METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIGITAL COATING PROJECT PURCHASE

• US 20100262551A1
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Lipniskis, Jeffrey, Ficco, Mathew A., Caruso, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/758,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/319
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering

Abstract

A method for selecting and purchasing a coating includes: selecting a desired color, comparing the desired color to a database of coating compositions to identify a coating composition having a color substantially matching the desired color, evaluating the suitability of the identified coating composition, and purchasing the identified coating composition. An apparatus for implementing the method is also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

selecting a desired color;

comparing the desired color to a database of coating compositions to identify a coating composition having a color substantially matching the desired color;

evaluating the suitability of the identified coating composition; and

purchasing the identified coating composition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the evaluating step comprises one or more of:

visualizing the coating composition;

soliciting comments on the coating composition;

comparing the coating composition with coating compositions used in other projects; and

viewing a color ranking for the coating composition.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of visualizing the coating composition comprises:

displaying an image including the coating composition color.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of soliciting comments comprises:

sending information about the coating composition to a social networking site and receiving comments from others.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of comparing the coating composition with coating compositions used in other projects comprises:

viewing images of other projects that utilized the coating composition.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of viewing a color ranking for the coating composition comprises:

generating a color ranking for the coating composition; and

displaying the generated color ranking.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of generating a color ranking for the coating composition comprises:

weighting a plurality of parameters related to the coating composition; and

generating the color ranking based on the weighted parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the purchasing step:

specifying project details.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the purchasing step:

using the identified coating composition to determine one or more tint components for a coating; and

mixing the tint components with a base to produce a coating having a color substantially matching the desired color.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a desired color comprises:

identifying a color swatch in an image; and

obtaining color data for the swatch.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the purchasing step:

generating a list of supplies for using the coating composition in a project.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a user interface; and

a processor configured to communication with the user interface and programmed to compare a desired color to a database of coating compositions to identify a coating composition having a color substantially matching the desired color, and to enable a user to evaluate the suitability of the identified coating composition.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the user interface comprises:

a display for visualizing the coating composition, comparing the coating composition with coating compositions used in other projects, and/or viewing a color ranking for the coating composition.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the display shows an image including the coating composition color.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the display shows images of other projects that utilized the coating composition.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor generates the color ranking for the coating composition.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor generates the color ranking by weighting a plurality of parameters related to the coating composition;

and generating the color ranking based on the weighted parameters.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

an interface to a social networking site for soliciting comments on the coating composition.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a mixer for mixing one or more tint components with a base to produce the coating composition having a color substantially matching the desired color.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium including software for causing a processor to compare a desired color to a database of coating compositions to identify a coating composition having a color substantially matching the desired color, and for enabling an evaluation of the suitability of the identified coating composition by a user.