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US 9,412,203 B1Granted
Systems and methods for generating virtual item displays
AssigneeCarvana, LLC
InventorsErnest C. Garcia, III, Nicole Behrens, Adam Swofford, William Adams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable virtual displays of an item, such as vehicle, to be generated. In an embodiment, a plurality of images of an item may be captured and annotation may be provided to one or more of the images. In an embodiment, the plurality of images may be displayed, and the transition between each of the plurality of images may be an animated process. In an embodiment, an item imaging system may comprise a structure including one or more cameras and one or more lights, and the item imaging system may be configured to automate at least a portion of the process for capturing the plurality of images of an item.
Claims15
An item imaging system, comprising:
- a roundhouse, comprising:
- an outer structure, wherein the outer structure is a dome;
- a turntable centered within the outer structure;
- fifty-seven lights;
- a first camera mounted in the dome centered above the turntable, a second camera mounted in a lower portion of the dome, and a third camera mounted in a portion of the dome between the first and second cameras;
- and
- a raised barrier between the turntable and the fifty-seven lights configured to screen the fifty-seven lights from the first camera, the second camera, and the third camera;
- and
- a processor connected to the first camera, second camera, third camera, and the turntable, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
- controlling the fifty-seven lights and the turntable to rotate an item on the turntable and illuminate the item as one or more of the three cameras capture one or more images of the item;
- and
- sending the one or more images to a server to be displayed in a virtual display of the item,
- wherein the fifty-seven lights are configured to indirectly illuminate the item, and
- wherein each of the first camera, second camera, and third camera is configured to capture images of the item from a different angle.
11 more elements
A method for generating a virtual display of an item, comprising:
- receiving, in a server, a series of images of an exterior of the item from a roundhouse;
- receiving, in the server, a series of images of an interior of the item from a hot box;
- receiving, in the server, a series of annotations of the images of the exterior of the item and the images of the interior of the item;
- sending, from the server, the series of annotations of the images, the images of the exterior of the item, and the images of the interior of the item in a virtual display displayed at a consumer's computing device;
- receiving, in the server, a selection of a next annotation of the series of annotations of the images;
- and
- sending, from the server, an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images at the consumer's computing device in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations,
- wherein the roundhouse comprises:
- an outer structure, wherein the outer structure is a dome;
- a turntable centered within the outer structure;
- fifty-seven lights configured to indirectly illuminate the item;
- a first camera mounted in the dome centered above the turntable, a second camera mounted in a lower portion of the dome, and a third camera mounted in a portion of the dome between the first and second cameras;
- and
- a raised barrier between the turntable and the fifty-seven lights configured to screen the fifty-seven lights from the first camera, the second camera, and the third camera, wherein each of the first camera, second camera, and third camera is configured to capture images of the item from a different angle.
11 more elements
A system for hosting a virtual display of an item, comprising:
- a server, comprising:
- a network interface;
- and
- a processor connected to the network interface, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a series of images of an exterior of the item from a roundhouse via the network interface;
- receiving a series of images of an interior of the item from a hot box via the network interface;
- receiving a series of annotations of the images of the exterior of the item and the images of the interior of the item via the network interface;
- sending, via the network interface, the series of annotations of the images, the images of the exterior of the item, and the images of the interior of the item to a consumer's computing device for display in a virtual display;
- receiving, via the network interface, a selection of a next annotation of the series of annotations of the images;
- and
- sending, via the network interface, an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images at the consumer's computing device in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations,
- wherein the system further comprises the roundhouse comprising:
- an outer structure, wherein the outer structure is a dome;
- a turntable centered within the outer structure;
- fifty-seven lights configured to indirectly illuminate the item;
- a first camera mounted in the dome centered above the turntable, a second camera mounted in a lower portion of the dome, and a third camera mounted in a portion of the dome between the first and second cameras;
- and
- a raised barrier between the turntable and the fifty-seven lights configured to screen the fifty-seven lights from the first camera, the second camera, and the third camera, wherein each of the first camera, second camera, and third camera is configured to capture images of the item from a different angle.
15 more elements
A system for hosting a virtual display of an item, comprising:
- a server, comprising:
- means for receiving a series of images of an exterior of the item from a roundhouse;
- means for receiving a series of images of an interior of the item from a hot box;
- means for receiving a series of annotations of the images of the exterior of the item and the images of the interior of the item via the network interface;
- means for sending the series of annotations of the images, the images of the exterior of the item, and the images of the interior of the item to a consumer's computing device for display in a virtual display;
- means for receiving a selection of a next annotation of the series of annotations of the images;
- and
- means for sending an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images at the consumer's computing device in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations,
- wherein the system further comprises the roundhouse comprising:
- an outer structure, wherein the outer structure is a dome;
- a turntable centered within the outer structure;
- fifty-seven lights configured to indirectly illuminate the item;
- a first camera mounted in the dome centered above the turntable, a second camera mounted in a lower portion of the dome, and a third camera mounted in a portion of the dome between the first and second cameras;
- and
- a raised barrier between the turntable and the fifty-seven lights configured to screen the fifty-seven lights from the first camera, the second camera, and the third camera, wherein each of the first camera, second camera, and third camera is configured to capture images of the item from a different angle.
12 more elements
A non-transitory processor readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a series of images of an exterior of the item from a roundhouse;
- receiving a series of images of an interior of the item from a hot box;
- receiving a series of annotations of the images of the exterior of the item and the images of the interior of the item;
- sending the series of annotations of the images, the images of the exterior of the item, and the images of the interior of the item to a consumer's computing device for display in a virtual display;
- receiving a selection of a next annotation of the series of annotations of the images;
- and
- sending an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images at the consumer's computing device in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations,
- wherein the roundhouse comprises:
- an outer structure, wherein the outer structure is a dome;
- a turntable centered within the outer structure;
- fifty-seven lights configured to indirectly illuminate the item;
- a first camera mounted in the dome centered above the turntable, a second camera mounted in a lower portion of the dome, and a third camera mounted in a portion of the dome between the first and second cameras;
- and
- a raised barrier between the turntable and the fifty-seven lights configured to screen the fifty-seven lights from the first camera, the second camera, and the third camera, wherein each of the first camera, second camera, and third camera is configured to capture images of the item from a different angle.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.