JP2003186965A - Apparel selection supporting system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fitting supporting system for satisfying a user more than a conventional system, and for satisfying a selling store more than the conventional system. <P>SOLUTION: A fitting supporting server 107 is provided with a fitting supporting data base 109 which is stored with merchandise information. The merchandise information includes information expressing the correlation between a merchandise picture and the size of the merchandise (for example, clothes) and the size or physique of the body which the merchandise of the size fits. A user accesses the fitting supporting server 107 by using a user system 102, and designates his or her desired merchandise and the size of the merchandise from a plurality of pieces of merchandise. In addition, the user inputs the size or physique of his or her own body. Then, the merchandise information of the selected merchandise is downloaded from the fitting supporting server 107 to the user system 102, and the judgement result of whether his or her desired merchandise fits the body of the user is displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to systems and methods for assisting in selecting clothing items.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One of the typical cases of selecting a desired clothing item from a plurality of items of clothing is fitting the items before they are purchased. Conventionally, the following methods have been known as fitting methods.

That is, the conventionally known fitting method is as follows.
For example, in a retail store, a user and clothes desired by the user (that is, a product) are photographed by a digital camera, and the images of the photographed user and clothing are captured in a computer terminal of the retail store, so that the personal The computer synthesizes these images and displays them. With this method, the user can determine whether or not the desired clothes suit him or her, without actually trying on the clothes.

[0004]

However, the conventional fitting method has the following problems, for example.

In other words, in the conventional fitting method, what can be discriminated is whether or not the desired clothes suits oneself in design or color, and whether or not the desired size of clothes suits one's body type. Cannot be discriminated without actually trying on them.

Further, in the conventional fitting method, it is not easy to ask a person other than a person in the store on the spot whether or not the desired clothes suit him or her as a result of being electronically tried on by image synthesis. .

Further, in the conventional fitting method, since the number of computer terminals that can be installed in the store is limited, it is not always possible to immediately use it when there are many customers in the store. Not exclusively.

Further, in the conventional fitting method, since the electronic fitting is performed at the computer terminal of the store, there is a possibility that the fitting result may be seen by others. It is considered that there are many users who do not want others to see the results of the fitting.

Further, in the conventional fitting method, depending on the system on the sales side, every time a new product comes in, a person at the shop takes an image of the product and inputs the image data of the product to the computer terminal at each store. It may be added later. This task is cumbersome.

In the conventional fitting method, only products can be electronically tried on. Some users may want to electronically try on something other than a product, for example, only one outfit made for drama shooting.

As described above, the conventional fitting method has some problems, and it is considered that users and dealers are not satisfied with the problem.

[0012] Further, it is considered convenient for the user to be able to know the information of the store handling the desired clothing when selecting the clothing. Further, it may be convenient for the user when other clothing items similar to the desired clothing item are provided when selecting the clothing item.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a clothing item selection support system and method that can satisfy the user more than ever.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clothing item selection support system and method that allows a store to be more satisfied than before.

[0015]

A clothing item selection support system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a design information storage means for storing design information including design data for each of a plurality of clothing items, and a plurality of design information storage means. Clothing selection means for selecting a desired clothing item from among the clothing items, a physical information input means for inputting physical information relating to the physical characteristics of the target person, and design information of the selected desired clothing item, and input. Based on the physical information thus obtained, it is provided with a judging means for judging whether or not the desired clothing item fits the target person, and a judgment result outputting means for outputting the result of the judgment by the judging means.

In the present specification, "apparel" is not limited to clothes and accessories, but may be tools such as a tennis racket used by the subject.

Further, in the present specification, the "subject" is not limited to human beings, but may be animals such as pets, or articles such as dolls and stuffed animals that are simulated by humans or animals. .

Further, in this specification, "data relating to design" means the size and shape of each part of the garment itself,
It may represent the color, material, weight or other design characteristic, or may represent the body size, body shape or other body characteristic to which the clothing item fits.

The clothing item selection support system according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a design information storage unit for storing design information including data on a plurality of variations of a design for each of a plurality of clothing items, and a plurality of clothing items. Clothing selection means for selecting a desired clothing item from among the items, physical information input means for inputting physical information relating to the physical characteristics of the subject, design information of the selected desired clothing item, and A fit product search unit that searches for a variation that fits the target person from among variations of the desired clothing item based on the physical information, and a search result output unit that outputs the result of the search by the fit product search unit.

The clothing item selection support system according to the third aspect of the present invention includes a size information storage unit for storing size information including data about a size or a shape of each of the plurality of clothing items, and a plurality of clothing items. Clothing image storage means for storing each image, clothing selection means for selecting a desired clothing from a plurality of clothing, and physical information input means for inputting physical information regarding the physical characteristics of the subject. Using the target person image input means for inputting the image of the target person, the image of the selected desired clothing item, and the image of the input target person, the target person wears the desired clothing item. Image combining means for synthesizing the image of the figure attached to the image and synthetic image output means for outputting the synthesized image. The image synthesizing means, when synthesizing the images, uses at least one of the image of the desired clothing item and the image of the input subject by using the size information of the desired clothing item and the input body information. Correct size or shape.

In the present specification, "physical information" means, for example, the size, shape, weight, body size of each part of the subject,
It is a representation of the body type or other physical characteristics.

The "image of the subject" may be an image taken by a digital camera or an image obtained from a Web page on the Internet.

"Shape" is almost synonymous with "shape". For example, in a suit, "A body" and "B"
The body is equivalent.

A clothing item selection support system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a store information storage means for storing information on a store that handles a plurality of clothing items, and a desired clothing item selected from a plurality of clothing items. Store information searching means for searching the information of the store that handles the selected desired clothing from the stored store information and the store information for outputting the information of the searched store And output means.

The clothing item selection support system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention includes a design information storage unit for storing design information including design data for each of a plurality of clothing items, and a plurality of clothing items. A clothing selection means for selecting a desired clothing, and a similar article search means for searching for another clothing similar to the above-mentioned selected clothing from a plurality of clothing based on the design information, and searched. And similar article output means for outputting other clothing items.

The clothing item selection support system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention selects a desired article of clothing from a plurality of articles of clothing image storage means for storing images of each article of clothing. Clothing selection means, moving image input means for inputting a moving image, display means for displaying the input moving image,
Using an extracting means for extracting a desired instantaneous still image from the displayed moving image as an image of the target person, the image of the selected desired clothing item, and the image of the extracted target person An image synthesizing unit for synthesizing an image of the subject wearing the desired clothing item and a synthetic image output unit for outputting the synthesized image.

A clothing item selection support system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a clothing item image storage means for storing an image of each of a plurality of clothing items, and a desired clothing item for a plurality of persons from among the plurality of clothing items. Clothing selection means for selecting products, target person image input means for inputting images of a plurality of target people, images of desired clothes for the selected plurality of people, and the input of the plurality of people Using the image of the subject, an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing an image in which all the images of the subject wearing the desired clothing are collected, and a synthetic image output unit for outputting the synthesized image. Prepare

Here, the "composite image" is an image obtained by further combining the respective composite images in which the images of the desired clothing are respectively combined with the respective images of the plurality of subjects. Alternatively, a single image showing a plurality of target persons may be combined with images of desired clothing items for a plurality of persons.

In a preferred embodiment of the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, each of the clothing items is accompanied by an identification label showing an identification code for identifying the clothing item. An identification code input means for inputting the identification code shown on the identification label attached to the is further provided. In this case, the clothing item selecting means selects the clothing item corresponding to the identification code input by the identification code inputting means as a desired article of clothing. The "identification label" may be a product tag or a sticker attached to the product displayed in the store, or may be a product number or bar code printed on a mail order catalog.

In a preferred embodiment of the first to third and fifth to seventh aspects of the present invention, store information storage means for storing information on a store handling a plurality of clothing items or variations, and its storage. Store information search means for searching for information on a store that deals with the selected desired clothing item or a clothing item or a variation that is determined to fit the target person, and information about the searched store item. And store information output means for outputting. In a further preferred embodiment, similar article search means for searching for other selected clothing items or variations of other clothing items, which is similar to the selected clothing item or the clothing item or variation determined to fit the target person, is further provided. The store information searching means, which is provided, searches the stored information about the shop for information on a shop that handles another clothing item or a variation of another clothing item searched by the similar article searching means.

In the preferred embodiments of the first to fourth and sixth to seventh aspects of the present invention, other items similar to the above selected clothing item or the clothing item or variation determined to fit the target person, And similar article search means for searching for variations of other accessories or other accessories, and determination means for determining whether or not each of the other accessories searched or variations of other accessories fits the subject. And a determination result output means for outputting the result of the determination by the determination means.

In a preferred embodiment of the first to fourth and sixth to seventh aspects of the present invention, a selected clothing item or a clothing item or a variation similar to the one determined to fit the target person, or the like, And similar article search means for searching for variations of other accessories or other accessories, and determination means for determining whether or not each of the other accessories searched or variations of other accessories fits the subject. Further, the clothing item selecting means selects, as a desired item of clothing, another item of clothing or a variation of another item of clothing which is determined to fit the target person.

In a preferred embodiment of the fifth aspect of the present invention, physical information input means for inputting physical information relating to the body of the subject, the input physical information, and the design information for the selected clothing item. From the above, there is further provided a fit information output means for creating and outputting fit information regarding whether or not other searched outfits fit the target person.

Here, the "fit information" is, for example, information about a store that handles other clothing items similar to the clothing item that fits the target person, information indicating the result of whether or not the clothing item fits, or the target person. An image obtained by synthesizing the image of and the image of another clothing item and the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention, a moving image input means for inputting a moving image, a display means for displaying the input moving image, and a desired moving image from the displayed moving images. Extraction means for extracting an instantaneous still image as an image of the subject is further provided.

In a preferred embodiment of the third and sixth to seventh aspects of the present invention, the composite image output means outputs the composite image to the mobile phone. Further, setting means for setting the combined image as an incoming call standby screen of the mobile phone is further provided.

In the preferred embodiments of the third and sixth to seventh aspects of the present invention, the composite image output means outputs the composite image to the mobile phone. Further, a transfer unit for transferring the combined image to another mobile phone different from the mobile phone is further provided.

The plurality of means included in the clothing item selection support system according to the first to seventh aspects of the present invention may be provided in one computer or may be provided in a distributed manner in a plurality of computers. .

For example, in the clothing item selection support system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the design information storage unit is provided in the server, and the clothing item selection unit, the physical information input unit, the determination unit, and the determination result output unit are the clients ( For example, the mobile phone used by the user) may be provided (the determination means and the determination result output means may be provided in the server).

Further, for example, in the clothing item selection support system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the design information storage means,
The fit item search means and the search result output means may be included in the server, and the clothing item selection means and the body information input means may be included in the client.

Further, for example, in the clothing item selection support system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the server is equipped with the size information storage means and the clothing image image storage means, and the clothing item selection means, the body information inputting means, and the subject image. Input means, image composition means,
The client may be provided with the composite image output means (the subject image input means, the image composition means, and the composite image output means may be provided in the server).

Further, for example, in the clothing item selection support system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the server is provided with the store information storage means, the store information search means, and the store information output means.
The clothing item selection means may be provided by the client.

Further, for example, in the clothing item selection support system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the design information storage means,
The similar item search means and the similar item output means may be provided in the server, and the clothing item selection means may be provided in the client.

Further, for example, in the clothing item selection support system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the clothing image storage means is provided in the server, and the clothing article selection means, the moving image input means, the display means, the extraction means, and the image composition. The means may be provided in the client, and the combined image output means may be provided in the client (the moving image input means, the extraction means, the image combining means, and the combined image output means may be provided in the server).

Further, for example, in the clothing item selection support system according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the clothing image storage means is provided in the server, and the clothing article selecting means, the subject image input means, the image synthesizing means, and the synthetic image. The output unit may be included in the client (the image combining unit and the combined image output unit may be included in the server).

[0046]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First to fourth embodiments, in which the clothing item selection support system of the present invention is applied to a system for electronic trial fitting, will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The user system 102 and the fitting support server 107 are communicably connected to a communication network 106 such as the Internet.

The user system 102 is, for example, a personal computer, and the central processing unit (CPU) 10
3, a display screen 104, a main memory 105, and an input device (not shown) such as a mouse and a keyboard. The user system 102 is the digital camera 10
The electronic image taken by the camera 101 can be taken in from a wired or wireless manner.

The fitting support server 107 includes a database 109 in which data for fitting support is stored, and a control unit (typically a central processing unit) 108 for controlling the processing for fitting support. The database 109 contains
Specifically, information about products (“fashion accessories” in this specification) (hereinafter, product information) and information showing history such as the number of accesses to product information and the number of products requested to be purchased (hereinafter, “information”) , History information) are stored. The product information is prepared for each product, and each product information includes, for example, product image information, product size / fit information, and product-related information. The product image information is information representing a still image in which an image taken by a digital camera from one or more directions (for example, front and side) of a product is processed by a process such as trimming (a still image is a moving image. It may be a frame extracted from). The product size / fit information is the size of the product itself (“S”, “M”,
"L", etc., the shape of the product (for example, "A shape", "B shape", etc. if the product is a suit), and the body for fitting the product when trying it on. (Specifically, for example, height, weight, neck circumference, chest circumference, waist circumference, thigh circumference, etc.) or body type (for example, body length, leg length, thick, thin, etc.) . The product-related information is information other than the above-mentioned information related to the product, such as the product identification code, the product type (outerwear, underwear, pants, accessories, etc.), the product color (white, blue, black, etc.). ), The pattern of the product (plain, vertical stripes, horizontal stripes, etc.), the model number of the product, and the product number. In addition, the product-related information includes information about the store that handles the product (name, address, contact information, homepage address, peripheral map of the store, etc.), and the product of the size desired by the user at present. It includes information on the stocked stores, URLs of Web pages that introduce products in detail, and similar product information (information indicating links with product information of other products that are similar in design). There is.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the operations performed in the system described above. Hereinafter, the functions of the user system 102 and the fitting support server 107 will be described along with the flow of operations in the system described above with reference to this drawing.

The user shoots himself / herself using the digital camera 101, prepares a shot image of himself / herself, and loads the shot image (hereinafter, user shot image) into the user system 102 (to himself). Alternatively, a desired subject other than himself may be photographed and the photographed image may be taken into the user system 102).

Then, the user operates the user system 102.
To access the fitting support server 107 via the communication network 106 (step S301). In response to this, the fitting support server 107 provides the user system 102 with and displays a product selection screen (not shown) for the user to search for and select a desired product.

When the product selection screen is displayed on the user system 102, the user selects a desired product type (outerwear, underwear, etc.) on the product selection screen (S30).
2). When the type of product is selected, the fitting support server 10
7 extracts the product information belonging to the selected type from the fitting support database 109 and displays the extracted result. After that, the fitting support server 107 uses the screen on which the result is displayed to inform the user of the product desired by the user (for example, the coat “XYX” of the brand “AA”) and the size (for example, “M”). To select. Further, the fitting support server 107, in response to an operation performed by the user on the user system 102, a color / pattern selection screen (not shown) for receiving selection of a desired color and pattern of the product selected by the user. Is provided to the user system 102 and displayed.

When the color / pattern selection screen is displayed on the user system 102, the user selects a desired product color / pattern on the color / pattern selection screen (S303). In response to the selection of the color / pattern, the fitting support server 107 provides the user system 102 with and displays a size input screen (not shown) for inputting the size and body type of the user's body. On the size input screen, for example, as the size of the body, it is possible to input numerical values such as height, weight, neck circumference, chest circumference, waist circumference, or thigh circumference. You can enter long, thick, thin, etc.

When the size input screen is displayed on the user system 102, the user displays the size and body type of his or her body (if the above-mentioned photographed image is a photographed image of another person, the size of the other person's body is displayed on the size input screen). Size and body type are input (S304, it is not necessary to input all items). When the body size and body type of the user are input, the fitting support server 107 stores the product information (that is, product image information, product size / fit information, and product related information) of the product having the color and pattern selected in S303. ) Is downloaded to the user system 102 (S305). The downloaded product information is expanded in the main memory 105.

When the downloaded product information is expanded in the main memory 105, the user system 102 (specifically, the central processing unit 103) displays the product image contained in the product information at a predetermined or desired timing. Is combined with the user-captured image designated by the user in step S305-
A). In this step, specifically, the following processing is performed, for example.

That is, the user system 102 analyzes the user-captured image and the product image developed in the main memory 105, and based on the result, analyzes the product image.
It is corrected (for example, enlarged or reduced) so as to match the body size and body shape input in step S304. Then, the user system 102 displays the corrected product image as
It is combined (overlaid) at a specific position of the user-specified image taken by the user (for example, the position where the user's upper body is shown if the product image is a jacket).

Further, in the user system 102, if the user-captured image is an image showing only the user's face (hereinafter referred to as user face image), the size of the user face image is expanded in the main memory 105. The product image is modified (for example, enlarged or reduced) based on the size of the product image and the body size and body shape input in step S304, and the modified user face image is converted into the product image expanded in the main memory 105. Join. Note that, here, instead of or in addition to the user face image, the product image may be modified. Whether the user-captured image is a user face image is inquired to the user about the content of the user-captured image (for example, only the face, only the upper body, or the whole body), or
The determination can be made by a method such as analyzing the user-captured image with a predetermined algorithm.

Electronic try-on is performed by such an image synthesizing process (the above-described image synthesizing process may be performed automatically or in response to a user's manual work (for example, mouse operation). It may be done by.) In addition, in this image synthesizing process, for example, if the user specifies a plurality of products (for example, jacket and pants), one user captured image,
It is possible to combine a plurality of product images. Further, the content of the image synthesizing process described here is only an example, and in this embodiment, image synthesizing processes other than the above can be applied. For example, by analyzing a user-photographed image, the pose of the user shown in the image is identified, and the product image that best matches the pose is tried-on support database 1
It is also possible to search from 09 and perform image composition processing based on the found product image (in this case, images of products taken in various poses for the same product are required). Even if at least one of the user-captured image and the product image is a moving image, a method of extracting a still image (frame) from the moving image, a method of combining one moving image with the other moving image, or the like is added to the user-captured image. Product images can be combined.

Now, when this image composition processing is completed (or in parallel with this image composition processing), the user system 10
In No. 2, the size of the product selected by the user (that is, the product size represented in the product size / fit information developed in the main memory 105) fits the body size and body shape input in step S304. Whether or not (hereinafter, product fit determination) is determined based on the product size / fit information developed in the main memory 105 (S305-B).

Steps S305-A and S
When the processing of 305-B is completed, the user system 102
Displays a screen showing the results of those processes (hereinafter, try-on / fit determination result screen) (S305-C). FIG. 3 shows an abstract representation of an example of the fitting / fitting determination result screen. That is, the try-on / fit determination result screen 304 shows the user 31 in the user captured image.
The result (that is, try-on result) 305 in which the user-designated products 311 and 312 having the color / pattern desired by the user are overlaid on the specific portion of 0, and the product fit determination result 313A,
313B is displayed (the result of the product fit determination is
For example, it is displayed for each product as shown). In addition, the fitting / fit determination result screen 304 shows the fitting support server 1
“Purchase request” button 321 for issuing a purchase request to 07, “Standby screen setting” button 322 for requesting setting of fitting result 305 on the standby screen (desktop background), and fitting result 304 A "send e-mail" button 323 for requesting to notify the desired person by e-mail is also displayed. Also, on the try-on / fit determination result screen 304, the “I want to change only color / pattern” button 3 for requesting to change only the color / pattern of the products 311 and 312 displayed as the try-on result 305.
24, and a button 325 for requesting that only the color / pattern of the products 311 and 312 is the same as that of the current color / pattern and that only the product is changed is also displayed. In addition, in the fitting / fitting determination result screen 304, “change product size” for requesting that only the product size be changed
A button 326 and a “redo all” button 327 for requesting that the user try again from the beginning (that is, from the selection of the product).

With this try-on result screen 304, the user determines whether or not the product he or she desires suits him or not, and when a plurality of products (for example, jacket and pants) are designated, the combination thereof suits his or her preference. It is possible to determine whether or not the size of the specified product matches the size and body shape of the person's body without actually trying on the clothes.

The user selects the fitting / fitting judgment result screen 3
04 (or, depending on the circumstances, enlarge, reduce, or scroll the screen 304) is OK (Y in S306 of FIG. 2) and want to purchase the products 311 and 312. After designating the products 311, 312, the “purchase request” button 321 is pressed (for example, clicking with a mouse). Then, a purchase request is issued to the fitting support server 107 (S307-A). In response to that, the fitting support server 107 determines the product 31 based on the product information of the products 311 and 312 shown in the fitting result 305.
The location of the store where 1, 312 are sold is displayed on the user system 102 (S307-B). In step S307-B, the fitting support server 107 determines the product 31 based on the product information of the products 311 and 312.
Limit the sizes of 1,312 (that is, the product size specified by the user) only to those actually handling,
It is also possible to display the location of the store.

If the user sees the fitting / fitting judgment result screen 304 and is OK (Y in S306) and wants to set the fitting result 305 to the standby screen, he / she presses the "set to standby screen" button 322. . Then, the user system 102 stores the fitting result 305 (S30
8), the fitting result 305 is set on the standby screen (background of the desktop) of the user system 102 (S30).
9).

If the user looks at the fitting / fitting judgment result screen 304 and is OK (Y in S306) and wants to notify the desired fitting result 305 to another person by e-mail,
The “send electronic mail” button 323 is pressed. Then, the e-mail transmission / reception software is activated on the user system 102, and a screen for transmitting the e-mail is displayed (S311). The user inputs the e-mail address of the desired other person on the screen (S311) and presses the send button (S312). As a result, the fitting result 305 is transmitted by e-mail to another person desired by the user (S31
3). The fitting result 305 may be transferred by a method other than e-mail. For example, if the fitting result 305 is the Web
The URL of the try-on result 305 may be automatically placed on top and the desired other person may be notified by e-mail.

On the other hand, the user looks at the fitting / fitting judgment result screen 304 and if there is a product for which only the color / pattern is to be changed (N in S306, N in S314), the user specifies the product with a mouse or the like, "I want to change only the color / pattern" button 324
push. Then, the process returns to step S303, and the work of selecting the color / pattern can be performed.

Further, if the user sees the fitting / fitting judgment result screen 304 and finds that there is a product that the user wants to change only the product while keeping only the current color / pattern (N in S306, S31).
4), specify the product with a mouse or the like, and press the "Is this the color / pattern is all right" button 325. Then, the fitting support server 107 finds the product information of the similar product having the same color and pattern based on the similar product information included in the product information of the product designated as the change target, and uses the product information as the user information. Download to system 102 (S3
15). When the product information of the downloaded similar product is developed in the main memory 105, the user system 102 erases the product image designated as the change target by performing an image combining process such as step S305-A. ,
A product image of a similar product is displayed at the position of the product image (S316). After this step S316, step S
Return to 306.

Although not shown in particular, the user sees the fitting / fit determination result screen 304, and the result 313A or 313B of the product fit determination is "size NG (that is, the product specified by the user is not displayed on the user's body. If it does not fit), specify a product of size NG and press the “change product size” button 326. Then, the fitting support server 107 provides the user system 102 with a screen for changing the product size and displays the screen. The user can change the product size on the screen (when this process ends, the process returns to step S306).

Similarly, although not shown in the drawing, when the user wants to redo the fitting operation from the beginning by looking at the fitting / fitting judgment result screen 304 (that is, redoing from the selection of the product), the “redo all” button 327 push. Then, the process returns to step S302, and the selection of products is restarted.

The above is the flow of the system according to the first embodiment. Although not shown, in this flow, the fitting support server 107 counts the number of accesses, the number of purchase requests, and the like for each product information, and collects statistics such as the number of accesses and the number of purchase requests. The result can be stored in the fitting support database 109 as history information. The fitting support server 107 can provide history information to the requesting terminal and display the history information in response to a request from the user or the seller of the product. The history information can be displayed, for example, for the entire product, for each product type, or for each product. Various types of collection and display forms of history information can be considered. For example, referring to FIG.
As shown in (a), a form in which statistics such as the number of accesses are displayed by color and pattern, and as shown in FIG. 4 (b), by body size input by the user (for example, by height) , By weight, etc.) and the statistics such as the number of accesses are displayed. By generating and providing the history information in this way, the user and the product maker can know the colors, patterns, sizes, and the like that are in high demand.

The above is the description of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, for example, the following modifications can be considered.

As a first modified example, the product information of a product having a desired color and pattern is input by the user inputting the product identification code described in a mail-order catalog or the like on the product selection screen. It may be acquired by searching for product information corresponding to the product identification code.

As a second modification, the body size and body type of the user are input in advance, and the product size of the product desired by the user is automatically selected based on the input information, or When a desired product size is designated (for example, when the cursor of the pointing device is overlaid or one-click), it is determined whether or not the product fits, and the result may be returned. As a result, the annoyance of having to change the product size when the “size NG” has appeared due to the product fit determination processing is eliminated (this second modified example includes the following second and third examples). Can also be applied to the embodiment). The body size and body type of the user may be registered in advance together with the user ID and the like, and may be automatically acquired by the user ID and the like.

As a third modification, at least one of a process of correcting a user-captured image or a product image, an image composition process using the corrected user-captured image or product image, and a product fit determination process. Alternatively, the fitting support server 107 may perform instead of the user system 102 (this third modified example is also applicable to the following second to fourth embodiments).

As a fourth modification, the user-captured image is
It may be an image of a non-human animal, for example, a pet of the user.

As a fifth modification, the flow of selecting a product having a desired color / pattern is not limited to the above. For example, by inputting a desired brand, color, pattern, etc. as a search key and selecting the desired product from the search results based on the input search key, the product with the desired color / pattern can be selected. You may finish.

According to the above-described first embodiment, the product information of each product includes product size / fit information representing the size and body type of the human body to which the product fits, and the person trying on the product. By inputting the body size and body type information of the user, it is determined whether or not the selected product fits on the body of the person to be tried on based on the input information and the product size / fit information. The result is displayed. For this reason, it is possible to know whether or not the selected product fits without actually trying on it. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the trouble that the size does not fit when actually bought and actually worn.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment (this also applies to FIG. 6).
Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

In the second embodiment, the user system is a mobile phone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).
s), or a mobile communication terminal 501 such as a notebook personal computer. Further, in the second embodiment, each product 5 sold at the store 550 is sold.
04 is equipped with a product tag 601 in which a product identification code is displayed, for example, as a barcode. Each piece of product information stored in the fitting support database 109 includes a product identification code.

The mobile communication terminal 501 uses the try-on support server 10 via the base station 503 and the communication network 106.
7 can communicate with each other. Further, the mobile communication terminal 501 can take in an image taken by the digital camera 101 (not shown in FIG. 5) from the digital camera 101 by wire or wirelessly (or CCD in the mobile communication terminal 501). Mobile communication terminal 5 equipped with a camera
01 may have a function as a digital camera). In addition, the mobile communication terminal 501 has a product tag 601.
A reading device (for example, a bar code reader) 502 capable of reading the product identification code displayed on the is provided.

In the second embodiment, electronic fitting can be performed as follows.

At the store 550, the user reads the product identification code displayed on the product tag 601 of each of the one or more products 504 to be actually tried on from the reading device 502 of the mobile communication terminal 501 and saves it. To do.

After that, the user selects the mobile communication terminal 501.
Try on the product identification code stored in the fitting support server 1
Send to 07. When the fitting support server 107 receives the product identification code from the mobile communication terminal 501, the fitting support server 107 searches the fitting support database 109 for product information including the received product identification code, and sends the found product information to the mobile communication terminal 501. Download (if the product identification code does not correspond to the color and pattern of the product, download after selecting the product color and pattern).

After that, the flow is similar to that of the first embodiment. That is, the fitting result (composite image of the user captured image and the product image) can be set on the standby screen or transferred to another mobile communication terminal.

According to the second embodiment, the same electronic try-on as in the first embodiment can be performed on the mobile communication terminal 501, so that the result of the try-on can be requested from the store 550 by e-mail. Can be sent to another person, such as a friend or family member, and a reply to the e-mail can be received at the store 550. By looking at the returned e-mail, you can see how your friends and family are evaluating the fitting results, so even if you do not go to the shop 550 with your friends and family, the shop 55
At 0, you can hear the evaluation of the fitting result from friends and family.

Further, according to the second embodiment, the person at each store 550 does not need to prepare the product image by himself when a new product is added, and the product tag 60
It is easy because you only need to attach 1. Furthermore, the second
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the user can try on the clothes in the shop 550 without providing a computer terminal, a booth, or the like for making the clothes in the shop 550.
For example, you can display more products, etc.
Convenient for 0.

The above is the description of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, as a modification, the digital camera 101 or a CCD camera (not shown) included in the mobile communication terminal 501 photographs the product tag 601 and the photographed image is taken. The product identification code may be read by analyzing 501 or the fitting support server 107.

Now, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Since the third another embodiment is an embodiment close to the second embodiment, the differences from the second embodiment will be mainly described below.

In the third embodiment, the store terminal 622 capable of communicating with the fitting support server 107 via the communication network 106 is installed in the store 550.

The store terminal device 622 is the device 622.
A central processing unit 623 for controlling the whole, a store database 611 for storing various information, and a communication unit for short-range wireless communication (hereinafter, short-range wireless communication unit) 612 are provided. (Here, “short-range wireless communication” means performing wireless communication by a system such as a short-range wireless communication system using Bluetooth (trademark), and “short-range wireless communication means” means , Is a dedicated transceiver for making that communication). The store terminal device 622 receives the product information of all the products actually handled in the store 550 from the fitting support server 107, and receives the product information from the store database 61.
Stored in 1.

In the third embodiment, the short range wireless communication means 61 is also provided in the mobile communication terminal 501 carried by the user.
3 is provided.

In the third embodiment, electronic fitting can be performed as follows.

At the store 550, the user reads the product identification code displayed on the product tag 601 of each of the one or more products 504 to be actually tried on from the reading device 502 of the mobile communication terminal 501. And the user
Each of the read product identification codes is transmitted to the store terminal device 623 via the short-range wireless communication means 613 of the mobile communication terminal 501.

The end of the store 622 is the mobile communication terminal 50.
When the product identification code is received from 1 via the short-range wireless communication unit 612, the product information including the received product identification code is searched from the store database 611, and the searched product information is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 501. To do.

After that, the flow is similar to that of the first embodiment.

According to the third embodiment, in addition to the same effect as the second embodiment, the user can
Since it is possible to obtain the product information of a desired product without going through the communication network 106, it is preferable because the user does not have to pay the communication cost.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of electronic fitting that is performed in the fourth embodiment. The flow shown in FIG. 7 can be implemented by the system of any of the first to third embodiments. Hereinafter, the flow shown in FIG. 7 will be described as a flow performed in the system according to the second embodiment.

First, the user can select desired clothes, backgrounds, images of accessories, etc. (This image is not limited to product images, but may be clothes not for sale for shooting movies or dramas, for example. Hereinafter, "clothes image" will be collectively referred to as "clothes image" from the digital camera or a desired WEB site into the mobile communication terminal 501 (S701).

Further, the user uses a digital camera or a CCD camera mounted on the mobile communication terminal 501 to take a moving picture of the face of one of at least one human including himself (S702). Then, the user is the mobile communication terminal 50.
1 is used to extract a desired new frame (still image) from the captured moving image of the face (S703), and step S70
The clothing image and the new frame are combined in the same manner as in the first embodiment so that the clothing image captured in 1 matches the extracted new frame (S704).

As a result, if it is not OK (N in S705), the work of extracting a new frame from the moving image of the face is redone, and if OK (Y in S705), the first person is confirmed (S706). , Send a screen in which the clothes image and the new frame are combined to another person by e-mail (S
707), and can be set as a standby screen of the mobile communication terminal 501 (S708).

Of the above-mentioned one or more humans, step S
If there is a person who has not yet performed the Y work in steps 701 to S705 (N in step S709), the person performs steps S702 to S705. On the other hand, if there is no such person (that is, the above-mentioned work is performed for all) (Y in S709), all are confirmed (S710). After that, for example, in response to the user's request, the screens of all of the people in which the clothes image and the new frame are combined are combined into one image, and it is as if the images were taken together by all. You can In addition, the image combined with the one (or each person's image) is transmitted to the desired other person by e-mail (S711), or the mobile communication terminal 50 is used.
It can be set as the standby screen of No. 1 (S712).

The above is the flow of the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, for example, the following modified examples can be performed.

As a first modification, the mobile communication terminal 50
The clothes image captured in 1 may be an image of a person who has already dressed (for example, a model wearing clothes). This image is prepared for each type of clothes or each size of clothes. When such an image is captured, the process of step S704 is performed by superimposing the image of the new frame on the human face shown in the image.

As a second modification, the moving image to be photographed is
Not limited to the face, it may be the upper body or the whole body. Further, the user may be allowed to input his / her body size and body type and another body size and body type (for example, an ideal body size and body type). In this case, at least one of the new frame and the clothing image may be modified based on the size and body type information of the user and the information of another body size and body type.

Although some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. . That is, the present invention can be implemented in other forms than electronic fitting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of operations performed in the system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an abstract view showing an example of a try-on / fit determination result screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a collection form and a display form of history information. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an example of a mode in which statistics such as the number of accesses are displayed by color and pattern. (B) is
The figure showing an example of the form which displays and collects statistics, such as the number of accesses according to the size of the body inputted by the user.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of electronic try-on performed in the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 digital camera 102 user system 103 Central processing unit 105 main memory 107 fitting support server 109 fitting support database

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shinichi Obata             292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa             Ceremony Hitachi Digital Media Development Book             Department F term (reference) 5B057 AA18 BA02 CA01 CA08 CA12                       CA16 CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16                       CD05 CD11 CE08

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. A design information storage unit for storing design information including design-related data for each of a plurality of accessories, and an accessory selection unit for selecting a desired accessory from the plurality of accessories. , The physical information input means for inputting physical information relating to the physical characteristics of the target person, the design information of the selected desired clothing, and the desired clothing based on the input physical information. A clothing item selection support system comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the person fits the person; 2. A design information storage means for storing design information including data on a plurality of variations of a design for each of a plurality of accessories, and an accessory for selecting a desired accessory from the plurality of accessories. An item selection unit, a physical information input unit for inputting physical information relating to the physical characteristics of the target person, the design information of the selected desired accessory, and the input physical information based on the input physical information. A clothing item selection support system comprising: a fit item searching unit that searches for a variation that fits the target person from variations of clothing items; and a search result output unit that outputs a result of the search by the fit item searching unit. 3. A size information storage means for storing size information including data on a size or a shape of each of the plurality of clothing items, and a clothing image storage means for storing an image of each of the plurality of clothing items. A clothing item selecting unit that selects a desired item of clothing from the plurality of items of clothing; a physical information input unit that inputs physical information relating to a physical characteristic of the target person; and a target person who inputs the image of the target person. An image of the figure in which the subject wears the desired clothing item is synthesized by using the image input means, the image of the selected desired clothing item, and the image of the input subject person. An image synthesizing unit and a synthetic image output unit for outputting the synthesized image, wherein the image synthesizing unit, when synthesizing the images, size information of the desired clothing item, and the input body information. Using Said desired and apparel image, furnishing selection support system for modifying at least one of size or shape of the input subject image. 4. A store information storage unit that stores information on a store that handles a plurality of fashion items, a fashion item selection unit that selects a desired fashion item from the plurality of fashion items, and stores the information. Out of store information, a store information search unit that searches for information about a store that handles the selected desired fashion item, and a store information output unit that outputs information about the searched store system. 5. A design information storage unit that stores design information including design-related data for each of a plurality of clothing items, and a clothing item selection unit that selects a desired clothing item from the plurality of clothing items. , Based on the design information, similar article search means for searching for other clothing items similar to the selected clothing item from the plurality of clothing items, and similarity for outputting the other clothing item searched An article selection support system including article output means. 6. An accessory image storage means for storing each image of a plurality of accessories, an accessory selecting means for selecting a desired accessory from the plurality of accessories, and a moving image for inputting a moving image. Image input means, display means for displaying the input moving image, a desired instantaneous still image from the displayed moving image,
Extraction means for extracting as an image of the target person, using the image of the selected desired clothing item, and the image of the extracted target person, the target person wears the desired clothing item A clothing item selection support system comprising: an image synthesizing unit that synthesizes a figure image; and a synthetic image output unit that outputs the synthesized image. 7. A clothing image storage means for storing respective images of a plurality of clothing, a clothing selection means for selecting a desired clothing for a plurality of persons from the plurality of clothing, and a plurality of persons. The target person image input means for inputting the image of the target person, the image of the desired clothing for the selected plurality of people, and the image of the plurality of input target persons, the target person A clothing item selection support system comprising: an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing images in which all the persons wearing the desired clothing items are collected, and a synthetic image output unit for outputting the synthesized image. 8. An identification label indicating an identification code for identifying the accessory is attached to each of the accessories, and the identification code indicated on the identification label associated with the accessory is input. 7. The identification code inputting means for further comprising: the accessory selecting means selecting the accessory corresponding to the identification code input by the identification code inputting means as the desired accessory. The clothing item selection support system according to any one of the items. 9. A store information storage unit that stores information on a store that handles each of the plurality of clothing items or variations, and the selected desired clothing item or the target item from the stored store information. 4. A store information searching unit that searches for information on a store that handles a clothing item or a variation that is determined to be fit for a person, and a store information output unit that outputs information about the searched store. And the clothing item selection support system according to any one of claims 5 to 7. 10. A similar article search means for searching for another clothing item or a variation of another clothing item, which is similar to the selected clothing item or the clothing item or variation determined to fit the target person. , The store information searching means searches the stored information of the store for information of a shop that handles another clothing item or a variation of another clothing item searched by the similar article searching means. 9. The clothing item selection support system described in 9. 11. A similar article search unit that searches for another article of clothing or a variation of another article of clothing, which is similar to the selected article of clothing or a piece of clothing or a variation determined to fit the target person, Each of the other clothing items or variations of the other clothing items that have been searched, a determination unit that determines whether or not the target person fits, and a determination result output unit that outputs the determination result by the determination unit. The clothing item selection support system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and claim 6 to claim 7, which further comprises. 12. A similar article search means for searching for another clothing item or a variation of another clothing item, which is similar to the selected clothing item or the clothing item or variation determined to fit the target person, Each of the other costumes or other variations of the costumes that have been searched for further comprises a determination unit that determines whether or not the target person fits, the clothing item selection unit, when the target person fits The clothing according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 7, wherein the determined other clothing or a variation of the other clothing is selected as the desired clothing. Selection support system. 13. From the physical information input means for inputting physical information relating to the body of the subject, the input physical information, and the design information of the selected clothing item, the searched other clothing item is The clothing item selection support system according to claim 5, further comprising: fit information output means for creating and outputting fit information regarding whether or not the subject fits. 14. A moving image input means for inputting a moving image, a display means for displaying the input moving image, and a desired momentary still image from the displayed moving image, the image of the subject. 4. An extraction means for extracting as
The system described. 15. The method according to claim 3, wherein the composite image output means further comprises setting means for outputting the composite image to a mobile phone and setting the composite image as an incoming call standby screen of the mobile phone. The clothing item selection support system according to any one of items 6 to 7. 16. The composite image output means further comprises a transfer means for outputting the composite image to a mobile phone and transferring the composite image to another mobile phone different from the mobile phone. The clothing item selection support system according to any one of claim 3 and claim 6 to claim 7. 17. A step of storing design information including data on a design for each of a plurality of accessories, a step of selecting a desired accessory from the plurality of accessories, and a physical condition of a subject. Step of inputting physical information regarding characteristics, based on the design information of the selected desired clothing item and the input physical information, it is determined whether or not the desired clothing item fits the subject. A clothing item selection support method comprising: a step; and a step of outputting a result of the determination made by the determination means. 18. A step of storing design information including data relating to a plurality of variations of a design for each of a plurality of accessories, a step of selecting a desired accessory from the plurality of accessories, The step of inputting physical information relating to the physical characteristics of the person, based on the selected design information of the desired clothing item and the input physical information, the target from among the variations of the desired clothing item. A method for supporting the selection of clothing accessories, which includes a step of searching for a variation that fits the wearer, and a step of outputting the result of the search by the fitting item searching means. 19. A step of storing size information including data on a size or a shape of each of the plurality of clothing items, a step of storing an image of each of the plurality of clothing items, and a step of storing the plurality of clothing items. A step of selecting a desired clothing item from the inside, a step of inputting physical information regarding the physical characteristics of the target person, a step of inputting an image of the target person, an image of the selected desired clothing item, Using the input image of the subject, a step of synthesizing an image of the subject wearing the desired clothing, and a step of outputting the synthesized image, The step of synthesizing, when synthesizing the image, using the size information of the desired clothing item and the input body information, the image of the desired clothing item, and the input subject Apparel selection support method of modifying at least one of size or shape of the image. 20. A step of storing information on a store that handles a plurality of accessories, a step of selecting a desired accessory from the plurality of accessories, and a step of selecting information from the stored store A clothing item selection support method comprising: searching for information on a store that handles the selected desired accessory; and outputting information on the searched store. 21. For each of a plurality of accessories, storing design information including data regarding a design; selecting a desired accessory from the plurality of accessories; and based on the design information. And a step of searching for another clothing item similar to the selected clothing item from among the plurality of clothing items, and a step of outputting the searched other clothing item. 22. A step of storing an image of each of a plurality of accessories, a step of selecting a desired accessory from the plurality of accessories, a step of inputting a moving image, and the input moving image. A step of displaying an image, a desired instantaneous still image from the displayed moving image,
A step of extracting as an image of the target person, the image of the selected desired clothing item, and the image of the extracted target person, the target person wearing the desired clothing item A method for supporting the selection of clothing, comprising the steps of synthesizing the images of 1. and the step of outputting the synthesized images. 23. A step of storing respective images of a plurality of clothing items, a step of selecting desired clothing items for a plurality of persons from the plurality of clothing items, and inputting images of a plurality of target persons Step, using the image of the desired clothing for the selected plurality of people, and the image of the input subject of the plurality of people, the subject wears the desired clothing, respectively. A method for supporting the selection of clothing including a step of synthesizing an image in which all the figures are collected and a step of outputting the synthesized image. 24. A portable communication terminal capable of communicating with a system having a design information storage means for storing design information including design-related data for each of a plurality of clothing items, wherein Outfitting item selecting means for selecting a desired outfitting item from the outfitting item, physical information inputting means for inputting physical information relating to the physical characteristics of the target person, design information of the selected desired outfitting item, and A communication terminal, comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the desired clothing item fits the target person based on the input physical information, and a determination result output unit that outputs a result of the determination made by the determination unit. 25. Size information storage means for storing size information including data regarding size or shape for each of a plurality of clothing items, and clothing image storage means for storing an image of each of the plurality of clothing items. A portable communication terminal capable of communicating with a system comprising: a clothing selection means for selecting a desired clothing from the plurality of clothing, and physical information on a physical characteristic of the subject. Using the physical information input means for inputting, the target person image inputting means for inputting the image of the target person, the image of the selected desired clothing, and the input image of the target person, the target An image synthesizing means for synthesizing an image of a person wearing the desired clothing, and a synthetic image output means for outputting the synthesized image, wherein the image synthesizing means is used when synthesizing images. , Communication that corrects the size or shape of at least one of the image of the desired clothing item and the image of the input target person using the size information of the desired clothing item and the input body information Terminal. 26. A portable communication terminal capable of communicating with a system having a clothing image storage means for storing images of each of a plurality of clothing items, wherein a desired communication device is selected from the plurality of clothing items. Clothing selection means for selecting clothing, moving image input means for inputting moving images, display means for displaying the input moving images, and a desired instantaneous still image from the displayed moving images. To
Extraction means for extracting as an image of the target person, using the image of the selected desired clothing item, and the image of the extracted target person, the target person wears the desired clothing item A communication terminal comprising: an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing a figure image, and a synthetic image output unit for outputting the synthesized image. 27. A portable communication terminal capable of communicating with a system having a clothing image storage means for storing images of each of a plurality of clothing, wherein a plurality of people are selected from the plurality of clothing. Minute clothing item selecting means for selecting desired clothing items, target person image inputting means for inputting images of a plurality of target persons, images of desired clothing articles for the selected plural persons, and the input Image combining means for combining all the images of the target persons who wear the desired clothing items, and the combined image A communication terminal comprising a composite image output means.