Patent Publication Number: US-2011071919-A1

Title: Garden design method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to a garden design method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 
     Landscape gardeners can design and landscape gardens according to a customer&#39;s requirements. However, many customers cannot afford the full services of a landscape gardener and would prefer to labor themselves to save on costs. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative garden design method which obviates the need to employ a landscape gardener. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garden design method including the steps of:
         providing queries to a customer which relate to a garden design, one of the queries relating to a type of the garden design;   obtaining responses to the queries provided to the customer; and   determining, using computational means, at least one garden template based upon the obtained responses.       

     The computational means determines a suitable garden template based upon the customer&#39;s responses without the need to hire a landscape gardener. The customer can then implement the garden design in accordance with the determined template. 
     The step of providing queries may involve displaying possible selections in multiple choice format with each selection having an associated radio button. The responses may be obtained responsive to a user selecting respective radio buttons with a mouse. 
     The query relating to the type of the garden design may relate to the shape of the garden design. The query relating to the type of the garden design may further relate to whether a feature garden or a vegetable garden is required. The query relating to the type of the garden design may further relate to a desired garden theme. The theme may include any one of Japanese, Tropical, Balinese, English, Contemporary, etc. 
     The queries may further relate to any one or more of the following: the geographical or climatic region in which the garden design is intended, the plant species to be included in the garden design, the sun exposure of the intended location of the garden design, the foliage color of the plants to be included in the garden design, the size of the garden design, and the maximum height of the plants to be used in the garden design. 
     Subsequent to the step of determining, the method may further involve the step of sending the customer a preview of the at least one garden template. 
     The method may further involve the step of receiving a selection of one of the previewed templates by the customer. 
     The method may further involve the step of enabling the customer to purchase the selected garden template. The step of enabling may involve enabling the customer to purchase plants included in the garden template. The step of enabling may involve enabling the customer to purchase features to be included in the garden template. 
     The method may further include the steps of issuing the customer with a receipt for their purchase and providing access to the purchased garden template. 
     In one embodiment, the computational means includes a server which provides the queries over the Internet and to a remote computer, the queries being displayed to the customer on the remote computer. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided computational means configured to:
         provide queries to a customer&#39;s remote computer which relate to a garden design, one of the queries relating to a type of the garden design;   obtain responses to the queries from the customer&#39;s remote computer; and   determine at least one garden template based upon the obtained responses.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a garden design system incorporating a web-server according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a garden design database of the garden design system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a garden design method performed by a web-server of the garden design system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an example web-page  80  showing various climatic regions and for displaying on a remote computer of the garden design system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an example web-page  80  presenting various queries relating to a triangular garden type and for displaying on a remote computer of the garden design system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exemplary triangular garden template which can be determined in accordance with responses to the queries of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  shows another exemplary garden template shape. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an online garden design system  2  incorporating a web-server  5  (i.e. computational means) as shown in  FIG. 1 . The web-server  5  is configured to provide queries to a remote computer  9  of a customer  8 . The queries relate to a desired garden design and one of the queries relates to a type (e.g. shape, feature garden, vegetable garden, etc.) of the garden design. The web-server  5  obtains responses to the queries from the customer&#39;s remote computer  9 . In turn, the web-server  5  determines at least one suitable garden template based upon the obtained responses from the customer  8 , without the need to hire a landscape gardener. The customer  8  can then implement the garden design in accordance with the determined template. The garden design system  2  is described in detail below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted a block diagram of the garden design system  2 . The garden design system  2  is based around a web-server  5  which executes software  6  stored in memory. The software includes machine readable instructions provided on a suitable carrier  16 , such as a magnetic or optical disk or in an integrated circuit electronic memory. One or more processors of the server  5  execute the instructions in order to implement the garden design method described in detail below with reference to  FIG. 3 . It will be realised that the actual coding of the software is straightforward once the method that is described in relation to  FIG. 3  is comprehended. 
     The web-server  5  includes a storage device defining a template database  7  of possible garden templates relating to respective garden designs. Turning to  FIG. 2 , the template database  7  is divided into geographical or climatic region sections  20  based upon a garden geographic or climatic region (eg. Subtropics) for which the garden design is intended. Each geographical or climatic region section  20  includes garden type subsections  22  (e.g. triangular  22   a,  rectangular  22   b,  etc.) based upon the type of garden design. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the triangular subsection  22   a  includes N triangular database entries T 1 -T N . 
     Each triangular database entry T (or record) includes a plurality of fields  24  including: the type  24   a  (e.g. shape) of the garden design, the plant species  24   b  to be included in the garden design, the foliage color  24   c  of the plants to be included in the garden design, the garden size  24   d  of the garden design, the maximum height  24   e  of the plants to be used in the garden design, and a template field  24   f  associated with at least one electronic garden template (e.g. file tmp_t1a.jpg). 
     The web-server  5  also hosts a number of websites corresponding to respective climatic regions. A Subtropics based trader (e.g. Garden Designer) can purchase a license to use the software for the climatic region of the Subtropics so that the Subtropics based trader&#39;s website can access and utilize the software in the associated climatic region section  20 . Similarly, other traders can purchase licenses for their respective climatic regions. 
     A customer  8  is able to view web-pages produced by the web-server  5  and sent via the Internet  15 , by means of the remote computer  9  running suitable web-browser software (e.g. Microsoft Internet Explorer). The customer  8  is provided with data entry forms in the web-pages generated by the web-server  5  in order that the customer may provide responses to garden design queries and payment details. Once the customer  8  has completed query selections and entered payment (e.g. credit card, BPAY, etc.) details to purchase a determined garden template, the web-page generated by web server  5  redirects the web-browser running on remote computer  9  to a financial transaction server  10 . The financial transaction server  10  is then able to facilitate the transfer of funds between the customer&#39;s and the region&#39;s trader&#39;s financial institution. 
     A garden design method  40  performed using the online garden design system  2  is now described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     At step  42 , a main website hosted on web-server  5  is connected to by customer&#39;s remote computer  9 . The web-server  5  sends a web-page  80  for display on the remote computer  9  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The web-page  80  includes a map of Australia  82  whereby each climatic region  83  is interactive and can be selected using a mouse of remote computer  9 . 
     At step  44 , the web-server  5  launches a trader&#39;s website corresponding to a trader associated with one of the regions selected by the customer  8 . For example, the customer  8  can use the mouse of computer system  9  to select the climatic region of the Subtropics  83 , and web-server  5  redirects the customer from the main website to the Subtropics region trader&#39;s website also hosted on web-server  5 . 
     At step  46 , the web-server  5  provides a query to the customer  8  in relation to which type of garden design is desired. The query relating to the type of the garden design requires the customer  8  to nominate the shape of the garden design (e.g. triangular, rectangular, etc.), a feature garden, a vegetable garden or a themed garden. 
     At step  48 , the web-server  5  obtains a response to the garden type query provided to the customer at step  46 . 
     At step  50 , the web-server  5  provides further queries to the customer  8  which relate to the selected garden type (e.g. triangular). The web-server  5  sends a web-page  84  for display on the remote computer  9  as shown in  FIG. 5  for a triangular garden type. The web-page  84  displays possible garden criteria selections in multiple choice format, with each selection having an associated radio button  86 . 
     As can best be seen in  FIG. 5 , the further queries relate to the following: the plant species  87  to be included in the garden design including the sun exposure of the intended location of the garden design, the foliage color  88  of the plants to be included in the garden design, the size of the garden design  90 , and the maximum height of the plants  92  to be used in the garden design. In one embodiment, further queries relating to a selected garden theme may also be posed. 
     At step  52 , the web-server  5  obtains responses to the further queries provided to the customer at step  50 . The responses are obtained subsequent to the customer  8  selecting respective radio buttons  86  with a mouse of the computer  9 . 
     At step  54 , the web-server  5  determines at least one garden template based upon the obtained responses at step  52 . The database fields  24  relating to the plant species  24   b , the foliage color  24   c,  the garden size  24   d,  and the maximum height  24   e  correspond to respective queries relating to plant species  87 , foliage color  88 , size of the garden design  90 , and the maximum height of the plants  92  posed at step  50 . The number of possible combinations of selections N entered at step  50  corresponds to the number of triangular database entries T. The web-server  5  can readily determine the electronic garden templates referenced in the template field  24   f  of the triangular database entry T corresponding to the obtained responses at step  52 . 
     At step  56 , the web-server  5  sends a preview of the determined at least one garden template to remote computer  9 . The preview includes only partial details of the templates. For example, the plants may be described without actually naming them. 
     At step  58 , the web-server  5  receives a selection of one or more of the previewed templates by the customer  8  whereby the templates are effectively added to a shopping cart for purchase. 
     At step  60 , the web-server  5  enables the customer  8  to purchase the garden template corresponding to the selected preview. The customer  8  is also presented with the option to purchase the plants included in the garden template which will be supplied by an independent local (e.g. Nursery) trader. In addition, the customer  8  can be presented with the option to purchase any features (e.g. statue, fountain, etc.) included in the garden template. 
     As previously discussed, the web-server  5  sends a payment details web-page to the remote computer  9 . Once the customer  8  has entered payment (e.g. credit card, BPAY, etc.) details to purchase a selected garden template into the payment details web-page, the web server  5  redirects the web-browser running on remote computer  9  to a financial transaction server  10 . The financial transaction server  10  is then able to facilitate the transfer of funds between the customer&#39;s and the local based trader&#39;s financial institution. 
     At step  62 , the web-server  5  e-mails the customer a receipt for their template purchase along with a hyperlink to the purchased electronic garden template. The customer  8  can thereby access and print the purchased electronic garden template using the hyperlink for a predetermined length of time, before the web-server  5  withdraws template access. 
       FIG. 6  shows an exemplary triangular garden template  94 . The template  94  includes three types of plant  96   a,    96   b,    96   c  positioned in a triangular array relative to a grid. A garden feature  98  is also optionally shown. 
       FIG. 7  shows another exemplary garden template  150  (with dimensions in meters) having a shape suitable for locating in a yard corner. In one embodiment, the garden template  150  can connect with another 1.2 m wide rectangular garden template  152  (e.g. at a 1.2 meter edge of template  150 ) to form a composite template  154  to suit yard space requirements. 
     A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment described, the customer  8  was able to select a climatic region (e.g. Subtropics) and thereby be directed to a trader servicing that region. In another embodiment, the customer  8  may instead be able to select a geographic region whereby, for example, Queensland can be selected. In one embodiment, the state of Queensland is divided into tropical north Queensland and Subtropical south Queensland which are subject to different climatic conditions and therefore have different plant selections available in the templates  94 . 
     In one embodiment, the query relating to the type of the garden design at step  46  may relate to a desired garden theme. The theme may include, for example, any one of Japanese, tropical, Balinese, English, and Contemporary themes. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.