Digital Markup Overlay for Deformable Object Customization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing consumer shopping networks and websites struggle to provide realistic digital representations of customized products, particularly when depicting patterns, textures, or finishes on deformable objects like clothing, toys, and furniture, due to challenges in identifying and processing digital markups that are deformed or folded complexly.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of digital markups with unique patterns and arrangements, along with associated identifiers, allows for the recognition of surfaces in digital images and the application of customized patterns to deformable objects. This involves generating digital markup images, overlaying them onto digital layout images, and using image processing techniques to identify and segment markups in reference images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If digital markups are applied to digital images of customized products to increase realism, then the visual representation quality is improved, but the difficulty of identifying and processing the markups increases when they are deformed or folded complexly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual representation qualityVSAvoidmarkup identification difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a physical reference product with physical markups as a template to generate a digital reference image, then copies the markup information from the physical domain to the digital domain. This allows the digital markup to replicate the exact deformation and folding characteristics of the physical product, maintaining visual realism while enabling automated processing through digital image analysis techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a digital reference image as an intermediary between the physical reference product and the final customized digital product image. This intermediary contains the markup information in a digital format that can be processed automatically, serving as a bridge that translates physical markup characteristics into digital data while preserving the visual realism needed for accurate customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple physical prototypes are created to capture different product variations, then the accuracy of digital representations is improved, but the time and costs associated with photography and manufacturing increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of digital representationsVSAvoidtime for photography and product variation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating multiple physical prototypes, the patent creates one physical reference product with physical markups and then generates multiple digital reference images by applying different digital markup patterns to the same physical template. This copying approach allows unlimited variations to be generated digitally without additional physical manufacturing or photography costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential markup information from a single physical reference product and separates it from the physical object itself by encoding it in digital form. This extraction allows the markup characteristics to be reused across multiple digital product variations without requiring additional physical prototypes or repeated photography sessions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If automated approaches are used to process digital markups, then productivity is improved, but the system becomes challenging to implement when markups are deformed or folded in complex manners

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of customizationVSAvoidprocessing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent copies the physical markup deformation patterns into the digital reference image, preserving the complex folding and deformation characteristics in digital form. This allows automated image processing algorithms to analyze and replicate these patterns without requiring complex physical manipulation, thereby maintaining productivity while managing system complexity through digital representation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The digital reference image serves as an intermediary that simplifies the processing of complex markup deformations. By capturing the complex folding and deformation patterns in a digital image format, the system can apply standard image processing and pattern recognition techniques rather than requiring complex mechanical or manual processing methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4071704B1System and method for digital markups of custom products
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 ZAZZLE INC
  • EP4071704B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4071704B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4071704B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques for generating and using digital markups on digital images are presented. In an embodiment, a method comprises receiving, at an electronic device, a digital layout image that represents a form of a product for manufacturing a reference product; generating a digital markup layout by overlaying the digital markup image over the digital layout image; based on the digital markup layout, generating one or more manufacturing files comprising digital data for manufacturing the reference product; receiving a digital reference image of the reference product manufactured based on the one or more manufacturing files; identifying one or more found markup regions in the digital reference image; based on the found markup regions, generating a geometry map and an interactive asset image; based on, at least in part, the geometry map, generating a customized product image by applying a user pattern to the interactive asset image.