WO2007126260A1

WO2007126260A1 - Electronic commerce system and method for providing real size image

Info

Publication number: WO2007126260A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/002077
Authority: WO
Inventors: Won-Seob Kim
Original assignee: Won-Seob Kim
Priority date: 2006-04-28
Filing date: 2007-04-27
Publication date: 2007-11-08
Also published as: KR20070106403A

Abstract

An electrical commerce system and a method of providing an image with real size are disclosed. The method includes receiving goods image transmission request information from a client, and transmitting an image having information concerning real size of goods to the client in accordance with the received information. Here, the client has a real size image conversion module for converting size of the image so that the image of the goods is displayed with real size. In addition, the real size image conversion module detects information concerning size and resolution of a display device to be displayed, calculates display size of horizontal pixel and vertical pixel in the display device using the information concerning size and resolution of the display device and a Pythagorean theory, calculates magnification rate/reduction rate of the image using real size information of the goods and the information concerning the display size of the horizontal pixel and the vertical pixel, converts size of the image in accordance with the calculated magnification rate/reduction rate, and displays the converted image.

Description

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING REAL SIZE IMAGE

Technical Field

[1] Example embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic commerce system and a method of displaying an image in the same, more particularly relate to an electronic commerce system and a method of displaying goods image with real size in the same. Background Art

[2] The purchase of goods through an electronic commerce has been increased according as an Internet is activated. In addition, the demand of users has been varied according as the electronic commerce is augmented.

[3] The electronic commerce may not display goods with reality compared with an offline shopping mall. This is because the goods displayed in an electronic commerce site are provided as an image, and the image has the different size from the real goods.

[4] Specially, the demand of a portable digital device such as a portable phone, a digital camera, etc. has been increased, and the user wants to more and more see the goods with real size in accordance with the increase of the demand. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[5] Accordingly, the present invention is provided to substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[6] Example embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a system for displaying a goods image provided in an electronic commerce site with real size on a display device of a user client.

[7] Example embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a system for displaying a goods image with real size irrespective of display configuration of a client. Technical Solution

[8] A method for displaying an image with real size in an electrical commerce according to one example embodiment of the present invention includes receiving goods image transmission request information from a client; and transmitting an image having information concerning real size of goods to the client in accordance with the received information. Here, the client has a real size image conversion module for converting size of the image so that the image of the goods is displayed with real size. In addition, the real size image conversion module detects information concerning size and resolution of a display device to be displayed, calculates display size of horizontal pixel and vertical pixel in the display device using the information concerning size and resolution of the display device and a Pythagorean theory, calculates magnification rate/reduction rate of the image using real size information of the goods and the information concerning the display size of the horizontal pixel and the vertical pixel, converts size of the image in accordance with the calculated magnification rate/ reduction rate, and displays the converted image.

Advantageous Effects

[9] In a method and a system of the present invention, since goods of an electronic commerce site is displayed with real size on a monitor of a user, the user may obtain more accurate information about the goods and buy the goods with reality. [10] The method of displaying an image with real size may be applied to various image providing service as well as an electronic commerce.

Brief Description of the Drawings [11] Example embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail example embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [12] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a system for providing an image with real size in an electronic commerce according to one example embodiment of the present invention; [13] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a system for providing an image with real size in the electronic commerce according to another example embodiment of the present invention; [14] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a system for providing an image with real size in the electronic commerce according to still another example embodiment of the present invention; [15] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of inserting the real size information into an image file according to one example embodiment of the present invention; [16] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a process of appointing the two points in the photographed image; [17] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of inserting the real size information into the image file according to another example embodiment of the present invention; [18] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a process of detecting a boundary between the background and the goods, e.g. CD by detecting difference of RGB values according to one example embodiment of the present invention; [19] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of inserting real size information into an image file according to still another example embodiment of the present invention; [20] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a field constitution of the monitor information storing section according to one example embodiment of the present invention;

[21] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an image file having real size information according to one example embodiment of the present invention;

[22] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the real size image conversion module according to one example embodiment of the present invention; and

[23] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the real size image conversion module according to one example embodiment of the present invention. Mode for the Invention

[24] Example embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments of the present invention, however, example embodiments of the present invention may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to example embodiments of the present invention set forth herein.

[25] Accordingly, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures.

[26] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[27] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or

"coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (i.e., "between" versus "directly between", "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent", etc.).

[28] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising,", "includes" and/or "including", when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[29] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[30] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a system for providing an image with real size in an electronic commerce according to one example embodiment of the present invention.

[31] In FIG. 1, the system of the present embodiment includes an electronic commerce server 100, a user database 112, a goods information database 114 and a goods image database 116. In addition, the system communicates with a client 102 through a network 118.

[32] The server 100 includes a real size image conversion program providing module

104, an authenticating module 106, a goods information providing module 108 and a payment managing module 110.

[33] In one example embodiment of the present invention, a real size image conversion program (not shown in FIG. 1) is set to the client 102.

[34] The server 100 is electrically connected to the client 102 through the network 118.

Here, the network 118 may include a general wire communication network such as an Internet, etc, a wireless internet network and a mobile radio communication network using WAP, and a wireless communication network such as a satellite network.

[35] A size of an image displayed on a display device of a client 102 may be varied in accordance with a size of an original image file, a screen size of the display device and a resolution of the display device. That is, though an image included in the same image file is displayed, the size of the image displayed on the display device is varied in accordance with a configuration of the display device.

[36] Accordingly, the server 100 transmits an image having information concerning real size to the client 102. The real size image conversion program of the client 102 magnifies or reduces the transmitted image to display with real size by using the resolution and size of the display device in the client 102 and the information concerning real size included the image. [37] The display device includes a CRT monitor, an LCD monitor, a FED monitor, an

LED monitor, a TV and a projector, etc.

[38] FIG. 1 shows the client 102 which has a real size image conversion module and calculates magnification rate/reduction rate of the image so that the image is displayed with real size. However, the magnification rate/reduction rate of the image may be calculated by the server 100. This will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[39] The real size image conversion program providing module 104 of the server 100 provides a real size image conversion program for calculating a magnification rate/a reduction rate of the image to the client 102 so that the image is displayed with real size. Here, the program may be provided from other server, not the server 100.

[40] In one example embodiment of the present invention, the real size image conversion program may be set to the client 102 with the type of an active X control. A script included in a webpage, etc. discriminates whether or not the active X control is set to the client 102, and sets the active X control to the client 102 in case that the active X control is not set to the client 102.

[41] In case that the active X control is set to the client 102, the set active X control is provided when the image is displayed. Then, the active X control converts the image into an image with real size. Here, the real size image conversion program is not limited as the type of the active X control, and is set by various methods.

[42] For example, an exclusive program, not the active X control may be set to the client 102, and converts the image into an image with real size.

[43] Additionally, FIG. 1 shows the case that the real size image conversion program is set to the client 102. However, a module for the real size image conversion may be not set as the type of the program, but may be embodied as the type of hardware such as a chip, a card, etc.

[44] The authenticating module 106 discriminates whether or not a user is registered when the user connects to the server 100.

[45] In addition, the authenticating module 106 may be interconnected with the user database 112, and discriminates whether or not ID inputted by the user is registered in the user database 112. Further, the authenticating module 106 discriminates whether or not a password inputted by the user is identical to that stored in the user database 112.

[46] The goods information providing module 108 provides information concerning specific goods to the client 102 when the user requests the information concerning the specific goods for the electronic commerce. Additionally, the goods information providing module 108 may be interconnected with the goods information database 114 and the goods image database 116.

[47] In FIG. 1, the goods information database 114 is distinguished from the goods image database 116. However, it will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art in that the goods information database 114 and the goods image database 116 may be embodied as one database.

[48] A goods image file stored in the goods image database 116 has information concerning real size of goods. In one example embodiment of the present invention, the information concerning the real size of the goods includes a real measurement length of the goods and number of pixels of an image file corresponding to the real measurement length. That is, the goods image file has the information concerning the real measurement length per pixel. A method of calculating the real measurement length per pixel will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

[49] On the other hand, it will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art in that the goods image file may include information concerning other real magnitude except the real measurement length per pixel.

[50] The payment managing module 110 manages payment about purchased goods when the user requests purchase of the goods. Further, the payment managing module 110 is interconnected with a server of outside financial institution, etc, and may manage payment related to a credit card or account transaction and payment using cyber money of the user.

[51] The real size image conversion program included in the client 102 magnifies/ reduces the transmitted image by using the real size information included in the goods image and configuration information of the display device so that the transmitted image is displayed with real size on the display device.

[52] In one example embodiment of the present invention, the real size image conversion program detects the configuration information of the display device by communicating with the operating system OS of the client 102.

[53] A general operating system registers information concerning hardware for managing the operating system and information related to the hardware set by a user, and thus the real size image conversion program detects the configuration information of the display device through the operating system. Here, the configuration information may be information concerning the size and the resolution of the display device as described above.

[54] In another example embodiment of the present invention, the real size image conversion program may store in advance the configuration information of the display device. In other words, the real size image conversion module stores the information concerning the size and the resolution depending on a model of the display device (monitor). In this case, the real size image conversion module obtains only model information of the display device, and detects the configuration information of the display device using the pre-stored information concerning the size and the resolution related to the model.

[55] The real size image conversion program detects the configuration information of the display device, and then calculates display size per pixel under the condition of the configuration of the display device. In addition, the real size image conversion program obtains the information concerting the real size of the image from the image transmitted from the server 100.

[56] The real size image conversion module magnifies/reduces the transmitted image by using the information concerning the display size per pixel and the information concerning the real size (real size per pixel) so that the image is displayed with real size.

[57] On the other hand, the image file includes the information concerning the real size of the image as described above. However, the information concerning the real size of the image may be transmitted as extra information different from the image file.

[58] In short, the user may see the goods image with real size through the display device as described above. That is, the user may have more realistic electronic commerce service in an imaginary cyber space.

[59] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a system for providing an image with real size in the electronic commerce according to another example embodiment of the present invention.

[60] As shown in FIG. 2, the system of the present embodiment includes a server 200, a client 202, a user database 216, a goods information database 218, a goods image database 220 and a monitor information database 222.

[61] The server 200 has a display configuration detecting module 204, a rate calculating module 206, an image real size determining module 208, an authenticating module 210, a goods information providing module 212 and a payment managing module 214.

[62] FIG. 1 shows the case that the client 102 calculates the magnification rate/ reduction rate of the image to display the image with real size. However, FIG. 2 illustrates the case that the server 200 calculates magnification rate/reduction rate of an image and transmits information concerning the calculated rate to the client 202.

[63] In FIG. 1, the real size image conversion module should be set to the client 102.

However, in FIG. 2, the real size image conversion module need not to be set to the client 202, and only an application for converting size of the image in accordance with the information concerning the magnification rate/reduction rate is set to the client 202.

[64] In FIG. 2, the display configuration detecting module 204 of the server 200 requests configuration information of a display device in the client 202 to the client 202, receives the configuration information of the display device from the client 202, and detects the configuration of the display device through the received configuration information. [65] In one example embodiment of the present invention, the display configuration detecting module 204 requests information concerning resolution and size of the display device to the client 202.

[66] In another example embodiment of the present invention, the display configuration detecting module 204 requests model information and resolution set information of the display device to the client 202. The display configuration detecting module 204 receives the model information of the display device from the client 202, and obtains size information of a monitor corresponding to monitor model stored in the monitor information database 222.

[67] The display configuration detecting module 204 detects the configuration information of the display device, and calculates information concerning size (of the image displayed on the display device) per pixel by using the detected configuration information.

[68] The image real size determining module 208 extracts real size information of the image requested by the user from an image file, and determines the real size of the image through the extracted real size information.

[69] The goods image database 218 stores image data file having information concerning real size of an image.

[70] As described above, the real size information of the image may be information concerning real length per pixel.

[71] The image real size determining module 208 obtains the real size information of the image from the image file.

[72] The rate calculating module 206 calculates magnification rate/reduction rate of the image so that the image is displayed with real size in the client 202.

[73] The real calculating module 206 calculates magnification rate/reduction rate of the image using information concerning display size per pixel of the display device outputted from the display configuration detecting module 204 and the real size information outputted from the image real size determining module 208. Then, information concerning the calculated magnification rate/reduction rate is transmitted to the client 202. The client 202 magnifies/reduces the received image in accordance with the transmitted information concerning the calculated magnification rate/reduction rate, and displays the magnified/reduced image.

[74] Since the authenticating module 210, the goods information providing module 212 and the payment managing module 214 are the same as in elements in FIG. 1, any further description concerning the same elements will be omitted. Here, the present embodiment is different from the embodiment in FIG. 1 in that the information concerning the magnification rate/reduction rate is transmitted with goods image when the goods image is transmitted from the goods image providing module 212. [75] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a system for providing an image with real size in the electronic commerce according to still another example embodiment of the present invention.

[76] In FIG. 3, the system of the present embodiment includes a server 300, a client

302, a user database 314, a goods information database 316, a goods image database 318 and a display configuration information database 320.

[77] The server 300 has an image real size information determining module 304, a rate calculating module 306, an authenticating module 308, a goods information providing module 310 and a payment managing module 312.

[78] In FIG. 3, information concerning display configuration of a user is stored in advance in the display configuration information database 320. The system in FIG. 3 does not detect configuration of a display device in the client 302 whenever the user requests an image, but uses display configuration information stored in the display configuration information database 320. The system in FIG. 3 may be used more efficiently than that in FIG. 2 in an electrical commerce system where a login process is needed.

[79] The user registers the configuration information of the display device to the server

300. Here, the registered configuration information is stored in the display configuration information database 320.

[80] The configuration information of the display device may be directly registered by the user. In another embodiment of the present invention, though the display configuration information is not registered by the user, the server 300 requests the display configuration information of the user when the user performs login. Then, the server 300 receives the display configuration information corresponding to the request and registers the received display configuration information.

[81] In case that the user requests the transmission of a goods image in the system in

FIG. 3, the server 300 detects display configuration information of the user from the display configuration information database 320. In addition, the image real size determining module 304 detects real size information included in the requested goods image.

[82] The rate calculating module 306 calculates magnification rate/reduction rate of the image by using the real size information and the configuration information of the display device so that the image is displayed with real size on the client 302.

[83] Information concerning the magnification rate/reduction rate calculated by the rate calculating module 306 is transmitted with the goods image when the goods image is transmitted from the goods information providing module 310 to the client 302.

[84] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of inserting the real size information into an image file according to one example embodiment of the present invention. [85] As shown in FIG. 4, in step of S400, two points are appointed in a photographed image. Here, the points may be appointed by using a mouse or a keyboard, etc.

[86] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a process of appointing the two points in the photographed image.

[87] As shown in FIG. 5, a user appoints a first point 500 and a second point 502 in the photographed image using a mouse, etc. In one example embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable that the second point 502 appointed after the first point 500 is appointed exists on the same horizontal line or the same vertical line. This is because the number of pixels between the first point 500 and the second point 502 is easily calculated when the second point 502 is appointed on the same horizontal line or the same vertical line. However, the first point 500 and the second point 502 may not be appointed on the same horizontal line or the same vertical line.

[88] In step of S402, real distance corresponding to the appointed points is measured after the points are appointed. In step of S404, the number of pixels between the appointed points is calculated. For example, in case that coordinates of the first point 500 and the second point 502 are (5,100) and (105, 100), respectively, the number of the pixels between the first point 500 and the second point 502 is 100.

[89] In step of S406, real measurement information concerning the real distance between the first point 500 and the second point 502 and information concerning the number of the pixels between the first point 500 and the second point 502 are inserted into header of an image file. In another example embodiment of the present invention, the real measurement information and the information concerting the number of the pixels may not be inserted into the header of the image file, but information concerning real measurement distance per pixel may be inserted into the header.

[90] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of inserting the real size information into the image file according to another example embodiment of the present invention.

[91] The method in FIG. 5 appoints passively two points in the image file. However, the method in FIG. 6 appoints automatically two points.

[92] As shown in FIG. 6, in step of S600, a first point(x, y) having the smallest x coordinate value of points at which RGB value is suddenly changed is detected.

[93] This is for the purpose of detecting a boundary point between a background of an image and goods. That is, since a color of the background is different from that of the goods, it is discriminated that a part at which RGB value is suddenly changed is the boundary. To detect accurately the boundary, it is desirable that the background has complementary color from the color of the goods.

[94] In FIG. 6, the method detects the point having the smallest x coordinate value, but may select one of boundary x coordinate by other way. In addition, the method may detect the boundary point on the basis of y coordinate, not on the basis of x coordinate. [95] Further, in case that the method has a plurality of points having the smallest x coordinate value of points at which RGB value is suddenly changed, one of the points having the smallest x coordinate may be optionally selected. For example, in case of detecting x coordinate at which RGB value is suddenly changed in a cigarette case shown in FIG. 5, x coordinates have the same values. Hence, one of the x coordinates may be randomly selected. [96] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a process of detecting a boundary between the background and the goods, e.g. CD by detecting difference of RGB values according to one example embodiment of the present invention. [97] In FIG. 7, points at which RGB value is suddenly changed exist at a boundary of a

CD. Here, a point having the smallest x coordinate value of the points corresponds to a first point 700. [98] In step of S602, x coordinate value of the first point 700 is increased by 1 after the first point 700 is detected. [99] In step of S604, it is discriminated whether or not RGB value of the increased first point, i.e. (x+1, y) is similar to the color of the background. [100] In step of S606, in case that the RGB value is not similar to the color of the background, the method discriminates whether or not RGB value is similar to the color of the background with increasing continuously x coordinate value by 1. Here, the

RGB value may be set as RGB value of a side part of an image. [101] In FIG. 6, the method detects a second boundary with increasing x coordinate value. However, in case of using y coordinate, the method may detect the second boundary with increasing y coordinate value. [102] In step of S608, in case that RGB value of (x+i, y) coordinate is similar to the color of the background, (x+i, y) coordinate is appointed as a second point 702. [103] In FIG. 7, the second point 702 is a point detected by discriminating whether or not

RGB value is similar to the color of the background with increasing continuously x coordinate value as mentioned above. [104] In step of S610, in case that the first point 700 and the second point 702 are detected, the number of pixels between the first point 700 and the second point 702 is calculated. Here, since the number of the pixel equals to (x+i) minus x, the number of the pixel equals to i. [105] In step of S612, real distance between the first point 700 and the second point 702 is measured. [106] In step of S614, information concerning the number of pixels between the detected points 700 and 702 and information concerning the real distance are inserted into header of the image file. As described above, the information concerning the real distance per pixel may be inserted. [107] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of inserting real size information into an image file according to still another example embodiment of the present invention.

[108] FIG. 8 shows a process of inserting real size information into the image file in case that the real size information of photographed goods is not known. The method in FIG. 8 relates to irregular shape, e.g. potato shape, and so the method may be efficiently used when the real size information is not known.

[109] Referring to FIG. 8, in step of S 800, first goods of which real size is known and second goods of which real size is not known are laid on the same horizontal line, and then the first goods and the second goods are photographed together. Here, it is desirable that the first goods have regular shape such as a cigarette case.

[110] In step of S802, two points of the first goods in a photographed image are appointed. As described above, the points may correspond to a horizontal length of the first goods, or correspond to a vertical length.

[I l l] In step of S804, when the two points are appointed, the number of pixels between a first point and a second point is calculated.

[112] In step of S806, real distance per pixel is calculated because real size of the points is known.

[113] In step of S8O8, after the real distance per pixel is calculated, a part corresponding to the first goods is removed in the photographed image, and so only an image of the second goods exists in the photographed image.

[114] In FIG. 8, real length (horizontal length or vertical length) of the second goods of which real size is not known may be included in the image. In this case, the real distance per pixel may be used.

[115] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an image file having real size information according to one example embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows the image file having the real size information in accordance with the methods in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

[116] In FIG. 10, the image file of the present embodiment includes real size information field 1000, meta data field 1002 and image data field 1004.

[117] The real size information field 1000 may include a number of pixels between specific points and real size information between the specific points as described above. In another example embodiment of the present invention, the real size information field 1000 may have information concerning real size per pixel as described above.

[118] Information included in the real size information field 1000 is not limited to the information concerning real size per pixel. That is, the real size information field 1000 may have real size information on the basis of other image expression unit.

[119] Date such as kind, a maker, a generated date of a file, etc is written in the meta data field 1002.

[120] Real image data are stored in the image data field 1004. Here, JPEG, BMP, GIF, etc may be used as a format of the image data.

[121] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the real size image conversion module according to one example embodiment of the present invention.

[122] In FIG. 11, the real size image conversion module of the present embodiment includes a monitor information storing section 1100, a display configuration detecting section 1102, a real size information extracting section 1104 and a magnification/ reduction rate calculating section 1106.

[123] As described above, the real size image conversion module may be set to the client as software, or be set to the client as a chip or a card.

[124] Referring to FIG. 11, the display configuration detecting section 1002 detects configuration information of a display device. In one example embodiment of the present invention, the display configuration detecting section 1002 detects information concerning size and resolution of the display device.

[125] In one example embodiment of the present invention, the display configuration detecting section 1002 detects model information of the display device through a device driver, etc. In addition, the display configuration detecting section 1002 detects information concerning present resolution by communicating with an operating system.

[126] A function for returning information concerning configuration of a computer exists in a window operating system. Hence, the display configuration detecting section 1002 may detect information concerning resolution and information concerning monitor model through the function. Information of the display device in accordance with each of models may be stored in the monitor information storing section 1100.

[127] The real size information extracting section 1104 extracts real size information included in an image file to be displayed from the image file. As described above, information concerning the number of pixels and information concerning real distance between appointed points are included in the image file, or information concerning real measurement distance per pixel is included in the image file.

[128] The magnification/reduction rate calculating section 1106 calculates display size per pixel using information of the display configuration detecting section 1102, and calculates magnification rate/reduction rate of the image by using information concerning display size per pixel and information concerning real distance per pixel outputted from the real size information extracting section 1104 so that the image is displayed with real size.

[129] For example, the real distance per pixel and the display size are assumed as 0.1mm and 0.2mm, respectively. To display the image with real size, the present image is half reduced, and then the reduced image should be displayed. Accordingly, the magnification/reduction rate calculating section 1106 outputs a size conversion index having 0.5. In this case, the image is half reduced in accordance with the outputted size conversion index, and then the reduced image is displayed on the display device. Operation of the magnification/reduction rate calculating section 1106 and a method of outputting the image with real size in the display device will be described in detail with reference to accompanying flowchart.

[130] The information concerning display size per pixel calculated by the magnification/ reduction rate calculating section 1106 may be stored in the monitor information storing section 1100. Additionally, in case that the resolution of the display device is changed, information concerning display size per pixel included in the monitor information storing section 1100 will be renewed.

[131] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a field constitution of the monitor information storing section according to one example embodiment of the present invention.

[132] As shown in FIG. 9, the monitor information storing section 1100 includes a model information field 900, a size information field 902, a resolution field 904 and a display size information field 906.

[133] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating operation of the real size image conversion module according to one example embodiment of the present invention.

[134] As shown in FIG. 12, the display configuration detecting section 1102 detects configuration information of a display device in step of S 1200, and calculates display size per pixel using the detected configuration information in step of S 1202.

[135] Size information and resolution information of a monitor are used so as to detect display size per pixel.

[136] The present invention provides to a method of detecting display size of horizontal pixel and display size of vertical pixel by using the size information of the monitor, the resolution information of the monitor and a Pythagorean theory.

[137] In case that the size of the display device is 19inches and the resolution corresponds to 1600*1200, the display size per pixel in the monitor is calculated as described below. Here, the size per pixel in horizontal pixel of the monitor is assumed as mx, and the size per pixel in vertical pixel of the monitor is assumed as my.

[138] In case that the resolution of the monitor is 1600*1200, mx/my equals to 4/3. In addition, in case that the size of the monitor is 19 inches (23290mm), sum of

and my equals to 232902 in accordance with the Pythagorean theory, i.e. mx

+ my¹

=232902 . As a result, the display size per pixel in corresponding monitor may be calculated by using the above two equations.

[139] In other words, the method of the present invention calculates information concerning rate of horizontal pixel and vertical pixel using the resolution information of the monitor, and calculates the display size of the horizontal pixel and the display size of the vertical pixel by using the information concerning the size of the monitor and the Pythagorean theory.

[140] The method may have a process of verifying whether or not the value calculated after the display size per pixel is calculated has accurate value. For example, the verifying process may be performed by comparing a real credit card with a credit card displayed on the monitor.

[141] In step of S 1204, in case that size of the displayed credit card is different from the real credit card, a process of adjusting size of the displayed credit card is performed so that the displayed credit card has the same size as the real credit card.

[142] In step of S 1206, the information concerning display size per pixel in the display device is amended in accordance with the result in the step S 1204.

[143] In step of S 1208, the real size information extracting section 1104 extracts the real size information from the image file to be displayed after the display size per pixel is calculated.

[144] In step of S 1210, the image magnification/reduction rate calculating section 1106 calculates magnification rate/reduction rate of the image by using the information concerning display size per pixel in the display device and the information concerning real measurement distance per pixel included in the image.

[145] In step of S1212, the image is displayed in accordance with the calculated magnification rate/reduction rate, and the displayed image reflects the real size of the goods.

[146] Any reference in this specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, example embodiment, etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to thos e skilled in the art.

Claims

[1] A method of displaying an image with real size comprising:

(a) extracting real size information of an image;

(b) detecting information concerning size and resolution of a display device on which the image is to be displayed;

(c) calculating display size of horizontal pixel and display size of vertical pixel in the display device by using the information concerning the size and resolution and a Pythagorean theory;

(d) calculating magnification rate/reduction rate on the basis of the real size information of the image and information concerning display size per pixel; and

(e) magnifying/reducing the image in accordance with the magnification rate/ reduction rate, and displaying the magnified/reduced image.

[2] The method of claim 1, wherein the real size information of the image is included in header of an image file.

[3] The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b) includes: detecting the information concerning size and resolution of the display device by communicating with an operating system.

[4] The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a reference image; comparing the reference image with real goods corresponding to the reference image, and receiving reference image size conversion information; and amending the magnification rate/reduction rate on the basis of the reference image size conversion information.

[5] The method of claim 2, wherein the real size information of the image has information concerning a number of pixels between specific points and real size between the points.

[6] The method of claim 2, wherein the real size information includes information concerning real size per pixel of the image.

[7] The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes: calculating information concerning rate of horizontal pixel and vertical pixel of the display device using the information concerning resolution of the monitor; and calculating display size of the horizontal pixel and display size of the vertical pixel using the information concerning the rate, information concerning length of diagonal line of the monitor and a Pythagorean theory.

[8] A recording media where combination of commands for performing the method in one of Claim 1 to Claim 7 is embodied and a program read by a digital data processing apparatus is recorded.

[9] A method for displaying an image with real size in an electrical commerce comprising: receiving goods image transmission request information from a client; and transmitting an image having information concerning real size of goods to the client in accordance with the received information, wherein the client has a real size image conversion module for converting size of the image so that the image of the goods is displayed with real size, the real size image conversion module detects information concerning size and resolution of a display device to be displayed, calculates display size of horizontal pixel and vertical pixel in the display device using the information concerning size and resolution of the display device and a Pythagorean theory, calculates magnification rate/reduction rate of the image using real size information of the goods and the information concerning the display size of the horizontal pixel and the vertical pixel, converts size of the image in accordance with the calculated magnification rate/reduction rate, and displays the converted image.

[10] The method of claim 9, wherein the real size information of the image is included in header of an image file.

[11] The method of claim 10, wherein the real size information of the image includes information concerning a number of pixels between specific points and real size between the points.

[12] The method of claim 10, wherein the real size information of the image has information concerning real size per pixel in the image.

[13] The method of claim 9, wherein the size and the resolution of the display device are detected by communicating with an operating system.

[14] An apparatus for displaying an image with real size comprising: an image real size extracting section configured to extract real size information of an image from an image file; a display information detecting section configured to detect information concerning size and resolution of a display device on which the image is to be displayed; a display size information calculating section configured to calculate display size of horizontal pixel and vertical pixel in the display device using the information concerning size and resolution of the display device and a Pythagorean theory; and a magnification/reduction rate calculating section configured to calculate magnification rate/reduction rate of the image using the real size information of the image and information concerning display size per pixel.

[15] A method of generating an image file for displaying an image with real size comprising: appointing two points in the image; calculating a number of pixels between the appointed points; and inserting information concerning the number of the pixels and real size information corresponding to the appointed points into a header of the image file, wherein a client for displaying the image detects information concerning size and resolution of a display device to be displayed, calculates display size of horizontal pixel and vertical pixel in the display device using the information concerning size and resolution of the display device and a Pythagorean theory, and calculates magnification rate/reduction rate of the image using real size information of the goods and the information concerning the display size of the horizontal pixel and the vertical pixel.