Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Three-dimension
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2002-06-11
Vo, Cliff N. (Department: 2677)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Three-dimension
C345S420000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06404426
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to the field of virtual reality, and more particularly, to the accurate rendering of a three-dimensional model of a person wearing clothing and illustrating the fit and movement of the clothing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Purchasers and potential purchasers of clothing items are able to conveniently preview clothing items displayed in a catalog, in retail stores, and in on-line catalogs. One of the frustrations of purchasers, however, is that clothing items when purchased and actually worn do not meet the expectations developed by the catalog or in the dressing room.
Models in catalogs tend to be taller and thinner than most purchasers, thus developing high expectations for the garment appearance. A garment worn by a person not having model-type proportions might look quite different and might not be flattering. Moreover, a garment that is photographed or tried on under studio or dressing room lights may have quite a different coloring and reflectivity in other settings, such as day light, candle light, office lighting, and so forth. A person's coloring also affects whether a particular garment is appropriate.
Furthermore, the manner of photographing a garment, typically in a front pose, does not demonstrate back and side fit, and the flow of the garment in various activities. Fitting rooms attempt to solve the problem of front, back and side views by using multiple mirrors. Even so, observing the back view of one's self in a fitting room can be awkward. Fitting rooms obviously do not permit much testing of a garment in an active activity situation, or observance of a garment from a distance. It is desirable, nevertheless, for a potential purchaser to observe the reaction of the garment to activities such as walking, running, sitting, and so on.
Clothing purchased for a different person, such as a gift, cannot be tried on before purchase. There is no practical way to preliminarily ascertain whether a particular garment will be flattering when worn and when in action.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various methods and systems for illustrating the look of a garment on a particular person have been attempted. U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,222, Cone, has attempted a “virtual dressing room”, in which a person's measurements are used to create a body data structure that represents the person's figure, by adjusting a standard body data structure. Unfortunately, a garment is represented by a two-dimensional image of the garment worn by a physical mannequin; the garment is inaccurately “stretched” to approximate the adjusted body structure, rather than representing the actual garment.
An on-line clothing catalog by Land's End, available at www.landsend.com, provides a two-dimensional, static representation of a personalized model wearing clothing specified by the user. The static, two-dimensional nature of the model neither permits various viewpoints of the model during activity nor observation of the garment's reaction to the environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,527, Kotaki et al., concerns the mesh mapping of a simulated knit garment (loop simulation image) on a virtual mannequin, for use in conjunction with designing knit garments. The loop simulation image is dragged and distorted to fit over a scanned-in model of a person. Thus, although Kotaki starts with an accurate representation of a garment, the drawbacks of Cone are magnified in Kotaki. Additionally, Kotaki does not address the accurate representation of a person.
Other methods have attempted to compare garment measurements to standardized or personalized sizes. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,652, Croyle et al., a person and clothing are separately measured by a machine vision system. The data can be used to determine whether the garments are within tolerances, or to determine the best size of a particular piece of clothing for a person.
In a different field of application, computers have been used to study fabric characteristics, such as friction and wear. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,568, Beavin, a three dimensional model moves, such as raising the arms, bending, walking or running, and the response of a fabric model to motion, stretching and friction is evaluated. Computers have also been used to create and alter garment patterns to fit standard or individualized body measurements, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,344, Collins et al.
It is generally known in the field of computer graphics to manipulate three-dimensional objects, including shape and texture (U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,420, Mitsumine et al.); to render three-dimensional objects in two-dimensional space (U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,666, Gilley et al) and vice-versa (U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,476, Kurashige et al.); to manipulate two-dimensional objects in three-dimensional space (U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,673, Cooper et al.); and to move or animate three-dimensional objects (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,665, Sugiura et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,175, Naka et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,630, Unuma et al.).
Thus, there remains a need for a straightforward way for someone to view on a computer screen how a particular garment will look and flow on a particular person and/or in a particular setting. Further, there remains a need for accuracy in rendering such modeled garments.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional computerized mannequin, having adjustable characteristics such as size, coloring and proportions, for use in modeling garments.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a computerized rendering of a model wearing a garment in a particular environment, in order to observe the reaction and flow of the garment to the environment.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a computerized rending of a model wearing a garment, wherein the model engages in an activity, in order to observe the reaction and flow of the garment during the activity.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable three-dimensional computer-rendered model in connection with an on-line catalog of garments.
Another object of the invention is to observe a garment on a personalized mannequin from a variety of camera positions, distances, and angles.
According to the invention, there is provided a system and method for displaying garments on a computer-rendered three-dimensional mannequin. There is provided a computer-rendered model of a person, the model being three-dimensional and rotatable. A size selection control is provided, for selecting one of a plurality of sizes, the sizes to be applied to the model. A proportion selection control is provided, for selecting one of a plurality of proportions, a selected one of the proportions to be applied to the model. A garment selection control is provided for selecting one of a plurality of garments, a selected one of the garments to be displayed on the model.
Optionally, the method and system further include a motion selection control for selecting a motion to be applied to the model.
Further, the method and system may include an action selection control to apply an action to the model.
Moreover, the method and system may include an appearance feature selection control for selecting one of a plurality of appearance features, a selected one of the appearance features to be applied to the model.
Also included might be a appearance feature selection control corresponding to hair length, hair color and/or skin tone.
In the provided system, he action selection control might automatically select the action corresponding to the selected garment from a plurality of actions, each of the actions corresponding to ones of the garments.
A further option is a rotation selection control for rotating the model.
Further provided may be stored data corresponding to each of a plurality of models, the plurality of proportions, and/or the plurality of garments. In the system and method, the stored data corresponding to the garments or models may be stored on a magnetic s
Chesser Wilburn L.
Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe LLP
Vo Cliff N.
ZeniMax Media, Inc.
LandOfFree
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