SURFACE DESIGN TOOLS

• US 20100001992A1
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Schultz, Marissa A.K., Bachman, William A., Santaga, Marcia L., Minor, Eric J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,243,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/001 Texturing; Colouring; Generation of texture or colour inpainting G06T5/77
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design

Abstract

A method of designing a consumer-selected surface includes the steps of displaying a representation of a surface, displaying one or more patterns that may be applied to the representation of the surface, and receiving a selection from a user of a pattern selected from the one or more patterns. The method also includes the steps of allowing the user to locate on the selected pattern at a position on the representation of the surface, the position being independent of a size or shape of the selected pattern, and allowing the user to modify the positioned pattern by altering at least one characteristic thereof to develop a modified representation of the surface. Further, the method includes the steps of generating a three-dimensional view of a room that includes a rendering of the modified representation of the surface and providing the generated three-dimensional view to the user.

Claims

1. A method of designing a consumer-selected surface, the method comprising:

displaying a representation of a surface;

displaying one or more patterns that may be applied to the representation of the surface;

receiving a selection from a user of a pattern selected from the one or more patterns;

allowing the user to locate the selected pattern at a position on the representation of the surface, the position being independent of a size or shape of the selected pattern;

allowing the user to modify the positioned pattern by altering at least one characteristic thereof to develop a modified representation of the surface;

generating a three-dimensional view of a room that includes a rendering of the modified representation of the surface; and

providing the generated three-dimensional view to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the representation of the surface is a two-dimensional representation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface is a soft surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is an orientation or color of the pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating includes at least one of allowing the user to select from a plurality of different rooms and simulating a color that is a mixture of a color of the pattern and a color of the consumer-selected surface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of different rooms are different sizes and include different lighting and/or furniture arrangements.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of storing information for one or more users and recommending one or more patterns to the user based on the stored information.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a list of products that are needed to reproduce the modified representation of the surface on the consumer-selected surface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the list of products is listed by shape and/or color.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the list of products includes a stencil and/or a colorant and the method further comprising the step of allowing the user to place an order to purchase at least one of the products.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the pattern is supplied by the user from a drawing or a scan.

12. A method of designing a surface, the method comprising:

displaying a representation of a surface selected by a user from one or more pre-defined representations of the surface, each pre-defined representation comprising one or more patterns positioned thereon;

allowing a user to modify the selected pre-defined representation of the surface;

generating a three-dimensional view of a room that includes a rendering of the representation of the surface; and

displaying the generated three-dimensional view to the user.

13. The method of claim 12 further including at least one of receiving from the user a selection of a pattern from the one or more patterns, allowing the user to modify the selected pattern by altering at least one characteristic thereof to develop a modified representation of the surface, and allowing the user to locate on the representation of the surface the selected pattern.

14. The method of claim 12 further including allowing the user to erase the one or more patterns and to alter at least one characteristic thereof, wherein the at least one characteristic is an orientation or a color.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of storing information for one or more users and recommending one or more pre-defined representations of the surface to the user based on the stored information.

16. A system for designing a surface, comprising:

a display that displays a representation of a surface and one or more patterns that may be applied to the representation of the surface;

an input device configured to receive instructions from a user to develop a modified representation of the surface, wherein the instructions include selecting a pattern from the one or more patterns, locating the selected pattern on the representation of the surface, and/or modifying at least one characteristic of the selected pattern; and

a processor that is programmed to generate a three-dimensional view of a room that includes a rendering of the modified representation of the surface.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a kiosk that houses the display, the input device, and the processor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the kiosk is coupled to a server and one or more other kiosks.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising a memory that stores information for one or more users, and wherein the processor is programmed to recommend one or more patterns to the user based on the stored information.

20. The system of claim 16 further comprising a memory that stores one or more pre-defined representations of the surface, wherein each of the one or more pre-defined representations includes one or more patterns positioned thereon, and wherein the instructions received from the user include a selection of a pre-defined representation that can be modified by the user through the input device.