the subject matter of example 27 or 28 may optionally include the portable data processing device having an NFC communication device. In Example 30, the subject matter of any of Examples 27 through 29 may optionally include the portable data processing device having a QR code scanner.

In Example 31, the subject matter of any one of Examples 27 to 30 may optionally include the portable data processing device having a bar code scanner.

In example 32, the subject matter of any of examples 27 to 31 may optionally include the portable computing device having a computer program for displaying web pages, documents, and / or data on the World Wide Web ("browser").

Example 33 is a device for computer-assisted determination of a cosmetic product. The device may comprise the portable data processing device according to example 32 and an activation signal generator.

In example 34, the subject matter of example 33 may include the activation signal generator having an NFC chip, a QR code, or a bar code.

In Example 35, the subject matter of Example 33 or 34 may have that of

Activation signal transmitter on or at a shelf on which cosmetic products are arranged attached.

In Example 36, the subject matter of any one of Examples 33 to 35 may optionally include the activation beacon as a shelf wobbler, shelf stopper, shelf divider or as

Scanner strip shield is designed.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and are explained in more detail below.

Show it

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a method for computer-assisted determination of a

Cosmetic product according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart which shows a method for computer-aided determination of a

Cosmetic product according to various embodiments; and

3 shows a schematic representation of a device for computer-aided determination of a

Cosmetic product according to various embodiments. In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the present application and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined with each other unless specifically stated otherwise. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation 100 of a method for computer-assisted determination of a cosmetic product according to various embodiments.

By way of illustration, FIG. 1 shows a determination of a hair dye. The method may also be carried out mutatis mutandis for determining a product from another product category.

The user can stand at a point of sale (POS) shown in view 1 10, for example in a drugstore, a perfumery, a hairdressing salon or the like, in front of or in a product shelf 1 14 on or in which products (here: hair colorants, also as Haarfärbeprodukte called) 119 are arranged.

The hair dyes 1 19 may be suitable for producing different hair colors by means of different compositions, wherein the hair dyes may come from different manufacturers.

At or near the shelf, a so-called shelf wobbler 112 (or a mark of comparable functionality, e.g., a shelf stopper, shelf divider, or scanner bar sign) may be disposed.

The shelf wobbler 112 may be configured to include an NFC chip 116 and / or a QR code 1-18, each of which may be adapted to provide a signal 124 (see view 120). In other words, the Regalwobbler 1 12 may be designed as an integrated touch point, which has both the NFC chip 116 and the QR code 1 18. Alternatively, the Regalwobbler 1 12 may have only the NFC chip 116, only the QR code 118 and / or another form of signal provision, such as a barcode, a device that plays a characteristic sequence of tones when activated, or the like. The signal 124 may be configured to act in a portable

Data processing device 122, for example, a smartphone 122 to initiate.

In other words, receiving the signal 124 (e.g., scanning the QR code or transmitting data stored in the NFC chip 116 via NFC) may act as an enable signal. The activation signal can be set in the portable

Data processing device 122 to activate software, for example, to open a web page in a browser or to launch an application (e.g., an app).

Furthermore, the signal may include information about a product category of the products 1 19 arranged in the shelf 14.

The product category information may be used in various embodiments to perform a default upon activation, for example, to open the web page requesting the desired target state appropriate to the product category. In the present example, as shown in view 130, a selection of target hair colors 134 may be provided, from which the user may select, for example by tapping one as his desired target hair color (in view 130, the color is 134s). Alternatively to the web page, an app may be opened such that the query matching the product category is presented to the user, and / or different apps may be provided for different product categories (e.g., different apps for hair dyes and hair care products).

In various embodiments, a generic webpage or app homepage may be presented after provision of the activation signal. In that case, additional user input may be needed to reach the home page associated with the product category.

Further, in the present example, an initial hair color selection 132 may be presented as a start state from which the user selects the hair color closest to his current hair color. In this example the color 132s was chosen.

In various embodiments, the portable computing device 122 may be configured to determine appropriate hair dyes based on the initial hair color 132s and the desired target hair color 134s.

For hair dyes whose chemical composition is known, ie, for example, for all hair dyeing products of a particular manufacturer, the expected hair color can be determined after dyeing in a manner known in principle. For this purpose, methods from the field of predictive analytics can be used in various exemplary embodiments, for which the corresponding English term "predictive analytics" is usually used (also known as "big data", meaning "data mining"). This translates into precise calculations of the hair color to be expected (and possibly further properties such as color fastness, lightfastness, etc.) despite possibly many unknowns in a hair dyeing process. Gray cover, etc.).

The hair color can be parameterized in a color space.

By "color" herein is meant an interaction of a hue (ie, a spectral color indicia, also referred to as a hue, which can be understood as what is considered the "actual color"), a color intensity (ie, how intense the color appears to be eg compared to a neutral gray, which is also referred to as saturation, chroma, chroma, chroma, or color depth) and brightness (ie, how light or dark the color appears).

For example, in various embodiments, the color information may be a

Have parameterization in a known color space, for example in an L ^* a ^* b ^* color space (where L ^* indicates the brightness of a color, a ^* the green and red portion and b ^* the blue and yellow portion of the color; as shortening notation Lab or individually L, a, or b used) in an RGB color space by color components in red, green and blue, in a CMYK color space by color components in cyan, magenta, yellow and black, or in any different color space.

As used herein, the term "hue" can be understood to mean the spectral color impression of a color, regardless of how it can be parameterized, for example as a point in a two-dimensional color space (eg a ^* b ^{* of} the L ^* a ^* b) ^* System) or a ratio of color components (such as the RGB color space or the CMYK color space).

In various embodiments, a color space from which the color information (eg, the hair color information of the colored hair or the initial hair color) originates or in which the color information is displayed (for example, when a hair color is displayed, see below) may be such that a detected or represented Color is independent of a medium by which the color is detected or displayed (eg colorimeter, screen, printer, scanner, human eye, etc.). The color space can be, for example, an L ^* a ^* b ^* color space, the color information being parameterized, for example, by means of a ^* and b ^* Hue. The uniform representation in the medium-independent color space may, for example, make it possible to present a realistic dyeing result to be expected, for example by a dyed color giving the same color impression to the viewer of the dyed hair as in a representation of the expected result, for example on a display device 122d of FIG portable data processing device 122.

In addition, for such a color space, eg, the L ^* a ^* b ^* color space, the color difference ΔΕ may have the property that thresholds for a perceived color difference are independent of the color itself, that is, for example, for both brown and blonde hairs for a trained eye color differences from a color difference of approximately ΔΕ = 1, 0 become perceptible.

In various embodiments, a model can be produced by means of the predictive analytics, which predicts the hair color (and possibly other properties of the hair color, see above) as accurately as possible with a given colorant composition and initial hair color.

For the based on the initial hair color 132s by means of the hair dye 1 19 (all hair dyes or only the hair dye available in principle or only the hair dye actually present on the shelf 114) achievable hair colors can in different

Embodiments each a color distance .DELTA.Ε to the desired target hair color can be determined.

For hair dye products 1 19 whose chemical composition is unknown, e.g. Products of other manufacturers (therefore also known as competitor hair dyeing product), it may be necessary to determine the expected hair color differently or to assign the product.

For this purpose, a limited number of (test) starting hair colors can be provided in various embodiments, one of which is assigned to each competitor hair dye product. For the assignment, a so-called "medium range of application", which is usually indicated on a package of a hair dyeing product, can be used.

After dyeing all competitor hair dyeing products on their respective (test) starting hair color, the obtained (competitor) hair color can be colorized as a color parameterized in a color space (eg the L ^* a ^* b ^* color space) by colorimetric measurement be specified. For each dyeing by means of the hair dyeing products with the known compositions on each of the (test) starting hair colors, the competitor product is determined which has been dyed on the same initial hair color and has the smallest color difference ΔΕ.

Accordingly, for the hair dye 1 19, which has the smallest color difference ΔΕ to the desired hair color, the competitor hair dye can be determined, which has the smallest color difference ΔΕ to the desired hair color.

The hair dye 119 and the competitor hair dye may then be jointly provided to the user as suitable means 136, for example as shown in view 130.

In various embodiments, as described above, the point of sale information may be used to adjust the presentation of the appropriate hair dye 136 to its availability at the PoS, e.g. as a greyed out representation of the unavailable means 136, as a division into available and unavailable groups / lists, possibly with a possibility to order the unavailable funds 136.

In various embodiments, the user may select therefrom preferred product 136s, 119, for example by tapping the screen (see view 140). A detailed depiction of the package may help the user locate the product 136s, 1 19 on the shelf 114, and / or redirect to a web page of the selected product may provide additional information about the product 136s, 119, for example

Customer comments, product ratings, ingredients, application, etc. Alternatively or additionally, a location of the product on shelf 114 may be displayed to the user or otherwise provided.

In various embodiments, as described above, the software may be further configured to provide the user with a representation of himself with the selected product 136s or with any of the appropriate products 136 (not shown).

In various embodiments, as described above, the software may be further configured to restrict product selection by filtering for other properties (e.g., composition, application, etc., as also exemplified above). In various embodiments, this may be done prior to determining the products suitable for achieving the desired target hair color, resulting in a

May reduce computational effort and data volume to be transferred. In various embodiments, the filtering may be done after providing the appropriate hair dye. FIG. 2 is a flowchart 200 illustrating a method of computer-assisted ascertainment of a cosmetic product according to various embodiments.

The method may include providing an activation signal to a portable

A data processing device, wherein the activation signal is arranged to activate software (at 210) in the portable data processing device, provide product category information and user location information to the portable

Data processing device (at 220), providing a plurality of possible target states in the portable data processing device in consideration of

Product category information (at 230), selecting a desired one of the plurality of possible target states by the user (at 240), determining at least one cosmetic product capable of achieving the desired target state from a multi-vendor plurality of cosmetics products for which data over reachable states are stored at an external database (at 250), determining availability of the at least one cosmetic product at the user location (at 260), and presenting the at least one cosmetic product considering availability at the user location (at 270).

FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a device 300 for computer-assisted determination of a cosmetic product according to various embodiments.

The device 300 may comprise a portable data processing device 122 which is suitable for carrying out the method for computer-aided determination of a cosmetic product, for example a sufficiently large memory and a sufficiently powerful processor, e.g. a microprocessor. The portable one

Data processing device 122 may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, an iPad, a laptop or a phablet / smartlet.

In various embodiments, the portable data processing device 122 may include a display device 122d. The display device 122d may include, for example, a screen of the portable data processing device 122. The display device 122 may be used, for example, to present results of the method of computer-assisted ascertainment of a cosmetic product, to request input parameters for carrying out the method, or the like.

In various embodiments, the portable computing device 122 may include an input device for providing information to the computer

Data processing device 122, for example, a touch-sensitive surface of the display device 122, a microphone for input of acoustic signals, a Camera for detecting optical signals (as an example optical signal a QR code 118 is shown for providing a signal 124, alternatively a bar code could be used, for example), an apparatus for data exchange by means of NFC (by way of example the NFC chip 116 is represented as a signal generator, the signal receiver for the signal 124 in the portable data processing device 122 is not shown) or the like.

The signal 124, which may be provided to the portable computing device 122 in one of the ways described or in any other suitable way, may include the activation signal described above. Further, in various embodiments, the signal 124 may include the product category information and / or the point-of-sale information.

Further advantageous embodiments of the method will become apparent from the description of the device and vice versa.

Claims

claims

A method of computer-assisted determination of a cosmetic product, comprising:

Providing an activation signal to a portable data processing device, wherein the activation signal is set up in the portable

Data processing device to activate software;

Providing product category information and user location information to the portable data processing device;

Providing a plurality of possible target states in the portable

Data processing device taking into account the product category information;

Selecting a desired target state from the plurality of possible target states by means of the user;

Determining at least one cosmetic product, which is suitable for bringing about the desired target state, from a manufacturer-independent plurality of

Cosmetic products for which data on achievable conditions are stored in an external database;

Determining availability of the at least one cosmetic product at the user location; and

Presenting the at least one cosmetic product taking into account the

Availability at the user location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

Providing a plurality of possible startup states in the portable

Data processing device taking into account the product category information;

• selecting an existing start state from the plurality of possible start states by means of the user;

• wherein for the multi-vendor plurality of cosmetic products for the data on reachable states in the external database also associated start states are stored; and

Wherein, when determining the at least one cosmetic product, the starting state is taken into account such that the suitable cosmetic product is suitable for bringing about the desired target state starting from the starting state.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein the activation signal is provided by means of NFC, QR code scan, bar code scan, text input, acoustic input or key input.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the activation signal, the product category information and the user location information are transmitted as a combined signal.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the product category being a hair dyeing product, a hair care product

Hair styling product, a skin care product or a decorative cosmetic product has.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

wherein the user location is a cosmetics product vending facility.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

wherein activating the software comprises opening a browser or launching an app.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

wherein presenting the at least one cosmetic product, having regard to the availability at the user site, comprises a roughening of the unavailable suitable cosmetic products.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising:

before presenting the at least one cosmetic product taking into account the availability at the user location, filtering the at least one cosmetic product taking into account at least one additional parameter.

10. The method according to claim 8,

wherein the at least one additional parameter relates to an ingredient, a dosage form, an application method, a required application aid, a price and / or another property of the cosmetic product.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising:

prior to presenting the at least one cosmetic product, taking into account availability at the user's location, presenting the expected result using a user's photo.

12. A portable data processing apparatus for performing a computerized

A kit of a cosmetic product, wherein the data processing device is adapted to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 1 1.

13. A device for computer-aided determination of a cosmetic product, comprising: the portable data processing apparatus according to claim 12; and

an activation signal generator.

The device according to claim 13,

wherein the activation signal transmitter has an NFC chip, a QR code and / or a bar code.

The device according to claim 13 or 14,

wherein the activation signal transmitter on or at a shelf on which

Cosmetic products are arranged, is attached.