Computerized interior design expert system

• US 20020006602A1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Published: 01/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cynthia H. Masters
• Original Assignee: Cynthia H. Masters
• Inventors: Masters, Cynthia H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,572,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/72
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/04 of buildings

Abstract

This invention is a computerized expert system for providing interior design by allowing a homeowner to enter interior design requirements and selecting interior design treatments according to the homeowner'"'"'s design requirements so that a grouping of compatible interior design treatments is provided for the homeowner to be used in decorating the homeowner'"'"'s home.

Claims

1. A computerized system for providing interior design for selecting interior design treatments in accordance with a homeowner'"'"'s interior design wishes comprising:

a computer processor;

a computer readable medium in electronic communication with said processor;

a database in electronic communication with said processor containing data representing individual interior design treatments selectable by selection criteria;

an input device in communication with said processor for inputting a homeowner'"'"'s design requirements;

a output device in communication with said processor for providing output to the homeowner; and

,

a set of computer readable instructions embodied within said computer readable medium controlling said processor for receiving the design requirements from said input device, selecting a set of interior design treatments by selection criteria in accordance with said design requirements, and outputting said set to the homeowner so that the homeowner is provided the available interior design treatments according to the homeowner'"'"'s interior design wishes.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for organizing said set of interior design treatments in a hierarchy in accordance with said design requirements so that the most desired treatments are displayed higher in said hierarchy.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for limiting the interior design treatments provided to those above a predetermined level in said hierarchy.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for receiving existing treatment characteristics, selecting said set of interior design treatments by selection criteria in accordance with said existing treatments characteristics.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for organizing said set of interior design treatments in a hierarchy in accordance with said design requirements so that the most desired treatments are displayed higher in said hierarchy.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for:

a. selecting a first interior design treatment from said set of interior design treatments;

b. selecting an additional interior design treatment from said set of interior design treatments distinct from said interior design treatments previously selected;

c. comparing said selection criteria of said first interior design treatment with said selection criteria of said selected additional interior design treatment; and

,

d. providing a grouping of said first and said additional interior design treatment only if said selection criteria of said first and said additional interior design treatments are compatible so that the homeowner is provided with a plurality of compatible interior design treatments in accordance with the homeowner'"'"'s interior design wishes.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for comparing said selection criteria of said first interior design treatment with said selection criteria of said selected additional interior design treatment and with said existing treatment characteristics.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for repeating steps (b) through (d) until said grouping contains a predetermined number of interior design treatments so that the homeowner is provided a plurality of compatible treatments in accordance with the homeowner'"'"'s design requirements.

9. The system of claim 1 including:

a color requirement included within said homeowner'"'"'s design requirements; and

,

a color selection criteria included within said selection criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for comparing said color requirement of said homeowner'"'"'s design requirement with said color sealed criteria of said interior design treatment selection criteria of said interior design treatment selection criteria and selecting said interior design treatments wherein said color selection criteria is within a predetermined tolerance of said color requirement.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for readable instructions includes instructions for excluding said interior design treatments from said set of available interior design treatments wherein said color selection criteria is outside a predetermined tolerance of said color requirement.

12. The system of claim 6 including a pattern selection criteria included within said selection criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

13. The system of claim 6 including a style selection criteria included within said selection criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

15. The system of claim 12 including:

means for receiving existing treatment characteristics; and

,

means for selecting a set of interior design treatments, selected by said selection criteria, from said stored data in accordance with said existing treatment characteristics.

16. The system of claim 12 including means for organizing said set of interior design treatments in a hierarchy in accordance with said design requirements so that the most desired treatments are displayed higher in said hierarchy.

18. The system of claim 12 including:

means for selecting a first interior design treatment from said set of interior design treatments;

means for selecting an additional interior design treatment from said set of interior design treatments;

means for comparing said selection criteria of said first interior design treatment with said selection criteria of said selected additional interior design treatment; and

,

means for providing a grouping of said selected additional interior design treatments only if said selection criteria of said selected interior design treatments are compatible so that the homeowner is provided with a plurality of compatible interior design treatments in accordance with the homeowner'"'"'s interior design wishes.

19. The system of claim 16 including means for selecting a predetermined number of additional interior design treatments from said set of interior design treatments distinct from said interior design treatments already selected.

20. The system of claim 12 including:

a color requirement included within said homeowner'"'"'s design requirements; and

,

a color selection criteria included within said selection criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

21. The system of claim 16 including a pattern selection criteria included within said selected criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

22. The system of claim 16 including a style selection criteria included within said selection criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

23. The system of claim 20 including means for comparing said color requirements for comparing said color requirement of said homeowner'"'"'s design requirement with said color sealed criteria of said interior design treatment selection criteria of said interior design treatment selection criteria and selecting said interior design treatments wherein said color selection criteria is within a predetermined tolerance of said color requirement.

24. The system of claim 20 including means for excluding said interior design treatments from said set of available interior design treatments wherein said color selection criteria is outside a predetermined tolerance of said color requirement

14. A computerized system having a processor and a computer readable medium for providing interior design for selecting interior design treatments in accordance with a homeowner'"'"'s design requirements comprising:

means for storing data representing individual interior design treatments selectable by selection criteria;

means for receiving a homeowner'"'"'s design requirements;

means for selecting a set of interior design treatments, selected by said selection criteria, from said stored data in accordance with said design requirements; and

,

means for outputting said set of selected interior design criteria so that the homeowner is provided the available interior design treatments according to the homeowner'"'"'s interior design wishes.

17. The system of claim 14 including means for limiting the interior design treatments provided to those of a predetermined level in said hierarchy.