Method and system for simulating superimposition of a non-linearly stretchable object upon a base object using representative images

1. A method of superimposing an object image onto a base image in a display screen of a communication device, the images being planar, the method comprising:

scanning an encoded indicium associated with the object image;

accessing and uploading a universal resource locator (URL) associated with the object image, the object image including a plurality of object image critical points;

accessing the base image at the communication device, the base image including a plurality of base image critical points respectively corresponding to the object image critical points;

re-mapping the object image via global transformation consisting of:

(i) performing a regional two-dimensional linear re-mapping based on a first set of object image critical points, said pre-defined mask object region corresponding to the plurality of base image critical points; and

(ii) performing a plurality of local vector-based non-linear image transformations based on a pair of coordinates defining a vector obtained from a second set of object image critical points and the plurality of base image critical points;

such that the re-mapped object image critical points coincide with the respective base image critical points; and

superimposing the re-mapped object image onto the base image for display at the display screen.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication device comprises a mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication device comprises an internet-enabled kiosk.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication device comprises a computer coupled with a webcam.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the encoded indicium comprises a quick response (QR) code.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the encoded indicium comprises a barcode.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the object image comprises a digital image of an article of clothing.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the base image comprises a digital photograph image of at least a portion of a human body profile.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein superimposing the re-mapped object image onto the base image comprises assigning respective red-green-blue (RGB) values of the critical points of the object image to corresponding critical points of the body profile image.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the re-mapping the object image via global transformation of coordinates comprises:

re-arranging at least four key points of the object image to coincide with a respective at least four of key points of the object image; and

stretching the object image in successive steps to align an additional set of object image key points to coincide with a respective additional set of base image key points.

11. A computer system comprising a non-transitory computer readable memory, the memory having instructions stored thereon which when executed, cause the computer to implement the steps of claim 1 .

12. A communication device for creating and displaying an object image superimposed onto a base image in a display screen, the communication device comprising:

a code scanner module for scanning an encoded indicium associated with the object image;

a base image database having the base image, the base image including a plurality of base image critical points;

a coordinate transformation module for re-mapping the object image via global transformation of coordinates associated with a plurality of object image critical points, the object image critical points respectively corresponding to the base image critical points, the image transformation consisting of:

(i) performing a regional two-dimensional linear re-mapping based on a first set of object image critical points, said region comprised of a pre-defined mask object region, said pre-defined mask object region corresponding to the plurality of base image critical points; and

(ii) performing a plurality of local vector-based non-linear image transformations based on a pair of coordinates defining a vector obtained from a second set of object image critical points and the plurality of base image critical points;

such that the re-mapped object image critical points coincide with the respective base image critical points, the object image being accessed and uploaded via a universal resource locator (URL) associated therewith; and

a superimposition module for superimposing the re-mapped object image onto the base image for display at the display screen.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the communication device comprises a mobile communication device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the communication device comprises a communication network-accessible computer coupled with a webcam.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the encoded indicium comprises a quick response (QR) code.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the encoded indicium comprises a barcode.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the object image comprises a digital image of an article of clothing.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the base image comprises a digital photograph image of at least a portion of a human body profile.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the superimposition module superimposes the re-mapped object image onto the base image by assigning respective red-green-blue (RGB) values of the critical points of the object image to corresponding critical points of the body profile image.