Computer implemented methods and systems for generating virtual body models for garment fit visualisation

Abstract

Methods for generating and sharing a virtual body model of a person, created with a small number of measurements and a single photograph, combined with one or more images of garments. The model represents a realistic representation of the users body and is used for visualizing photo-realistic fit visualizations of garments, hairstyles, etc. The virtual garments are created from layers based on photographs of real garment from multiple angles. The virtual body model is used in multiple embodiments of manual and automatic garment, make-up, and, hairstyle recommendations, such as, from channels, friends, and fashion entities, and sharable for visualization and comments on looks, for enabling users to buy garments that fit other users, suitable for gifts or similar, and can be used in peer-to-peer online sales where garments can be bought with the knowledge that the seller has a similar body shape and size as the user.

1 . Method for generating and sharing a virtual body model of a person combined with an image of a garment, in which the virtual body model is generated by analysing and processing one or more photographs of a user, and a garment image is generated by analysing and processing one or more photographs of the garment; and in which the virtual body model is accessible or useable by multiple different applications or multiple different web sites, such that images of the garment can, using any of these different applications or web sites, be seen as combined onto the virtual body model to enable visualization of what the garment will look like when worn. 
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the different applications or web sites each displays, in association with the image of the garment, a single icon or button which, when selected, automatically causes one or more images of the garment to be combined onto the virtual body model to enable a person to visualize what the garment will look like when worn by them. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combined image is a 3D photo-real image which the user can rotate and/or zoom. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the different web sites is a garment retail web site and the garment is available for purchase from that web site. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the different web sites is a fashion related web site associated with a print publication. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image of the garment is generated by photographing in 2D an actual garment from a number of viewpoints, on a mannequin of known size and shape. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is photographed from between 5 and 12 different viewpoints around the garment and the resulting photographs are analysed and processed to generate a 3D photo-real image of the garment that can be viewed from 360 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image of a garment is a 3D photo-real image of the garment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, for a given garment, only a single size of that garment is photographed and the appearance of other sizes is calculated by extrapolating from that single size. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the process of extrapolating is based on measuring other sizes of that garment, or different garments, from the same manufacturer of that garment. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein it is possible to show/share a virtual body model to another user so that other user can select and buy clothes to fit the user, whilst concealing actual measurements from that other user. 
     
     
         14 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 1 , the method including a method of generating a photo-real virtual garment to be combined onto a virtual body model, in which (a) one or more digital photographs are taken of the garment; (b) one or more sprites are extracted from the garment photographs, showing some or all of the garment and separated from any background; (c) a processing system models the behaviour of the sprite as a virtual garment, applying finite element analysis to model how the virtual garment would sit or form itself over a virtual body model of defined shape and/or measurements, when values for variables, including one or more of physical garment elasticity, weight, density, stiffness, material type, thickness, are input. 
     
     
         52 - 78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 1 , the method including a method for sharing a virtual body model of a person, in which the virtual body model is generated by the person interacting with a web site, and in which the virtual body model is accessible or useable by a different web site, namely a social networking web site. 
     
     
         80 - 123 . (canceled) 
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 1 , the method including a method for generating an image of a user in a garment, in which the system can access a virtual body model of the user and a database of garments or garment images and the user is able to select from one of several different recommendation channels, such that, when a specific channel is selected, then the system automatically, without user intervention, selects a garment which the system determines is suitable given parameters of the virtual body model and then combines an image of that garment onto the virtual body model and automatically without user intervention provides to the user an image of the garment, combined with the virtual body model, to enable that person to visualise what the garment will look like when worn by them. 
     
     
         125 . (canceled) 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 124 , wherein each channel is associated with a specific sub-set of images of garments from the complete database of garment images. 
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 124 , wherein each different channel is associated with a different person. 
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 124 , wherein each different channel is associated with a different stylist. 
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 124 , wherein each different channel is associated with a different print publication. 
     
     
         130 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each garment is manually scored as being suitable or not for each of a range of different body shapes and/or sizes and that data stored in a table which is then automatically accessed and used to enable the system to determine which garments are suitable for a user given the parameters of the virtual body model of that user. 
     
     
         131 . The method of  claim 130 , wherein the garment combined with the virtual body model is displayed on a garment retail web site that the user has logged onto. 
     
     
         132 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the parameters of the virtual body model include one or more of the size or shape of the virtual body model, the age of the user, any other criteria input by the user. 
     
     
         133 - 147 . (canceled) 
     
     
         148 . The method of  claim 1 , the method including a method for sharing a virtual body model of a person, in which the virtual body model is generated by a user interacting with an application or web site, and in which the virtual body model is accessible or useable by any type of display device that is operable to use an extensible image framework, such that images of a garment can on any such display device be seen as combined onto the virtual body model, to enable that person to visualise what the garment will look like when worn by them. 
     
     
         149 . (canceled) 
     
     
         150 . The method of  claim 148 , wherein the extensible image framework includes a web browser. 
     
     
         151 . The method of  claim 148 , wherein the extensible image framework includes a browser API or extension. 
     
     
         152 . The method of  claim 148 , wherein the type of display device includes one or more of: televisions, mobile telephones, tablet computers, laptop computers, desktop computers, digital mirrors, digital cameras, digital video cameras, displays placed in retail stores, digital mirrors placed in retail stores. 
     
     
         153 - 189 . (canceled) 
     
     
         190 . A method for generating and sharing a virtual body model of a person combined with an image of a garment, in which the virtual body model is generated by analysing and processing one or more photographs of a user, and a garment image is generated by analysing and processing one or more photographs of the garment and that garment image is shown in a virtual fitting room, and in which the virtual fitting room is accessible or useable by multiple different applications or multiple different web sites, such that images of the garment can, using any of these different applications or web sites, be seen as combined onto the virtual body model to enable visualization of what the garment will look like when worn. 
     
     
         191 . The method of  claim 190 , the method including a method enabling users to interact with virtual body models, comprising the steps of (a) providing a virtual dressing room in which a first user can select one or more garments to visualise as being combined with their virtual body model; (b) making that combined virtual body model and garment available to other users that meet defined collaboration, sharing or friendship criteria set by the first user. 
     
     
         192 . The method of  claim 191 , in which a first user's virtual body model is shown or shared with another user so that other user can select and buy clothes to fit the first user, whilst concealing actual measurements from that other user.