Method and device for spatial and/or temporal shift of decision point in process of article selection, preferably clothing

Subject of invention

Telecommunication; video-conferencing; digital photography.

Technical problem

Technical problem to be solved with the present invention is spatial and temporal shift of decision making point in process of choosing, said decision based on random distributed selection criteria, for example aesthetical.

Usually, the point of sale decisions are subject to range of pre-selected functions or selection criteria. For example, while purchasing the article of industrially produced clothing the buyer makes the decision based on self-image and based on reflection in the mirror. The buyer tries on the articles of clothing and remembers most obvious attributes. The buyer compares these clothing in temporal sequence and by logic of diminishing short term memory, the last tried-on article of clothing has most advantages.

Weakness of such method of selection and decisions made using such method is in quantity and quality of compared data on which the selection is made. The technical problem is

therefore how to increase quantity and quality of data without drastically increasing energy input into obtaining these data.

State of the art

There have been progress made in the area of tailored-to-fit clothing including several patents. One should particularly mention Cornell University using 3D scanner and modern cut-out techniques to make an article of clothing tailored-to-fit also seen in web site http://www.bodvscan. human, cornell.edu/scene0037.html. Similar solutions are found in patents US 2004/0083142 and CA 2 359 513.

The essence of good tailoring is not in making clothing to fit but in trend setting. The article of clothing must therefore be tailored to fit the wearer of this article while keeping the signature of the designer.

It is only combination of both, i.e. physical characteristics of the wearer and design (creative) ideas of the designer which resulting in satisfaction of all involved in purchasing process.

Description of new invention

Technical problem as described above is solved by Method and device for spatial and/or temporal shift of decision point in process of article selection, preferably clothing.

"Decision" in context of this patent application is either acceptance of decision without consultation with the sender of data or someone related to data sent, or acceptance of decision taking advantage of consultation with sender of data or someone related to data sent, or forwarding of advice to sender of data or someone related to data sent.

The essence of this invention is in either spatial, or temporal shift of decision making point, of course both can be shifted. The temporal shift of decision making point means that the technical means enable receipt of several input parameters, and that the decision is performed at the same time, on the same place or several places at the same time, depending on embodiment of the invention. The spatial shift means that the technical means enable receipt of several input parameters, and decision is performed at some from the decision making point remote location.

According to preferred embodiment the clothing store is visited by the buyer (female, male, adult, child, etc.) and tries-on for example five articles of clothing. Then the buyer using web cam or video conferencing means connects to friend, partner etc. and dresses on various articles of clothing and therefore displays them via web cam or video conferencing means - the other parties are in position to help the buyer to decide which article of clothing (or plurality thereof) actually to purchase. The described embodiment would simplify the decision making process. For example, the buyer could receive advice from someone who is not physically present - he or she can be somewhere remote, for example: in office, on business trip, at home, abroad etc. The described example (embodiment) is an example of spatial shift of decision making point, or shift of advice giving point.

In the second embodiment the buyer (prospective buyer) tries on several articles of clothing. During the trying the buyer is photographed using camera, preferably digital camera mounted on tripod or some other holder. The photographs are stored directly on the USB memory stick or on CD ROM or similar. The buyer can take the images home in order to decide at buyer's leisure either by himself or with help of someone else which article (or plurality thereof) actually to purchase. This embodiment is an example of temporal shift of decision making point (or advice point).

The subject of this invention, i.e. shift of decision making point or advice point can be used for other purposes, for example for purchase of technical goods etc. in short everywhere

where the help is needed either due to random distributed decision criteria (such as aesthetical), or due to professional knowledge necessary.

The random distributed criteria are those which cannot be described rationally. For example, feelings, senses, aesthetics, and other criteria which can be used to make a decision, however, they are not connected directly to the decision (education, talent, environment, feeling).

The invention therefore deals mainly with obtaining of as many data as possible in order to use random distributed decision criteria in their most useful form — in form of simultaneous or essential simultaneous comparison between goods which are in need of selection.

The third embodiment deals with purchase of equipment where it is actually better if several people are involved in the decision as there will be several people using the equipment. Such examples include appliances, TV sets, cars. In this case the actual buyer notifies the other involved in decision making process about characteristics of the article subject to purchase by using movable or fixed video camera or some other element for recording video and/or audio information.

Below, the essence of the invention is explained with help of figures whereby the figures form part of patent application and show:

Figure 1 shows connection between the shop and remote decision point, i.e. the rack with various articles of clothing 1, video-camera or web cam or some other video input-output device 2, person - examiner 3, person - decision maker 4; telecommunication device for data transfer 7; data display unit 8 - it should be stressed that the telecommunication network is only shown conceptually as it can be partially wired partially wireless, all of which does not alter the essence of the invention.

Figure 2 shows temporally shifted decision making, i.e. rack with various articles of clothing 1, digital camera 5, person - examiner 3, person - decision maker 4, workbench for inspection of photographs taken by digital camera 6.

In the first embodiment the person - examiner 3 dresses in various articles of clothing which are filmed by means of video I/O device (for example web cam) and shown to person - decision maker by means of telephone, radio or different suitable connection in order for person - decision maker makes decision or gives advice. During that period the examiner 3 and the decision maker 4 are in interactive connection said decision maker 4 making decision and giving advice. During the process the examiner 3 and the decision maker 4 are in interactive connection therefore their workstation (i.e. device for showing the movies etc.) is equipped with each own web cam (or other appropriate I/O device) 2, and each with own display or device for displaying the video data 8. In such a case the decision maker 4 will either decide or give advice connected to clothing without having to be actually present in the area where the change of clothing is taking place. As the video data or data stream can be recorded and replayed later in fast forward technique, or replayed side-by-side all of which is well known in state of the art (with players in operation system for example Windows XP) the decision maker 4 can focus on its own task. In later case is of course spatially shifted and temporally shifted decision making function or giving advice function.

The invention comprises also two or more devices for displaying of video data 8 on the side of the examiner 3 or decision maker 4 so one examiner 3 can be connected to two or more decision makers 4 or one decision maker 4 can be simultaneously in connection to two or more examiners 3 or there is any combination of number of examiners 3 and decision makers 4 possible. The device or its plurality for displaying of video data 8 can be integrated in device for self observation (e.g. mirror, or display on which the examiner 3 can observe oneself interactively) of examiner 3 so the examiner ^' 3 (or plurality thereof) can obtain return information from one or more decision makers 4 via the device for displaying

of video data 8 or plurality thereof and at the same time observes oneself in device for self observation.

In the second embodiment the examiner 3 also wears different clothes, however his or her image is taken with digital still camera 5. The images are then stored on appropriate medium and are then modified (transformed, altered, reviewed) on spatially shifted point (e.g. studio) etc. In such case the examiner, for example, can wear five different articles of clothing, and all of them are reviewed by decision maker 4, said decision maker 4 giving advice to the examiner 3 or decides instead of the examiner 3. In such case the separate photographs are shown to either the examiner 3 or decision maker 4 or both in display room, in this particular embodiment on the workbench for review of photographs taken with digital camera 6. The photographs can be displayed sequentially, or simultaneously, depending on needs of the examiner 3 or decision maker 4.

In case of simultaneous observation of video clips or photographs is the best if they are simultaneously in field of vision of the examiner 3 or decision maker 4. This can be achieved with distribution of field for clips or images within one display or screen, or within one projection on the wall or on the screen, or with plurality of displays or plurality of projections, depending on perception of the performer of function of comparison based on basis of randomly distributed decision criteria, preferably aesthetic.

The method according this invention comprises the following steps:

- capturing of data, necessary for performing the decision, with help of appropriate I/O device, preferably camera or digital camera; transfer of said data to the decision making point using information or telecommunication network;

- presentation to the decision maker on decision making point;

- realization of decision making and transfer of results from the decision making point to the point where the decision is realized.

The method according to the second preferred embodiment comprises the following steps:

capturing of data, necessary for performing the decision, with help of appropriate

I/O device, preferably camera or digital camera; saving of said data on appropriate medium, preferably USB memory stick or CD

ROM; transfer of data to the decision making point; presentation to the decision maker on decision making point; realization of decision making and transfer of results from the decision making point to the point where the decision realization point.

In particular embodiments of clothing selection the method is performed in one of the following modes:

- capturing the image of the examiner wearing different articles of clothing using video camera or other equivalent I/O device;

- transfer of said images over Internet connections to the decision making point; presentation of said images on personal computer to the decision maker; deciding on article of clothing selection; communication of decision to the examiner,

and this is true for the first embodiment. In the second embodiment the invention could be carried in the following manner:

- capturing of image of examiner wearing different articles of clothing using portable digital camera ;

- transfer of said images onto the storage medium, preferably portable ;

- presentation of said images and deciding on the most appropriate article of clothing based on these images ;

- communication of decision to the examiner,

The latter method can be arranged also by retouching of images obtained.

These methodes can be performed using the device comprising, according to the first embodiment:

- I/O data for capturing the video data 2;

- device for display of video data 8 to the examiner 3; telecommunication network for transfer of data 7 said network either fixed or wireless; device for presentation of video data 8 to the decision maker 4.

According to the second embodiment the device comprises:

- I/O device for capturing of digital images 5;

- device for presentation of digital images 6.

In both cases the purpose of the device is support in decision based on random distributed criteria for decision making, for example aesthetic. The randomness of distribution of criteria enables and requires inclusion of decision maker in the system of decision making as otherwise an expert system could be constructed or one of known selection methods used.

The method according to the invention can comprise more examiners 3 or decision makers 4. For example, the examiner 3 can be connected via telecommunication network 7 to two or more decision makers which interactively return their comments to the examiner 3. There can of course be two or more examiner 3, and one decision maker 4. There can also be combination of two or more decision makers 4 and to or more examiners.

To allow cooperation of two or more examiners 3 or two or more decision makers 4 there should exists plurality of display devices 8.