Patent Publication Number: US-2009234754-A1

Title: Apparatus, a method, and a system for gemstone evaluation and gemology tutoring over the internet

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus and a computer-implemented method and system for gemstone evaluation and gemology teaching in an internet environment. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It is difficult for an untrained observer or buyer to appreciate the beauty of a gemstone, such as a diamond, without the help of a person trained and skilled in gemology. The apparatus, methods, and systems for gemstone evaluation in general and cut diamond evaluation in particular require that the person using them have specialized knowledge of gemology. It usually takes a long time for a person to learn to use the methods and systems. Thus, to an untrained buyer, these methods and systems do not offer a ready, easy, and complete solution for gemstone evaluation. 
     With the advent and the proliferation of internet shopping, more and more buyers are now buying precious stones over the internet. The users who want to buy gemstones over the internet either do not have or access to gemstone evaluation tools, or an evaluation apparatus or a gemology expert, or time to learn these difficult-to-master drills. This lack of expert help is especially felt when the user is buying gemstones on somewhat of an impulse buying decision, such as buying a diamond for a wedding ring. Diamonds are evaluated based on 4 C&#39;s: carat weight, clarity, color and cut. The effects of these four C&#39;s on the evaluation of a diamond are not something that an untrained buyer can estimate without professional advice from gemology experts, without using specialized gemology tools, and without spending time and thought on understanding how to apply the tools. 
     In such a situation, the internet gemstone shopping experience needs an apparatus, a method, or a system that is not only easy to understand and use, but also makes it quicker and easier for untrained buyers to appreciate and compare the beauty of gemstones, such as by educating them about 4 C&#39;s and the phenomenon of ‘hearts’ and ‘arrows.’ A method is needed that enables reliable and objective evaluation of a gemstone stone such that buyers assured of the quality of the gemstone can place an order over the internet and obtain the gemstone through the mail without having to leave their home. A method is needed to see the gemstone online and purchase it in a retail store. 
     What is needed then is an apparatus and computer implemented method and system for gemstone evaluation, gemstone shopping, and gemology teaching in an internet environment. One that is easy to use that encourages even an untrained user to assess the beauty of a gemstone as well as to remotely compare one gemstone against others. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method of evaluating a gemstone over the internet is described that includes providing at least a server computer for providing access to an internet enabled client. The client is connected to a client apparatus capable of capturing an image of a gemstone through a server over the internet to process a received image of the gemstone to determine one or more optical properties of the gemstone. 
     The method will present, on a display of the client, a series of screens comprising a graphical representation of how a cut of a gemstone affects its light handling ability. The method further includes presenting, on the display of the client, a user interface screen. The user interface screen configuration allows controlling an operation of the apparatus to measure one or more optical properties of a particular gemstone provided to the apparatus, view an image of the gemstone so measured, and view representations of the measured one or more optical properties. The method of evaluating gemstones also includes the server computer providing a gemstone database and/or a teaching database. 
     The method includes examining and purchasing a diamond or gemstone online, examining a diamond online and purchasing it at a retail establishment, conferencing with the seller and/or other persons online to examine the diamond online and purchasing it online or at a retail establishment. Further, it can include examining the diamond through virtual equipment online and then purchasing the diamond online or at the store. 
     A system for gemstone evaluation over the internet is also included. The system comprises a server computer having a client device connectable to the internet for transmitting gemstone images and evaluating data, means for processing an image of a gemstone received from the apparatus to determine one or more optical properties of the gemstone, and means for presenting, on the display, the received image of the gemstone and representations of the determined one or more optical properties. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates an internet-enabled environment for performing the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a block diagram of a method of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate perspective views of a standard round brilliant cut diamond; 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for measuring optical properties of a gemstone; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the surface of the apparatus of  FIG. 2  having exemplary patterns of relatively reflective and relatively unreflective regions; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram showing the logical components of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is yet another schematic diagram showing the logical components of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A-5H  are flow diagrams showing the processes of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a screenshot of the main menu page of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are exemplary screenshots of the pages of an internet-enabled web application of the present invention that explain the significance of the four ‘C’s of diamonds and the geometry and proportions of a modern SRB cut diamond; 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  are screenshots of the pages of an internet-enabled web application of the present invention that explain the significance of the difference between shallow, deep, and ideal SRB cut diamonds in terms of the process of cutting a rough diamond and carat weight; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are exemplary screenshots of the pages of an internet-enabled web application of the present invention that explain the significance of the differences in light handling ability between, deep, shallow, and ideal cut SRB cut diamonds; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  show screenshots representing the gemology teaching pages that explain how an ideal SRB cut diamond is cut from a rough to produce the phenomenon of “hearts and arrows” in a well-cut diamond. 
         FIGS. 11A-11D  are screenshots of an internet-enabled web application of the present invention that is used for controlling the operation of the apparatus for measuring properties of a gemstone and for viewing the gemstone and representations of optical properties of the gemstone; and 
         FIGS. 12A-12C  are screenshots of an internet-enabled web application of the present invention that is used for viewing reports on gemstones. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a person looking at and buying a diamond through the internet, including buying the diamond on the internet, buying the diamond at a retail store after reviewing it on the internet, conferring with the seller through the internet, and buying the diamond on the internet or at the seller&#39;s store. 
     The present invention is also directed to examining the diamond through virtual equipment online and purchasing the diamond online or at the store. 
     The present invention also includes online assistance in evaluating and/or purchasing the diamond. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates an example of an internet-enabled environment for evaluating and reviewing diamonds online. Client computers  10  and internet-enabled devices  12  retrieve documents, such as web pages and Adobe Flash presentations as well as data stored on a server  14  related to the diamond. The server  14  has a gemstone database  18  that stores information about gemstones, a teaching database  20  that stores information about various aspects of gemstone evaluation and gemology, and a user database  20  that stores information about users using the server resources. The client&#39;s computer  10  and internet enabled devices  12  are coupled to the server  104  via the internet  16 . Some client computers  10  that are located on the intranet  24  communicate indirectly with the server via a proxy server  26 . The client&#39;s computer  10  may consist of either workstations  28  or laptops  30 . The internet enabled devices may consist of cellular phones  32 , personal digital assistants (PDAs)  34 , and cable TVs  36 . Furthermore, some of the client computers may be coupled to gemstone evaluation apparatus  38 . In one embodiment, only one server  14  is used. A plurality of servers, however, can be used in alternative embodiments so that documents and databases can be located on a distributed network of servers. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates a role based high-level block diagram of the internet enabled environment for performing the present invention. A user connects to the server  14  via the internet  16  to access the diamond or gemstone documents and data stored on databases  18 ,  20  and  22 . It should be noted that the term “user,” for example, includes a retail outlet  40 , a buyer  42 , a seller  44 , a tutor  46 , and/or an evaluator or grader or others  48 . 
     Buyers  42 , sellers  44 , tutors  46 , and evaluators  48  directly connect to the server  14  using the Web front of the server  14 . The retail outlets connect to the server either directly using the Web front of the server  14  or indirectly using a retail outlet server that is coupled with server  14 . The retail outlets further include a plurality of sub-users. The plurality of retail sub-users includes buyers  50 , sellers  54 , tutors  56  and evaluators  58 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows the geometry of a standard round brilliant diamond  60  also known as the SRB diamond. The top most dome-shaped portion of the diamond is known as the crown  62 . The bottom most conical portion of the diamond  60  is the pavilion  64 . A relatively large facet centered on the top of the crown is known as the table  68 . The bottom most part of the pavilion is known as the culet  66 .  FIG. 2B  shows a top-down view of the SRB diamond  60  taken along an axis from the center of the table  68  through the culet  66 . The SRB cut diamond may have fifty six radial facets that include twenty four facets on the pavilion  64  and thirty two facets on the crown  62 . The fifty six radial facets do not include the table  14  and the culet  16 , and present an 8-fold symmetry about the axis passing though the center of table  14  and culet  16 . 
       FIG. 2C  shows a cross-sectional view of a gemstone evaluation apparatus  34  that may be used with the present invention. Arranged within the apparatus  34 , there is a platform (not shown) made of an optically clear glass plate of regular thickness such as that of a window pane. A diamond  60 , is placed at an observation position. The diamond  60  is placed such that the table-side is face-down on the platform. The platform is arranged to be in a substantially horizontal position when the apparatus  34  is in a horizontal position. An anti-reflection coating is applied to the platform to reduce glare. The platform is also provided with a small ring underneath to further reduce glare. The apparatus  34  is mounted in a housing (not shown), which is designed to prevent external light from reaching the diamond  60 , as well as, dust from entering the mechanical and optical components. The housing is provided with an access lid (not shown) above the platform. The access lid is for replacing and removing a gemstone to be measured. The inner surface of the housing and the access lid are coated with nonreflective material. The purpose of the coating is to substantially negate the reflection of light from the lid or the housing towards the gemstone or the platform. 
     An annular light  70  is preferably used to illuminate the diamond  60 . The annular light  70  emits visible light of frequency comparable to daylight, such as fluorescent tube light or halogen. A microscope illuminator with the annular light source may be directly attached to a microscope. The microscope illuminator and the microscope have a wide range of magnification options that allow users to switch between low magnification for inspection and fine detail magnification for closer examination for imperfections. The housing of the apparatus  34  also contains adjusting and focusing means for the annular light  70  and a concave mirror for vertical adjustment of the light source. The mirror may also be adjusted to change the focus and the lateral alignment. 
     An annular baffle  72  is disposed between the annular light  70  and the diamond  60  to prevent the light from annular light  70  from directly reaching diamond  60 . A reflector, preferably a semi-spherical shell, is centered on the observation position. The inner surface of the shell is a concave surface  74  that substantially reflects light from annular light  24  towards diamond  60 . 
     The reflector is mounted within the apparatus  34 . The arrangement of the reflector is such that concave surface  74  is rotatable about axis  76  which is perpendicular to the platform. The arrangement also allows the center of the table and the culet to lie approximately along the axis  76 . Annular light  70  and annular baffle  72  are disposed stationarily within the apparatus  34  such that both are significantly perpendicular to and centered about axis  76 . The apparatus  34  may be provided with a motor, such as a stepper motor (not shown) that is connected to computer  10  and controllable by the computer  10 . The stepper motor rotates the reflector and concave surface  74  about axis  76 . 
     A viewing hole  78  is provided at the bottom of the reflector and the concave surface  74 . The viewing hole  34  is situated where the reflector and the concave surface  74  meet axis  76 . A digital camera  80  is positioned within the apparatus in order to capture an image of diamond  60  along the axis  76 . The camera  80  is connected to and is capable of being controlled by computer  10 . The memory is capable of storing at least one image and a data communication interface for transferring captured image data to an external device, such as a computer  36 . The camera  80  is enabled to capture images at various magnifying options using a microscope illuminator attached to the microscope. 
     The data communication interface is preferably compatible with standards such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB) or FireWire. The computer  10  is coupled either to the internet  16  or an intranet  24 . When images are captured, the camera  80  is focused on the plane made by the topmost surface of the platform on which diamond  60  is placed. An optically clear mirror  82  is preferably disposed within the apparatus and arranged so that the light path between camera  80  and diamond  60  does not have to be a straight line. The arrangement of clear mirror  82  enables a more compact format of the apparatus. Thus, the apparatus  34 , including the light  70 , baffle  72 , reflector with concave surface  74 , mirror  82 , stepper motor, camera  80 , and housing is compact in size and lightweight. 
     The computer  10  controls the stepper motor to rotate concave surface  74  using a suitable computer program. The surface  74  is rotated through a series of predetermined rotational positions. A camera  80  is also controlled by the computer  10  to capture images of diamond  60  at a suitable frame rate; a frame rate such that an image is stored at each of the series of rotational positions of concave surface  74 . The image data captured by camera  80  is transferred to computer  36  in the form of a suitable image file format for display and analysis, and is transmitted as a continual live image feed to the computer  10 . The live image feed is further transmittable to either computer  10  or internet-enabled device  12  over either the internet  16  or an intranet  24 . 
     The symmetry of the light pattern reflecting off concave surface  74  decides the range of angles through which concave surface  74  is rotated. Images are captured at a plurality of rotational positions as concave surface  74  is rotated through a 90° range. The number of images captured at different rotational positions for use in analysis depends on the cut of the gemstone being measured, or the cut of the most similar faceted gemstone likely to be measured (within the 90° range). The number of images captured is preferably at least  4  times the number of differently angled facets within the range through which concave surface  74  is rotated. The concave surface  26  is rotated in steps of  20  over a 90° range. Higher or lower numbers of images may be used as appropriate to the cut pattern of the gemstone, the accuracy of measurement required, and the processing capabilities of the computer  10 . In one embodiment, the concave surface  74  may be held stationary rather than rotated. In yet another embodiment, the concave surface  74  may be held stationary while the camera  80  is rotated. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the concave surface  74  looking down from the diamond observation position along axis  76 . The concave surface has a plurality of relatively reflective regions  84  and a plurality of relatively unreflective regions  86 . The plurality of relatively reflectively regions  84  is formed by coating the surface with relatively reflective materials. The plurality of relatively unreflective regions  86  is formed by coating the surface with relatively unreflective materials.  FIG. 3A  shows one configuration of regions  84  and  86 . The configuration presents a concave surface  74  that is divided into eight equal radial sectors, alternately reflective and unreflective, arranged around the axis  76 . The configuration of regions  84  as well as the configuration of regions  86  has a 4-fold symmetry.  FIG. 3B  shows another configuration of regions  84  and  86 . The configuration presents concave surface  74  that is divided into sixteen equal radial sectors, alternately relatively reflective and relatively unreflective surfaces, arranged around the axis  76 . The configuration of regions  82 , as well as, the configuration of regions  84  has 8-fold symmetry. Apart from these two configurations, other configurations of relatively reflective regions  40  and relatively unreflective regions  42  are also possible within the scope of the present invention. 
     The light reflecting off concave surface  74  towards the diamond  60  at its observation position present a spatially varied pattern during operation of the apparatus  34 . The spatially varied pattern is determined by the configuration of reflective regions  84  and unreflective regions  86 . The light pattern observed in the plane of the platform presents a series of radial peaks and troughs that have light intensity corresponding to the configuration. Thus, the light pattern that has four radial peak lines and four radial trough lines represents the configuration of  FIG. 3A . The light pattern has eight radial peaks and eight radial troughs and is shown in  FIG. 3B . In addition, the light is generally reflected towards the crown at a broad range of angles of incidence relative to axis  74  with diamond  60  table-side down on the platform. 
     The cut of a diamond  60  determines the selection of a particular configuration of relatively reflective regions  84  and relatively unreflective regions  86 . The SRB cut diamond  60  of  FIG. 3B  has an eight-fold symmetry and has a configuration of regions  84  and  86  with eight sectors that are relatively reflective  84  and four relatively unreflective sectors  86 . The light pattern, reflecting off concave surface  74 , with four radial peaks and four radial troughs, corresponds to the symmetry of the cut gemstone. Thus, adjacent symmetrical sectors of the gemstone of 45° each receive corresponding radial light pattern sectors of 45° each with adjacent peaks and troughs. The intensity of light, as observed at any radial line in the plane of the platform, and about axis X, goes through a single complete cycle that has a single peak and a single trough, as concave surface  74  is rotated through 90°. 
     Apart from the SRB cut diamond, the algorithms used to determine the periphery of the gemstone and the various measurements of optical properties, as described above, may be varied to take into account different shapes and/or symmetries of particular gemstone cut patterns, such as square, oval, pear, heart-shaped or irregular shapes. Similarly the configuration of relatively reflective regions  40  and relatively unreflective regions of concave surface  26  may be varied to take into different shapes and/or symmetries of particular gemstone cut patterns. 
     The following discussion covers the operation of both the live experience and the remote experience. The live experience involves examining an actual diamond over the internet and buying it at the store where it is located or buying it over the internet. The remote experience involves examining online pictures of the diamond and buying the diamond online or at the store. In both procedures, the purchasing may involve receiving the seller&#39;s assistance as well as other assistance. In the live experience, an evaluation equipment exists, and in the remote, the evaluation equipment may be real or virtual. 
       FIG. 4A  shows a schematic diagram showing logical components of the present invention. The schematic diagram has a live experience component that is connectible to a remote experience component via the internet  16  or an intranet  24 . The live experience means that the user (potential buyer) can examine an actual diamond online and either buy it in a retail establishment or buy it online. The buyer can also video conference with a seller and/or other persons online to examine the diamond online and either purchases it online or at a retail establishment. In addition, the user can consult online with customer relationship management (CRM) of seller or evaluator with the seller to discuss and evaluate the diamonds. One of the roles of CRM is to provide helpful information regarding diamonds. 
     The live experience component has a main control program  88  that controls the presentation of gemstone reports that are stored in a gemstone database  18 . It may include other gemology pages that are stored in a teaching database  20 . The main control program gives the user access to database  22  that store information. The gemstone reports are submitted when the user looks up particulars of a gemstone using a look-up module  90 . The gemstones are preferably accessed using unique gemstone IDs or codes, or other criteria. Databases  18 ,  20 ,  22  are databases on the internet which include standard practices for data security, transaction management, and client-side validation. 
     Main control program  88  is capable of launching optical property evaluation module  92  as a sub-program. Optical evaluation module controls the operation of and receives data from apparatus  34  via an interface  94  to gemstone measuring apparatus  34 . The interface  56  drives the ports connected to the apparatus  34  for determining optical properties of a gemstone. A user interface  96  controls the display, sound system, keyboard, pointing device and connection to the server  14  for the live experience user. It is via the user interface  96  that gemstone reports, the user interface screens for operating the apparatus, screens showing the results of evaluation, and screens showing particulars of a gemstone are all presented. 
     Main control program  88  has a Web-like front end. The front end is preferably composed of a plurality of hyperlinked Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). These pages can be viewed using any Web browser application, such as Netscape, Firefox and the Microsoft internet Explorer for example. The HTML pages are hyperlinked to form a menu structure. The user navigates through the menu structure to use various sub-programs of the main program  88 . In the preferred embodiment, the HTML pages present Adobe Flash presentations to the live experience component user. The live component user can view the Adobe Flash presentations after installing and enabling Adobe Flash player for the Web. The HTML pages and the Flash presentations are preferably stored on server  14 . Gemology teaching pages together with the main menu page and gemstone report viewing pages are stored in database  18 . 
     Main control program  88  is capable of receiving user input from a live experience user via user interface  96 . The user typically clicks on a hyperlink or allows the pointing device to hover over a hotspot, to control the presentation of gemology teaching pages, to look-up gemstone reports using gemstone look-up module  90 , or to launch the optical property evaluation module  92 . The live experience component is enabled to transmit the data or the output generated by various modules, such as the optical property evaluation module, over the internet  16  or the intranet  24  to server. The data or the output generated by various modules is transmitted to remote users through server  14 . The live experience component is enabled to exchange data with another user over the internet  16  either through server  14  over the intranet  24  or through proxy server  26  that is also connected to the server  14  through internet  16 . The live experience component also has an instant messaging module  98  that enables audio, visual and textual communication with another user such as a seller or grader or both either over the internet  16  or over the intranet  24 . This allows the buyer to confer with the seller through the internet and buy the diamond at the seller&#39;s store. The remote live experience component has a remote main control program  100  that controls the presentation of gemstone reports stored in gemstone database  18 , gemology pages that are stored in teaching pages database  20 . The remote main control program  100  also gives users access to database  22  that stores information about users that are using the server  14 . The remote experience component has a remote gemstone lookup and search module  102  for the purpose of gemstone identification. The remote gemstone lookup and search module  102  are also capable of searching gemstones by gemstone code. The live experience component has a remote live experience search module  104  that gives live experience options available to the remote experience user. The remote user, for example, may select a remote live experience option based upon various criteria, such as location, name of the gemstone retailer, and other live users, such as graders or evaluators that are available online at a given time. The remote experience involves online pictures of the diamond and buying the diamond online or at the store. As in the case of the live experience, the user can also confer with a seller or grader online. Also, the user may contact CRM online. 
     The remote main control program  100  is also capable of launching remote optical evaluation module  106  as a sub-program. Remote optical evaluation module  106  for the live user controls the operation of and receives data from apparatus  34  via interface  94  to gemstone measuring apparatus. 
     A remote user interface  108  drives the display, sound system, keyboard, pointing device, and connection to the internet of the remote live experience user. It is via the remote user interface  108  that gemology teaching pages, gemstone reports, user interface screens for operating the apparatus, screens showing the results of evaluation, and screens showing particulars of a gemstone are all presented. 
     Remote main control program  100  has a Web-like front end. The Web-like front end is composed of a plurality of hyperlinked Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). These pages can be viewed using any Web browser application, such as Firefox and the Microsoft Internet Explorer. The HTML pages are hyperlinked to form a menu structure. The user navigates through the menu structure to use various sub-programs of the main program  100 . In one embodiment, the HTML pages comprise embedded Adobe Flash presentations. The user can view the Adobe Flash presentations after installing and enabling Adobe Flash player for the Web. The HTML pages and the Flash presentations are preferably stored on server  14 . Gemology pages together with the main menu page and gemstone report viewing pages are stored in the teaching pages database  20 . 
     Remote main control program  100  is capable of receiving user input from the remote live experience user via the remote user interface  108 . The remote live experience component is enabled to transmit and receive data over the internet through server  14 . 
     In addition to databases  18 ,  20 ,  22 , preferably stored on server  14 , the live experience component may have live experience database  112  for storing live experience data. Also, the remote experience component may have remote experience database  114  for storing remote experience data. The remote experience component may also include a remote instant messaging module  110 . 
       FIG. 4B  is a variation of schematic diagram of  FIG. 4B  where the logical composition of the remote experience component is identical to that of the live experience component. As mentioned above, the remote experience allows a user to evaluate a diamond online by looking at virtual diamond images. After the user evaluates the diamond, the user can then either purchase the diamond online or buy it at a retail establishment. As in the case of the live experience, the user can also confer with a seller or grader online. The remote interface  116  drives the ports connected to a remote apparatus for determining optical properties of a gemstone. The remote experience component may work as a live experience component when it initiates the process. In this arrangement, the live experience component is capable of receiving data of a remote diamond evaluated via the remote interface  116  of the remote experience component over the internet through server  14 . The remote live experience component is enabled to exchange data with the live experiment component. 
       FIG. 5A  a simple flow diagram that shows the process after the main control program  88  is launched. The process starts at step  118  when the main control program  88  is first launched. At step  120 , the user is presented with a log-in page for authorization and authenticating access to the parts of the gemology teaching and gemstone evaluation application located on server  14 . At step  122 , it is determined whether the user is successful in completing authorization and authentication process. If the user does not complete the authorization and authentication process successfully, the step goes back to step  120 , otherwise, the process continues to step  124 . At step  124 , a page showing the user experience options is displayed and the user can choose between remote experience mode and live experience mode. At step  126 , it is determined whether the user has selected the remote experience mode or the live experience mode. If the user does not select the live experience mode, the process moves to point D, otherwise, the process continues to step  128 . At step  128 , a main menu page is displayed for the user to enter the user&#39;s input. The process then continues to step  130 . At step  130 , the user&#39;s input is received via user interface  96 . The process then continues to step  132 . At step  132 , it is determined whether the user has selected the optical property evaluation module  92  for gemstone evaluation. If this is the case, the process continues to point A at  FIG. 5A . If not, the process continues to step  134 , where it is determined whether the user has selected to look-up a gemstone from gemstone database  18  using gemstone look-up module  90 . In this case, the process continues to B at  FIG. 5B . If not, the process continues to step  136 , where it is determined whether the user has selected a particular gemology page to display from pages database  20 . The process then continues to step  138  where the appropriate page is displayed. The process then returns to step  130  where user input is received via user interface  96 . If not, the process directly returns to step  130 . 
     Optical property evaluation module  92  controls the operation of apparatus  34  and has the capability to receive data generated by apparatus  34 . The optical evaluation module  92  analyzes the received gemstone data and displays the results using user interface  96 . The optical property evaluation module  92  may be arranged to control a motor, such as a stepper motor, to rotate concave surface  74  and to control camera  80  to capture and transfer to the computer  10  images of diamond  20  at each of the predetermined rotational positions. Using a conventional stepper motor control circuit to interface between computer  10  and the stepper motor, control over the stepper motor is achieved. For sending digital control signals to the stepper motor control circuit, apparatus interface  94  on computer  36  has a standard program. The camera  80  is controlled using the camera&#39;s inbuilt control interface. The apparatus interface  94  has program elements for sending digital control signals to camera  80 . 
     The user interface  96  controls the optical property evaluation module  92 , which controls apparatus interface  94  on computer  36 . The user is able to send instructions via user interface module  96  to capture a series of images of a gemstone and transfer these images from camera  80  to computer  10 . The user is able to analyze the images to obtain measurements of optical properties of the gemstone and display the images and representations of the optical properties on the screen of the computer  10 . 
       FIG. 5B  shows a simple flow diagram that represents the process followed by main control program  88  from point B. A gemstone report look-up page is displayed at step  140  and the process continues to step  142 , where the gemstone look-up module  90 , such as a Java Applet, receives a gemstone code input by the user. At step  144 , the gemstone look-up module  90  searches gemstone database  18 . At step  146 , it is determined whether a gemstone report for the gemstone corresponding to the input gemstone code exists in gemstone database  18 . If this is the case, the process continues to step  148 , where the gemstone report is displayed and the process continues to C. If not, the process continues to step  150 , where an appropriate error message is displayed. If at step  148 , the gemstone report is not retrieved and displayed, the process continues to step  150  where an appropriate error message displayed. 
       FIG. 5C  is a simple flow diagram that represents the process followed by optical property evaluation module  92 . The optical property evaluation module is arranged to wait for user input between each of the steps  152 ,  154 ,  154 , and  156  as shown in  FIG. 5C . At step  152 , the gemstone evaluation screen is displayed. The apparatus is then calibrated at step  154  by taking an image of a known portion of concave surface  74  and measuring the intensity of light at three areas of the image. At step  156 , by allowing the user to place a diamond table-side down on the platform of apparatus  34 , a live image is displayed. At step  158 , the circumference of the diamond and orientation of the diamond about the axis of symmetry is calculated. The process then continues to step  160 , where the stepper motor is controlled to rotate concave surface  74  through a plurality of rotational positions. Images are captured and stored on the hard disk of computer  10  for each position. At step  162 , the brilliance, scintillation, and symmetry of the diamond are determined using algorithms and an overall score is displayed. The process terminates at step  164 , where the captured images are displayed in sequence to produce a moving image of the diamond. The representations of the determined optical properties of brilliance, scintillation and symmetry are then displayed as bar charts. The process then continues to point C. 
     Three separate algorithms are used to calculate the three measures of brilliance, scintillation, and symmetry from the stored images. The optical property evaluation module  92  first analyzes the images to determine the circumference of the gemstone and its center point. The circumference is determined by summing the light intensity levels at each pixel over the images at different rotational positions to obtain a composite image. Then, all pixels are selected of the composite image that have a light intensity level above a predetermined threshold that represents a light level slightly above the level of the black background. The smallest circle that contains all the selected pixels is then determined and this circle is defined as the circumference of the gemstone. 
     After determining the circumference and center of the gemstone, the three algorithms are run to measure the three optical properties (brilliance, scintillation and symmetry) for pixels contained within the circumference, excluding pixels outside the circumference. 
     The purpose of the gemstone look-up module  90  is also to view previously generated reports on gemstones. The generated gemstones reports are retrieved either from gemstone database  18  on server  14  or from a database, such as live experience database  112  on computer  10  through server  14 . Gemstone look-up module  90  is preferably implemented as a Java applet that is associated with corresponding user interface pages. The Java applet is programmed to receive an entered code that comprises a sequence of alphanumeric characters. 
       FIG. 5D  is a flow diagram that shows the process followed by main control program  88  from point D. At step  166 , a user experience menu page is displayed. At step  168 , it is determined whether the user has selected a remote evaluator mode. If this is the case, the process continues to point E. If not, the process continues to step  170 , where it is determined whether the user has selected remote buy mode. If so, the process continues to point F. If this is not the case, the process continues to step  172 , where it is determined whether the user has selected remote gemstone comparison mode. If this is the case, the process continues to point G. If not the case, the process continues to step  174 . At process  174 , it is determined whether the user has selected remote gemology teaching mode. If so, the process continues to H. If not, the process continues to point C. 
       FIG. 5E  is a simple flow diagram that shows the process followed by main control program  88  from point E. At step  176 , the remote authorization and authentication system validates the access granted to the remote evaluator. The remote evaluator may be selected by the user for remote evaluation from a list of remote evaluators that are online and/or from remote evaluators. The user controls the privileges that are available to the remote buyer and decides whether to grant full or partial access to the gemstone evaluation module. At  176 , it is determined whether the authorization of the remote evaluator is successful. If this is the case, the process continues to step  180 , where instant messaging and conferencing facility is enabled for the remote evaluator. The process then continues to point C. If not, the process continues to point I. 
       FIG. 5F  is a flow diagram that shows the process followed by main control program  88  from point F. At step  182 , the remote authorization and authentication system validates the access granted to remote buyer. The remote buyer may be invited or selected by the user for remote buying from a list of buyers that are online and/or from remote buyers that have expressed interest in buying the gemstones from the user, such as a retailer. The user controls the privileges that are available to the remote buyer and decides whether to grant full or partial access to the gemstone evaluation module running on the user&#39;s computer. At  184 , it is determined whether the authorization and authentication of the remote buyer is successful. If this is the case, the process continues to step  186 , where instant messaging and conferencing facility is enabled for the remote buyer to communicate with the user. The process then continues to step  188 . If not, the process continues to I. At step  188 , it is determined whether the buyer has searched and selected gemstones from the gemstone database  54 . If so, the process continues to point C. If not, the process continues to point I. 
       FIG. 5G  is a simple flow diagram that shows the process followed by main control program  88  from point G. At step  190 , the remote authorization and authentication system validates the remote user, such as a retailer or a buyer or a seller. The retailer, buyer, or seller is then invited by the user for remote comparison and evaluation. 
     At  192 , it is determined whether the authorization and authentication of the remote user for remote comparison and evaluation is successful. If so, the process continues to step  194 , where an instant messaging and conferencing facility is enabled for the remote user invited for remote comparison. The process then continues to step  196 . If not, the process continues to process I. At step  196 , at the same time, the gemstone data of the remote user is received and displayed on the gemstone evaluation screen of the user and the remote user. The process continues then to step  198 , where at the same time, the gemstone data of the user is transmitted to the gemstone evaluation screen of the user and the remote user. The process then continues to point I. 
       FIG. 5H  is a simple flow diagram that shows the process followed by main control program  88  from point H. At step  200 , the remote authorization and authentication system validates the remote tutor who is invited by the user for remote tutoring. The remote tutor may be invited or selected by the user for remote buying from a list of tutors that are online and/or the selection of the remote tutor may be predetermined. At  202 , it is determined whether the authorization and authentication of the remote tutor is successful. If so, the process continues to step  204 , where instant messaging and conferencing facility is enabled for the remote user invited for remote comparison to communicate with the user. The process continues to C. If not, the process continues to I. 
       FIG. 6  shows the main menu screen presented to the user of the present invention. Four small icons that represent the 4 C&#39;s, rough diamond, ideal cut, hearts and arrows are displayed in a row. The four icons correspond to four different sections that the user can select from gemology teaching pages. Two larger icons, one for using the optical property evaluation module  92  on the left, and the gemstone report look-up module  90  on the right, are placed beneath the four small icons. The user chooses to click on any of these icons to activate the corresponding gemology page or module. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  show screenshots representing gemology teaching pages relating to the 4 C&#39;s: carat, color, clarity and cut. These 4 C&#39;s are represented on the screen by four boxes. The user moves the mouse pointer over any of the four boxes to select one of the 4 C&#39;s. Appropriate graphic representation explaining the property is displayed to the right of the selected box. As shown in  FIG. 7B , to display all the representations of the 4 C&#39;s, the text “view all” below the four boxes is selected by moving the pointer over it. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show screenshots that represent the process that a rough diamond undergoes before becoming an ideal cut diamond. The screenshots in this category of gemology teaching pages explain the difference between shallow, deep, and ideal SRB cut diamonds. The difference is explained in terms of the process of cutting a rough diamond and of the carat weight. A moving image presentation executed using Adobe Flash components starts at  FIG. 8A  that shows a first rough ready to be cut and ends at  FIG. 8B , which shows the first and second roughs with the excess stone above the table cut away. Also, the end of  FIG. 8B  shows both the deep and shallow SRB cuts and the ideal cuts overlaid. As shown in  FIG. 8C , a small icon showing a side-on image of a SRB cut diamond is shown in each gemology teaching page so that the user may select it which details the optimal cut proportions of an ideal cut SRB 
       FIG. 9A-9B  show screenshots that represent gemology teaching pages explaining the differences in light handling ability between deep, shallow, and ideal cut SRB cut diamonds. The moving image presentation executed using Adobe Flash components starts at  FIG. 9A  that shows three side-on outlines of three SRB cut diamonds. The three diamonds are in relative darkness, as indicated by the computer image. As the Adobe Flash presentation moves forward, the effect the cut has on light handling ability in terms of the light returned through the table is highlighted in the presentation. The presentation ends at  FIG. 9B  which shows the light ray traced as it enters the diamond, reflected off the internal surface of one of the pavilion facets, and again reflected off the internal surface of another facet on the other side of the pavilion and directed back through the table where it exits. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B , show screenshots that represent the gemology teaching pages that explain how an ideal SRB cut diamond is cut from a rough to produce the phenomenon of “hearts and arrows” in a well-cut diamond.  FIG. 10A  shows a rough being cut into two parts. The presentation shows how the rough parts with the excess stone around the girdle and girdle facets, major pavilion-side facets, and minor pavilion-side facets are cut away to produce a clearly visible “hearts” pattern with 8 hearts and “arrows” pattern with 8 aligned arrows arranged around the center of the stone. At the end of the presentation, the user can clearly see the “hearts and arrows” patterns produced by a well-cut ideal SRB cut diamond. 
     A spoken narrative explaining the meaning of the 4 C&#39;s, the difference between shallow, deep, and ideal cut SRB cut diamond in terms of both carat weight and light handling ability, and the phenomenon of “hearts and arrows” produced by a well-cut ideal SRB cut diamond is presented. This presentation may also include the gemology pages along with written description. The presentation is also preferably provided with instant messaging module that facilitates audio, visual, textual interaction between plurality of users, such as retailers, buyers, evaluators, and tutors over the internet  16  and via server  14 . 
       FIG. 11A  shows a screen shot of the main screen of the optical property evaluation module  92 . There are two boxes on the right and left sides of the main menu screen for displaying images and optical properties of two different diamonds. The two diamonds are captured in separate scanning operations using single apparatus  34  or using two different apparatus of two users connected over the internet  16  via server  14 . An image of a diamond on the right or left sides of the main menu screen may be a “live” image being captured by camera  80  connected to a local computer or a remote computer transmitting the image via the internet. The image may also be or a “video” image of a previously captured image during a scanning operation and stored in the hard disk drive of the computer or the database on the internet. 
       FIG. 11B  shows a screenshot of the initial scanning screen of the optical property evaluation module  58  without a diamond  80  in the apparatus  34 . Initially, the diamond  80  is manually placed table-side down on the platform and centered approximately on axis  76 . Then, by clicking once on the “Scan” button, optical property evaluation module  92  is instructed to perform a scan of the diamond  60  and to determine and display representations of three optical properties: brilliance, scintillation, and symmetry. Frames taken from camera  80  at each of these positions are stored in the hard disc drive of the computer  10  and on gemstone database  54  on server  14  over the internet for later display and analysis. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11C , the results of analysis that comprises measurements of brilliance, scintillation, and symmetry are then displayed beneath the image of the diamond as bar graph representations along with a score out of  10 . For objective measurements of the optical properties of brilliance, scintillation, and symmetry, a user can compare two diamonds scanned either in two separate scanning operations using one apparatus  34  or two separate scanning operations using two apparatuses  34  coupled to computer  10 . The user can use apparatus  10  coupled to two different computers located at two different geographical locations either connected via internet  16  and server  14  or connected via intranet  24  and proxy server  26 . The results are displayed on the screens of local computer  10  and the remote computer  10  at the same time. It should be noted that the results can also be displayed on internet devices  12 , such as cellular phones and PDAs, which are connected to the computer  10  coupled to the apparatus  34 . 
       FIG. 11D  shows a screen shot of the optical property evaluation module  92  with an image of the first diamond. The diamond&#39;s optical properties are displayed in the left hand box and an image of the newly placed other diamond in the right hand box. The optical evaluation module  92  is instructed to perform a scan of the newly placed diamond and to determine and display representations of three optical properties as well as the total score out of  10 . 
       FIG. 12A  shows a screenshot of the user interface screen of the gemology teaching and gemstone evaluation application. The screen shows a user entry box for entering a diamond&#39;s unique ID number.  FIG. 12B  shows the user interface screen with a diamond number entered in the user entry box by typing at the keyboard of the computer  10 . Referring to  FIG. 12C , by clicking on the “OK” button to the right of the user entry box, the gemstone look-up module  90  is instructed to look up a previously generated record for the identified diamond and to display the record. These records display information relating to the origin and manufacturing of the cut diamond, the origin of the rough diamond, and the manufacturer of the cut diamond. The records also display the weight of the original rough and the polished ideal cut diamond, as well as the date of production of the cut diamond. Finally, the records also display the information regarding the grading of the cut diamond, the carat weight, color grad, clarity grade, and certificate number. 
     In Operation 
     The present invention is primarily aimed at individual users interested in buying gemstones over the internet. The user in the primary role of an individual buyer connects to the server computer using a program preferably stored on a local internet enabled device, such as a laptop/computer. The internet enabled device may also be connected to the internet enabled devices of remote users, such as retail outlets and individual sellers via the server computer. 
     The preferred process of buying gemstones over the internet using the present invention is as follows: 
     The user wanting to buy or examine gemstones over the internet searches for the gemstones available for sale on the internet. The user requests the server computer or the remote user, such as a retail outlet connected to the server computer, to display relevant gemstone data on the local internet enabled device, such as a workstation, laptop, cellular phone, or PDA. The data may either be an image data that relates to gemstone properties, such as 4 Cs in the case of the diamond, or the information regarding the origin of the gemstone. The user may request the server computer or a remote user to obtain live image data of the gemstone. It should be noted that apart from providing live image data, the server computer can also provide to the user recorded image data of gemstones available for sale. It should be further noted that the user is also able to capture and view the image data using the camera via the server computer at various suitable magnifying options. 
     Upon request, the gemstone is placed in the apparatus and generated data is sent to the user computer and the image data is displayed on the user computer. Using the gemstone evaluation module, the user analyzes information including the virtual “hearts and arrows” patterns to understand the visual symmetry and studies the 4 ‘C’ rating of diamond. Usually there is another diamond shown so that the user can compare the diamond with that diamond. On arriving at a buying decision, the user places an order for the diamond. The user can place the order for the gemstone over the internet and receive the gemstone at his doorstep via mail. Once the order for a diamond is placed, the user can also visit the retail outlet and collect the gemstone over the counter. 
     It should also be noted that when interacting with other users directly via the server computer, the user can also give access to the data collected by the gemstone evaluation apparatus connected to the local computer and can get access to the data collected by the gemstone evaluation apparatus connected to the remote computer. 
     In summary, the present invention allows many ways of buying and examining diamonds: 1) examining and purchasing a diamond or gemstone online or examining a diamond online and purchasing it at a retail establishment; 2) conferencing with the seller and/or other persons online to examine the diamond online and purchasing it online or at a retail establishment; and 3) examining the diamond through virtual equipment online and then purchase the diamond online or at the retail establishment. 
     Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides an easy, accessible and user-friendly method and system for a user to measure the optical properties of one or more diamonds and to buy and purchase diamonds. 
     The embodiments of the invention shown and discussed herein are merely illustrative of modes of application of the present invention. Reference to details in this discussion is not intended to limit the scope of the claims to these details, or to the figures used to illustrate the invention.