Abstract: Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated fashion. For example, information describing a shoe part may be determined, such as an identification, an orientation, a color, a surface topography, an alignment, a size, etc. Based on the information describing the shoe part, automated shoe-manufacturing apparatuses may be instructed to apply various shoe-manufacturing processes to the shoe part, such as a pickup and placement of the shoe part with a pickup tool.

Abstract: System and method for rotational video-like display of images of a gemstone in a viewer having a pan feature. In response to a pan command specifying a direction of rotation for a displayed gemstone, a computing system receives multiple datasets of images of the gemstone. Each dataset contains multiple images of the gemstone, with each image captured from a different angular perspective as compared to other images in the dataset. The different perspective can be captured, for example, around an axis of rotation that depicts the item at a particular angle of view. Once multiple images are received in a dataset, the images are progressively displayed in a viewer by transitioning between individual images in a certain order based on the received pan command. The pan command can specify both a direction and a magnitude of rotation, such as by clicking and dragging or swiping on a touchscreen.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for facilitating comparison of gemstones having multiple attributes that characterize the gemstones. A facilitated comparison system receives from a user a selection of a gemstone in a collection of the gemstones. Each gemstone in the collection is associated with a selling index indicating a probability of the gemstone being bought by a customer. For each of a predetermined set of the attributes, the system determines one or more comparable ranges. The system identifies alternate gemstones to recommend using the comparable ranges for the attributes and the selling indices of the gemstones. The system displays to the user the selected gemstone and one or more of the alternate gemstones for comparison.

Abstract: A system and method for progressively displaying images of an item to create a rotational video-like display. The displayed images are contained within multiple datasets that are received by a computing device. Each received dataset contains multiple images of the same item, with each image captured of the item from a different perspective as compared to the other images in the dataset. The different perspective can be captured, for example, around an axis of rotation that reflects the item at a particular angle of view. Once multiple images are received in a dataset, the images are progressively displayed to a user in a viewer by transitioning between individual images in a certain order so as to create the video-like display. The transitioning between individual images, including the speed of transition and selection of the next image to be displayed, can be controlled by the user.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a user interface to facilitate the purchase of unique items by presenting past purchase information of unique items to consumers. The user interface is a two-dimensional chart, with each axis of the chart representing a variation of values of an attribute that characterize an item that was previously sold. The system populates the chart with sales data that reflects the past sales of items having attribute values that fall within the chart. By visually presenting to consumers the distribution of past purchases, the consumer is better able to assess whether an item that they are purchasing falls within “typical” purchase behavior of other consumers. In some embodiments, the system allows a user to select a region of the chart and initiate a search for items that are available for purchase that satisfy the attribute values that are associated with the selected region.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to and the presentation thereof in a computer interface. Particularly, some embodiments facilitate the selection of combinations by a user. The combination may be, e.g., an engagement and a wedding ring. In some embodiments, an event-triggering architecture in the interface facilitates the selective updating of interface elements in a manner paralleling the desired process path traversed by the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for searching through databases of items are described. In some cases, the system presents a display of searched items. The system may present a customizable interface of displayed search results, where a range of values displayed may be customizable. Further, the displayed attributes of searched items may be customizable. Other search and display functions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a user interface to facilitate the purchase of unique items by presenting past purchase information of unique items to consumers. The user interface is a two-dimensional chart, with each axis of the chart representing a variation of values of an attribute that characterize an item that was previously sold. The system populates the chart with sales data that reflects the past sales of items having attribute values that fall within the chart. By visually presenting to consumers the distribution of past purchases, the consumer is better able to assess whether an item that they are purchasing falls within “typical” purchase behavior of other consumers. In some embodiments, the system allows a user to select a region of the chart and initiate a search for items that are available for purchase that satisfy the attribute values that are associated with the selected region.