Data-Driven Color Coordinator

• US 20120062583A1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Damien Reynolds, Mare Webb, Mary Rose Rice
• Original Assignee: Damien Reynolds, Mare Webb, Mary Rose Rice
• Inventors: Reynolds, Damien, Rice, Mary Rose, Webb, Mare
• Granted Patent: US 9,330,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/589
• 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. 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.

2. The method of claim 1 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.

3. The method of claim 1 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.

4. The method of claim 1 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.

5. The method of claim 4 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.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the coordinating colors include

a trim color,

a wall color, and

an accent color.

7. The method of claim 2 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.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the one or more coordinating colors include at least one of a complementary color, an analogous color, or a monochromatic color.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more color palettes are retrieved, each of which is associated with the fine-tuned color.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of fine tuning further comprises activating one or more of a plurality of selection symbols.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein activation of one of said symbols automatically adjusts one of the first color'"'"'s characteristics.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said plurality of symbols enables selection of a fine tuned color which is lighter or darker than the first color.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said plurality of symbols enable selection of a fine tuned color which is more muted or less muted than the first color.

38. The method of claim 4 wherein the color data structure is stored on a computer readable storage medium.

39. The method of claim 4 wherein the color date structure is stored in a database.

14. 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.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 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.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the second color palette data structure includes as a trim color a complementary color of equal value to the core color.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 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.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 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.

37. The apparatus of claim 14 where the first color palette data structure includes trim and alternate trim colors which are a tint or shade of the core color.

19. 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.

20. The method of claim 19 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.

21. The method of claim 20 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.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein one of the displayable color palettes includes

a trim color,

a wall color, and

an accent color.

23. The method of claim 19 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.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the one or more coordinating colors include one or more of a complementary color, an analogous color, or a monochromatic color.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein one or more additional color palettes are retrieved, each of which is associated with the fine-tuned color.

26. 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.

27. The method of claim 26 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.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said first color is selected to match a starting color.

29. The method of claim 26 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.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the retrievable coordinating colors include:

a trim color,

a wall color, and

an accent color.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the one or more coordinating colors include at least one of a complementary color, an analogous color, or a monochromatic color.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein one or more color palettes are retrieved, each of which is associated with the fine-tuned color.

33. The method of claim 27 wherein said step of fine-tuning further comprises activating one or more of a plurality of selection symbols.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein activation of one of said symbols automatically adjusts one of the first color'"'"'s characteristics.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein said plurality of selection symbols enables selection of a fine-tuned color which is lighter or darker than the first color.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein said plurality of selection symbols enable selection of a fine-tuned color which is more muted or less muted than the first color.