Abstract:
A method of managing product images comprising the steps of establishing an inventory of products, obtaining a plurality of digital images of the inventory of products, storing the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products, providing a set of rules for controlling access to the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products, providing a management system for implementing the set of rules to control access to the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products based on the set of permissions granted to an authorized user, receiving an access request from a remote user via a network, determining whether the user is an authorized user who is authorized to access the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products, determining the set of permissions granted to the authorized user, and allowing the authorized user to access the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products via a network according to the set of permissions granted to the authorized user.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     N/A  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     N/A  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Prior art merchandising companies, e.g., office supply companies, offer a myriad of products. Providing hardcopy product catalogs, online catalogs, and advertising materials has been an expensive and relatively uncontrolled process resulting in a nonuniform presentation of products and duplication of efforts and expenses. Accordingly, there has been a long felt need for a process that provides company employees with the ability to use their creative talents to choose images of the products for specific advertising purposes without duplicating costs and efforts while maintaining a consistent product image.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of managing product images comprising the steps of establishing an inventory of products, obtaining a plurality of digital images of the inventory of products, storing the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products, providing a set of rules for controlling access to the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products, providing a management system for implementing the set of rules to control access to the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products based on the set of permissions granted to an authorized user, receiving an access request from a remote user via a network, determining whether the user is an authorized user who is authorized to access the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products, determining the set of permissions granted to the authorized user, and allowing the authorized user to access the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products via a network according to the set of permissions granted to the authorized user.  
         [0005]     The present invention also provides a method of managing product images comprising the steps of establishing an inventory of products, obtaining a plurality of digital images of the inventory of products, storing the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products, providing a set of rules for controlling access to the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products and for approving the use of a digital image of a product for particular purpose, providing a management system for implementing the set of rules to control access to the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products based on the set of permissions granted to an authorized user, receiving an access request from a remote user via a network, determining whether the user is an authorized user who is authorized to access the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products, determining the set of permissions granted to the authorized user, allowing the authorized user to access the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products via a network according to the set of permissions granted to the authorized user, and allowing an authorized user to review the digital images of a product and to select a digital image for a particular purpose.  
         [0006]     Still further, the present invention provides a method of creating an image database for an inventory of products comprising the steps of establishing an inventory of products, obtaining a plurality of digital images of the inventory of products at different angles from a plane through the center of the respective product, and storing the plurality of digital images of the inventory of products.  
         [0007]     The present invention ensures quality control over the images of the product inventory resulting in dependable image content, latest product version, and a streamlined approval process that is paperless. Accessibility to the product images and data files associated with the products is available globally. The product can be searched by part number, category, description, text in comment fields and so forth. All personnel access and use same database of product images and have instant image availability. The method of the present invention provides flexibility in choosing images for different advertising media. Personnel can exhibit creativity by choosing from multiple angles to provide the right product image and can utilize multiple delivery modes to provide downloadable, print-ready images. All departments work with a consistent set of images rather than incurring the expense and inconsistency of having photographs taken by individual departments for advertising purposes. The approval process for selection of an image for a special use is done without physical documents and is available for use by an authorized user anywhere in the world. The methods of producing up to 360-degree renderings of products provides personnel with the necessary views to properly advertise any type of product.  
         [0008]     Other advantages and applications of the present invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating how a user interacts with a product image.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a graphical user interface of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an example of a mechanical drawing utilized with the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating one embodiment for generating product images.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the system  10  comprises a plurality of user computers  12 ,  14 , and  16  connected to server  18  via communication network  20 . Network  20  can be, for example, a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet. User computers  12 ,  14 , and  16  can be workstation computers with a monitor or laptop computers. Server  18  stores and implements a number of programs and files, such as a system control program, product inventory database, product images database, rules and permissions program and database, and product approval database. The product inventory database can contain a data file associated with the images of product. This data file can contain, for example, information about the product, SKU, price, and so forth.  
         [0020]     A flowchart of an overall system process is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . At step  22  an inventory of products is created and stored in the product inventory database in server  18 . A product image protocol and database is established at step  24 . The product image protocol includes such criteria as the image resolution, number of images, angles at which the images are created and so forth. The images of a product are obtained according to the product image protocol in step  26 . Product documentation and associated files are obtained in step  27 . The documentation and associated files can include product description, supporting documentation, product packaging, product manual, management approval records for this product, copies of marketing and advertising materials, and so forth. The product images, associated files and documentation are stored in the product database in step  28 . At step  29 , the routing, reviewing, and approving is conducted to obtain appropriate management review and approval. Although not shown in the  FIG. 2 , any disapproval by management may require reworking of the disapproved materials. Creation of the product images is discussed in detail with reference to  FIGS. 7-10 . At decision point  30 , the issue of whether all products in the inventory of products have been imaged is considered. If all products have been imaged, then the process is complete. Otherwise, the process returns to step  26  to obtain images of the next product in the product inventory. The process of  FIG. 2  is repeated when new products are added to the inventory of products.  
         [0021]     System  10  allows a user to log in from a remote site and access images of the products in the inventory of products database.  FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a log in and user approval process according to the present invention. At step  30 , server  18  receives a request from a user to access a database of the system. At decision point  32 , server  18  determines whether the user is authorized to access the databases. If the user is not authorized, the server denies the requested access. If the user is authorized, then at step  34  the server determines the permission set for this particular user. The permission set for each authorized user is set up by a system administrator. This permission set can include, for example, authority to view all or only certain products, authority to approve the selection of product images for a particular advertising purpose and so forth as illustrated in  FIG. 6   
         [0022]     At step  36 , server  18  allows an authorized user to access the product images, product documentation, and associated files. The database is searchable so that an authorized user can search products by part number, category, description, text in comment fields, and so forth, per his permission set. Using a standards compliant web browser that supports HTML, the user can manipulate the product image on the screen to view the product from different angles or perspectives without installing any additional software on his computer. As is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the user can place the mouse pointer  38  on the product image  40  displayed on the monitor  42  and rotate the product in a desired direction.  
         [0023]     Server  18  can be programmed to automatically download the plurality of images of the product in the product image database so that as the user moves mouse pointer  38 , product image  40  changes accordingly so that the product appears to be manipulated as if the user were rotating an actual product in his hand. Alternatively as shown in  FIG. 5 , server  18  can be programmed to automatically download a primary image  44  and a number of thumbnail images  46  of the chosen product from different angles and orientations and display them on monitor  42 . The user can then select any of thumbnail images  46  for viewing. In another embodiment, the downloaded thumbnail images  46  can contain images suitable for different media, such as color, grayscale, a subtractive color model used in color printing such as CMYK, run of press (ROP) colors, high resolution images for virtual catalogs or other digital media. This embodiment allows the user to easily view the product in different media from a single screen.  
         [0024]     After a user has logged in and been approved as an authorized user according to the method illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the user, if authorized to approve the selection of product images for a particular advertising purpose, follows the process illustrated in  FIG. 6 . At step  48  the authorized user accesses the product image database and then selects a product at step  50 . In step  52 , the user manipulates the product image and then selects the desired view in step  54 . The user by means of his mouse or keyboard enters the approval of the selected view of the product at step  56 . The data entered into the system database can include the selected image, identification of the user selecting the image, and the date and time of approval. If additional approvals are necessary for the particular application, then at step  58  server  18  routes the necessary approval to other management via network  20 . When all of the necessary approvals have been obtained server  18  allows the downloading of the product image in the suitable format for the specific media, such as for a catalog, newspaper advertisement, or mailing flyer, at step  60 . The downloaded product image is a high resolution image and can be in different formats such as color, grayscale, a subtractive color model used in color printing such as CMYK, run of press (ROP) colors, high resolution images for virtual catalogs or other digital media and so forth. The system also ensures that only the latest approved images are available for viewing and downloading. Prior images can be tracked and stored by appropriate personnel, but in general are not available to the normal authorized user.  
         [0025]     The plurality of images of the products stored in server  18  can be generated in different ways. A first method of generating product images utilizes mechanical drawing computer files, such as the one shown in  FIG. 7  for printing a box for the actual product. This mechanical drawing shows all sides of the box for the actual product. The edges of the box are shown in dotted lines, and the heavy lines on the top and bottom flaps indicate the cut lines. In some applications, a data file associated with the mechanical will provide the dimensions for the box. In other applications the dimensions of the box are measured on the mechanical drawing. These dimensions are then used to create a three-dimensional virtual model in server  18  or other workstation computer. The mechanical drawing computer file illustrates the outside appearance of the product packaging, which can be applied to the exterior of a three-dimensional wire frame model as a skin to create a three-dimensional virtual product that appears like an actual packaged product. The virtual model of the product is then rotated to desired positions and the images of the product in those positions are stored. This process can be performed by graphics personnel using the server or a separate workstation. If a separate workstation is employed then the saved images of the product are uploaded to the server.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  illustrates a flowchart for implementing the image generation process. At step  70 , a digital version of a mechanical drawing of the product is obtained. The skin images and model dimensions are then extracted by graphics personnel from the mechanical drawing in steps  72  and  74  respectively using a vector graphics program. The graphics personnel create a three-dimensional wire frame model in step  76  by entering the model dimensions into a program to create a three-dimensional specification or wire frame model. For example, a box has three dimensions: length, width, and height. The graphics personnel then apply the skin to the three-dimensional wire frame model in step  78  using a vector graphics program to create a virtual product model. The graphics personnel then rotate the virtual product model to desired positions, for example ten degree increments, in step  80 , capture the image of the virtual product model in step  82  and then store it in a server, such as server  18  in  FIG. 1 , in step  84 . At decision point  86 , the graphics personnel determine if the desired number of images of the virtual product model have been captured. For example, as discussed above, rotating the virtual product model in ten-degree increments would result in 36 images in one plane. If the product is then tilted forward in five increments, this would result in five additional sets of 36 images for a total of 216 images. However, it should be understood that this is merely a business management design decision in determining how many different images should be available to the business personnel. This decision will depend on the nature of the product, for example, where the product is marketed in a box versus one that is not marketed in box. Other factors to be considered are costs and the desired appearance of the line of products in the inventory.  
         [0027]     Another method of generating the plurality of images for the products in the inventory of products is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . A product  88  is positioned on a rotatable turntable  90 . An image generator, such as camera  92  is positioned along arc  94 , at predetermined positions. A jig or other suitable apparatus can be used to position camera  92  at the desired positions along arc  94 . The predetermined positions can be any number of degrees apart; the dotted lines in  FIG. 9  illustrate one embodiment in which the positions are ten degrees apart. The dotted lines radiate from the approximate center of product  88 . Since turntable  90  is rotatable in one plane, product  88  can be rotated a predetermined number of degrees in the horizontal plane. An image is then generated by camera  92  and provided to storage  96  for temporary storage. Turntable  90  would then be rotated again, and another image is generated by camera  92 . This process is repeated until all of the desired images have been taken in this plane. The position of camera  92  along arc  94  is changed to a different position so that the images will be generated from the perspective of a second plane. This process can then be repeated for the desired number of planes. At a later point the images can be uploaded from storage  96  to the system server, such as server  18  in  FIG. 1 . A single camera  92  is shown in  FIG. 9 ; however, two or more cameras can be located at predetermined points along arc  94 . In addition, two or more cameras can be located around product  88  in the first plane where camera  92  is located in  FIG. 9  to minimize the number of times that product  88  has to be rotated.  
         [0028]     A flowchart of the imaging process is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . At step  100 , product  88  is positioned on turntable  90 . Camera  92  is then positioned along arc  94  in relation to product  88  in step  102 . At step  104 , the image of product  88  is generated by camera  92  and stored in storage  96 . The positional relationship between camera  92  and product  88  is then changed in step  106 , and another image of product  88  is generated and stored in step  108 . At decision point  1   10  the determination is made as to whether all of the desired images have been obtained. If not, the process returns to step  106 .  
         [0029]     The images can be generated, for example, by consecutively changing the position of the product or the image generator in relation to the product by a set number of degrees. Either the product can be rotated or the camera can be moved around the product. It has been found that a change of ten degrees provides a reasonably pleasing visual effect of fluid rotation of the product, while limiting the number of images required to thirty-six in one plane. Although any number of planes can be used, it has been found that as a practical matter only four or five steps of ten degrees up from the horizontal plane provides satisfactory images for advertising. The result is that the product image viewed on the screen gives the user a choice of images from looking directly at the product in the same plane to tilting the product, and, of course, the option of rotating the product to see, for example, the front and right-hand side. When the product is tilted, then, for example, the image displays the front, right-hand side, and top.  
         [0030]     It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be interpreted as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only in accordance with the appended claims when read in light of the foregoing disclosure.