Virtual storefront with garment previews

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11026462-B2
Application number	US-202016909988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2020
Priority date	Feb 27, 2018
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A system allows a user to create new designs for apparel and preview these designs before manufacture. Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. The system provides feedback to the user on how their designs may appear in a virtual storefront, such as through virtual reality or augment reality techniques.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
providing a garment previewing tool that allows previewing on a computer screen of a selected garment base customized by a user with a finishing pattern, wherein the garment previewing tool comprises
providing an option for the user to select the garment base and upon the user's selection,
showing a first garment preview image on the computer screen comprising a base image for the selected garment base,
providing an option for the user to select a surface pattern from a menu of surface patterns, wherein each surface pattern is associated with a laser input file to be used by a laser to produce that surface pattern onto a surface of a garment, and
after a surface pattern is selected, allowing the user to modify a sizing or position of the surface pattern relative to the base image;
for a plurality of garments created using the garment previewing tool, receiving a first selected garment from the user;
receiving from the user a request to populate a virtual storefront template with the first selected garment, wherein the virtual storefront comprises a first virtual surface;
for the plurality of garments created using the garment previewing tool, receiving a second selected garment from the user, wherein the second selected garment is associated with a second virtual surface, different than the first virtual surface;
populating, based on a first virtual surface type associated with the first virtual surface, the virtual storefront template to associate the first selected garment with the first virtual surface, wherein the first virtual surface comprises at least one of a tabletop, shelving, or clothing rack, and
the first virtual surface type is associated with a first scheme to present the first selected garment including whether the first selected garment should be hung, flat, on a mannequin, folded, or stacked;
presenting the populated virtual storefront template to the user; and
allowing the user to navigate the populated virtual storefront, wherein in response to the user's navigation input, updating the populated virtual storefront template.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:
providing a target garment corresponding to the selected garment base by the user; and
based on a laser input file associated with a selected surface pattern with a modified sizing or modified positioning, if any, or a combination, using a laser to create a finishing pattern on an outer surface of the target garment.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a method of manufacturing the target garment comprises:
assembling the target garment from fabric panels of a woven first material comprising a warp comprising indigo ring-dyed cotton yarn, wherein the fabric panels are sewn together using thread.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein based on the laser input file, the laser removes selected amounts of material from the outer surface of the target garment at different pixel locations of the garment, and
for lighter pixel locations of the finishing pattern, a greater amount of the material is removed, while for darker pixel locations of the finishing pattern, a lesser amount of the material is removed.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein when using the laser to create the finishing pattern, different laser levels are obtained by varying an output of the laser beam by altering a characteristic of the laser comprising at least one of a frequency, period, pulse width, power, duty cycle, or burning speed.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the target garment is made of at least one of a twill material or a cotton twill material.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the garment base corresponds to a base fit fabric and the base fit fabric comprises known characteristics regarding the suitability of the base fit fabric for finishing using the laser.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second selected garment is further associated with the first virtual surface.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual storefront comprises signage.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual storefront comprises a doorway.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the populated virtual storefront template to the user uses augmented reality.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the populated virtual storefront template to the user uses virtual reality.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the user's navigation input comprises walking in a first direction.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the user's navigation input comprises tilting the user's screen device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the garment comprises a pair of jeans.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the first selected garment comprises a pair of jeans.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting the populated virtual storefront template to the user comprises using augmented reality.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting the populated virtual storefront template to the user comprises using virtual reality.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting the populated virtual storefront template to the user comprises using a computer screen.

20. A method comprising:
providing a garment previewing tool that allows previewing on a computer screen of a selected garment base customized by a user with a finishing pattern, wherein the garment previewing tool comprises
showing a preview image of a first selected garment on the computer screen comprising a base image for a first garment base with a first surface pattern, wherein the first surface pattern is associated with a first laser input file to be used by a laser to produce the first surface pattern onto a surface of a garment,
providing an option for the user to add the first selected garment as part of a collection of garments,
showing a preview image of a second selected garment on the computer screen comprising a base image for the first garment base with a second surface pattern, different from the first surface pattern, wherein the second surface pattern is associated with a second laser input file to be used by a laser to produce the second surface pattern onto a surface of a garment, and
providing an option for the user to add the second selected garment as part of a collection of garments;
receiving from the user a request to populate a virtual storefront template with the collection of garments comprising the first selected garment and the second selected garment, wherein the virtual storefront comprises a first virtual surface;
populating, based on a first virtual surface type associated with the first virtual surface, the virtual storefront template to include a plurality of garments in the collection of garments on the first virtual surface, wherein the first virtual surface comprises at least one of a tabletop, shelving, or clothing rack, and
the first virtual surface type is associated with a first scheme to present the plurality of garments in the collection of garments on the first virtual surface including whether a garment of the collection of garments should be hung, flat, on a mannequin, folded, or stacked;
presenting the populated virtual storefront template to the user; and
allowing the user to navigate the populated virtual storefront, wherein in response to the user's navigation input, updating the populated virtual storefront template.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first selected garment is associated with the first virtual surface, and the second selected garment is associated a second virtu

Assignees

• Strauss Levi & Co

Inventors

• Schultz Christopher
• Mahanty Debdulal
• Bell Benjamin
• Oden Leigh Anne
• Schultz Jennifer

Classifications

• G06F3/04845

  for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• D06M10/005 Primary

  Laser beam treatment · CPC title

• A41H43/00 Primary

  Other methods, machines or appliances · CPC title

• A41D2500/20

  Woven · CPC title