Object feature visualization apparatus and methods

Abstract

An object feature visualization system may include a computing device that generates video-mapped images to project onto physical objects. The video-mapped images may include features to be projected onto the objects. The projection of a video-mapped image onto the physical object allows for the visualization of the feature on the object. In some examples, the computing device receives a feature selection for a particular object, and generates a video-mapped image with the selected feature to provide to a projector to project the video-mapped image onto the physical object. In some examples, a user is able to select one or more features for one or more objects of a room display via a user interface. The system then projects video-mapped images with the selected features onto the physical objects. The system may allow a user to save feature selections, and to purchase or request additional information about objects with selected features.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing device, comprising at least one processor configured to:
 receive data identifying a selection of at least one feature for a surface;   in response to receiving the data, generate a video-mapped image corresponding to the at least one feature applied to the surface;   provide the video-mapped image to at least one projecting device, wherein the at least one projecting device is configured to project the video-mapped image onto the surface;   obtain position data for the surface;   determine an orientation for the at least one projecting device to project the video-mapped image onto the surface using the position data; and   transmit the orientation to the at least one projecting device.   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface corresponds to at least a portion of a wall or a floor of a room display. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one projecting device comprises a first projecting device and a second projecting device;   the computing device provides:
 a first portion of the video-mapped image to the first projecting device; and 
 a second portion of the video-mapped image to the second projecting device; and 
   the first portion and the second portion are adjacent without visible discontinuity.   
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first portion overlaps the second portion in an overlapping area; and   the at least one processor reduces brightness or color in the overlapping area.   
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one feature comprises a material. 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 receive an instruction from a user to save the at least one feature; and 
 responsive to receiving the instruction, save the at least one feature associated with an account for the user. 
 
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the data comprises first data; 
 the video-mapped image comprises a first video-mapped image; 
 the selection is a first selection; and 
 the computing device:
 receives second data identifying a second selection of at least one additional feature for the surface; 
 in response to receiving the second data, obtains a second video-mapped image characterizing the surface with the at least one additional feature; and 
 provides the second video-mapped image to the at least one projecting device. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one processor receives the data identifying the selection of the at least one feature for the surface via a drop-down menu. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 at least one projecting device configured to project images onto a surface; and   a computing device communicatively coupled to the at least one projecting device and configured to:
 receive a selection of at least one feature from a database of features for the surface; 
 generate a video-mapped image by applying an electronic representation of the at least one feature to the surface; 
 provide the video-mapped image to the at least one projecting device, wherein the at least one projecting device is configured to project the video-mapped image onto the surface; 
 obtain position data for the surface; 
 determine an orientation for the at least one projecting device to project the video-mapped image onto the surface using the position data; and 
 transmit the orientation to the at least one projecting device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the computing device updates an online shopping cart to include an item associated with the at least one feature responsive to receiving an instruction to add the item to the online shopping cart. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the computing device places an order for the item upon receiving an indication associated with the online shopping cart to place the order. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the computing device places an order by transmitting at least one of an email or a short message service message. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the email or the short message service message identifies the item, the at least one feature, and a user who provided the indication. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the computing device obtains the video-mapped image characterizing the surface with the at least one feature in response to determining the selection of the at least one feature for the surface. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one feature comprises a finish. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the computing device generates the video-mapped image prior to receiving the selection. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 identifying a selection of at least one feature for a surface;   generating a video-mapped image corresponding to the at least one feature applied to the surface;   providing the video-mapped image to at least one projecting device;   obtaining position data for the surface;   determining an orientation for the at least one projecting device to project the video-mapped image onto the surface using the position data; and   transmitting the orientation to the at least one projecting device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising ordering an item associated with the at least one feature by transmitting a communication to a manufacturer of the item. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the ordering the item associated with the at least one feature is performed in response to receiving user input indicating to order the item. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising presenting features to select for the surface.