Abstract:
A shopping method, apparatus and system. The method includes retrieving information of at least one shopper, creating a shopping environment based on the information, directing the at least one shopper through the shopping environment, where the shopping environment mimics a real-world shopping experience, and finalizing the shopping experience, where the finalizing is at least one of checking out and terminating the shopping.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application relates to U.S. Provisional Applications 62/306,604 filed on Mar. 10, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to a virtual shopping systems, apparatus and methods. More specifically, this disclosure relates to creating and operating a virtual shopping platform that mimics an actual shopping experience 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It has become more common for shoppers to surf the internet in and purchase more items over online shopping venues. However, the current online experience is very limited and does not compare to the real-world shopping experience. Therefore, there is a need for an improved system, apparatus and method for online and/or virtual shopping. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Embodiments described herein relate to a virtual shopping method, apparatus and system. The method includes retrieving information of at least one shopper, creating a shopping environment based on the information, directing the at least one shopper through the shopping environment, where the shopping environment mimics a real-world shopping experience, and finalizing the shopping experience, where the finalizing is at least one of checking out and terminating the shopping. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Reference will now be made to the following drawings: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are embodiments illustrating a flow diagram depicting virtual shopping methods; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an embodiment illustrating an embodiment of a virtual shopping system; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a virtual shopping apparatus; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    In the descriptions that follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
         [0010]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that aspects of the present disclosure may be illustrated and described herein in any of a number of patentable classes or context including any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof. Therefore, aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented entirely in hardware or combining software and hardware implementation that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” “component,” or “system” (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.). Further, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable media having computer readable program code embodied thereon. 
         [0011]    Any combination of one or more computer readable media may be utilized. The computer readable media may be a computer readable signal medium, any type of memory or a computer readable storage medium. For example, a computer readable storage medium may be, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include, but are not limited to: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (“RAM”), a read-only memory (“ROM”), an erasable programmable read-only memory (“EPROM” or Flash memory), an appropriate optical fiber with a repeater, a portable compact disc read-only memory (“CD-ROM”), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Thus, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
         [0012]    Computer program code for carrying out operations utilizing a processor for aspects of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, markup languages, style sheets and JavaScript libraries, including but not limited to Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), HTML/CSS, XAML, and JQuery, C, Basic, *Ada, Python, C++, C#, Pascal, *Arduino. Additionally, operations can be carried out using any variety of compiler available. 
         [0013]    Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, systems and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable instruction execution apparatus, create a mechanism for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0014]    These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that when executed can direct a computer, processor, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions when stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which when executed, cause a computer to implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, processor, other programmable instruction execution apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatuses or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are embodiments illustrating a flow diagram depicting virtual shopping methods.  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  depict flow diagram illustrating embodiments of virtual shopping methods  100 A and  100 B, respectively, that may be performed by system and apparatus of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . 
         [0016]    Method  100 A starts at step  102 A and proceeds to step  104 A. At step  104 A, the method  100 A retrieves shopper information. At step  106 A, method  100 A creates a manikin based on the shopper information. At step  108 A, the shopper is directed through a virtual shopping environment based on the shopper information. At step  110 A, the shopper experiences a virtual shopping experience that mimics a real-world shopping experience. The shopper may be able to explore different stores in a mall, try on different outfits on the manikin, etc. At step  112 A, the shopper finalizes the shopping. At step  114 A, the method  100 A determines if the shopper desirers to do more shopping. If so, the method  100 A proceeds to step  104 A; otherwise, the shopping ends at step  116 A. 
         [0017]    Method  100 B starts at step  102 B and proceeds to step  104 B. At step  104 B, an avatar personal shopper retrieves shopper information. In one embodiment, the avatar personal shopper resembles a virtual person that communicates (i.e. talk and/or converses) with the shopper. At step  106 B, method  100 B creates a manikin based on the shopper information. At step  108 B, the avatar personal shopper offers options based on the shopper information. At step  110 B, the avatar personal shopper alters the shopper&#39;s experience on environment based on new or altered shopper&#39;s information or preferences. The shopper may be able to explore different stores in a mall, try on different outfits on the manikin, etc. At step  112 B, the method  100 B determines if the shopper has finished shopping (i.e. found an item. wants to terminate the experience, etc.). If so, the method  100 B proceeds to step  110 B; otherwise, the shopping ends at step  114 B. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the manikin is created based on the information from the shopper. For example, the virtual shopping method determines the physical characteristics of the shopper and reflects the characteristics, such as, weight, height, physical build, face shape, eye color, hair color, etc., on the manikin. Accordingly, the manikin may resemble the shopper and may allow for trying out the products presented in the shopping environment, such as, trying on clothes, hats, makeup, glasses, etc. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, the shopping environment is in a format of shopping stores. In such an environment, the manikin may shop from store to store, as a person would in a real-world shopping experience. 
         [0020]    In yet another embodiment, the personal shopper utilized this information to customize the shopping experience, environment or products presented to the user in the 3D/virtual shopping environment. The shopper and the personal shopper may undergo a shopping experience together. If the items are found the shopping experience is finalized by checking out, arranging for payment, arranging for shipping etc. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the user information may be archived, entered or electronically determined via scanners, photos, etc. As such, the shopping expert offers shopping, options, such as, products, environment, etc., options determined and altered based on the received or learned shopper information. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts an embodiment of a Shopping System  200 . The shopping system  200  creates a shopping environment that is supported by a personal shopper. The shopping system  200  includes a memory or storage medium  202 , processor  204 , and a shopping module  206 . The processor  204  is capable of accessing data in memory  202 . The shopping module  206  may generate data that is archived in memory  202 . The shopping module  206  is better described in  FIG. 3 . The shopping system  200  is capable of interacting with various input output devices, peripherals and systems, which are referred to herein as I/O  208 , such as, a display, monitor, computer system, LCD, printers, portable devices, projections, etc. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  depicts an embodiment of a shopping module  206  of  FIG. 2 . The shopping module  206  includes a 3D/virtual shopping environment module  203 , a 3D/virtual personal shopper module  304  and a shopping execution module  306 . The 3D/virtual shopping environment module  302  creates a shopping environment that allows a shopper to experience a real-world shopping experience in a 3D/virtual reality environment, which may utilize 3D apparatus such as glasses, head wear and the like. The shopper may be able to walk from store to store, mall to mall, or shopping experience to another. The different environments may be by product type, store type or based on the shopper&#39;s preference. The 3D/virtual personal shopper  304  helps the shopper navigate in the shopping environment—navigate products, stores, experience etc. The shopping execution module  306  helps the shopper through a sales transaction, which may be executed in the same environment or a different environment. The 3D/virtual personal shopper  304  may include a checkout process, payment navigation tools, shipping navigation tools and the like. The shopper may be able to customize the shopping experience or environment based on size, quality, subject of interest, location type and the like. 
         [0024]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept. It is understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments herein, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.