Marxent scores patent win

The U.S. Patent & Trademark office has given the go-ahead to a patent application from Marxent, a St. Petersburg technology company with a three-dimensional visualization platform for furniture and home improvement retailers.

The move protects Marxent’s intellectual property, a news release said.

The patent office issued a “notice of allowance” to Marxent. A notice of allowance means that it appears the applicant is entitled to a patent provided fees are paid, according to the patent office.

Marxent, with a corporate office in downtown St. Petersburg and another office in Dayton, Ohio, creates augmented and virtual reality environments so customers can see how furniture, kitchen cabinets and other products they are considering buying would look in the room in which they would be placed.

The patent-protected intellectual property includes the placement and configuration of 3D objects and assemblies in 3D space for making it easier to buy online or in-store. It forms the basis of the Marxent 3D cloud-powered 3D Room Planner, a customer experience used by La-Z-Boy, Macy’s, American Woodmark, Bob’s Discount Furniture, John Lewis & Partners, and others.

“This patent is the culmination of years of effort dedicated to understanding the 3D design and purchase consideration process from the perspective of shoppers and retailers alike,” said Beck Besecker, co-founder and CEO of Marxent. “For the first time, designing in 3D is so easy that a consumer with no catalog knowledge can design a whole kitchen or furniture layout and easily buy it online. This tech unlocks high consideration home categories such as furniture and DIY for ecommerce.”

Related story: Marxent CEO: 3D is becoming central to all things retail

Superfast internet connections that will be enabled by 5G technology are driving new 3D applications and retail investment in 3D, according to the Marxent news release. SuperData research projects the “reality technology” consumer market will reach $34.1 billion in 2022, Marxent said.

“”We are ready for the near-future of shopping,” Besecker said. “By 2022, many retail and most ecommerce experiences will include 3D.”

In addition to the patent that received a notice of allowance, Marxent has at least two other patents pending.