Flexible Scene Framework for Dynamic Product Preview Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Online retailers face challenges in generating customized product previews with dynamically generated content within contextual scenes efficiently, as existing methods require significant coding and are time-consuming, leading to potential customer drop-off during the browsing process.

Innovation Solution

A flexible scene framework system that uses an Image Warping and Compositing Engine and a Scene Framework to render dynamically-generated content within contextual scenes, allowing for intuitive XML-based scene descriptions and seamless integration of personalized customer images, enabling quick generation and display of customized product previews.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If each context image is implemented as a separate class with unique static drawing methods, then customization and personalization of product previews are achieved, but coding time and system complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal scene graph data structure that can represent multiple different context images and product previews through a single unified framework. Instead of creating separate classes for each context image, the scene graph uses generic node types (container nodes, image nodes, text nodes, etc.) that can be configured through XML descriptors to produce various customized previews, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If browser-renderable context images are generated with dynamic content, then personalized product previews are created, but significant coding time is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic content integrationVSAvoidcoding time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables designers to create and modify scene descriptions using XML files without requiring programmer intervention. The scene graph framework automatically processes these XML descriptors and generates the corresponding rendered images, allowing the system to serve itself by translating design specifications directly into visual outputs without manual coding for each customization scenario

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an XML descriptor as an intermediary layer between the designer's specifications and the rendering engine. This intermediary format allows design parameters to be defined in a structured, machine-readable way that automatically translates into the scene graph structure, eliminating the need for programmers to write custom rendering code for each context image while still achieving dynamic content integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If customized product previews are generated with delays, then processing complexity is reduced, but customer drop-off increases during browsing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidpreview generation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a scene graph data structure that pre-defines the hierarchical organization of visual elements and their relationships before rendering occurs. By establishing this structural framework in advance through XML descriptors, the system prepares the scene composition ahead of time, allowing for rapid rendering when actual product data needs to be inserted, thus reducing preview generation time without sacrificing processing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2697779B1Method and system for personalizing images rendered in scenes for personalized customer experience
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 CIMPRESS SCHWEIZ GMBH
  • EP2697779B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2697779B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D
  • EP2697779B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Systems and methods are described for generating and using a flexible scene framework to render dynamically- generated content within contextual scenes to personalize a customer's web experience. There are web sites which offer printed, engraved, and embroidered products which can be customized by the customer to include text and images (injectable scene elements) selected and/or uploaded by the customer. An apparatus/method for rendering a preview of a customer's selected product personalized with such user entered injectable scene elements showing the product e.g. in the context of a larger scene is disclosed. The scene rendering is implemented using for example XML and specifies warping and compositing of said injectable scene elements with the scene images for generating a composite image to be displayed in the user's web browser. The used warping transformation comprises e.g. the known perspective warp. When visiting a products vendor website such previews can be emailed to a customer to enhance an offer, for example and offer for a reorder by the customer of a customer's previously ordered product.