WO2023094578A1

WO2023094578A1 - System for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment

Info

Publication number: WO2023094578A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/083239
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michele MAIELLO
Original assignee: Am Consulenze S.S.
Priority date: 2021-11-29
Filing date: 2022-11-25
Publication date: 2023-06-01

Abstract

A system (1) for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment comprising a transportable module including a changing booth (2) delimiting an entertainment area of a user (4), a platform (9) indicating a correct position of the user inside the booth (2), a television camera configured to film said user on said platform (9), a digital mirror (5), augmented reality software configured to create a three-dimensional virtual representation (7) of the user filmed on said platform (9) by said television camera, hang at least one virtual element (6) onto him/her and project in real time onto said digital mirror (5) said virtual representation (7) with said at least one virtual element (6) hung onto it.

Description

SYSTEM FOR SELLING GOODS THROUGH E-COMMERCE IN A MOBILE PHYSICAL

ENVIRONMENT

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment.

Generally in the fashion industry there are two main types of customers who shop: those who prefer to go to their favourite store and try on the clothes/accessories and then buy at the checkout or those who use electronic devices (for example smartphones) and buy comfortably seated on their sofa in a few clicks through online sales.

The advent of Covid 19 has had a very high economic impact on the fashion industry, whose distribution system is mainly based on physical stores.

Some companies have created digital mirrors which allow people to see themselves wearing the possible garment, but such a solution still requires the need to have a fixed physical store with the consequent risk of closures in the event of pandemics as occurred with covid.

Typically online e-commerce does not allow to completely replace the shopping experience in a physical store.

In fact, a factor which often hinders the purchase through online e-commerce, is certainly the fear that the garment/accessory to buy does not fit exactly as one would like or that the size is too large or too small with the consequent need to return the items purchased.

To overcome this problem, several online sales sites exist which use two-dimensional avatars which are very similar in size and appearance to the buyer's physique. In fact, it is possible to enter the measurements related to one's physique, thus creating their own avatar to try all the garments before purchasing them.

The avatars used by these online sites are like static mannequins on which to put garments and do not allow the buyer to actually see how the garment fits during the normal movements which a person makes (walking, bending, raising the arms, etc.). Furthermore, such online systems do not ensure that the buyers, especially those who like to shop in stores, can enjoy a shopping experience to the fullest.

The technical task which is proposed for the present invention is, therefore, to create a system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment which makes it possible to eliminate the drawbacks complained of in the prior art.

Within the scope of this technical task, an object of the invention is to provide a system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment so as to combine the instore purchase with purchase through e-commerce.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment which allows to implement the traditional customer purchase experience.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment which allows to offer a 360-degree sensory and emotional experience.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment which allows to drastically reduce the return of goods purchased through e-commerce.

The technical task, as well as these and other objects, according to the present invention are achieved by making a system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment comprising a transportable module including a changing booth delimiting an entertainment area of a user, a platform indicating a correct position of the user inside the booth, a television camera configured to film said user on said platform, a digital mirror, augmented reality software configured to create a three-dimensional virtual representation of the user filmed on said platform by said television camera, hang at least one virtual element onto him/her and project in real time onto said digital mirror said virtual representation with said at least one virtual element hung onto it.

Advantageously, the system comprises a body scanner cooperating with said television camera for the acquisition of anatomical and morphological parameters of the user, used by said software for the creation of said virtual representation.

In particular, said virtual element is a virtual garment worn by said virtual representation and said augmented reality software is configured to show on said at least one digital mirror the fit of said virtual garment worn by said three-dimensional virtual representation both during the standstill of said user on said platform and during a movement of said user on said platform.

Preferably, the system includes an electronic controller which runs said augmented reality software, said electronic controller comprising means for storing said virtual representation and associating a unique digital identification code with said virtual representation, an input unit further being provided which is configured for the acquisition of said unique digital identification code of said virtual representation.

Preferably, the platform includes a load cell for weighing said user which is connected to said electronic controller, said electronic controller being configured to store said virtual representation in association with a weight of said user.

Preferably, the augmented reality software is configured to update the virtual representation of said user if the current weight of said user detected by said load cell differs from the stored weight beyond a preset threshold.

In particular, said electronic controller has in memory one or more sizes available for said virtual garment and automatically couples the virtual garment of the most compliant size to said virtual representation.

Advantageously, said at least one virtual element includes a background in which said virtual representation moves.

Preferably, said changing booth has a glass entry and exit door provided with a means for darkening said glass once the user is inside said booth.

Advantageously, the system has one or more LED screens or projectors for viewing said at least one virtual element which are positioned inside said booth.

Advantageously, the system has one or more promotion advertising LED screens positioned outside said booth.

In particular, the system has, inside the changing booth, an electronic device having an interface for selecting said at least one virtual element.

More in particular, said electronic device further has an interface for purchasing said at least one virtual element.

Advantageously, said transportable module includes sub-modules configured for a plug and play type construction and installation.

Preferably, the system has inside said booth an element for displaying samples of real fabric, said augmented reality software being configured to illuminate said sample of fabric corresponding to said at least one virtual element hung onto said three-dimensional representation.

Preferably, the system comprises at least one further television camera and/or at least one further mirror.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly evident from the following description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment according to the invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: figure 1 shows the system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment as a whole according to a first embodiment of the invention; figures 2a, 2b and 2c respectively show a front view, a top view and a perspective view of the system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment as a whole according to another embodiment of the invention; figure 3 shows a vertical sectional view of the sales system of figures 2a, 2b, 2c. figures 4a, 4b and 4c show a vertical sectional view of the sales system of figures 2a, 2b, 2c highlighting the interaction between the user and their virtual three-dimensional representation while trying a garment.

With reference to figure 1 and figures 2a, 2b, 2c, the system for selling goods through e- commerce in a mobile physical environment is shown, as a whole, indicated by the number 1.

The sales system 1 comprises a transportable module which includes a changing booth 2 delimiting an entertainment area of a user 4.

The changing booth 2 consists entirely of very high resolution/definition LED panels and/or projectors.

In particular, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the changing booth 2 has a glass entry and exit door 10 provided with a means for darkening said glass once the user 4 is inside said booth 2.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said darkening means is LEDs.

Therefore, when the booth 2 is empty, the entry and exit door 10 allows anyone to see the interior of the booth also from the outside. Once the user 4 enters inside the booth 2, the LEDs which illuminate the entry and exit door 10 light up, thus preventing those who are outside from seeing inside but still ensuring the user can see outside.

Thereby, the system 1 ensures total respect for the privacy of the user inside the booth 2. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the entry and exit door 10 can be made of different materials, such as plexiglass, without envisaging darkening LEDs.

Inside the booth 2 there is a platform 9 indicating a correct positioning of the user, one or more television cameras configured to film said user on said platform 9 and one or more digital mirrors 5.

The platform 9 is positioned centrally and frontally to said digital mirror 5.

The platform 9 is positioned so as to place the user in the exact point so as to be best filmed by the television camera.

The platform 9 is fully customisable, for example with the logo of the company which uses the system for the sale of its goods.

The television camera pointed towards the platform 9 is used to collect the details of the customer, such as the anatomical measurements of the body and the movements thereof.

Inside the booth, a body scanner is also preferably provided, cooperating with said television camera, for the acquisition of further anatomical and morphological parameters of the user stopped in a certain position on said platform 9.

Both the television camera and the scanner can be hidden in one of the walls of the changing booth 2.

To facilitate the acquisition of the anatomical and morphological parameters of the user stopped in position on the platform 9, the latter can provide for the presence of a support element for the hands (not shown) so that the user assumes the most correct position during the acquisition.

The system 1 is advantageously provided with augmented/virtual reality (acronym AR/VR) software which is configured to create a three-dimensional virtual representation 7 of the user filmed by the television camera on the platform 9.

The software is configured to reproduce the three-dimensional virtual representation 7 on the digital mirror 5 in 1:1 size and with a millimetric precision. Furthermore, the creation of the three-dimensional virtual representation 7 with millimetric precision occurs in a very fast time, indicatively within a maximum 10 minutes of time.

The software is further configured to hook at least one virtual element 6 onto the virtual representation 7 and project said virtual representation 7 in real time onto the digital mirror 5 with said at least one virtual element 6 hooked onto it.

The software in particular is configured to adapt in real time the position and/or shape of the virtual element 6 during the evolution in space and/or time of the virtual representation 7 so that the virtual element 6 remains hooked to the virtual representation 7.

In particular, the virtual element 6 is a garment worn by the virtual representation 7 and the augmented/virtual reality software is configured to show on the digital mirror 5 the fit of the virtual garment worn by the virtual representation 7 both during the stand-still of the user on the platform 9 and during a movement of the user on the platform.

In particular, the television camera is configured to record the movements of the user; the augmented/virtual reality software receives the data related to the movements recorded by the camera, and in real time makes the virtual representation 7 reproduce the same movements on the digital mirror 5.

According to a salient aspect of the invention, the sales system 1 includes an electronic controller which runs the augmented/virtual reality software.

The electronic controller comprises a means for storing the virtual representation 7 and associating a unique digital identification code with said virtual representation.

An input unit is further provided which is configured for the acquisition of said unique digital identification code of the virtual representation 7.

The codes can be of various types, for example optical or alphanumeric. The input unit can therefore be, for example, an optical code reader such as barcodes or QR codes or it can be a physical or virtual keyboard (touchscreen) for acquiring alphanumeric codes. The input unit in particular can be integrated in an electronic device which also has, as we will see, other functions.

Furthermore, according to another salient aspect of the invention, the platform 9 includes a load cell for weighing said user which is connected to said electronic controller. The electronic controller is configured to store the virtual representation 7 in association with a weight of said user.

The AR/VR software is advantageously configured to update the virtual representation 7 of the user if the current weight of said user detected by said load cell differs beyond a preset threshold from the stored weight.

Furthermore, the electronic controller has in memory one or more sizes available for said virtual garment and automatically hooks the virtual garment of the most compliant size to said virtual representation 7.

The AR/VR software also has a further feature of recognising points with different garment close-fitting highlighted through areas of different colouration (for example green area indicates a loose fit, yellow area indicates a close-fitting fit and red area a tight fit).

Thereby, the AR/VR software is capable of reproducing with a millimetric precision the fit of the virtual garment on the virtual representation 7, just as if it were the user himself who actually tried on the garment.

All this is possible because for each individual fashion house which decides to use this type of system, all the collections created in CAD or other digital formats which can be exported and reimported into the AR/VR software will be exported, so that the software can recognise the various sizes indicated by the different fashion houses, and consequently associate the size which best suits the virtual representation of the user.

Every single fashion house is provided with a control panel of all the booths pertaining to it.

The digital mirror 5 is an LED or a projector which projects in the mirror the virtual representation 7 of the user who is inside the booth 2 in that moment.

In particular, according to the present invention, the virtual element 6 includes a garment or an accessory worn by said virtual representation 7 or a background in which said virtual representation 7 moves.

Advantageously, in fact, the system 1 has one or more LED screens 11 for viewing said at least one virtual element 6 which are positioned inside said booth 2.

The internal LED screens (or LEDwalls) have two main functions: on the one hand, the screens show the garments/accessories which the user can select, through the aforementioned electronic device, and to be worn by their virtual three-dimensional representation; on the other hand, the screens show the background on which the virtual representation can move while wearing the garment/accessory previously selected by the user, creating, together with the digital mirror, the emotional context of the location selected by the user.

The system 1 has one or more promotion advertising LED screens 12 positioned outside said booth and completely customisable.

As anticipated, the system 1 has, inside the changing booth 2, the electronic device having an interface for selecting said at least one virtual element 6.

The electronic device can for example be a tablet.

The electronic device further has an interface for purchasing said at least one virtual element 6.

In fact, once the sensory experience has ended, the user has the opportunity to decide whether or not to buy the garment/accessory worn by the three-dimensional representation. Through the electronic device the user can, in a few clicks, buy the garment/accessory following the typical procedures of an e-commerce, also deciding the choice for the collection of the product purchased.

In fact, the system 1 provides for the possibility of deciding how to collect the purchased goods: home delivery, collection at a store hosting the system or collection at the same time as buying in the nearest store.

The system 1 can in fact comprise, according to a first embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in Fig. 1, a warehouse 13 for collecting goods positioned next to the changing booth 2 and containing some of the products offered for sale.

The system 1 for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, can optionally provide for the insertion inside a booth of a holobox, a holographic display through which the user inside the booth sees the hologram of a staff member who in reality is operating remotely or of a robot which interacts with the user.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the system 1 provides for the presence of a virtual assistant (human or robot) which can be in the form of a hologram or in the form of audio.

The presence of a virtual assistant would increase the sensory experience lived by the user, especially if the user is blind.

In this case, in fact, the presence of a virtual assistant who can accompany the blind user in the choice of the garment and in the subsequent steps until the purchase becomes indispensable.

The system 1 can further have an element for displaying samples of real fabric inside said booth

2. The display element can be, by way of example, a chest of drawers containing the fabrics with which the garments are made.

Therefore, the AR/VR software is also configured to illuminate the sample of fabric corresponding to said at least one virtual element hooked to said three-dimensional representation.

Thereby, the user can decide in which fabric, if any, to order the displayed garment worn by the three-dimensional virtual representation.

In fact, the system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment can be easily transported and assembled in any place suitable for its positioning, such as in the centre of a square, inside a shopping centre, inside a store or inside an airport.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated below with the system according to the present invention.

The user enters inside the changing booth through the entry and exit door and positions himself on the platform. The LED glass of the entry and exit door lights up, darkening the view from the outside.

If it is the first time the user has entered the booth, the television camera pointed towards the platform collects the physical data necessary for the creation of the three-dimensional virtual representation of the user which will be projected in real time on the digital mirror positioned in front of the user (Fig. 4a).

Preferably, the body scanner cooperates with the television camera for the acquisition of anatomical and morphological parameters of the user, used by the software for the creation of the virtual representation 7. Once the virtual representation has been created, the user selects, through the electronic device (for example a tablet) present inside the booth and positioned near the platform, the garment/accessory that he wants to see worn by the virtual representation on one side (Fig. 4b) and selects the reference location in which he wants to see his virtual representation move on the other side (Fig. 4c).

In another preferred embodiment, the system can have a touch screen detection system installed at the ends of projection sheets or through the use of a device installed at the ends of the LED screens through which the user can select the location or the item to be worn, simply using his finger to indicate the product of interest and the system automatically receives the information as the selected option.

At this point, also by virtue of the presence of audio speakers inserted inside the changing booth and the lights, the user lives a sensory and emotional experience wearing the garment through their virtual representation within the preferred location.

The AR/VR software has a millimetric precision which allows the user to exactly understand the points of close-fitting of the garment and the looser points.

After the session, the user can buy the garment worn by their virtual representation through the electronic device just like in an online e-commerce, deciding the payment methods (for example credit card or PayPal) and the goods shipping method (collection at a store, home delivery or purchase of the product on site if available).

The system 1 for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment can further comprise a desk 14, as shown in fig. 1, positioned outside the changing booth 2 with a reference hostess as a user assistance point.

In addition to helping the user to live the experience inside the booth, the hostess inserts the data related to the user for his registration within the system. Once the user has been registered within the software during their first sensory experience, the user is issued the unique personal code (for example, as already mentioned, an optical or alphanumeric identification code, associated with their virtual representation) which can be used to speed up subsequent sessions.

By acquiring the identification code, for example through the electronic device, the AR/VR software immediately identifies the connected user and the process of creating the graphic representation is accelerated because all the necessary basic data recorded during the first experience lived by the user are already contained.

It is therefore not necessary to perform a complete reacquisition of the anatomical and morphological parameters of the user every time he enters the test booth; a subsequent complete reacquisition of the aforesaid parameters is proposed automatically by the AR/VR software if the weight of the user detected by the load cell present inside the platform is higher or lower with respect to a preset threshold of the previously stored weight.

The system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment can also provide a changing booth sanitisation apparatus which is automatically activated once the user finishes their test session and exits from the entry door.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a website and/or an application through which the user can create their own account and can book the experience at the preferred point of sale.

The system for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment as conceived herein is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; further, all the details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

CLAIMS A system (1) for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment comprising a transportable module including a changing booth (2) delimiting an entertainment area of a user (4), a platform (9) indicating a correct position of the user inside the booth (2), a television camera configured to film said user on said platform (9), a digital mirror (5), augmented reality software configured to create a three-dimensional virtual representation (7) of the user filmed on said platform (9) by said television camera, hang at least one virtual element (6) onto him/her and project in real time onto said digital mirror (5) said virtual representation (7) with said at least one virtual element (6) hung onto it. The system (1) for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment according to claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a body scanner cooperating with said television camera for the acquisition of anatomical and morphological parameters of the user used by said software for the creation of said virtual representation (7). The sales system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said virtual element (6) is a virtual garment worn by said virtual representation and said augmented reality software is configured to show on said digital mirror (5) the fit of said virtual garment worn by said three-dimensional virtual representation (7) both during the stand-still of said user on said platform (9) and during a movement of said user on said platform (9). The sales system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it includes an electronic controller which runs said augmented reality software, said electronic controller comprising means for storing said virtual representation (7) and associating a unique digital identification code with said virtual representation (7), an input unit further being provided which is configured for the acquisition of said unique digital identification code of said virtual representation (7).

5. The sales system (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said platform includes a load cell for weighing said user which is connected to said electronic controller, said electronic controller being configured to store said virtual representation in association with a weight of said user.

6. The sales system (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said augmented reality software is configured to update the virtual representation (7) of said user if the current weight of said user detected by said load cell differs from the stored weight beyond a preset threshold.

7. The sales system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said electronic controller has in memory one or more sizes available for said virtual garment and automatically hooks the virtual garment of the most compliant size to said virtual representation.

8. The system (1) for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one virtual element (6) includes a background in which said virtual representation (7) moves.

9. The system (1) for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment according to claim 1 , characterised in that said changing booth (2) has a glass entry and exit door (10) provided with a means for darkening said glass once the user (4) is inside said booth (2).

10. The system (1) for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment according to claim 1, characterised in that it has one or more LED screens or projectors (11) for viewing said at least one virtual element (6) positioned inside said booth (2).

11. The system (1) for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment according to claim 1 , characterised in that it has one or more promotion advertising LED screens

(12) positioned outside said booth (2).

12. The system (1) for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, inside the changing booth (2), it has an electronic device having an interface for selecting said at least one virtual element (6), and an interface for purchasing said at least one virtual element (6).

13. The system (1) for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said transportable module includes sub-modules configured for a plug and play type construction and installation.

14. The system (1) for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that inside said booth (2) it has an element for displaying samples of real fabric, said augmented reality software being configured to illuminate said sample of fabric corresponding to said at least one virtual element (6) hung onto said three-dimensional representation (7).

15. The system (1) for selling goods through e-commerce in a mobile physical environment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one further television camera and/or at least one further mirror.

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