Color Selection, Coordination, Purchase and Delivery System

• US 20080228599A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BEHR Process Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEHR Process Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Webb, Marc, Reynolds, Damien, Rice, Mary Rose
• Application Number:
  US12/128,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228599A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system embodied as a website including a first, second and third pluralities of display screens, the first enabling an at-home user to select a first color which coordinates with a second selected color, the second enabling the user to select for purchase one or more of a plurality of interior decorating-related items, and the third enabling the user to order and pay for one or more of (a) a paint sample of each of said first and second colors and (b) at least one of the interior decorating-related items. The order may be automatically transmitted to a fulfillment center for fulfillment and then delivered to the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a user with a first plurality of display screens on a display device, each display screen enabling selection of at least one subsequent display screen;

a first subset of said first plurality of display screens enabling the user to select a first color that coordinates with a second color based on at least one user inputted preference;

a second subset of said first plurality of display screens enabling the user to select for purchase one or more of a plurality of interior decorating-related items;

providing the user with a second plurality of display screens enabling the user to order and pay for one or more of (a) a paint sample of each of said first and second colors and (b) at least one of said interior decorating-related items reflecting at least the coordinated first color and second color;

automatically transmitting said order to a fulfillment center for fulfillment; and

delivering the fulfilled order to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of screens includes a third subset comprising an inspiration article page enabling the user to select for review one of a plurality of decorating-related motivational articles.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said third subset further enables selection of an inspiration pop-up window displaying an inspirational interior scene to the user together with a pre-selected color palette related to that scene.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of interior decorating items includes a designer kit comprising a plurality of containers, each container containing a different paint sample of a pre-selected color.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the number of containers is four.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of interior decorating items includes a plurality of designer kits, each kit associated with a different design style and containing a plurality of containers, each containing a different paint sample of a pre-selected color.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the number of containers is four.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of interior decorating items further includes a plurality of brochures, each facilitating paint color selection.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of interior decorating items includes at least one fan deck color selector.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of interior decorating items includes a plurality of color carrying preview swatches.

11. A method comprising:

entering a website via a home page;

proceeding from said home page to select a plurality of coordinated colors to be used in a decorating project through manipulation of a plurality of display screens generated with the assistance of color selection and coordination computer software;

ordering and purchasing a paint sample of each color so selected on-line at said website;

receiving delivery of each of said samples; and

applying each of said paint samples to confirm its suitability for the project.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of returning to said website to order quantities of paint in an amount selected to complete said project.

13. A website structure comprising:

a home page;

a color selection landing page for generating at least one coordinated palette;

a color shop landing page;

an inspiration article page;

the home page providing a selectable link to each of the color selection landing page, the color shop landing page and the inspiration article page;

the color shop landing page providing links to a plurality of pages which enable purchase of one or more of the following;

one or more designer kits, one or more paint samples, one or more brochures and at least one fan deck color selector.

14. Computer software stored on a computer readable medium or media and operable in conjunction with a computer processor for:

providing a user with a first plurality of display screens on a display device, each display screen enabling selection of at least one subsequent display screen;

a first subset of said first plurality of display screens enabling the user to select a first color that coordinates with a second color based on at least one user inputted preference;

a second subset of said first plurality of display screens enabling the user to select for purchase one or more of a plurality of interior decorating-related items;

providing the user with a second plurality of display screens enabling the user to order and pay for one or more of (a) a paint sample of each of said first and second colors and (b) at least one of said interior decorating-related items reflecting at least the coordinated first color and second color;

automatically transmitting said order to a fulfillment center for fulfillment; and

delivering the fulfilled order to the user.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said first plurality of screens includes a third subset comprising an inspiration article page enabling the user to select for review one of a plurality of decorating-related motivational articles.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said third subset further enables selection of an inspiration pop-up window displaying an inspirational interior scene to the user together with a pre-selected color palette related to that scene.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said plurality of interior decorating items includes a designer kit comprising a plurality of containers, each container containing a different paint sample of a pre-selected color.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the number of containers is four.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said plurality of interior decorating items includes a plurality of designer kits, each kit associated with a different design style and containing a plurality of containers, each containing a different paint sample of a pre-selected color.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the number of containers is four.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein said plurality of interior decorating items further includes a plurality of brochures, each facilitating paint color selection.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein said plurality of interior decorating items includes at least one fan deck color selector.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein said plurality of interior decorating items includes a plurality of color carrying preview swatches.

24. A website structure comprising:

a home page, the home page providing a selectable link to a color shop landing page;

the color shop landing page providing links to a plurality of pages which enable purchase of one or more of the following;

one or more designer kits, one or more paint samples, one or more brochures and at least one fan deck color selector.

25. A website structure comprising:

a home page, the home page providing a selectable link to an inspiration article page;

the inspiration article page enabling the user to select for review one of a plurality of decorating-related motivational articles.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said inspiration article page further enables selection of an inspiration pop-up window displaying an inspirational interior scene to the user together with a pre-selected color palette related to that scene.

27. A method comprising:

providing a user with a first plurality of display screens on a display device, a first of said display screens comprising a home page, the home page displaying a set of user-selectable links across an upper edge thereof;

responding to user selection of a first of said links by linking the user to a paint color selection application program for assisting the user in selecting and coordinating colors;

responding to user selection of a second of said links by linking the user to a second display screen providing a plurality of product links, each product link providing a link to information regarding one of a plurality of paint color selection products, one of said products comprising paint sample containers; and

responding to user selection of a third of said links by linking the user to one of a plurality of inspiration-related display screens for inspiring color selection by the user, at least one of said inspiration-related display screens providing a plurality of inspirational links, each said inspirational link representing a selected category of inspiration.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said home page further comprises a display of a scene, said scene including a depiction of a paintable object, said home page further including a plurality of informational blocks arranged around said scene, a first of said informational blocks containing an additional link to said color selection application program, a second of said blocks containing an additional link to one of said inspiration-related display screens, and a third of said blocks containing an additional link to said second display screen.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein at least one of said inspiration-related display screens provides a display of a plurality of different inspirational images falling within one of said categories, and wherein each of said plurality of inspirational images links to a pop-up window providing an enlarged view of said image together with a pre-selected color palette related to said enlarged image.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said color palette comprises a primary color block and a plurality of adjacently positioned color blocks, each adjacently positioned color block containing a color which coordinates with the color contained in the primary color block.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said second display screen employs a “

learn more”

icon to identify each of said plurality of product links.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the set of user-selectable links further includes a link to expert advice.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein:

said color selection program enables the user to select a first color which coordinates with a second color and wherein said first plurality of display screens further includes

a second plurality of display screens enabling the user to select for purchase one or more of a plurality of interior decorating-related items; and

wherein said method further includes the step of;

providing the user with a third plurality of display screens enabling the user to order and pay for one or more of (a) a paint sample of each of said first and second colors and (b) at least one of said interior decorating-related items.

34. The method of claim 33 further including the steps of:

automatically transmitting said order to a fulfillment center for fulfillment; and

delivering the fulfilled order to the user.

35. A method comprising:

providing a user with a first plurality of display screens on a display device, a first subset of said first plurality of display screens enabling the user to select a first color which coordinates with a second selected color; and

providing the user with a second plurality of display screens for inspiring color selection by the user, wherein at least one of said second plurality of display screens provides a display of a plurality of different inspirational images falling within a selected category of inspiration, and wherein each of said plurality of inspirational images links, when selected, causes generation of a pop-up window of an enlarged view of the corresponding image together with a pre-selected color palette related thereto.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said color palette comprises a primary color block and a plurality of adjacently positioned coordinated color blocks.

37. The method of claim 35 further including the steps of:

providing the user with a third set of display screens enabling the user to select for purchase one or more of a plurality of interior decorating-related items; and

providing the user with a fourth set of display screens enabling the user to order and pay for one or more of (a) a paint sample of each of said first and second colors and (b) at least one of said interior decorating-related items.

38. The method of claim 37 further including the steps of automatically transmitting said order to a fulfillment center for fulfillment;

and delivering the fulfilled order to the user.