Footwear Sizing Estimation Using Growth Pattern Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques for estimating when children's footwear needs replacement fail to consider foot development properly, leading to discomfort due to improper sizing.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that acquires foot size measurements, estimates the time until the foot size meets a predetermined condition based on user attributes, and provides recommendations for suitable footwear sizes through a terminal apparatus, information processing apparatus, and management server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional techniques are used for estimating footwear replacement timing, then general product information can be sent, but foot development characteristics are not properly considered leading to improper sizing recommendations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoot development estimation accuracyVSAvoidfootwear sizing recommendation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the estimation parameters from generic product purchase timing to foot-specific developmental parameters. It uses foot size measurement data combined with foot development patterns (growth rates, growth stages) to dynamically estimate replacement timing, thereby improving both measurement precision and recommendation reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary foot measurement and development pattern analysis before making footwear recommendations. By预先 acquiring foot size data and analyzing development patterns, the system prepares accurate baseline information that enables reliable sizing recommendations for future footwear purchases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If foot size measurement is performed at a single timing, then current size can be determined, but future foot development needs cannot be predicted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime until footwear replacement neededVSAvoidfuture foot size prediction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by using foot development patterns that capture growth rates and developmental stages. Instead of static single-point estimation, the system models foot growth as a dynamic process, allowing accurate prediction of future foot size and timely footwear replacement recommendations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20240144291A1Information processing apparatus and information processing method

Publication Date: 2024.05.02 ZOZO INC

AI summary

Footwear suitable for foot development of a user is properly proposed. An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition section, an estimation section, and a provision section. The acquisition section acquires measurement information at a first timing taken by measuring a foot size of a user. The estimation section estimates a first period taken until the foot size of the user meets a predetermined condition based on the measurement information at the first timing acquired by the acquisition section and a foot development pattern based on an attribute of the user at the first timing. The provision section provides information for proposing footwear in a size suitable for foot development of the user based on an estimation result by the estimation section.