Color management and solution distribution system and method

• US 20020191843A1
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Frank, Cynthia J., McClanahan, Craig J., Shufeldt, Stephen F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,973,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/162
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/46 Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters measuring colour temperature G01J5/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/462 Computing operations in or between colour spaces; Colour management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/463 Colour matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/46 Colour picture communication systems

Abstract

A computer based system and method provides color solutions to a customer over a computer network. A solution request is received from an operator. A composite solution database is searched to determine a color solution as a function of the solution request.

Claims

1. A computer system for providing a color solution for an auxiliary color of a portion of a motor vehicle to be repaired, comprising:

a first module and being adapted to receive a solution request from an operator, the solution request including an identification of the motor vehicle to be repaired, a main body color, and the portion of the motor vehicle to be repaired; and

,

a second module coupled to the first, the second module including a composite solution database and a search routine coupled to the composite solution database and being adapted to receive the solution request from the first module, the search routine being adapted to search the composite solution database and determine the color solution as a function of the solution request.

2. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first is located at remote location and the second module is located at a central location, the first and second modules being coupled by a computer network.

3. The computer system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the computer network is the internet.

4. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, including a customer interface implemented on the first module.

5. The computer system, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the customer interface is adapted to allow the operator to enter the solution request.

6. The computer system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the identification of the motor vehicle being repaired includes a make, a model, and a model year.

7. The computer system, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the customer interface includes a graphical representation of the motor vehicle being repaired.

8. The computer system, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the graphical representation of the motor vehicle being repaired includes the main body color and a color associated with at least one auxiliary part of the motor vehicle.

9. The computer system, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the at least one auxiliary part of the motor vehicle may be one of trim, molding, wheel covers, bumper, stripe, roof, vinyl roof, and parts within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

10. The computer system, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the customer interface allows the operator to select the portion of the motor vehicle through interaction with the graphical representation of the motor vehicle.

11. The computer system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the operator may cycle through available paint colors for the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired be clicking on the portion of the motor vehicle being within the graphical representation of the motor vehicle.

12. The computer system, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the customer interface allows the operator to select the portion of the motor vehicle from a list.

13. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the customer interface presents the operator with a list of available paint colors for the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired as a function of the identification of the motor vehicle, the base color and the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired.

14. The computer system, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the customer interface allows the operator to select the auxiliary color from the list.

15. The computer system, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the customer interface displays the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired with the selected auxiliary color.

16. The computer system, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the customer interface displays the selected auxiliary color in a color sample associated with the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired.

17. The computer system, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the customer interface displays the auxiliary color in a color sample associated with the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired, wherein the operator may cycle through available paint colors for the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired by clicking on the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired within the graphical representation of the motor vehicle.

19. The computer system, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the identification of the motor vehicle being repaired includes a make, a model, and a model year.

20. The computer system, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the graphical representation of the motor vehicle being repaired includes the main body color and colors associated with at least one auxiliary part of the motor vehicle.

21. The computer system, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the at least one auxiliary part of the motor vehicle may be one of trim, molding, wheel covers, bumpers, stripes, roofs, vinyl roofs, and parts within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

22. The computer system, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the customer interface allows the operator to select the portion of the motor vehicle through interaction with the graphical representation of the motor vehicle.

23. The computer system, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the operator may cycle through available paint colors for the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired be clicking on the portion of the motor vehicle being within the graphical representation of the motor vehicle.

24. The computer system, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the customer interface allows the operator to select the portion of the motor vehicle through a list.

25. The computer system, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the customer interface presents the operator with a list of available paint colors for the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired as a function of the identification of the motor vehicle, the base color and the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired.

26. The computer system, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the customer interface allows the operator to select the auxiliary color from the list.

27. The computer system, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the customer interface displays the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired with the selected auxiliary color.

28. The computer system, as set forth in claim 22, wherein the customer interface displays the auxiliary color in a color sample associated with the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired, wherein the operator may cycle through available paint colors for the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired by clicking on the color sample.

29. The computer system, as set forth in claim 26, wherein the customer interface displays the selected auxiliary color in a color sample associated with the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired.

18. A computer system for providing a color solution for an auxiliary color of a portion of a motor vehicle to be repaired, comprising:

a first module having a customer interface, the first module being adapted to receive a solution request from an operator, the customer interface being adapted to allow the operator to enter the solution request and including a graphical representation of the motor vehicle being repaired, the solution request including an identification of the motor vehicle to be repaired, a main body color, and the portion of the motor vehicle to be repaired; and

,

a second module coupled to the first module, the second module including a composite solution database and a search routine coupled to the composite solution database and being adapted to receive the solution request from the first module, the search routine being adapted to search the composite solution database and determine the color solution as a function of the solution request.

30. A computer based method for providing a color solution for an auxiliary color of a portion of a motor vehicle to be repaired, including the steps of:

receiving a solution request from an operator, the solution request including an identification of the motor vehicle to be repaired, a main body color, and the portion of the motor vehicle to be repaired; and

searching a composite solution database and determining the color solution as a function of the solution request.

31. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 30, including the step of delivering the color solution to the operator.

32. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 31, including the step of providing a customer interface.

33. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 32, wherein the composite solution database includes at least one formulation for a plurality of colors.

34. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 32, including the step of entering, by the operator, the solution request using the customer interface.

35. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 34, wherein the identification of the motor vehicle being repaired includes a make, a model, and a model year.

36. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 32, including the step of providing a graphical representation of the motor vehicle being repaired via the customer interface.

37. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 36, including the step of displaying the main body color and a color associated with at least one auxiliary part of the motor vehicle on the graphical representation of the motor vehicle.

38. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the at least one auxiliary part of the motor vehicle may be one of trim, molding, wheel covers, bumper, stripe, roof, vinyl roof, and parts within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

39. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 37, including the step of selecting, by the operator, the portion of the motor vehicle through interaction with the graphical representation of the motor vehicle.

40. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 39, including the step of cycling through available paint colors for the portion of the motor vehicle in response to the operator clicking on the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired within the graphical representation of the motor vehicle.

41. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 39, including the steps of:

providing a list of available portions of the motor vehicle; and

,

allowing the operator to select the portion of the motor vehicle from the list.

42. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 30, including the step of presenting to the customer a list of available paint colors for the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired as a function of the identification of the motor vehicle, the base color and the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired.

43. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 42, including the step of allowing the operator to select the auxiliary color from the list.

44. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 43, including the step of displaying, using the customer interface, the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired with the selected auxiliary color.

45. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 44, including the step of wherein the customer interface displays the selected auxiliary color in a color sample associated with the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired.

46. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 32, including the steps of:

displaying the auxiliary color in a color sample associated with the portion of the motor vehicle being repaired; and

,

cycling through available paint colors for the portion of the motor vehicle in response to the operator clicking on the color sample.