Virtual catalog and product presentation method and apparatus

A method for presenting a plurality of product images for review by a user on a computer including a display, a memory, and an input device, the product images including a selected background image, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying a plurality of product images on the display;
• providing product image review boxes on the display for a side-by-side comparison of selected product images;
• receiving a user input selecting a product image from the plurality of product images displayed on the display;
• integrating the selected product image with a selected background image to provide a customized product image;
• and
• displaying the customized product image in one of the review boxes for a side-by-side comparison with at least one other selected product image.

A method for displaying a product image for review by a user on a computer including a display, a memory, and an input device, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing a plurality of product images in the memory of the computer;
• storing a plurality of background images in the memory of the computer;
• selecting one of the background images to be displayed on the display with each product image;
• receiving a user input to display a selected product image;
• and
• integrating the selected product image with the selected background image on the display to provide a customized product image on the display.

An apparatus for presenting a plurality of product images including a selected background image for review by a user, the apparatus comprising:

• a computer including a display, a memory, and an input device;
• means for displaying a menu including a plurality of available vendors on the display;
• means for receiving a user input selecting one of the vendors;
• means for displaying a product category menu on the display for products available from a selected vendor;
• means for receiving a user input selecting one of the product categories from the product category menu;
• means for displaying a plurality of product images on the display from the selected product category;
• means for providing at least two product image review boxes on the display for a side-by-side comparison of selected product images;
• means for receiving a user input selecting a product image from the plurality of product images displayed on the display;
• means for integrating the selected product image with a selected background image to provide a customized product image;
• and
• means for displaying the customized product image in one of the display boxes for a side-by-side comparison with at least one other selected product image.

An apparatus for presenting a plurality of product images including a selected background image for review by a user, the apparatus comprising:

• a computer including a display, a memory, and an input device;
• means for displaying a plurality of product images on the display;
• means for providing product image review boxes on the display for a side-by-side comparison of selected product images;
• means for receiving a user input selecting a product image from the plurality of product images displayed on the display;
• means for integrating the selected product image with a selected background image to provide a customized product image;
• and
• means for displaying the customized product image in one of the review boxes for a side-by-side comparison with at least one other selected product image.

An apparatus for displaying a product image for review by a user, the apparatus comprising:

• a computer including a display, a memory, and an input device;
• means for storing a plurality of product images in the memory of the computer;
• means for storing a plurality of background images in the memory of the computer;
• means for selecting one of the background images to be displayed on the display with each product image;
• means for receiving a user input to display a selected product image;
• and
• means for integrating the selected product image with the selected background image on the display to provide a customized product image on the display.