Image Matching for Shopping Displays via Viewing Environment Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internet-based purchases often result in color mismatches between product images on user devices and the actual product due to varying viewing environments, leading to high return rates and increased costs for retailers, as existing calibration methods are complex, costly, or require manual adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that involves accessing a shopping site, determining the viewing environment of a user device, and selecting an image from a database of product images taken under different conditions to match the user's environment, allowing users to choose or automatically present the image with the closest color representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If hardware color calibration equipment is used, then color accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hardware color calibration equipment with a software-based solution that uses the device's existing camera and display components. The system captures images through the device camera, processes them through algorithms that account for viewing conditions, and generates corrected display images without requiring any external calibration hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital model of the viewing environment by capturing reference images under known lighting conditions. This digital representation is then used to generate appropriate display images that compensate for the actual viewing conditions, eliminating the need for physical calibration devices.
2Measurement precision
If manual calibration is required, then color accuracy can be adjusted, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs calibration automatically using the device's own camera and processing capabilities. The device captures images of calibration targets or product images under the actual viewing conditions, and the processing system automatically determines the appropriate color correction without requiring user intervention or manual adjustment of settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-processes images under multiple known viewing conditions and stores them in a database. When a product image is requested, the system has already prepared the appropriate variations, allowing for immediate display of the correctly calibrated image without requiring real-time manual adjustment by the user.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple images are provided for different viewing environments, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single device camera to serve multiple functions: capturing product images, capturing reference calibration images, and capturing images of the display screen itself. This multi-functional approach allows the system to adapt to different viewing environments without requiring separate hardware components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures and stores images under various lighting conditions (different temperature, brightness, and color temperature parameters). When displaying product images, the system selects or generates the appropriate image variant based on the detected or selected viewing conditions, effectively adapting to different environments through parameter-based selection rather than complex hardware changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and methods are provided for matching images with viewing environment. A method includes accessing (410) a shopping site using a user device. The method further includes determining (415, 420) a viewing environment of a display on the user device. The method also includes receiving (430) an image depicting a product on the shopping site. The image is selected from a plurality of different images of the product taken under a plurality of different viewing environments and matches the viewing environment of the display on the user device. The method additionally includes showing (435) the image to a user on the display of the user device.