Data-Driven Color Coordinator

• US 20100020095A1
• Filed: 10/05/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Damien Reynolds, Marc Webb, Mary Rose Rice
• Original Assignee: Damien Reynolds, Marc Webb, Mary Rose Rice
• Inventors: Rice, Mary Rose, Webb, Marc, Reynolds, Damien
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/594
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/532 Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/001 Texturing; Colouring; Generation of texture or colour inpainting G06T5/77
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/06 using colour palettes, e.g. look-up tables

Abstract

A color selection and coordination system including a database of predetermined color relationships implementing a data-driven color model. A starting color is associated with a first color in the color database. One or more predefined color palettes associated with the first color may be retrieved, each palette including one or more coordinating colors, the coordinating colors being predetermined based on the first color and a color coordination algorithm.

Claims

1. An automated method for providing color coordination capability to a user comprising:

employing one or more programmed computers to perform a plurality of operations in conjunction with a stored, computer queryable database, the operations comprising;

receiving a starting color for which coordinating colors are sought;

associating the starting color with a first color stored, the first color being one of a plurality of colors stored in digital format in the database, the first color being the closest matching color in the database to the starting color;

transforming the digital format of said first color into a visual display of said first color on a computer controlled display apparatus;

retrieving one or more color palettes associated with the first color, each palette including said first color and one or more coordinating colors which coordinate with said first color;

causing display of at least one of the retrieved color palettes on the computer controlled display apparatus;

providing an interactive fine-tuning feature on said display apparatus, said feature enabling fine-tuning a characteristic of the first color by the user after said first color has been displayed to the user by accessing a first color data structure associated with the first color and retrieving a fine tuned color, said fine tuned color being one of a plurality of data elements specified in the color data structure; and

wherein said first color data structure comprises one of a plurality of accessible color data structures, each of said plurality of accessible color data structures being associated with one of the plurality of colors stored in the data base, each accessible color data structure further comprising the same pre-defined set of data elements ordered in the same way; and

wherein one of the data elements of each accessible color data structure specifies a fine tuned color.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data elements of each color data structure include:

a unique identifier for the color data structure,

a plurality of color metrics defining a particular one of a plurality of colors, and

a plurality of references to other data structures representing neighboring colors in color space, each neighboring color having at least one color characteristic which differs from those of the particular color.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the data elements of each color data structure further comprises:

a source identifier indicating a source where the first color is located; and

a usage identifier for indicating a type of use for which the first color is or is not appropriate.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the color palette includes

a trim color,

a wall color, and

an accent color.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing one or more calibration tables associated with the first color and the one or more color palettes, each calibration table containing calibration data for a display unit; and

displaying the retrieved color palettes according to the specification of the one or more calibration tables.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more coordinating colors include one or more complementary colors, one or more analogous colors, or one or more monochromatic colors.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of retrieving one or more color palettes associated with the fine-tuned color.

47. The method of claim 2 wherein the color data structure is stored on a computer readable storage medium.

51. The method of claim 1 wherein said fine-tuned color is a tint or shade of said first color.

8. A paint color selection and coordination apparatus comprising:

a plurality of color data structures stored on a computer-readable medium, each color data structure including a pre-defined set of data elements, the pre-defined data elements of each color data structure comprising;

a unique identifier for each respective color data structure;

a plurality of color metrics defining a unique color associated with the respective color data structure; and

a plurality of references to other data structures representing at least one color neighboring the unique color in color space, the at least one neighboring color having at least one color characteristic which differs from those of the unique color;

the apparatus further comprising one or more computers operable to display a first of said unique colors on a computer controlled display apparatus and to thereafter display on said display apparatus one of the colors neighboring said first of said unique colors.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the pre-defined data elements of each color data structure further comprise:

a source identifier indicating a source where the respective unique color is located; and

a usage identifier for indicating a type of use for which the unique color in the respective data structure is or is not appropriate.

10. A method for providing color selection comprising:

employing one or more computers to perform a plurality of operations in conjunction with a computer queryable database, the operations comprising;

retrieving a first color from said database;

displaying said first color; and

fine-tuning a characteristic of the first color by accessing a color data structure associated with the first color and retrieving a fine tuned color, said fine tuned color being specified in the color data structure.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of retrieving one or more coordinating colors, the coordinating colors being predetermined based on the first color and a color coordination algorithm.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said color data structure comprises one of a plurality of accessible color data structures, each of said plurality of color data structures being associated with a unique color stored in said database, each data structure further comprising the same pre-defined set of data elements ordered in the same way, one of said data elements of each color data structure specifying a fine turned color.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the color data structure comprises:

a unique identifier for the color data structure,

a plurality of color metrics defining the first color, and

a plurality of references to other data structures representing neighboring colors in color space, each neighboring color having at least one color characteristic which differs from those of the first color.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the color data structure further comprises:

a source identifier indicating a source where the first color is located; and

a usage identifier for indicating a type of use for which the first color is or is not appropriate.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the coordinating colors include

a trim color,

a wall color, and

an accent color.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more coordinating colors are displayed as one or more color palettes, and further comprising:

accessing one or more calibration tables associated with the first color and the one or more color palettes, each calibration table being stored on a computer readable medium and containing calibration data for a display unit; and

displaying the retrieved color palettes according to the specification of the one or more calibration tables.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more coordinating colors include at least one of a complementary color, an analogous color, or a monochromatic color.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein one or more color palettes are retrieved, each of which is associated with the fine-tuned color.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of fine tuning further comprises activating one or more of a plurality of selection symbols.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein activation of one of said symbols automatically adjusts one of the first color'"'"'s characteristics.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said plurality of symbols enables selection of a fine tuned color which is lighter or darker than the first color.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said plurality of symbols enable selection of a fine tuned color which is more muted or less muted than the first color.

49. The method of claim 13 wherein the color data structure is stored on a computer readable storage medium.

50. The method of claim 13 wherein the color date structure is stored in a database.

23. A color selection and coordination apparatus comprising a plurality of different data structure types recorded on a computer readable medium, each different data structure type comprising a different pre-defined set of data elements, said data structure types further comprising:

a first data structure type whose data elements include a color identifier, a plurality of color metrics defining the first color, and a plurality of references to other data structures representing other colors;

a second data structure type whose data elements include a color identifier and data defining a color profile corresponding to a particular display device; and

a color palette data structure type whose data elements include a palette identifier and a plurality of color identifiers defining a plurality of colors which constitute a palette;

said apparatus further including one or more computers and an associated display apparatus, said one or more computers being operable to select a first color for display to a user on said display apparatus, to cause display on said display apparatus of one of said other colors and to utilize said a data structure of said color palette data structure type to cause display on said display apparatus of a color palette comprising said first color and a plurality of colors which coordinate with said first color.

24. A color selection and coordination apparatus comprising a plurality of data structures recorded on a computer readable storage medium, said data structures comprising:

a plurality of color palette data structures each including a core color and a plurality of related colors, the plurality of related colors being determined by a first color coordination algorithm for a first of said color palette data structures and by a second color coordination algorithm for a second of said color palette data structures; and

said apparatus further including one or more computers operable to utilize said color palette data structures to cause display on a computer controlled display apparatus of a first palette comprising said core color and the related colors defined by the first color palette data structure and a second color palette comprising said core color and the related colors defined by the second palette data structure.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein each color palette data structure contains the same pre-defined set of data elements ordered in the same manner, one of the data elements being said core color and the remaining data elements identifying a respective one of said plurality of related colors.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the second color palette data structure includes as a trim color a complementary color of equal value to the core color.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 further including a third color palette data structure including a trim color approximately 120 degrees from the core color, on the warm side of the hue, and of equal value to the core color.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a fourth color palette data structure including a trim color which is a triad color on the cool side of the hue, and of equal value to the core color.

48. The apparatus of claim 24 where the first color palette data structure includes trim and alternate trim colors which are a tint or shade of the core color.

29. A method for providing color coordination capability to a user comprising:

receiving a starting color for which coordinating colors are sought;

associating the starting color with a first color in a color database, the first color being the closest matching color in the color database to the starting color;

displaying said first color to the user on a computer controlled display device;

retrieving one or more color palettes associated with the first color, each palette including one or more coordinating colors;

displaying the one or more color palettes to said user on the computer controlled display device; and

fine-tuning a characteristic of the first color in response to user activation of a fine tuning feature displayed on said display device by accessing a color data structure associated with the first color and retrieving a fine tuned color, said fine tuned color being specified in the color data structure.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the color data structure is stored in a database and includes:

a unique identifier for the color data structure,

a plurality of color metrics defining the first color, and

a plurality of references to other data structures representing neighboring colors in color space, each neighboring color having at least one color characteristic which differs from those of the first color.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the color data structure further comprises:

a source identifier indicating a source where the first color is located; and

a usage identifier for indicating a type of use for which the first color is or is not appropriate.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein one of the displayable color palettes includes

a trim color,

a wall color, and

an accent color.

33. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

accessing one or more calibration tables associated with the first color and the one or more color palettes, each calibration table containing calibration data for a display unit; and

displaying the retrieved color palettes according to the specification of the one or more calibration tables.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more coordinating colors include one or more of a complementary color, an analogous color, or a monochromatic color.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein one or more additional color palettes are retrieved, each of which is associated with the fine-tuned color.

36. A method for providing color selection capability to a user comprising:

retrieving a first color from a color database;

displaying said first color to the user on a computer controlled display device; and

fine-tuning a characteristic of the first color in response to user activation of an interactive fine-tuning feature displayed on said display device by accessing a color data structure associated with the first color and retrieving a fine tuned color, said fine tuned color being specified in the color data structure.

37. The method of claim 36 further including the steps of retrieving one or more coordinating colors and displaying said one or more coordinating colors to the user on said display device, the coordinating colors being predetermined based on the first color and a color coordination algorithm.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein said first color is selected to match a starting color.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the color data structure is stored in a database and includes:

a unique identifier for the color data structure,

a plurality of color metrics defining the first color, and

a plurality of references to other data structures representing neighboring colors in color space, each neighboring color having at least one color characteristic which differs from those of the first color.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the retrievable coordinating colors include:

a trim color,

a wall color, and

an accent color.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the one or more coordinating colors include at least one of a complementary color, an analogous color, or a monochromatic color.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein one or more color palettes are retrieved, each of which is associated with the fine-tuned color.

43. The method of claim 37 wherein said step of fine-tuning further comprises activating one or more of a plurality of selection symbols.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein activation of one of said symbols automatically adjusts one of the first color'"'"'s characteristics.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein said plurality of selection symbols enables selection of a fine-tuned color which is lighter or darker than the first color.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein said plurality of selection symbols enable selection of a fine-tuned color which is more muted or less muted than the first color.

52. Apparatus for providing color coordination capability to a user comprising:

one or more programmed computers programmed to perform a plurality of operations in conjunction with a stored, computer queryable database, the operations comprising;

receiving a starting color for which coordinating colors are sought;

associating the starting color with a first color stored, the first color being one of a plurality of colors stored in digital format in the database, the first color being the closest matching color in the database to the starting color;

transforming the digital format of said first color into a visual display of said first color on a computer controlled display apparatus;

retrieving one or more color palettes associated with the first color, each palette including said first color and one or more coordinating colors which coordinate with said first color;

causing display of at least one of the retrieved color palettes on the computer controlled display apparatus;

providing an interactive fine-tuning feature on said display apparatus, said feature enabling fine-tuning a characteristic of the first color by the user after said first color has been displayed to the user by accessing a first color data structure associated with the first color and retrieving a fine tuned color, said fine tuned color being one of a plurality of data elements specified in the color data structure; and

wherein said color data structure comprises one of a plurality of accessible color data structures, each of said plurality of accessible color data structures being associated with a respective one of the plurality of colors stored in the data base, each accessible color data structure further comprising the same pre-defined set of data elements ordered in the same way; and

wherein one of said data elements of each accessible color data structure specifies a fine tuned color.