Data-driven color coordinator

• US 10,614,510 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2015
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BEHR Process Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEHR Process Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Rice, Mary Rose, Reynolds, Damien, Webb, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Ma, Tize
• Application Number:
  US14/704,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20150262283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/532 Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/001 Texturing; Colouring; Generation of texture or colour inpainting G06T5/77
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/06 using colour palettes, e.g. look-up tables

Abstract

A color selection and coordination system including a database of predetermined color relationships implementing a data-driven color model. A starting color is associated with a first color in the color database. One or more predefined color palettes associated with the first color may be retrieved, each palette including one or more coordinating colors, the coordinating colors being predetermined based on the first color and a color coordination algorithm.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a server configured to provide a web site application to a remote computing device over the Internet, the web site application being configured to enable the remote computing device to receive a starting paint color selected from a plurality of paint colors via an input device, to display on a display device a color palette including the starting paint color and a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color, to receive a selection of a type of interior room of a house from a plurality of interior room types including at least one of a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom, to display a plurality of interior room templates corresponding to the selected type of interior room, each interior room template being preformatted to include a plurality of predetermined separate elements for selection including at least one of a wall, a trim, a door, a floor, and a ceiling, to receive a selection of an interior room template from the plurality of interior room templates, to receive a selection of a predetermined separate element from the plurality of predetermined separate elements associated with the selected interior room template, to display on the display device a first simulated environment showing the selected interior room template with at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors on a surface of the selected predetermined separate element of the selected interior room template, to receive a picture of an interior room uploaded to the remote computing device by a user of the remote computing device, to display on the display device a second simulated environment showing the interior room from the picture with a paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors on at least one surface of the interior room, the at least one surface of the interior room including at least one of a wall surface, a trim surface, a door surface, a floor surface, and a ceiling surface of the interior room, and to store at least one of the first simulated environment and the second simulated environment on the server;

wherein the web site application is further configured to enable the remote computing device to display a tutorial option that includes at least one video demonstration with how-to instructions for a painting project, to receive a selection for a video demonstration from the at least one video demonstration, and to play the selected video demonstration on the display device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the web site application is further configured to enable the remote computing device to determine the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color by sending the starting paint color to the server and receiving the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color from the server, and wherein the server stores a database including the plurality of paint colors.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of paint colors stored in the database are each in a predetermined relationship with other paint colors in the database, the predetermined relationship between paint colors being based on color theory.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computing device is a personal computer.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the web site application is further configured to enable the remote computing device to display on the display device product information for the at least one selected paint color for use by a consumer when purchasing paint, the product information including at least one of a color name, a number, and a code for the at least one selected paint color, and wherein the remote computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the consumer purchases paint corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the web site application is further configured to enable the remote computing device to display inspirational content including at least one inspirational color palette with a plurality of preselected paint colors from the plurality of paint colors, and to receive a selection from the plurality of preselected paint colors.

8. A method comprising:

providing, with a server, a web site application to a remote computing device over the Internet, the web site application being configured to enable the remote computing device to receive a starting paint color selected from a plurality of paint colors via an input device, to display on a display device a color palette including the starting paint color and a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color, to receive a selection of a type of interior room of a house from a plurality of interior room types including at least one of a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom, to display a plurality of interior room templates corresponding to the selected type of interior room, each interior room template being preformatted to include a plurality of predetermined separate elements for selection including at least one of a wall, a trim, a door, a floor, and a ceiling, to receive a selection of an interior room template from the plurality of interior room templates, to receive a selection of a predetermined separate element from the plurality of predetermined separate elements associated with the selected interior room template, to display on the display device a first simulated environment showing the selected interior room template with at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors on a surface of the selected predetermined separate element of the selected interior room template, to receive a picture of an interior room uploaded to the remote computing device by a user of the remote computing device, to display on the display device a second simulated environment showing the interior room from the picture with a paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors on at least one surface of the interior room, the at least one surface of the interior room including at least one of a wall surface, a trim surface, a door surface, a floor surface, and a ceiling surface of the interior room, and to store at least one of the first simulated environment and the second simulated environment on the server;

wherein the web site application is further configured to enable the remote computing device to display a tutorial option that includes at least one video demonstration with how-to instructions for a painting project, to receive a selected video demonstration from the at least one video demonstration, and to play the selected video demonstration on the display device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the web site application is further configured to enable the remote computing device to determine the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color by sending the starting paint color to the server and receiving the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color from the server, and wherein the server stores a database including the plurality of colors.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of paint colors stored in the database are each in a predetermined relationship with other paint colors in the database, the predetermined relationship between paint colors being based on color theory.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the remote computing device is a personal computer.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the web site application is further configured to enable the remote computing device to display on the display device product information for the at least one selected paint color for use by a consumer when purchasing paint, the product information including at least one of a color name, a number, and a code for the at least one selected paint color, and wherein the remote computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the consumer purchases paint corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the web site application is further configured to enable the remote computing device to display inspirational content including at least one inspirational color palette with a plurality of preselected paint colors from the plurality of paint colors and to receive a selection from the plurality of preselected paint colors.

15. A system comprising:

a remote computing device having a display device and an input device; and

a server communicatively coupled to the remote computing device over the Internet, the server having a database including a plurality of paint colors;

wherein the remote computing device is configured to receive a starting paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors via the input device, to receive a selection of a type of interior room of a house from a plurality of interior room types including at least one of a living room, a dining room a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom, to display a plurality of interior room templates corresponding to the selected type of interior room, each interior room template being preformatted to include a plurality of predetermined separate elements for selection including at least one of a wall, a trim, a door, a floor, and a ceiling, to receive a selection of an interior room template from the plurality of interior room templates, to receive a selection of a predetermined separate element from the plurality of predetermined separate elements associated with the selected interior room template, to display on the display device a simulated environment showing the selected interior room template with the starting paint color on a surface of the selected predetermined separate element of the selected interior room template, to display inspirational content including at least one inspirational color palette with a plurality of preselected paint colors from the plurality of paint colors, to receive a selection from the plurality of preselected paint colors, to display a tutorial option that includes at least one video demonstration with how-to instructions for a painting project, to receive a selection for a video demonstration from the at least one video demonstration, and to play the selected video demonstration on the display device.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the remote computing device is further configured to display on the display device a color palette including the starting paint color and a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the remote computing device is further configured to determine the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color by sending the starting paint color to the server and receiving the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color from the server.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the input device of the remote computing device is a touch screen.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the remote computing device is a personal computer.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the remote computing device is further configured to display on the display device product information for the starting paint color for use by a consumer when purchasing paint, the product information including at least one of a color name, a number, and a code for the starting paint color.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the remote computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.

22. A method comprising:

receiving, with an input device of a remote computing device, a starting paint color selected from a plurality of paint colors, the remote computing device being communicatively coupled to a server over the Internet, the server having a database including the plurality of paint colors;

receiving, with the input device of the remote computing device, a selection of a type of interior room of a house from a plurality of interior room types including at least one of a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom;

displaying, with a display device of the remote computing device, a plurality of interior room templates corresponding to the selected type of interior room, each interior room template being preformatted to include a plurality of predetermined separate elements for selection including at least one of a wall, a trim, a door, a floor, and a ceiling;

receiving, with the input device of the remote computing device, a selection of an interior room template from the plurality of interior room templates;

receiving, with the input device of the remote computing device, a selection of a predetermined separate element from the plurality of separate elements associated with the selected interior room template;

displaying, with the display device of the remote computing device, a simulated environment showing the selected interior room template with the starting paint color on a surface of the selected predetermined separate element of the selected interior room template;

displaying, with the display device of the remote computing device, inspirational content including at least one inspirational color palette with a plurality of preselected paint colors from the plurality of paint colors;

receiving, with the input device of the remote computing device, a selection from the plurality of preselected paint colors;

displaying, with the display device of the remote computing device, a tutorial option that includes at least one video demonstration with how-to instructions for a painting project;

receiving, with the input device of the remote computing device, a selection for a video demonstration from the at least one video demonstration; and

playing, with the display device of the remote computing device, the selected video demonstration.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising displaying, with the display device of the remote computing device, a color palette including the starting paint color and a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

sending, with the remote computing device, the starting paint color to the server; and

receiving, with the remote computing device, the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color from the server.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the input device of the remote computing device is a touch screen.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the remote computing device is a personal computer.

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising displaying, with the display device of the remote computing device, product information for the starting paint color for use by a consumer when purchasing paint, the product information including at least one of a color name, a number, and a code for the starting paint color.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the remote computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.