Data processing: structural design – modeling – simulation – and em – Simulating nonelectrical device or system
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-31
2004-09-14
Thompson, W. D. (Department: 2123)
Data processing: structural design, modeling, simulation, and em
Simulating nonelectrical device or system
C705S026640, C705S027200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06792401
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an Internet-based, computer-aided system and method that allows the user to quickly and accurately select eyeglass frames, be accurately fitted for eyeglasses, and purchase the proper prescription eyeglasses, which can be accomplished through a kiosk environment with the ophthalmologist or optometrist, and specifically to an Internet-based modeling kiosk that allows for the fitting, selection, sale, and ordering of prescription eyeglasses, that utilizes the Internet to connect the customer, the manufacturer of the lenses, the manufacturer of the eyeglass frames, and the presiding eye doctor, to greatly reduce the overall cost and increase accuracy and speed of purchase, while reducing inventory and space necessary for providing optical services.
2. Description of Related Art
The sale of wearable goods, such as eyeglasses, clothing, and other individually-sized goods through retail outlet stores results in many stores having huge inventories of goods that are required because of the vast differences in the aesthetic tastes and sizes of human beings for wearable goods. The maintenance of such a huge inventory, including the shipping costs, and the sheer volume of storage space required for the goods, results in greatly increased costs in the production and sale of wearable goods.
A system and method for fashion shopping is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,769, issued Jul. 27, 1999, to Rose, using a programmed computer and other electronic medium, where the customer essentially provides measurements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,677, issued Jul. 23, 1996, to Smith shows a method and apparatus for measuring foot sizes electronically, which includes tracing the outline of the consumer's foot and an electronic ordering means for ordering shoes.
A method and system for ordering products is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,268, issued May 7, 1996, to Youda, which allows a customer to select a product from a product list stored in a remote computer system via a communication line.
The manufacture and sale of prescription eyeglasses requires the consumer to typically obtain a prescription from an ophthalmologist, make one or more trips to an optician, where a specific set of eyeglass frames are selected, and the prescription is filled by the optician by grinding special lenses, and then the eyeglasses are subsequently fitted to the user or customer, requiring another trip to the optician.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,005, issued Feb. 5, 1991, to Smith, shows a glass frame viewing assembly and method of use, which allows someone to try on various eyeglass frames and observe the result on a television monitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,260, issued Mar. 8, 1988, to Mori, et al. shows a method for eyewear simulation and a device for its practice. Essentially, a video camera is used that takes a picture of the person and then synthesizes frame information to show different displays of how glasses would look on a person.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,570, issued Jan. 8, 1994, to Jordan shows a spectacle image and lens simulating system and method. This system permits a patient to visualize how he or she would look, given a particular choice of spectacle frames.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,184, issued Jul. 25, 1989, to Tamura, et al., shows a method and system for spectacles frame image processing and recording, which allows an image of a human face and the glasses frame image to be synthesized by edge processing and color mixing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,248, issued Jan. 7, 1997, to Norton, et al., shows a computerized method for fitting eyeglasses. Digital images of the user's face and head are enlarged to obtain the most accurate measurements with respect to the bridge and temples.
A system and method enabling shopping from home for fitted eyeglass frames is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,201, issued Nov. 9, 1999, to Fay. The invention described therein shows a method of providing a customer an opportunity to examine on a PC how the customer would, appear wearing different eyeglass frames, fitted electronically to the customer. The invention incorporates, without the benefit of a technician, the use of a digital camera and scaling device, for providing photographs for scaling distances in the photographs to actual distances to provide customer size. Fay also teaches the use of expensive, stereoscopic photographic equipment for obtaining customer data.
Fay also fails to teach an image fitter with data about frames including 3-D representations of the frames that may be selected. This type of data is critical for a customer to see how the frames may look both on a 3-D representation of the customer's head from every angle and from one or more photorealistic 2-D representations. Moreover, Fay teaches a system whereby the customer could obtain the glasses directly from the manufacturer. This system is extremely dangerous because severe physical effects could result from wearing poorly fitted prescription eyeglasses.
Also, although Fay teaches the use of color photography, Fay does not teach making a composite of a person's 3-D image and frame images. Furthermore, Fay does not teach occulting of the glasses by head and hair features, which require high fidelity depth refinement. Also, the use of multiple 2-D images from different views or 3-D imaging is not taught. Moreover, since Fay requires a “scaling device” in obtaining its image, Fay does not teach or suggest a spatially correlated non-gridded image for image composition and presentation.
The present invention, however, is much more accurate and employs the use of a technician when the customer is being fitted at the kiosk. The present invention also includes two or more different 2-D camera shots that may be shot simultaneously for both a 2-D photorealistic view and a 3-D photo textured model. The present invention has a unique method for determining necessary distances and accuracy for frame fitting.
The technician assures that the glasses will be properly fitted, and that proper measurement of critical optometric data is made. In addition, the accuracy of the measurements in the present invention allows a 3-D phototextured image to be more lifelike than that available in the prior art. Also, the 2-D photo composition of the data obtained in the present invention will surpass the realism of the prior art.
The present invention also teaches 3-D modeling of the frames to provide complete information about a pair of frames to the customer. Also, no expensive stereoscopic equipment is needed in the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An Internet-based system and method for selecting, fitting, and purchasing prescription eyeglasses from a single, small, kiosk, comprising a modeling kiosk for the customer to select and have the glasses fitted while getting a prescription for the proper lenses and for ordering the glasses, said modeling kiosk located at a predetermined location, a plurality of personal computers, one being located at the modeling kiosk, connected to one or more other computers located at the frame manufacturer and the lens manufacturer, all of which are, connected to the modeling kiosk by the Internet.
The modeling kiosk would typically be set up at the ophthalmologist's or optometrist's office and would occupy a very small space.
The eyeglass customer's two dimensional (“2-D”) photos and three dimensional (“3-D”) textured model and logistics data is acquired at the modeling kiosk that typically can be provided in a very small area in the ophthalmologist's office. The 3-D model facilitates parameter gathering for specific eyeglass specification items required, such as bridge- and temple-distances for the proper fitting of the eyeglass frames. Internet and PC provided data paths from the modeling kiosk node to supply nodes, such as point-of-sale, store: and vendors, and even the customer's home computer node, are provided via the Internet. Databases, database access, and rendering software are provided at each node to facilitate respective functio
Holicky Robert J.
Kraemer Werner
Mallinson Richard B.
Nigro Richard
Diamond Visionics Company
Malin Haley & DiMaggio, P.A.
Thompson W. D.
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