Patent Publication Number: US-2005131776-A1

Title: Virtual shopper device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a system and a method for virtual shopping for clothing or other wearable items of interest which permits user, via a hand held device, to view articles of clothing on an image of a shopper from various perspectives, and more particularly, to an automatic system and a method for fitting articles of clothing on a real image of user while also enabling notifications of other recommendations for a selected garment based upon such criteria as garments selected, body type, previous purchases, and personal shopper database stored both in the hand held device and by the clothing retailer.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Window shopping, whether done in person at a clothing retailer or by simply browsing a clothing catalog, has always had one inherent drawback in the difficulty or inability to try the clothing on before being purchased. A shopper would obviously prefer to be able to try on the article of clothing before purchase in order to examine the fit and size of the article of clothing on the body of the individual user. Often, however, it is very crowded, untimely and inconvenient to try on clothing at the retailer and impossible when shopping from a catalog. For example, models in catalogs or in a retailer display tend to be taller and thinner than most purchasers, thus developing high expectations for the garment appearance. A garment worn by a person not having model-type proportions might look quite different and might not be flattering. Moreover, a garment that is photographed in a catalog or tried on under studio or dressing room lights may have quite a different coloring and reflectivity in other settings, such as day light, candle light, office lighting, and so forth. A person&#39;s coloring also affects whether a particular garment is appropriate.  
      Furthermore, the manner of photographing a garment for a catalog, typically in a front pose, does not demonstrate back and side fit, and the flow of the garment in various activities. Fitting rooms attempt to solve the problem of front, back and side views by using multiple mirrors. Even so, observing the back view of one&#39;s self in a fitting room can be awkward. Further, fitting rooms obviously do not easily permit much testing of a garment in an active situation, or observance of a garment from a distance or in other settings, and observance by several individuals of whose opinion user  28  values. It is desirable, nevertheless, for a potential purchaser to observe the fit of a garment on themselves from various perspectives.  
      Additionally, clothing purchased for a different person, such as for a gift, cannot be tried on before the purchase. There is no practical way to preliminarily ascertain whether a particular garment will be flattering when worn.  
      Various methods and systems for illustrating the look of a garment on a particular person have been attempted. U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,568, by Rom, discloses a method of displaying garments, over the internet, as though draped over the body of a user which requires access to a web-page on the internet or the intervention of a third party, such as at point of sale terminal, to view the garment. U.S. Pat. No. 6,404,426, by Weaver, discloses a method and system for generating a three-dimensional reproduction of a model showing the fit of garments in various poses and environments, and can be accessed from a host computer via a direct connection or the internet. Further, the garment or model data can be provided to user  28  via a periodic diskette such as in a catalog.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,222, by Cone, has attempted a “virtual dressing room”, in which a person&#39;s measurements are used to create a body data structure that represents the person&#39;s figure, by adjusting a standard body data structure. Unfortunately, a garment is represented by a two-dimensional image of the garment worn by a physical mannequin; the garment is inaccurately “stretched” to approximate the adjusted body structure, rather than representing the actual garment.  
      An on-line clothing catalog by Land&#39;s End, available at www.landsend.com, is another example of a two-dimensional, static representation of a personalized model wearing clothing specified by the user. The static, two-dimensional nature of the model neither permits various viewpoints of the model during activity nor observation of the garment&#39;s reaction to the environment.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,199, by Liebermann, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,527, by Kotaki et al., concerns the mapping of a simulated garment, such as a body suit on a real or virtual mannequin, for use in conjunction with designing garments. While Liebermann uses the human form, the loop simulation image of Kotaki is dragged and distorted to fit over a scanned-in model of a person. Thus, although Kotaki starts with an accurate representation of a garment, the drawbacks of Cone are magnified in Kotaki. Additionally, Kotaki does not address the accurate representation of a person.  
      Other methods have attempted to compare garment measurements to standardized or personalized sizes. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,652, by Croyle et al., a person and clothing are separately measured by a machine vision system. The data can be used to determine whether the garments are within tolerances, or to determine the best size of a particular piece of clothing for a person.  
      In a different field of application, computers have been used to study fabric characteristics, such as friction and wear. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,568, by Beavin, a three dimensional model moves, such as raising the arms, bending, walking or running, and the response of a fabric model to motion, stretching and friction is evaluated. Computers have also been used to create and alter garment patterns to fit standard or individualized body measurements, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,344, by Collins et al.  
      It will be appreciated that most users are particularly cautious about sharing personal profile information such as fit data about themselves. Such users are particularly cautious when sharing such data information with retailers as may then use this data for unexpected purposes. Therefore, there is an unmet need for, and it would be highly useful to have, a method and a system which displays, an image of an article of clothing or other wearable item such as jewelry, glasses, prosthetic devices, and the like as it would appear on the body of the user, according to the dimensions of the body of the user, while also ensuring that a user&#39;s personal information is not used for unexpected purposes. It is further desirable to provide a system that allows a user to select color or style variations for a particular article of clothing, as well as to locate and order items having the selected variations.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A virtual shopper device is provided for presenting to a user an image display of the user wearing an item. The virtual shopper device has an image display, a sensor for sensing signals from a tracking memory associated with the item, a memory device containing personal profile information for the user including at least one dataset composed of user fit data and user image data and a user input device for at least activating a function to present an image of the user wearing the item. A controller is also provided and is adapted to retrieve item fit data and item image data for the item from a database, to generate a display image simulating the appearance of the item as worn by the user, said display image being generated based upon the item fit data, the item image data, the user fit data and the user image data and to cause the image display to present the generated image.  
      In another aspect of the invention, an electronic memory accessory is provided. The electronic memory accessory has stored therein personal profile information for a user including at least one dataset composed of user fit data and user image data and executable instructions for causing a programmable device to retrieve item fit data and item image data for an item and to generate a display image simulating the appearance of the item as worn by the user; said display image being generated based upon the item fit data, the item image data, the user fit data and the user image data. A memory interface is also provided. The memory interface is adapted to receive requests from the programmable device for the at least one dataset stored in the memory and wherein the memory interface allows data to be read from the at least one dataset only where the memory interface receives a signal indicating that programmable device is executing the executable instructions and wherein the executable instructions are adapted to prevent retention of the received data by the programmable device after the received data has been used by the executable instructions to generate an image.  
      In yet another embodiment of the invention, an image-processing device is provided. The image processing device has a memory with personal profile information for a user including at least one dataset composed of user fit data and user image data; a communication module adapted to receive item fit data, item image data, and an image signal; and a signal processor. The signal processor is adapted to process the received image signal to generate a display image signal based upon the user fit data, user image data, the item fit data and the item image data; wherein the generated display image signal is transmitted by the communication module.  
      In still another embodiment, a shopping system is provided. The shopping system has a database including information for at least one item which includes at least one of available size, style, color and fit information of the at least one item and corresponding image data for the at least one item; a programmable device having a communication circuit, a controller, an image display, and an input device; and a data storage device containing a communication module and downloadable information. The downloadable information has information for requesting and retrieving item image data and item fit data from a database and personal profile information for the user including at least one dataset composed of user image data and user fit data. The data storage device, allows the user to employ the personal computing device to request and retrieve, from the database, item image data and item fit data, to generate a display image simulating the appearance of the item as worn by the user based upon the item image data, the item fit data, the user image data and the user fit data and to display the generated image on a display of the programmable device.  
      In a further embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for presenting an image of a user wearing an item. In accordance with the method, personal profile information is obtained which includes at least one dataset of user fit data and user image data, and a tracking memory having information regarding the item is sensed. Item fit data and image data for the item is retrieved from a database using the information from the tracking memory. A display image is generated based upon the item fit data, item image data, user fit data, and user image data, and presenting the display image. The personal profile information is not provided to the database. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a virtual shopper device according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of one embodiment method of the invention;  
       FIG. 3A-3B  illustrate a method and system for displaying clothing garments on a user utilizing the virtual shopper device of the invention either while “window shopping” at a retailer or “browsing” a catalog;  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a chart of a method for forming a revised image;  
       FIG. 5  illustrates the use of a virtual shopper device for shopping using a catalog;  
       FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of a virtual shopper device; and  
       FIG. 7  shows yet another embodiment of a virtual shopper device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIG. 1  generically illustrates a virtual shopper device  1  of one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, virtual shopper device  10  includes a housing  12  holding a controller  14 , a display  16 , a user input system  18 , a sensor device  20 , a memory  22  and a communication module  24  with an associated antenna  26 .  
      Controller  14  can comprise a micro-processor, micro-controller, programmable analog device or any other logic circuit capable of cooperating with display system  16 , a user input system  18 , a sensor device  20 , a memory  22  and a communication module  24  for performing the functions described in greater detail herein below.  
      A user  28  interacts with virtual shopper device  20  using display system  16  and user input system  18 . Display system  16  is adapted to receive signals from controller  14  and to present images that can be observed by user  28  based upon the received signals. These images can comprise text, graphics, pictorial images, symbols, and any other form of visually detectable information. In this regard, display system  16  can comprise, for example, a color liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting display (OLED) a.k.a. an organic electro-luminescent display (OELD), or other conventional display device, and optional driving circuitry such as a conventional display driver.  
      User input system  18  is adapted to sense a user input action and to generate signals that can be used by controller  14  in controlling the operation of virtual shopper device  20 . This allows user  28  to provide information, instructions, commands and other inputs to controller  14 . User input system  18  can take any of a number of forms, which can include but are not limited to function keys, a keyboard, stand alone buttons, joystick systems, multiple direction switches, soft keys on display  16 , voice recognition systems, gesture recognition systems, stylus systems, track ball systems and the like.  
      Virtual shopper device  20  of  FIG. 1  also incorporates a sensor device  20  which is adapted to obtain information from at least one tracking memory that is associated with at least one item  34  that is available. As will be described in greater detail below, sensor device  20  can take on a variety of forms, such as a memory reader for reading solid-state or other types of memory, a light sensor such as a bar code or infrared scanner, or a radio frequency sensing system.  
      Virtual shopper device  20  also has at least one memory  22 . In the embodiment shown, memory  22  stores the user personal profile data for at least one person such as the user of virtual shopper device  20 . Memory  22  can also be used for other purposes including but not limited to storing software instructions for execution by a micro-processor embodiment of controller  14 , for storing personal profile data for persons other that the user. Memory  22  can be incorporated within virtual shopper device  10  and/or separate from virtual shopper device  10  but operatively connected thereto by way of a communication network.  
      An optional communication module  24  is provided to enable communication between virtual shopper device  20  and a database  30 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , communication module  24  cooperates with an antenna  26  to enable wireless communication between virtual shopper device  20  and database  30 . However, communication module  24  can take other forms. Communication module  24  can comprise, for example, a telecommunication interface such as a cellular telephone communication system interface, a conventional telephone interface, an Ethernet interface, or any other conventional communication circuit or system for communication directly with database  30  or for communication with database  30  using a network (not shown) such as a cellular or conventional telephone system, a wired or wireless local area network or wide area network or any other communication network.  
       FIG. 2  shows a flow diagram of embodiment of a method for generating an image of a user  28  wearing an item  34  using virtual shopper device  10  in a retail environment  32  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Specifically, in  FIG. 3A  a user  28  is shown using virtual shopper device  10  while moving through a retail environment  32  such as a store having at least one item  34  stored for example on a rack or-on a model. In this illustration, the at least one item  34  comprises a wearable item of clothing. However, in other embodiments, item  34  can take other forms, for example, item  34  can comprise any wearable item such as eyewear, athletic equipment, prosthetic equipment, protective equipment, clothing, shoes, makeup, jewelry, and the like.  
      Each item  34  is associated with a tracking memory  36 . Tracking memory  36  is a tangible item having data associated therewith that can be sensed by sensor device  20 . Accordingly, sensor device  20  and tracking memory  36  are co-designed for such cooperation. Examples of such a co-designed sensor device  20  and tracking memory  36  include an example embodiment wherein the tracking memory  36  comprises a radio frequency identification transponder (not shown) of the type having a memory (not shown) with identification and/or other data stored therein, and a communication circuit. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the communication circuit is of the type that generates a radio-frequency signal based upon the data stored in the memory.  
      Such a communication circuit typically generates radio-frequency signal when the communication circuit detects a polling signal transmitted by the sensor device  20 . Alternatively, the communication circuit in tracking memory  36  can periodically transmit a signal based upon the data. In either alternative, sensor device  20  receives a signal generated by the communication circuit, extracts data therefrom, and provides the extracted data for use by controller  14 . Such a radio frequency embodiment can be used in a way that offers the advantage of non-directional communication capabilities in that the virtual shopper device  10  need not be directed toward at tracking memory  36  in order to obtain information therefrom. However, where it is deemed advantageous, such a radio frequency embodiment can be provided in a way that allows user  28  to communicate with tracking memory  36  in a directional fashion. In this way, user  28  can direct sensor device  20  toward a particular item  34  to obtain information from a tracking memory  36  associated with particular item  34 . Other forms of communication circuits can be used, for example, tracking memory  36  can comprise an optical transponder generating an optical signal such as a visible light signal infrared or ultra-violet range signal.  
      In another embodiment, tracking memory  36  comprises an article such as a tag having an optically readable in code thereon such as printed text, an image, a watermark, a bar code, or other encodement. In this embodiment, sensor device  20  comprises an optical scanner adapted to read the printed text, image, watermark, bar code, or other encodement. Such a signal can be detected by a co-designed reader device  20 .  
      In still another embodiment, tracking memory  36  can comprise a readable memory device that records information in a form that is electronically, or magnetically readable. A first example embodiment of this type, tracking memory  36  can comprise a semiconductor memory having data stored therein. In another example embodiment, tracking memory  36  can comprise a magnetic memory surface such as a magnetic stripe having data stored thereon in the form of a magnetic pattern. In either such embodiment, tracking memory  36  and sensor device  20  will be adapted to obtain data from such a tracking memory  36 .  
      While sensor device  20  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 B on a top edge of housing  12 , sensor device  20  can be located at other positions on housing  12 , or in certain embodiments, sensor device  20  can be located entirely within housing  12 . For example, a radio frequency embodiment of sensor device  20  can be positioned completely inside of a housing  12  of virtual shopper device  10  so as not to be visible, while an infrared or other optical scanning embodiment of sensor device  20  can be located on the top edge as shown or a the back surface or other convenient surface of housing  12  of virtual shopper device  10 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , user  28  begins by activating virtual shopper device  10  (step  50 ). For example, in the illustration of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , virtual shopper device  10  can be activated when user  28  provides appropriate instructions to user input system  18 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , user input system  18  includes a plurality of function keys  40 ,  42  or  44 , shown as soft keys  38  on display system  16 . User  28  can actuate one of function keys  40 ,  42  or  44  which cause a signal to be provided controller  14  in response to this to begin the process of the using sensor device  20  to detect at least one tracking memory  36  associated with an item  34 .  
      Virtual shopper device obtains (step  52 ) a dataset of personal profile information for use in generating the image. The personal profile information includes an image data based upon the user  28  and fit data for user  28 . The fit data can take a variety of forms and can comprise any type of information from which the size, dimensions, posture, build, and/or shape of user  28  can be determined and compared to complimentary fit data that will be obtained, as described below, for a particular item  34 .  
      In one embodiment, virtual shopper device  10  comprises a device such as a cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, portable computer, or other device that is personally owned by shopper  28 . In such embodiment, virtual shopper device  28  has a memory  22  with the personal profile information stored therein at the time that shopper  28  enters retail environment  32 . Alternatively, such a personally owned virtual shopper device can obtain personal profile information from a remote memory  22  such as a database that can be accessed, for example, by a cellular telephone connection. In either embodiment, virtual shopper device  10  has a controller  14  that is adapted so as not to provide personal profile information to any external device without approval from user  28  and that is further adapted to form an image based upon the personal profile information is well as information received from a database  30  provided by an operator of the retail environment  32 .  
      In another embodiment, virtual shopper device  10  can be provided by an operator of the retail environment  32 . For example, virtual shopper device  10  can comprise a handheld or stationary device located in retail environment  32 . In this embodiment, personal profile information can be obtained from a memory  22  such as a removable memory card or other memory device provided by user  28 . However, in this embodiment, memory  22  incorporates a memory interface  46  that does not permit transfer of personal profile information without receiving a signal from a controller  14  indicating that the controller  34  is executing instructions that are adapted to prevent the retention of personal profile information after the received data has been used to generate an image.  
      It is also within the scope of the invention to be able to obtain personal profile information for persons other than user  28  for use in generating images. Such personal profile information for other persons can be stored in memory  22  or made available in other ways as described above. Accordingly, the step of obtaining personal profile information (step  52 ) can include the optional step of designating a person other than user  28  for whom personal profile information is to be obtained. User  28  can use user input system  18  such as by selecting one of the function keys  40 ,  42  and  44  shown as soft keys on the display to select personal profile information for another person. Personal profile information can then be obtained for the additional user. Once obtained personal profile data can optionally be buffered for ready use in forming an image.  
      A tracking memory  36  is sensed using sensor device  20  as described above (step  54 ). In one embodiment, this occurs when user  28  directs sensor device  20  at an item  34  or at a tracking memory  36  that is associated with an item and use user input system  18  to designate that user  28  has an interest in item  34 . Controller  14  will cause sensor device  20  to obtain information from tracking memory  36 .  
      Virtual shopper device  10  then automatically requests item information (step  56 ). This can be done in a variety of ways. For example, where  5  the retail environment  32  includes a communication system  33  such as a wireless local area network, communication module  24  and antenna  26  can be used to communicate using communication system  33  to request information regarding item  34  from database  30  based upon the information obtained from tracking memory  36 . The request for item information can include a request for item information for only one item  34 , a request for information for all items  34  having a similarity to an item of interest, for example, being of a consistent cut, fabric, finish or style. The request for information can also include a request for information that is not necessarily of interest to a user  28  but that can help to ensure that the request for information that user  28  provides does not reveal information that the user wishes to remain private. For example, the request can include a request for all sizes of a particular style and color of item  34  so that it cannot be determined from the request what is of interest to user  28 . Database  30  obtains the requested information and in the embodiment shown, transmits this information using communication system  33  in manner that can be received by communication module  24  of virtual shopper device  10 .  
      The item data provided by database  30  typically comprises item image data and item fit data. Other data related to an item  34  can also be provided. The item fit data can take a variety of forms and can comprise any type of information from which the size and/or fit of the item  36  can be compared to the user fit data for use in generating a display image. Item option data can also be provided. The item option data identifies other options that are available for purchase and that are similar to item  34 . For example, item option data can include data that can be used to indicate that items that are similar to an item  34  of interest are available in other colors, sizes, fits, finishes, shapes, or other characteristics. This information can be used as will be described in greater detail below.  
      The response from database  30  is then received by communication module  24  (step  58 ) which provides information contained in the response to controller  14 . Controller  14 , in turn, generates a display image based upon the obtained item information and the personal profile information (step  60 ). Specifically, in this embodiment the item fit data and user fit data are compared. As a result of this comparison the image data for the item and the image data for the user are combined to form display image data comprising at least one image of the user wearing the item. By using the item fit data and the user fit data, the display image can provide a highly accurate representation of the appearance of item  34 , as it will appear when worn by user  28  or another selected user.  
      Controller  14  then causes the display image to be presented as an image  70  by display system  16  (step  62 ). If the image is unavailable or if the comparison does not meet the requirements of the model image data, then the indication of expected fit would be a message indicating such on the display.  
      Once that image  70  is presented, (step  62 ) user  28  can adjust the perspective of the display image using user input system  18  to send perspective adjustment instructions to controller  14  (step  64 ). Where appropriate item information and user profile information are provided, the image can be rotated to provide a full  3600  change in perspective to see what the item looks like from many angles.  
      User  28  can also request, again using user input system  18 , a menu of options for item  34 . In a clothing example, options such as such as loose fit (large size), tighter fit (smaller size), different available colors, and different available styles (e.g., necklines, pullovers, etc.) can be made available. Upon selection of the option, controller  14  obtains a revised display image  72  item option data such as item image data or item fit data for the selected option from database  30  and generates. Revised display image  72  illustrates user  28  or other selected person wearing the item with the selected option. User  28  can then request from the retailer merchandise database, using a function key, an indication of availability and if not available place an order request in the retailer merchandise database for the revised item of clothing when it becomes available.  
       FIG. 4 , illustrates a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method for forming a revised image  72 . Specifically, user  28  upon viewing a display image (step  62 ) is provided with an opportunity to select options for the displayed item (step  80 ) via the user input system  18 . User  28  is presented with several options for viewing changes to the display image. The preferred change options are  1 ) shopper selected options,  2 ) retailer suggested options and  3 ) virtual shopper device selected options. The display options can be based, at least in part, upon the personal profile information stored in memory  22 , the retailer&#39;s database information, and the retailer&#39;s merchandise database.  
      Depending on the display option selected, user  28  would be presented with a series of selections, e.g., via menus, soft keys, for changes to the displayed image. For example, an option of available accessories (such as belts, jewelry, handbags), alternative styles (such as neckline, waistline), sizes (larger, smaller) or colors of the item, shoes and makeup, can be presented to user  28  on the display which are drawn at least in part from the personal profile information for user  28  stored in the memory  22 .  
      Additionally, options can be provided for selecting ensemble, such as evening wear, sportswear, business wear or casual wear, and related items from the retailer&#39;s merchandise database can be presented to user  28  (step  84 ). Depending on the display option selected, the changes to user  28  image would be based at least in part upon at least one of the personal profile information stored in virtual shopper memory, the retailer&#39;s database information regarding user  28 , and the retailer&#39;s merchandise database.  
      Further, a user can even select options for a background scene simulation, such as lighting effects (step  86 ). This can be done, for example, using preset lighting conditions or, alternatively, by selecting a scene from a database and determining lighting conditions from the image or image metadata in the image and using the determined lighting conditions to form the display image. In one useful embodiment of this type the scene image itself can be incorporated into the display image. A revised display image  72  is then formed based upon the selected options. (step  86 ) and (step  89 ).  
      The virtual shopping device  10  can be operated in a variety of other ways. For example, in one embodiment, virtual shopping device  10  can be used to help shopper  28  to detect when shopper  28  is within proximity of an item of interest. In this embodiment, controller  14  detects a signal from user input system  18  indicating that the user is seeking a particular item  36 . Controller  14  can use sensor device  20  to perform a general scan of areas proximate to virtual shopper device  10  for a tracking memory  36  and can receive and process signals transmitted by one or more tracking memories  20 . Item information is received for each item that is detected in this fashion and compared to the characteristics of the item of interest. When a match occurs controller  14  causes an image to be presented using display system  16  indicating the presence of an item having such a match.  
      For example, in another embodiment, controller  14  can be operated in a mode that merely detects each tracking memory  36  associated with items proximate to virtual shopper device  10  and can cause a listing of such items to be presented. If the user  28  desires to view a detected item, all that is necessary is for user  28  to select the “wear it” function using for example, one of the plurality of function keys  40 ,  42  or  44 , designate item  36  and a display image  70  of user  28  wearing the item is presented using display system  16 .  
      Virtual shopper device  10  can further be adapted to operate in cooperation with other systems provided in other retail environments. For example, the item information can also be stored in and communicated from the tracking memory  36  of the item  34  to virtual shopper device  10 . Alternatively, item data can be stored in the device memory  22 , i.e., retrieved from a data card or portable data storage device  85  provided by the retailer, such as upon entry to the retail establishment or via the mail, and inserted into a slot  87  in housing  12  of virtual shopper device  10 . In another alternative, database  30  can be downloaded to the virtual shopper memory  22  via communication module  24 , upon arrival at the retail environment  32 . When an item  34  having particular options is unavailable at retail environment  32 , controller  14  enables user  28  to create an order for the item, transmit the order to database  30  and receive confirmation of receipt of the order. Alternatively, controller  14  and communication module  24  can cooperate to obtain item information from other sources and can attempt to locate an item  34  having the desired options at other retailers.  
      In another embodiment, each of the functions described above can by carried out while user  28  is “browsing” a catalog  78 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . That is, when user  28  sees an item  34  in catalog  78  that is of interest, user  28  merely scans a bar code label text, watermark, or other encodement associated with item  34  in the catalog page and establishes a wireless or wired connection to the retailer using the function keys described above. The process of viewing the image of user  28  “wearing” the item of clothing is thereafter as described above.  
      It will be appreciated that many programmable logic devices such as personal computers, personal digital assistants, and video game consoles have the capability to act as a virtual shopper device  10  if properly programmed. Accordingly, in other embodiments of the invention, virtual shopper device  10  can comprise a device capable of storing appropriate software and user&#39;s personal profile data, combined with a programmable device  92  such as any device capable of executing the software and having the necessary hardware for performing the functions described above. For example, the virtual shopper device  10  of  FIG. 6  can be structured as an accessory  90  having a memory  94  containing the virtual shopper software and user personal profile data, which is connectable (wirelessly or through a wired connection) to a programmable device  92  such as a PDA, cellular phone, point-of-sale terminal, video game console, kiosk, home personal computer, or other programmable device. This embodiment enables the PDA, cellular phone, point-of-sale terminal, video game console, or home personal computer, when connected to the virtual shopper device and the virtual shopper software and user personal profile data is downloaded, to function as a fully functioning virtual shopper device described above.  
      Optionally, memory embodiment can be adapted to cooperate with a sensing system  20  for sensing tracking memories that are associated with items of interest so that user  28  can move about a retail environment, obtain data from the tracking memory  36  of each item of interest using the sensing system/memory  22  combination and can then connect the memory to a programmable device  92 . When memory  94  is connected to the programmable device  92  and the virtual shopper software and user personal profile data is downloaded, this combination can function as a virtual shopper device  10  described above. As is shown in  FIG. 6 , memory  94  has a memory interface  96  adapted to receive requests from programmable device  92  for at least one dataset stored in the memory  94 . Memory interface  96  is further adapted to allow data to be read from the at least one dataset only where the memory interface receives a signal indicating that programmable device is executing the executable instructions and wherein the executable instructions are adapted to prevent retention of the received data by the programmable device after the received data has been used by the executable instructions to generate an image.  
      In still another embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 7 , the virtual shopper device  10  can comprise a device  98  such as a PDA, personal computer, point of sale terminal, kiosk or any other device that is adapted to functionally cooperate with an image processing device  100  provided by a user  28  and operate in the manner to be described below. In this embodiment, image processing device  100  comprises memory  22  having personal profile information for the user including at least one dataset composed of user fit data and user image data and a communication circuit  102  adapted to receive item fit data and item image data, and optionally, an image signal from controller  14 . A signal processor  104  in image processing device  100  is adapted to process the received image signal and to generate at least a part of a display image based upon the user fit data, user image data, item fit data and item image data. In this embodiment, the generated display image is transmitted by communication circuit  102  to the device  98  for presentation using display system  16 .  
      A retailer or other person can provide a structure that allows a user to identify items of interest, a database  30  having item information stored therein, and controller  14  that provides item information and other useful image data to the signal processor which then returns digital image data for presentation using display system  16 . In this way, an accurate image of the item and a person can be formed and presented without downloading personal profile data for the person.  
      In one alternative embodiment, the image-processing device  100  can optionally comprise comprising a source of information for requesting and retrieving item information from a database. Such a source can comprise a sensor device  20  for reading a tracking memory  36  and storing item information from selected tracking memories  36  in memory  22 . The personal profile information used by the signal processor  104  can include user image data, user fit data, and user personal preference information for preferred and non-preferred accessories, styles, sizes or colors of garments, shoes and makeup and the signal processor uses such preferences in forming the display image data.  
      Further, virtual shopper device  10  when constructed as an accessory such as the electronic memory accessory embodiment shown in of  FIG. 6  or the image processing device  100  shown in  FIG. 7 , can be include one or more of the components described above but not available in the device  98  to which the accessory is attached. For example, an accessory embodiment can supply a sensor system  20  as noted above, a communication module  24  or other components of virtual, which are not available on a PDA, cellular phone, point-of-sale terminal, or home personal computer. Such an accessory has a minimum downloadable, virtual shopper software and user personal profile data capable of performing the functions described above. Thus, virtual shopper device  10  can be structured to operate in a symbiotic manner with the PDA, cellular phone, point-of-sale terminal, or home personal computer such that the virtual shopper software and user&#39;s personal profile data can be accessed and an image of the user “wearing” a selected garment can be displayed on the PDA, cellular phone, point-of-sale terminal, or home personal computer. This embodiment provides additional convenience to the user desiring to delay a purchase decision, wishing to see a larger view the user “wearing” the garment or desiring to carry only one portable computing device, i.e., PDA or cellular phone. This embodiment also ensures that personal profile information to remains in the PDA and is not transferred to a remote system.  
      While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.  
     Parts List  
     
         
           10  virtual shopper device  
           12  housing  
           14  controller  
           16  display system  
           18  user input system  
           20  sensor device  
           22  memory  
           24  communication module  
           26  antenna  
           28  user  
           30  database  
           32  retail environment  
           33  communication network  
           34  item  
           36  tracking memory  
           38  soft keys  
           40  function key  
           42  function key  
           44  function key  
           46  memory interface  
           50  activating step  
           52  obtain person profile step  
           54  sense tracking memory step  
           56  request item data step  
           58  receive item data step  
           60  generate display image step  
           62  present display image step  
           64  adjust perspective of display image step  
           70  display image  
           72  revised display image  
           78  catalog  
           80  display options step  
           82  select item options step  
           84  select accessory options step  
           85  portable data storage device  
           86  select scene options step  
           87  slot  
           89  display revised image step  
           90  accessory  
           92  programmable device  
           94  memory  
           96  memory interface  
           98  device  
           100  image processing device  
           102  communication circuit  
           104  signal processor