Mobile Device Catalog Image Generation via Consumer Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Online catalogs often lack images or multiple views of items, making it difficult for consumers to shop using mobile devices, as they cannot visualize the products effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows users to capture images of items using a mobile device, upload them to an online catalog, and provide instructions for displaying these images, enabling consumers to contribute and enhance product visuals, such as adding missing views or editing images for better representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If online catalogs use traditional professional photography for product images, then image quality is high, but time consumption and cost are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses consumer mobile device cameras to capture product images instead of professional photography equipment. Multiple images are captured from different angles and copied/compiled into a comprehensive product view, achieving high-quality documentation without professional photography resources
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables consumers to self-capture product images using their own mobile devices during normal shopping activities. The mobile device's built-in camera and processing capabilities are leveraged to automatically capture, organize, and upload images without requiring professional photographers or specialized equipment
2Ease of operation
If online catalogs lack multiple product views, then catalog simplicity is maintained, but consumer visualization capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the product documentation into multiple segmented views (front, back, side, detail shots) captured from different angles. Each view is independently captured and then compiled together, providing comprehensive product information while maintaining organized, simple navigation through the catalog interface
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single 2D product images to multi-dimensional viewing by capturing images from multiple angles and perspectives. This creates a comprehensive 360-degree understanding of the product while maintaining simple 2D display interfaces through systematic organization of the multi-angle images
3Productivity
If consumer-captured images are used, then time and cost are reduced, but image consistency and quality control become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically varies capture parameters (angles, distances, lighting conditions) according to predefined specifications for different product types. By standardizing these parameters through software guidance, the system achieves consistent image quality across different consumers and devices while maintaining high capture efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to consumers during image capture, guiding them to achieve proper positioning, lighting, and angle. The mobile device processes captured images and provides immediate feedback on quality, allowing consumers to retake images that don't meet standards, ensuring consistency without sacrificing the efficiency of consumer-captured imagery
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of system and method for catalog image generation include a method. The method comprises, while a first person is using a mobile device to scan an item in a store, capturing one or more first images of the item from the mobile device and selecting one of the one or more first images. In the method can further comprise uploading the one of the one or more first images to an online catalog for the store and providing instructions to display the one of the one or more first images to a second person. Other embodiments of related methods and systems are also provided.