JP6756751B2 - Information providing equipment and method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information providing device and a method.

A garment producer such as a fashion brand predicts the demand for garments and makes a production plan in order to avoid shortage or excess inventory (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, since there are many factors that affect the demand for clothing, the reality is that the demand must be roughly predicted by relying on intuition or experience.
[Prior art literature]
[Patent Document]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-229252

When garment demand is predicted based on intuition or experience, sudden changes in weather or fashion can lead to inaccurate predictions. Therefore, there is a need for a method for more accurately predicting the demand for clothing.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an information providing device is provided. The information providing device may include a weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information indicating future weather. The information providing device may include a demand forecasting unit that forecasts future demand for a plurality of clothes based on the weather information. The information providing device may include an information providing unit that provides information on the future demand for the plurality of clothes. The information providing device may further include a survey result information acquisition unit that acquires survey result information indicating the survey results of the user's preference regarding clothing. The demand forecasting unit may further forecast the future demand for the plurality of clothes based on the survey result information. The information providing device may further include a sales record information acquisition unit that acquires sales record information indicating the sales record of a plurality of clothes. The demand forecasting unit may forecast the future demand for the plurality of clothes based on the sales performance information. The information providing device may further include an attention level information acquisition unit that acquires attention level information indicating the attention levels of the plurality of clothes. The demand forecasting unit may further forecast the future demand for the plurality of clothes based on the attention level information.

The information providing device may include a survey result information acquisition unit that acquires survey result information indicating the survey results of the user's preference regarding clothing. The information providing device may include a sales record information acquisition unit that acquires sales record information indicating the sales record of the plurality of clothes. An attention level information acquisition unit that acquires attention level information indicating the attention level of the plurality of clothes may be further provided. The demand forecasting unit may forecast future demand for the plurality of clothes based on the survey result information, the sales performance information, and the attention level information. The information providing device may further include a purchase history information acquisition unit that acquires purchase history information indicating the purchase history of the user's clothing. The demand forecasting unit may further forecast the future demand for the plurality of clothes based on the purchase history information. The information providing device may further include a user position information acquisition unit that acquires user position information indicating the user's position. The demand forecasting unit may forecast the future demand of the plurality of clothes for each region based on the user position information.

The information providing device may include a clothing selection unit that selects at least one clothing from the plurality of clothing based on information about the plurality of clothing and body shape information indicating the user's body shape. The information providing device may further include an information providing unit that provides the user with information about at least one of the clothes selected by the clothing selection unit. The demand forecasting unit may forecast the future demand of the plurality of clothes based on the information about at least one clothes provided to the user. The information providing device may further include a user image acquisition unit that acquires a user image that is an image including the user's body. The information providing device may further include a body shape information generation unit that generates body shape information indicating the user's body shape based on the user image.

The information providing device may further include a manufacturing-related information acquisition unit that acquires manufacturing-related information including raw material costs or processing costs. The demand forecasting unit may forecast the future demand of the plurality of clothes based on the manufacturing-related information. The demand forecasting unit may use a machine learning model to forecast the future demand for the plurality of clothes. The demand forecasting unit may forecast the future demand of the plurality of clothes on a daily basis.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a method is provided. The method may comprise the step of acquiring weather information indicating future weather. The method may include a step of predicting future demand for a plurality of garments based on the weather information.

The outline of the above invention does not list all the necessary features of the present invention. Subcombinations of these feature groups can also be inventions.

An example of the information providing system 100 according to one embodiment is shown. An example of a method of providing information about clothing to the consumer device 102 is shown. An example of a method of providing information regarding a demand forecast to the producer device 110 is shown. An example of the correction method of the demand forecast by the fashion platform 104 is shown. An example of the functional configuration of the consumer device 102 is shown. An example of the functional configuration of the fashion platform 104 is shown. An example of the functional configuration of the fashion proposal platform 600 is shown. An example of the information stored in the user database 742 is shown. An example of the functional configuration of the demand forecast platform 602 is shown. An example of the functional configuration of the store device 108 is shown. An example of the display content displayed on the display unit 1031 is shown. An example of the hardware configuration of the computer 1200 functioning as the consumer device 102 is shown. An example of the hardware configuration of the computer 1300 functioning as the fashion platform 104 is shown. An example of the hardware configuration of the computer 1400 functioning as the store device 108 is shown.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Also, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the means of solving the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an information providing system 100 according to an embodiment. The information providing system 100 includes a consumer device 102, a fashion platform 104, a database 106, a store device 108, and a producer device 110. The consumer device 102, the fashion platform 104, the database 106, the store device 108, and the producer device 110 communicate with each other via a communication network 112 such as the Internet. The consumer device 102, the fashion platform 104, and the store device 108 are examples of information providing devices, respectively.

The consumer device 102 is a device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet device, or a personal computer used by the consumer. The database 106 stores so-called big data including consumer information, producer information, product information, and the like. The store device 108 is a device installed in a physical store to provide consumer with product information. The producer device 110 is a device used by a producer or distributor of a product such as a fashion brand. The fashion platform 104 may be a cloud platform or a server platform.

Fashion platform 104 provides producers or distributors with a service that predicts future demand for garments. More specifically, the fashion platform 104 collects data from the consumer device 102, the store device 108, and the producer device 110 via the communication network 112. The fashion platform 104 also collects data from internet services such as weather forecast sites, social network services (SNS), search sites, and questionnaire sites. The fashion platform 104 stores data collected from various sources in the database 106 as big data. The fashion platform 104 predicts future demand for garments based on the data stored in the database 106 and provides information to the producer or distributor via the producer device 110.

In addition, the fashion platform 104 provides the consumer with a service of proposing clothes that fit the consumer's body shape. More specifically, the fashion platform 104 receives information about the consumer's body shape from the consumer device 102 or the store device 108. Based on the information about the consumer's body shape, the fashion platform 104 selects clothes suitable for the consumer's body shape and provides the information to the consumer via the consumer device 102 or the store device 108.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a method of providing information about clothing to the consumer device 102. The consumer device 102 transmits information such as height, weight, gender, age, and ID of the user who is a consumer, and an image of the user to the fashion platform 104. The image of the user is an image including the body of the user. The ID is user identification information for identifying a user, for example, a telephone number. The ID may be a user account of an Internet service or an ID of an SNS.

The fashion platform 104 receives the information transmitted from the consumer device 102. The fashion platform 104 selects clothes that fit the user's body shape based on the information transmitted from the consumer device 102. The fashion platform 104 uses the image of the user transmitted from the consumer device 102 to generate an image showing how the user is wearing the selected clothing and transmits it to the consumer device 102. In addition, the fashion platform 104 may transmit information such as an image of the selected clothing and a price to the consumer device 102.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a method of providing the producer device 110 with information regarding the demand forecast. The producer device 110 manages the garment information including the information about the garment, the inventory information which is the information about the inventory of the garment, and the sales record information indicating the sales record in the database 310. The fashion platform 104 receives garment information, inventory information, and sales performance information from the producer device 110. Companies A, B, and C shown in FIG. 3 exemplify garment producers or distributors. In addition, the fashion platform 104 collects various information such as future weather.

The fashion platform 104 analyzes various information such as garment information, inventory information, sales performance information, and future weather transmitted from the producer device 110, and predicts future demand for garments and trends in garments. The fashion platform 104 transmits the demand forecast information indicating the future demand of the garment and the trend information indicating the trend of the garment to the producer device 110. Producers can reflect demand forecast information and trend information in short-term, medium-term, or long-term production plans.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a method for correcting a demand forecast by the fashion platform 104. Fashion platform 104 forecasts future demand for garments based on weather forecasts, questionnaires, store data, and rival product information. The fashion platform 104 continuously collects this information and, for example, forecasts future demand for garments on a daily basis or corrects previous forecasts. More specifically, forecast future demand for clothing from trends of other companies, fashion shows, trend information and special information obtained from magazines, questionnaires on clothing or brands, and information such as initial sales of stores. Correct the previous forecast. The fashion platform 104 may use a machine learning model to predict future demand for garments or correct previous predictions.

The producer can make a production plan up to the sale of clothes based on the demand forecast provided by the fashion platform 104. The producer may divide the production plan into a material procurement process, a design process, a manufacturing process, and the like, and reflect the appropriately corrected demand forecast in the production plan. For example, during the six months prior to the launch of the garment, the producer can review the production plan approximately every month based on the demand forecast provided by the fashion platform 104. After the garment is on sale, the producer can update the number of garment shipments from the next day onwards daily from the fashion platform 104 based on the demand forecast. By reflecting the demand forecast in the production plan, it is possible to reduce the possibility of shortage of clothes or excess inventory.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the functional configuration of the consumer device 102. The consumer device 102 includes an imaging unit 500, an operation input unit 502, a display unit 504, a user image acquisition unit 506, a user information acquisition unit 508, a user identification information acquisition unit 510, a display control unit 512, and a communication unit 514. The communication unit 514 has a transmission unit 516 and a reception unit 518.

The imaging unit 500 may be a camera included in the consumer device 102. The operation input unit 502 may be an operation button, a touch panel, a keyboard, or a mouse. The display unit 504 may be a display included in the consumer device 102.

The user image acquisition unit 506 acquires a user image including the user's body imaged by the image pickup unit 500. The user information acquisition unit 508 acquires user information including at least one of the height, weight, and gender of the user input to the operation input unit 502. The user information may include the genetic information of the user. The user identification information acquisition unit 510 acquires user identification information for identifying a user. The user identification information is, for example, a telephone number. The user identification information may be a user account of an Internet service or an ID of an SNS. The transmission unit 516 transmits the user image, the user information, and the user identification information to the fashion platform 104. The receiver 518 receives information about at least one garment selected by the fashion platform 104. The display control unit 512 displays information about at least one piece of clothing on the display unit 504.

The user image acquisition unit 506 may acquire a user image transmitted from another device via the reception unit 518. For example, the user image acquisition unit 506 may acquire a user image transmitted from an imaging device separate from the consumer device 102 via the reception unit 518.

The user information acquisition unit 508 may acquire user information transmitted from another device via the reception unit 518. For example, the user information acquisition unit 508 may acquire user information transmitted from an IoT device such as a body composition meter via the reception unit 518. Further, the user information acquisition unit 508 may acquire the user's body shape information transmitted from the stationary dedicated device including the laser measuring device for measuring the user's body shape via the reception unit 518. The body shape information may include the size of the body part such as the size of the user's neck circumference, shoulder width size, sleeve length size, foot length size, chest circumference size, and abdominal circumference size. The transmission unit 516 may transmit the user's body shape information measured by using the stationary dedicated device to the fashion platform 104.

The user information acquisition unit 508 may acquire the measurement information measured by using the depth sensor via the reception unit 518. The measurement information may be information for identifying the unevenness of the wrinkles of the clothes. The transmission unit 516 may transmit the measurement information measured using the depth sensor to the fashion platform 104.

The user identification information acquisition unit 510 may acquire user identification information transmitted from another device via the reception unit 518. For example, the user information acquisition unit 508 may acquire user identification information transmitted from a server that provides an Internet service or a server that provides an SNS via a reception unit 518.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the functional configuration of the fashion platform 104. The fashion platform 104 includes a fashion proposal platform 600 and a demand forecast platform 602.

The fashion proposal platform 600 estimates the user's body shape based on the user image including the user's body and the user information including at least one of the user's height, weight, and gender, and makes clothes suitable for the user's body shape as a consumer device. Propose to 102. The demand forecasting platform 602 predicts the future demand of clothes using big data, and provides the predicted demand forecast information to the producer device 110.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the functional configuration of the fashion proposal platform 600. The fashion proposal platform 600 includes a user identification information acquisition unit 700, a user information acquisition unit 702, a user image acquisition unit 704, a body shape information generation unit 706, a clothing selection unit 720, a storage control unit 722, a clothing image acquisition unit 724, and a model image acquisition. A unit 726, an image generation unit 728, an information providing unit 730, a planning information generation unit 732, a user database 742, a clothing database 744, and a model database 746 are provided. As an example of the configuration for generating body shape information, the body shape information generation unit 706 includes a part size out-licensing unit 708, a wrinkle shape identification unit 710, a out-licensing part determination unit 712, a part direction identification unit 714, a clothing type identification unit 716, and It has a garment size specifying unit 718.

The garment database 744 stores information about a plurality of garments. Specifically, the garment database 744 contains garment identification information for identifying garments, garment product names, colors, prices, sizes, sizes of each part, garment images that are images of garments, producers, and distributors. including. The garment database 744 may store a plurality of garment images taken from a plurality of directions with respect to the garment, or garment images of parts of the garment. Further, the clothing database 744 may store three-dimensional image data of the clothing image.

The model database 746 stores information on a person who serves as a model. Specifically, the model database 746 includes person identification information for identifying a person, a person's name, a model image which is an image of the person, height, weight, gender, age, and the size of each part. The model database 746 may store a plurality of model images taken from a plurality of directions with respect to a person, or a plurality of model images taken in different poses. The garment database 744 may store three-dimensional image data of the model image.

The user identification information acquisition unit 700 acquires user identification information for identifying the user from the consumer device 102. The user identification information is, for example, a telephone number. The user information acquisition unit 702 acquires user information including at least one of the user's height, weight, age, and gender from the consumer device 102. The user image acquisition unit 704 acquires a user image, which is an image including the user's body, from the consumer device 102.

The body shape information generation unit 706 generates body shape information indicating the user's body shape based on at least one of the user image acquired by the user image acquisition unit 704 and the user information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 702. The body type information generation unit 706 generates body type information including the size of the user's body part derived by the part size derivation unit 708.

The wrinkle shape specifying unit 710 identifies the shape of the wrinkles of the clothes worn by the user included in the user image. The wrinkle shape specifying unit 710 may identify the unevenness of the wrinkles of the clothes based on the measurement information of the depth sensor transmitted from the consumer device 102.

The derivation site determination unit 712 determines the part of the user's body from which the size should be derived from each of the plurality of user images, based on the shape of the wrinkles of the user's clothes included in each of the plurality of user images. For example, the derivation site determination unit 712 determines the first part of the user's body whose size should be derived using the first user image among the plurality of user images, and the second user among the plurality of user images. The image is used to determine a second part of the user's body whose size should be derived. For example, the derivation site determination unit 712 determines from the shape of the wrinkles of the clothes whether or not the shape of the clothes is close to the body shape of the user, that is, whether or not the clothes are in close contact with each part of the body. Then, the derivation site determination unit 712 determines a portion where the shape of the clothes is close to the user's body shape for each user image. More specifically, the out-licensing site determining unit 712 determines that the shape of the clothes is close to the body shape of the user when the horizontal wrinkles are formed around the buttons of the clothes worn by the user.

The part direction specifying unit 714 specifies the direction in which the part of the user's body included in the user image is facing. The part direction specifying unit may specify the direction in which each part of the user included in each of the plurality of user images is facing.

The garment type specifying unit 716 specifies the type of garment worn by the user included in the user image. The garment type specifying unit 716 compares the garment information detected from the user image with the information stored in the garment database 744 to identify the garment type included in the user image. The garment size specifying unit 718 specifies the size of each part of the garment with reference to the garment database 744 based on the type of garment. In addition, the garment type identification unit 716 identifies the producer or distributor of the garment worn by the user based on the garment information detected from the user image and the garment information stored in the garment database 744. You can. The garment size identification unit 718 may estimate the size of each part of the garment based on the garment producer or distributor.

The part size deriving unit 708 derives the size of the part of the user's body based on the user image and the user information. The part size deriving unit 708 is specified by the garment wrinkle shape specified by the wrinkle shape specifying part 710, the part whose size should be derived from each user image determined by the deriving part determining part 712, and the part direction specifying part 714. The size of the part of the user's body is derived further based on the direction in which the part is facing and at least one of the sizes of each part of the garment specified by the garment size identification unit 718.

The derivation site determination unit 712 determines the first part of the user's body whose size should be derived using the first user image among the plurality of user images, and determines the second user image among the plurality of user images. When determining the second part of the user's body whose size should be derived using, the part size deriving unit 708 derives the size of the first part based on the first user image and is based on the second user image. The size of the second part is derived. The part size deriving unit 708 derives the size of the user's body part based on the user image when the direction of the user's body part specified by the part direction specifying unit 714 satisfies a predetermined condition. To do.

The body shape information generation unit 706 may determine the skeleton of the user in the user image, and estimate the length of the body part from the determination result of the skeleton and the height information included in the user information. Further, the body shape information generation unit 706 discriminates the image of the user's body part in the user image, and estimates the length and thickness of the body part from the image of the part and the height information included in the user information. May be good. Further, when the user image is taken in a dedicated facility, the body shape information generation unit 706 may estimate the length and thickness of the body part by using the mark laid in the background. Further, the body shape information generation unit 706 may generate body shape information indicating the user's body shape from the user image and the user information by using the machine learning model.

The clothing selection unit 720 selects at least one clothing from the plurality of clothing based on the information on the plurality of clothing stored in the clothing database 744 and the body shape information indicating the user's body shape. For example, the garment selection unit 720 selects one or more garments that are closer to the size of the user's body part included in the body shape information. The storage control unit 722 associates at least one of the body shape information indicating the user's body shape, the information about at least one clothes selected by the clothes selection unit 720, the user information, and the user image with the user identification information in the user database. Store in 742.

The garment image acquisition unit 724 acquires a garment image, which is an image of at least one garment selected by the garment selection unit 720, from the garment database 744. The model image acquisition unit 726 acquires a model image, which is an image of a person different from the user, from the model database 746. The clothing image acquisition unit 724 acquires a clothing image which is an image of clothing of the same type as at least one clothing selected by the clothing selection unit 720 and of the same or different size, based on the body shape information indicating the body shape of the person. ..

The image generation unit 728 generates a user composite image which is an image of a user wearing at least one garment selected by the garment selection unit 720 based on the garment image and the user image. Specifically, the image generation unit 728 generates a user composite image in which the clothing image is synthesized in the area of the user's clothing included in the user image. The image generation unit 728 generates a model composite image which is an image of a person wearing at least one garment selected by the garment selection unit 720 based on the garment image and the model image. Specifically, the image generation unit 728 generates a model composite image in which the clothing image is combined with the clothing region of the person included in the model image.

The plan information generation unit 732 generates plan information indicating a plan for improving the user's body shape based on the body shape information indicating the user's body shape and the body shape information indicating the person's body shape. Planning information includes dietary menus, exercise methods, and strength training methods. The plan information generation unit 732 generates hairstyle information for proposing a user's hairstyle that matches at least one garment selected by the garment selection unit 720, based on the user composite image generated by the image generation unit 728. You can do it.

The plan information generation unit 732 may predict the future body shape of the user based on the body shape information indicating the body shape of the user. The plan information generation unit 732 may predict the future body type of the user based on the body type information and the genetic information of the user. For example, the body type may be one in which the body type is classified according to the part where more fat is likely to be attached. The plan information generation unit 732 may generate plan information based on at least one of the predicted future body shape and body type of the user.

The information providing unit 730 provides the consumer device 102 with at least one of the user composite image and the model image generated by the image generation unit 728. In addition, the information providing unit 730 provides the plan information generated by the plan information generating unit 732 to the consumer device 102. Further, the information providing unit 730 provides the consumer device 102 with the image of the garment and the price of the garment stored in the garment database 744. The information providing unit 730 may provide the hairstyle information generated by the planning information generating unit 732 to the consumer device 102. The information providing unit 730 may provide the consumer device 102 with the planning information based on the future body shape of the user generated by the planning information generating unit 732.

FIG. 8 shows an example of information stored in the user database 742. The user database 742 stores a telephone number, body type information, user information, user images, and proposal history.

The telephone number is an example of user identification information. The body shape information includes the size of each part of the user's body such as the size of the user's neck circumference, the size of the shoulder width, the size of the sleeve length, the size of the foot length, the size of the chest circumference, and the size of the abdominal circumference. The body shape information may further include dimensions relating to the thickness of the user's upper arm, thigh thickness, and calf thickness. User information includes information about height, weight, gender, age, and location of the user. The user information may include the genetic information of the user. The user image is an image of the user's body. The user image may be an image of the entire body of the user. The user image is at least one of an image taken by the user from the front, an image taken by the user from the back, an image taken by the user from the side, and an image taken with the user's arms outstretched. It may be there. The user image may be either a still image or a moving image. The proposal history includes clothing identification information for identifying clothing previously proposed to the user from the fashion proposal platform 600.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the functional configuration of the demand forecast platform 602. The demand forecast platform 602 includes a weather information acquisition unit 900, a survey result information acquisition unit 902, a sales performance information acquisition unit 904, an attention level information acquisition unit 906, a purchase history information acquisition unit 908, a manufacturing-related information acquisition unit 910, and user location information. It includes an acquisition unit 912, a demand forecast unit 914, and an information providing unit 916.

The weather information acquisition unit 900 acquires weather information indicating future weather. For example, the weather information acquisition unit 900 acquires at least one of a three-month seasonal forecast, a monthly weather forecast, a weekly weather forecast, and the next day's weather forecast from a weather forecast site on the Internet.

The survey result information acquisition unit 902 acquires survey result information indicating the survey result of the user's preference regarding clothing. The survey result information may include the results of the web questionnaire and the aggregated information of the questionnaire. The questionnaire may allow each of the plurality of clothes to choose whether to like, dislike or normal. The questionnaire may be conducted in such a way as to provide the user with a reward for the questionnaire.

The sales record information acquisition unit 904 acquires sales record information indicating the sales record of a plurality of clothes. The sales record information acquisition unit 904 may acquire the sales record information from the producer device 110 via the communication network 112. The sales record information is the sales record of clothes and other statistical information for each producer or distributor.

The attention level information acquisition unit 906 acquires attention level information indicating the attention level of a plurality of clothes. The attention level information is, for example, an index value indicating that the product has been taken up or featured in media such as magazines, newspapers, television programs, presentations such as fashion shows, or exhibitions. In addition, the attention level information may be an index value indicating the number featured or featured in the media, presentation, or exhibition.

The purchase history information acquisition unit 908 acquires purchase history information indicating the purchase history of the user's clothes. The purchase history includes the purchase position of the garment. The purchasing position may be the physical position of the physical store or the logical position of the EC site. The purchase history information acquisition unit 908 may acquire the purchase history of the user at the actual store from the actual store where the store device 108 is installed through the communication network 112.

The manufacturing-related information acquisition unit 910 acquires manufacturing-related information including raw material costs or processing costs. The manufacturing-related information acquisition unit 910 acquires manufacturing-related information from the garment manufacturer through the communication network 112.

The user position information acquisition unit 912 acquires user position information indicating the user's position. The user position information acquisition unit 912 acquires the position information included in the user information stored in the user database 742 as the user position information.

The demand forecasting unit 914 forecasts the future demand for a plurality of clothes based on at least one of weather information, survey result information, sales performance information, attention level information, purchase history information, and manufacturing-related information. The demand forecasting unit 914 may predict the future demand for a plurality of clothes by using a conversion formula that converts the aggregated result of the questionnaire, which is the survey result information, into the demand amount. The conversion formula may be prepared for each type of questionnaire, or may be prepared for each age or generation of consumers. The demand forecasting unit 914 may predict the future demand of a plurality of clothes by using a conversion formula that converts an index value which is attention level information into a demand amount. The conversion formula may be prepared for each type of media, presentation, or exhibition.

The demand forecasting unit 914 may predict the future importance of a plurality of clothes for each market such as a region or a generation by using the purchasing position included in the purchasing history information or the user's position indicated by the user position information. The demand forecasting unit 914 may forecast the future demand of a plurality of clothes based on the information about at least one garment provided by the information providing unit 730 of the fashion proposal platform 600.

The demand forecasting unit 914 may use a machine learning model to forecast the future demand for a plurality of garments. In addition, the demand forecasting unit 914 may forecast the future demand of a plurality of clothes on a daily basis.

The information providing unit 916 provides the producer device 110 with information on the future demand for the plurality of garments. The information providing unit 916 may provide the user information and the user image stored in the user database 742 to the producer device 110.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the functional configuration of the store device 108. The store device 108 includes an imaging unit 1000, an imaging control unit 1002, a body shape information generation unit 1006, a feature information generation unit 1007, a clothing selection unit 1020, a clothing image acquisition unit 1024, an image generation unit 1028, a display control unit 1029, and a display unit 1031. , User database 1042, clothes database 1044, clothes evaluation database 1048, operation input unit 1050, and user identification unit 1052. The store device 108 may be a smart mirror.

The body shape information generation unit 1006, the feature information generation unit 1007, the clothing selection unit 1020, the clothing image acquisition unit 1024, and the image generation unit 1028 may be provided at positions different from those of the store device 108. For example, the store device 108 includes the body shape information generation unit 706, the clothes selection unit 720, the clothes image acquisition unit 724, and the image generation unit 728 included in the fashion platform 104, the body shape information generation unit 1006, the feature information generation unit 1007, and the clothes selection. It may be used as a unit 1020, a clothing image acquisition unit 1024, and an image generation unit 1028. The body shape information generation unit 1006, the clothes selection unit 1020, the clothes image acquisition unit 1024, and the image generation unit 1028 are each the body shape information generation unit 706, the clothes selection unit 720, the clothes image acquisition unit 724, and the image generation unit 728. It may have the same function as. Further, the user database 1042 may store the same information as the information stored in the user database 742. The garment database 1044 may store information similar to the information stored in the garment database and 744.

The image pickup control unit 1002 causes the image pickup unit 1000 to take a user image which is an image including the user's body existing in front of the display surface of the display unit 1031. The body shape information generation unit 1006 generates body shape information indicating the user's body shape based on the user image. The feature information generation unit 1007 generates feature information indicating features other than the user's body shape based on the user image. Features other than the user's body shape may be the user's hairstyle, mood, and estimated age. The store device 108 may provide at least one of the user image, body shape information and feature information to the fashion platform 104 and the producer device 110. The user database 1042 may further store user feature information.

The clothing selection unit 1020 selects at least one clothing from the plurality of clothing based on the information on the plurality of clothing and the body shape information. The clothing selection unit 1020 may select at least one clothing from the plurality of clothing based on the information regarding the plurality of clothing, the body shape information, and the characteristic information. The garment selection unit 1020 may select at least one garment from a plurality of garments suitable for the current season by referring to the seasonal information stored in the garment database 1044 in association with the garment. The garment selection unit 1020 may select at least one garment that can be sold by referring to the garment inventory information stored in the garment database 1044. The garment image acquisition unit 1024 acquires a garment image which is an image of at least one garment selected by the garment selection unit 1020.

In another example, the garment selection unit 1020 selects at least one garment combination from a plurality of garment combinations based on information about the plurality of garments and body shape information. The garment selection unit 1020 refers to a database containing a plurality of garment combinations coordinated by a celebrity or stylist. The garment selection unit 1020 selects at least one garment combination from the plurality of garment combinations included in the inventory information stored in the garment database 1044 based on the coordinated plurality of garment combinations. The garment image acquisition unit 1024 acquires a garment image which is an image of a plurality of garments included in a plurality of garment combinations selected by the garment selection unit 1020.

The image generation unit 1028 generates a user composite image which is an image of a user wearing at least one garment selected by the garment selection unit 1020 based on the garment image and the user image. Specifically, the image generation unit 1028 generates a user composite image in which the clothing image is synthesized in the area of the user's clothing included in the user image. The image generation unit 1028 may generate a plurality of user-combined images in which the clothes image is combined with the area of the user's clothes included in the user image for each combination of the plurality of clothes.

The display control unit 1029 causes the display unit 1031 to display the user composite image. The display control unit 1029 causes the display unit 1031 to sequentially display a plurality of user composite images. Evaluation values are set in advance for each of a plurality of clothing combinations. The evaluation value is stored in the garment evaluation database 1048. The display control unit 1029 refers to the evaluation values stored in the clothing evaluation database 1048, and causes the display unit 1031 to display a plurality of user composite images in the order according to the evaluation values. The display control unit 1029 acquires the user identification information and the user name corresponding to the user specified by the user identification unit 1052 from the user database 1042. The display control unit 1029 causes the display unit 1031 to display the acquired user identification information and the user name. The display control unit 1029 may display the price of the clothes stored in the clothes database 1044 on the display unit 1031.

The user identification unit 1052 identifies the user based on the user identification information input to the operation input unit 1050 by the user and the user identification information stored in the user database 1042. The user identification unit 1052 may identify the user by performing face authentication of the user based on the user image captured by the image pickup unit 1000 and the user image stored in the user database 1042. The display control unit 1029 may display the user name and the user identification information associated with the specified user on the display unit 1031.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the display contents displayed on the display unit 1031. On the display unit 1031, a measurement button 1104, a transmission button 1105, a user composite image 1108, a left scroll button 1110, a right scroll button 1112, a pointer 1114, and a purchase price 1116 are displayed. At least one of the user name 1100 and the user identification information 1102 may be displayed on the display unit 1031. Instead of displaying the user composite image 1108 on the initial screen of the display unit 1031, an image of the user existing in front of the display surface of the display unit 1031 may be displayed by the imaging unit 1000. The display control unit 1029 may acquire the number of the shelf on which the clothes included in the user composite image are actually displayed in the store from the clothes database 1044. The display control unit 1029 may display the acquired shelf number on the display unit 1031.

The measurement button 1104, the transmit button 1105, the left scroll button 1110, and the right scroll button 1112 may be touch panel type buttons. When the user touches each button, the action corresponding to each button is executed. The operation corresponding to each button may be executed by the user operating the mouse and clicking the mouse with the pointer 1114 aligned on each button.

When the measurement button 1104 is selected, the body shape information generation unit 1006 generates body shape information based on the user image. The feature information generation unit 1007 may generate feature information based on the user image. Further, after processing by the clothing selection unit 1020, the clothing image acquisition unit 1024, and the image generation unit 1028 shown in FIG. 10, the display unit 1031 displays the generated user composite image 1108.

When the send button 1105 is selected, the store device 108 transmits the user composite image 1108 and the purchase price 1116 displayed on the display unit 1031 to the user's smartphone. A smartphone is an example of a consumer device 102. When the left scroll button 1110 or the right scroll button 1112 is selected, the display control unit 1029 causes the display unit 1031 to execute a process of scrolling the user composite image 1108 to the left or right, and the next recommended combination of clothes. The combined user composite image 1108 is displayed on the display unit 1031. When the user's credit card information is registered in the user database 1042 as the member information of the store, the display control unit 1029 may display the purchase button on the display unit 1031. When the purchase button is selected, the store device 108 may perform accounting for the clothes displayed on the display unit 1031.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the computer 1200 that functions as the consumer device 102. The computer 1200 according to the present embodiment includes a SoC1210, a main memory 1222, a flash memory 1224, an antenna 1232, an antenna 1234, a display 1240, a microphone 1242, a speaker 1244, a camera 1246, a USB port 1252, and a card slot 1254.

The SoC1210 operates based on the programs stored in the main memory 1222 and the flash memory 1224, and controls each part. The antenna 1232 is a so-called cellular antenna. The antenna 1234 is a so-called WiFi (registered trademark) antenna. The SoC1210 may realize various communication functions by using the antenna 1232 and the antenna 1234. The SoC1210 may receive, for example, a program used by the SoC1210 using the antenna 1232 or the antenna 1234 and store it in the flash memory 1224.

The SoC1210 may realize various display functions by using the display 1240. The SoC1210 may realize various voice input functions by using the microphone 1242. The SoC1210 may realize various audio output functions by using the speaker 1244. The SoC1210 may realize various shooting functions by using the camera 1246.

The USB port 1252 provides a USB connection. The card slot 1254 realizes connection with various cards such as an SD card. The SoC1210 may receive the program used by the SoC1210 from the device or memory connected to the USB port 1252 and the card connected to the card slot 1254 and store it in the flash memory 1224.

A program installed on the computer 1200 that causes the computer 1200 to function as the consumer device 102 may act on the SoC1210 or the like to cause the computer 1200 to function as each part of the consumer device 102. When the information processing described in these programs is read into the computer 1200, the image pickup unit 500, the operation input unit 502, and the display, which are specific means in which the software and the various hardware resources described above cooperate with each other, are displayed. It functions as a unit 504, a user image acquisition unit 506, a user information acquisition unit 508, a user identification information acquisition unit 510, a display control unit 512, and a communication unit 514. Then, by realizing the calculation or processing of information according to the purpose of use of the computer 1200 in the present embodiment by these specific means, a unique consumer device 102 according to the purpose of use is constructed.

FIG. 13 schematically shows an example of a computer 1300 that functions as a fashion platform 104. The computer 1300 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 1310 and a CPU peripheral portion having a RAM 1330 connected to each other by a host controller 1392, a ROM 1320 connected to the host controller 1392 by an input / output controller 1394, a communication I / F 1340, and a hard disk drive. It includes an input / output unit having 1350 and an input / output chip 1380. The computer 1300 may include a GPU or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) instead of the CPU 1310.

The CPU 1310 operates based on the programs stored in the ROM 1320 and the RAM 1330, and controls each part. The communication I / F 1340 communicates with another device via the communication network 112 by wire or wirelessly. Further, the communication I / F 1340 functions as hardware for performing communication. The hard disk drive 1350 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1310.

The ROM 1320 stores a boot program executed by the computer 1300 at startup, a program depending on the hardware of the computer 1300, and the like. The input / output chip 1380 connects various input / output devices to the input / output controller 1394 via, for example, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

The program provided to the hard disk drive 1350 via the RAM 1330 is stored in a recording medium such as an IC card and provided by the user. The program is read from the recording medium, installed in the hard disk drive 1350 via the RAM 1330, and executed in the CPU 1310.

A program installed on the computer 1300 that causes the computer 1300 to function as the fashion platform 104 may act on the CPU 1310 or the like to cause the computer 1300 to function as each part of the fashion platform 104. When the information processing described in these programs is read into the computer 1300, the user identification information acquisition unit 700, which is a specific means in which the software and the various hardware resources described above cooperate with each other, acquires user information. Unit 702, user image acquisition unit 704, body shape information generation unit 706, clothing selection unit 720, storage control unit 722, clothing image acquisition unit 724, model image acquisition unit 726, image generation unit 728, information provision unit 730, program information generation It functions as a unit 732, a user database 742, a garment database 744, and a model database 746. Further, the information processing described in these programs is read into the computer 1300, and the weather information acquisition unit 900, which is a concrete means in which the software and the various hardware resources described above cooperate with each other, survey results. Information acquisition unit 902, sales performance information acquisition unit 904, attention level information acquisition unit 906, purchase history information acquisition unit 908, manufacturing-related information acquisition unit 910, user position information acquisition unit 912, demand forecasting unit 914, and information provision unit 916. Functions as. Then, by realizing the calculation or processing of information according to the purpose of use of the computer 1300 in the present embodiment by these specific means, a unique fashion platform 104 according to the purpose of use is constructed.

FIG. 14 schematically shows an example of a computer 1400 that functions as a store device 108. The computer 1400 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU peripheral portion having a CPU 1410, a RAM 1430, and a graphic controller 1485 connected to each other by a host controller 1492, a ROM 1420 connected to the host controller 1492 by an input / output controller 1494, and communication I /. It includes an input / output unit having an F1440, a hard disk drive 1450, a camera 1460, and an input / output chip 1480. The computer 1400 may include a GPU or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) instead of the CPU 1410.

The CPU 1410 operates based on the programs stored in the ROM 1420 and the RAM 1430, and controls each part. The graphic controller 1485 acquires the image data generated by the CPU 1410 or the like on the frame buffer provided in the RAM 1430 and displays it on the display 1490. The display 1490 may be an example of the display unit 1031. Instead, the graphic controller 1485 may internally include a frame buffer for storing image data generated by the CPU 1410 or the like.

The communication I / F 1440 communicates with another device via the communication network 112 by wire or wirelessly. Further, the communication I / F 1440 functions as hardware for performing communication. The hard disk drive 1450 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1410.

The ROM 1420 stores a boot program executed by the computer 1400 at startup, a program depending on the hardware of the computer 1400, and the like. The input / output chip 1480 connects various input / output devices to the input / output controller 1494 via, for example, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

The program provided to the hard disk drive 1450 via the RAM 1430 is stored in a recording medium such as an IC card and provided by the user. The program is read from the recording medium, installed in the hard disk drive 1450 via the RAM 1430, and executed in the CPU 1410.

A program installed on the computer 1400 that causes the computer 1400 to function as the store device 108 may act on the CPU 1410 or the like to cause the computer 1400 to function as each part of the store device 108. When the information processing described in these programs is read into the computer 1400, the image pickup unit 1000, the image pickup control unit 1002, and the body shape, which are specific means in which the software and the various hardware resources described above cooperate with each other. Information generation unit 1006, feature information generation unit 1007, clothing selection unit 1020, clothing image acquisition unit 1024, image generation unit 1028, display control unit 1029, display unit 1031, user database 1042, clothing database 1044, clothing evaluation database 1048, operation It functions as an input unit 1050 and a user identification unit 1052. Then, by realizing the calculation or processing of information according to the purpose of use of the computer 1400 in the present embodiment by these specific means, a unique store device 108 according to the purpose of use is constructed.

Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the description of the claims that the form with such changes or improvements may be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

The execution order of each process such as operation, procedure, step, and step in the device, system, program, and method shown in the claims, the specification, and the drawing is particularly "before" and "prior to". It should be noted that it can be realized in any order unless the output of the previous process is used in the subsequent process. Even if the scope of claims, the specification, and the operation flow in the drawings are explained using "first", "next", etc. for convenience, it means that it is essential to carry out in this order. It's not a thing.

100 Information provision system, 102 Consumer device, 104 Fashion platform, 106 Database, 108 Store device, 110 Producer device, 112 Communication network, 310 database, 500 Imaging unit, 502 Operation input unit, 504 display unit, 506 User image acquisition 508 User information acquisition unit, 510 User identification information acquisition unit, 512 Display control unit, 514 communication unit, 516 transmission unit, 518 reception unit, 600 fashion proposal platform, 602 demand forecast platform, 700 user identification information acquisition unit, 702 User information acquisition unit, 704 user image acquisition unit, 706 body shape information generation unit, 708 part size derivation part, 710 wrinkle shape identification part, 712 derivation part determination part, 714 part direction identification part, 716 clothes type identification part, 718 clothes size Specific unit, 720 clothing selection unit, 722 storage control unit, 724 clothing image acquisition unit, 726 model image acquisition unit, 728 image generation unit, 730 information provision unit, 732 plan information generation unit, 742 user database, 744 clothing database, 746 Model database, 900 weather information acquisition department, 902 survey result information acquisition department, 904 sales performance information acquisition department, 906 attention level information acquisition department, 908 purchase history information acquisition department, 910 manufacturing-related information acquisition department, 912 user location information acquisition department , 914 Demand Forecasting Unit, 916 Information Providing Unit, 1000 Imaging Unit, 1002 Imaging Control Unit, 1006 Body Type Information Generation Unit, 1007 Feature Information Generation Unit, 1020 Clothing Selection Unit, 1024 Clothing Image Acquisition Unit, 1028 Image Generation Unit, 1029 Display Control unit, 1031 display unit, 1042 user database, 1044 garment database, 1048 garment evaluation database, 1050 operation input unit, 1052 user identification unit, 1100 user name, 1102 user identification information, 1104 measurement button, 1105 transmission button, 1108 user composition Image 1110 Left Scroll Button, 1112 Right Scroll Button, 1114 Pointer, 1116 Purchase Price, 1200 Computer, 1210 SoC, 1222 Main Memory, 1224 Flash Memo 1232 antenna, 1234 antenna, 1240 display, 1242 microphone, 1244 speaker, 1246 camera, 1252 USB port, 1254 card slot, 1300 computer, 1310 CPU, 1320 ROM, 1330 RAM, 1340 communication I / F, 1350 hard disk drive, 1380 I / O Chip, 1392 Host Controller, 1394 I / O Controller, 1400 Computer, 1410 CPU, 1420 ROM, 1430 RAM, 1440 Communication I / F, 1450 Hard Disk Drive, 1460 Camera, 1485 Graphic Controller, 1490 Display, 1492 Host Controller, 1494 I / O controller

Claims (8)

The memory to store the program and
The processor that executes the program and
An information providing device including a communication interface that communicates with other devices via a communication network.
When the processor executes the program,
A weather information acquisition unit that continuously acquires weather information indicating future weather from a weather forecast site on the Internet via the communication interface.
A sales record information acquisition unit that acquires the sales record information from a producer device that manages a database that stores sales record information indicating the sales record of a plurality of clothes via the communication interface.
A user location information acquisition unit that acquires the user location information from a user database that stores user location information indicating the locations of a plurality of users, and
A clothing selection unit that selects at least one clothing from the plurality of clothing based on information on the plurality of clothing stored in the clothing database and body shape information indicating the user's body shape.
An information providing unit that provides the user with information about the clothes selected by the clothing selection unit via the communication interface.
A demand forecasting unit that predicts future demand for the plurality of clothes for each region based on the weather information, the sales performance information, the user position information of a plurality of users, and information on clothes provided to the plurality of users. And realized,
The information providing unit is an information providing device that provides information on future demand for the plurality of clothes to the producer device via the communication interface. When the processor executes the program,
Through the communication interface, a survey result information acquisition unit that acquires survey result information indicating the survey results of user preferences regarding clothing from a questionnaire site on the Internet has been further realized.
The demand forecasting unit predicts the future demand of the plurality of clothes based on the survey result information.
The information providing device according to claim 1. When the processor executes the program,
Further realized is an attention level information acquisition unit that acquires attention level information indicating the attention level of the plurality of clothes.
The demand forecasting unit predicts the future demand of the plurality of clothes based on the attention level information.
The information providing device according to claim 1 or 2. When the processor executes the program,
A survey result information acquisition unit that acquires survey result information indicating the survey results of user preferences regarding clothing from a questionnaire site on the Internet via the communication interface.
With the sales record information acquisition department
Further, the attention level information acquisition unit that acquires the attention level information indicating the attention level of the plurality of clothes is further realized.
The demand forecasting unit forecasts future demand for the plurality of clothes based on the survey result information, the sales performance information, and the attention level information.
The information providing device according to claim 1. When the processor executes the program,
Further realized is a purchase history information acquisition unit that acquires purchase history information indicating the purchase history of the user's clothes from the store device of the store that sells clothes via the communication interface.
The demand forecasting unit predicts future demand for the plurality of clothes based on the purchase history information.
The information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. When the processor executes the program,
A user image acquisition unit that acquires a user image, which is an image including the user's body, from a consumer device used by the user via the communication interface.
A body shape information generation unit that generates body shape information indicating the user's body shape based on the user image is further realized.
The information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The demand forecasting unit forecasts the future demand of the plurality of clothes on a daily basis.
Information providing device according to any one of claims 1 or al 6. The memory to store the program and
The processor that executes the program and
A method realized by an information providing device including a communication interface for communicating with another device via a communication network.
A stage in which the information providing device continuously acquires weather information indicating future weather from a weather forecast site on the Internet via the communication interface.
A stage in which the information providing device acquires the sales record information from a producer device that manages a database for storing sales record information indicating the sales record of a plurality of clothes via the communication interface.
A stage in which the information providing device acquires the user position information from a user database that stores user position information indicating the positions of a plurality of users.
A step in which the information providing device selects at least one garment from the plurality of garments based on the information on the plurality of garments stored in the garment database and the body shape information indicating the user's body shape.
A step in which the information providing device provides the user with information about the selected clothing via the communication interface.
The future demand for the plurality of clothes for each region based on the weather information, the sales performance information, the user position information of the plurality of users, and the information on the clothes provided to the plurality of users by the information providing device. And the stage of predicting
A method comprising the step of providing the information providing device with information about the future demand of the plurality of garments to the producer device via the communication interface.

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