COLOR MATCH TOOLBOX

• US 20090281925A1
• Filed: 05/11/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jastec Co.
• Original Assignee: LTU Technologies S.A.S. (Jastec Co.)
• Inventors: Winter, Alexandre, Jahard, Frederic
• Application Number:
  US12/463,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20090281925A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering

Abstract

A system and method is presented for identifying a plurality of products within a collection of product images in an online shopping environment. The method includes providing the collection of images representing products offered for sale; receiving an input search criteria from a prospective customer. The criteria include at least one of a query color. The method also includes identifying and extracting colors within the collection of images based on a presence of significant colors in an image; and comparing and matching the query color to the identified and extracted significant colors. The method continues by determining, within a predetermined range of accuracy, products from within the collection of images having the matched query color; and presenting the determined products to the prospective customer. In one embodiment, the presentation is provided by means for a graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A computer executed method for identifying a plurality of products within a collection of products in an online shopping environment, the method comprising:

providing a collection of images representing the collection of products offered for sale;

receiving an input search criteria from a prospective consumer, the input search criteria including at least one query color;

identifying and extracting colors within the collection of images based on a presence of significant colors in an image;

comparing and matching the query color to the identified and extracted significant colors;

determining, within a predetermined range of accuracy, products from within the collection of images having the matched query color; and

presenting the determined products to the prospective customer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input criteria further includes a preference for where the query color appears on or within the image of the product.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one query color is retrieved from an uploaded image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracted significant colors in the collection of images are provided as recommendations for the at least one query color.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined products are presented to the prospective consumer in an interface including the product image, the significant colors within the image and for each significant color a representation of a dominance of the significant color within the image.

6. A system for identifying a plurality of products within a collection of products in an online shopping environment, the system comprising:

a collection of images representing the collection of products offered for sale;

an interface including an input search criteria portion that receives at least one query color;

a collection palette processor for identifying and extracting colors within the collection of images based on a presence of significant colors in an image;

a color search processor for comparing and matching the query color to the identified and extracted significant colors, and for determining, within a predetermined range of accuracy, products from within the collection of images having the matched query color; and

a display device coupled to the color search processor for presenting the determined products to the prospective customer.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the input search criteria portion further includes a portion for receiving a preference indicating where the query color appears on or within the image of the product.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the interface further includes a portions for initiating an upload of an image and extraction of the at least one query color from the uploaded image.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the interface further includes a recommendation portion wherein previously extracted significant colors in the collection of images are provided as recommendations for the at least one query color.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the determined products are presented to the prospective consumer on the interface.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the presentation of the determined products includes the product image, the significant colors within the image and a representation of a dominance of the significant color within the image.