Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and systems for matchmaking of on-line transaction. Users could apply the platform of the present invention to make various transactions as well as correct decisions according to the remarkable effects of virtual reality. Therefore, the present invention would not only prompt the market of artwork, but also decrease the cost of transaction.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to the field of purchasing artwork online and in particular, utilizes the 3D virtual reality to enhance the online buying experiences, more specifically, the invention relates to methods and systems for enabling on-line transaction of artwork between merchants and vendors. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    The standard quality of living advances rapidly over the last decade, thus the demand for the aesthetic artwork collection has also increased correspondingly. Traditionally, only the elite artists are able to showcase their artwork formally in a workshop and the unknown artists are ignored. However, with the advent of online discussion forum, personal website, Blog, email or etc, the new emerging artists, also known as free lance artists have began to showcase their art creations over the Internet. Surprisingly, the qualities of their works are often comparable to those elite artists. Hence recently, these new free lance artists have started to gain wider public recognition and acceptance. 
         [0003]    At this moment, free-lance artists typically showcase their work on the Internet without any compensation. Due to the increased awareness of the copyright protection and potential business opportunities that can be obtained from licensing, free-lance artists are reluctant to exhibit their work freely and publicly on the Internet. Thus it can be a deterrent for these artists from creating any new art. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, despite the fact that images and descriptions of the products are posted on the Internet, purchaser often depends his/her imagination in judging the tangible aspect of the item. They sometimes regret their purchase thereafter due to misrepresentation from the pictures. Besides, individuals nowadays usually buy art to decorate their houses or offices. If they solely rely on their previous experiences in deciding their purchase without actually seeing the item, it could potentially lead to customer dissatisfaction (As shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0005]    Moreover, artworks are not available on the market as commonly as the other merchandises. The general public therefore often cannot find their preferred arts with ease unless they are abreast in the field. The lack of proper procurement channels and tools has widened the gap between the potential purchasers and the vendors. Purchasers occasionally may be unaware the existence of a great art that the vendor is trying to sell or vice versa (As shown in  FIG. 5 ). The vendor is then discouraged by the lack of recognitions and businesses; they may eventually abandon their love of creation. 
         [0006]    To resolve the associated problem aforementioned, a particular type of transaction platform bridges both purchasers and vendors enabling the artwork exchange with a more organized method. As a result of increased recognition of their work, these artists are now more willing to create anew, thus it raises the quality of art. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the aforementioned problems, methods and systems for matchmaking of artwork transaction would be provided. The present invention constitutes a platform for various users (including consumers and artists) to conduct transactions. With the virtual reality, the user could precisely determine whether the artwork and application thereof conform to her/his expectation. The methods and systems could not only prompt the market of artwork, but also decrease the cost of transaction. 
         [0008]    One purpose of the present invention is providing a method for matchmaking of an artwork transaction. First, the user logs in the matchmaking system coupled to the digital (artwork) database. The matchmaking system includes a virtual reality module and a transaction module. After that, the user selects an artwork from the digital database as well as specific application thereof. The virtual reality module presents a virtual reality of the artwork under the application for the user to take as a reference while determining whether making a transaction. Finally, the transaction module would finish the remaining procedures according to the decision of the user. 
         [0009]    The other purpose of the present invention is providing a matchmaking system of the artwork transaction, which comprises a processor, a virtual reality module, digital database, setting database and user database. The digital database keeps the artwork information. The users may utilize user terminals to log in the matchmaking system and browse the on-line catalog or menu for selecting an artwork from the digital database. The virtual reality generated by the virtual reality module will be displayed on the display of the user terminal. The users determine whether conduct the transaction depending on the virtual reality present by the virtual reality module. The transaction result will be accordingly displayed on the display of the user terminal. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like numerals represent like elements: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a flow chart of the matchmaking method according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of the matchmaking system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart for processing the semi-product according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG.4  illustrates the disadvantage of the prior art; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates another disadvantage of prior art; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates exemplary procedures of transaction according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative exemplary procedures of transaction according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  illustrates the effects and advantages of the preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0019]    In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Hence, the preferred embodiment mentioned here is not limited to the details and accompanying claims explicitly described. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart illustrating a method for facilitating a transaction in accordance with the present invention and  FIG. 2  illustrates a system enabling this method. 
         [0021]    In step  11 , users including common consumers would log in the matchmaking system  21 , and the user information is stored in a user database  215  in the system  21 . According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, before a transaction is conducted, users including artists or vendors of the artwork may preload their related information of their artworks onto the matchmaking system  21  by utilizing a user terminal  24  via network  23  in step  12 , in order to store the artwork information in a digital database  213 , as illustrated in step  13 . The user terminals  24 - 26  may include common computers or various devices capable of network connection, such as a PDA, a smart phone, etc. In the present embodiment, all user terminals and the matchmaking system  21  are coupled to the network  23  as well as communicate or exchange information through the network  23 . The digital database  213  may be included in the matchmaking system  21  and coupled to the processor  210 . The matchmaking system  21  further comprises a setting database  214  and virtual reality module  211 , respectively coupled to the processor  210 . The main function of them is to generate a virtual product or virtual reality based on the artwork selected by the users or potential consumers, in order to assist the users determining whether their demands are met. The embodiment of related method will be discussed further below. Moreover, the users herein generally refer to both consumers and artists, or either of them. Every user could utilize the present invention as a consumer and an artist. In other words, the users may freely change their characters depending on their demands. 
         [0022]    The artwork information uploaded by the users generally includes the picture or the photograph of the artwork, such the digital image of the artwork (for example, a picture taken by a digital camera or a drawing or slogan made by using graphics software), and authorization information. Such authorization information includes the available application and the price of the uploaded artwork. Besides, the artwork in the present embodiment may comprise a picture, an icon, a photo, a logo, a slogan, and etc. Except the foregoing still data, the digital database  213  could also store the audio or video data. 
         [0023]    In step  14 , the user or consumer may utilize the user terminal  25  or  26  to connect the matchmaking system  21  through network  23 . Generally, the matchmaking system  21  would provide a web interface, and present the related information of the artwork in the digital database  213  and the application options in the setting database  214 , in the form of catalog or menu, for the user to browse and choose. In addition, the present also provides various options of application, such as printing the artwork on an object including a cup, clothes, a poster, a towel, a watch, a table lamp, a clock, a gift box, etc. Further, the artwork may be framed, and various frame styles are provided. To achieve such purpose, virtual reality module  211  would generate virtual reality of the selected artwork combined with the selected object or setting (environment) and then present it on a display for users to precisely make decision. 
         [0024]    After the artwork and the application thereof are selected by the user, the virtual reality module  211  in the system  21  would generate a virtual reality accordingly, and such virtual reality may be shown in a display of the user terminal (such as the monitor  241  of the user terminal  24 ), for the user to take as an important reference while determining whether making a transaction, as shown in step  15 . In the present embodiment, the virtual reality module may generate a 3D virtual reality which providing various angles of view. Hence, the user could obtain remarkably sufficient and vivid visual information. For instance, a painting is selected to be printed on a gift box, and then the virtual reality module would present the 3D view of the gift box printed with this painting for the user to survey from all angles of view. Alternatively, some photograph may be selected to be framed and hung in the living room (or the kitchen, the bedroom, the office or the store). After the style of the frame is chosen, the virtual reality module would present the 3D virtual reality of the living room with this photograph framed and hung for the user to determine whether her/his demands are met. Except appreciating the virtual reality on-line, the present could also provide associated file(s) of the virtual reality for download, in order to avoid the limit of broadband or be used sometime. 
         [0025]    The main advantage of the present invention is the providing of virtual reality. Depending on viewing such virtual reality, the user could appreciate the simulated situation of certain artwork user specific application. Because of the variety and complication of the artwork, one application could not suite with every artwork. In order to avoid regret, the aforementioned mechanism for facilitating the on-line transaction is provided. The user would no longer make transaction purely on personal imagination. Hence, the willing for transaction is highly promoted and the development of the artwork market would be enhanced. 
         [0026]    In the preferred embodiment, the virtual reality module  211  is an application installed in the matchmaking system  21 . In other words, the virtual reality module  211  is software. However, in other embodiments, the functions of such module could be implemented by hardware or the combination of software and hardware. Since the generation of the virtual reality is well known in the art, related description is omitted to avoid obscuring the present invention. It is emphasized that all suitable techniques of virtual reality may be utilized by the present invention. 
         [0027]    After the virtual reality is viewed, the user would make the decision of transaction, as shown in step  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the transaction result may be displayed on a display of the user terminal (such as the monitor  241  of the user terminal  24 ). The matchmaking system  21  is provided with a transaction module  212  for dealing with all procedures after the transaction is made. For example, the user decides to make transaction, and then the transaction module  212  would issue a requisition to the manufacturer for production based on the selection of artwork and application thereof. Finally, the product is sent to the place appointed by the user, and the transaction module  212  would confirm product delivery. 
         [0028]    Please refer to  FIG. 6 , which presents the transaction procedures in accordance of the present invention. In the left side, the consumer (namely the aforementioned user) utilizes the system and method of the present invention to select a painting (artwork) and an object to be printed (application), and appreciates the 3D presentation (virtual reality) to make decision of transaction. After that, the transaction module  212  issues a requisition to the manufacturer for production, and the product would be sent to the user. Since the user has viewed the 3D presentation on-line, the degree of satisfaction would be highly raised. 
         [0029]    Additionally, please refer to  FIG. 7 , which presents the transaction procedures of another application. The consumer (user) connects to the matchmaking system through internet to select a painting (artwork) as well as the frame style thereof. Consequently, the consumer views the virtual reality generated by the system and the make decision of transaction accordingly. After the transaction is conducted, the system issues a requisition and delivers the product as mentioned above. Similarly, because of the vivid virtual reality, the gap between the user&#39;s expect and reality of the product would be eliminated. 
         [0030]    Moreover, please refer to  FIG. 3 , which presents the procedures for handling the order after the transaction is made, mainly focusing on the processing of semi-product. The present invention provides various applications for the artwork, so huge stock is not necessary. On the other hand, the preparation of flexible semi-product, such as the blank cup, is required. Such blank cup may be easily printed with selected artwork. 
         [0031]    In step  31 , the user utilizes the matchmaking system of the present invention to order certain products. Such order includes specific artworks and application thereof. The system then forwards this order as well as associated artwork information in the digital database to the manufacturer, as shown in step  32 . In step  33 , the manufacturer processes or finishes the semi-product based on the user&#39;s demands. Finally, the product will be delivered to the user, as shown in step  34 . In this way, the huge stock could be avoided and the time to finishing manufacture is shorten for eliminating unexpected risks. 
         [0032]    Please refer to  FIG. 8 , which illustrates the main advantages and effects of the present invention. The user (including the consumer or artist) may utilize the system and method provided by the present invention to conduct transactions, as a consumer or an artist (or a vender of the artwork). The user could browse or make an on-line gallery, and obtain the authorization of a picture or other artworks. Before the transaction is made, the virtual reality of the finished product could be viewed on-line or downloaded for off-line appreciation. Moreover, the user may joint the auction of the original works. In this way, the artist could benefit from the authorization as well as sell or auction the original work. Hence, not only enhancing the quality standard of art, the present invention enriches the socio-economic aspect of the society. 
         [0033]    The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention also makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show the exemplary embodiment by way of illustration and its best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable to those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.