COLOR-BASED IDENTIFICATION, SEARCHING AND MATCHING ENHANCEMENT OF SUPPLY CHAIN AND INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

• US 20130249934A1
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zencolor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zencolor Corporation
• Inventors: GERSHON, Dann, ROBINSON, David, WILDER, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US13/762,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20130249934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/594
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/022 using memory planes

Abstract

A color-based system, methods and interfaces to gather, identify, search for and match products using color as a primary indicator. The system, methods and interfaces are preferably implemented as an enhancement of proprietary merchant inventory management systems (IMS) and supply chain management systems (SCM) which enable the effective codification and evaluation of color-based data received and transformed from a number of different merchant IMS and SCM feeds. The system architecture further enables dynamic color processing, pattern recognition and a robust set of features for enhancing commercial experiences of and interactions between consumers and merchants.

Claims

1. With a processor controlled system in communication with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having product data storage and color data storage, said product data storage being populated by merchant IMS/SCM feeds, a method of color based product matching comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of selectable colors swatches;

assigning a unique color value to each of said plurality of selectable color swatches;

storing said plurality of selectable color swatches and said unique color values in a color table in said color data storage;

providing a graphical user interface to display said plurality of selectable color swatches, wherein each of said each of said plurality of selectable color swatches serves as a queried color when selected by a user to transform said selectable color swatches to a color-based query for a product;

in response to a color based query for a product by a user, matching said queried color with products from multiple merchants listed in said product data storage associated with a matching color value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said color value corresponds to a hexadecimal value.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said color value corresponds to individual RGB color values.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said matching color and said queried color each have the same hexadecimal value.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said matching color and said queried color each have the same individual RGB color values.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said matching step comprises the steps of comparing the color value of said queried color to the color value of products listed in said product data storage.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said queried color is selected by a user via said graphical user interface.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of assigning each of said plurality of selectable color swatches a corresponding alias.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, in communication with color data storage and product data storage, said product data storage being populated by merchant IMS/SCM feeds, and said non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

provide a plurality of selectable colors swatches;

assign a unique color value to each of said plurality of selectable color swatches;

store said plurality of selectable color swatches and said unique color values in a color table in said color data storage;

provide a graphical user interface to display said plurality of selectable color swatches, wherein each of said each of said plurality of selectable color swatches serves as a queried color when selected by a user to transform said selectable color swatches to a color-based query for a product;

in response to a color based query for a product by a user, match said queried color with products from multiple merchants listed in said product data storage associated with a matching color value.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said color value corresponds to a hexadecimal value.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein said color value corresponds to individual RGB color values.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein said matching color and said queried color each have the same hexadecimal value.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein said matching color and said queried color each have the same individual RGB color values.

14. The device of claim 9 the one or more programs further including instructions to compare the color value of said queried color to the color value of products listed in said product data storage.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein said queried color is selected by a user via said graphical user interface.

16. The device of claim 9 the one or more programs further including instructions to assign each of said plurality of selectable color swatches a corresponding alias.

17. With a processor controlled system in communication with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having product data storage and color-pattern data storage, said product data storage being populated by merchant IMS/SCM feeds, a method of color and pattern based product matching comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of selectable colors swatches;

assigning a unique color value to each of said plurality of selectable color swatches;

storing said plurality of selectable color swatches and said unique color values in a table;

providing a plurality of selectable pattern swatches;

assigning a pattern value to each of a plurality of selectable pattern swatches;

storing said plurality of selectable pattern swatches and said pattern values in said table;

providing a graphical user interface to display said plurality of selectable color swatches and said plurality of selectable pattern swatches, wherein each of said plurality of selectable color swatches may serve as a queried color and each of said plurality of selectable pattern swatches may serve as a queried pattern when selected by a user to transform said selectable color swatches and said selectable pattern swatches to a color-pattern based query for a product;

in response to a color-pattern based query for a product by a user, matching said queried color and said queried pattern with products from multiple merchants listed in said product data storage associated with a matching color value and a matching pattern value.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said color value corresponds to a hexadecimal value.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said color value corresponds to individual RGB color values.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said matching color and said queried color each have the same hexadecimal value.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said matching color and said queried color each have the same individual RGB color values.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein said matching pattern and said queried pattern each have the same pattern value.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein said matching step comprises the steps of comparing the color value of said queried color to the color value of products listed in said product data storage and comparing the pattern value of said queried pattern to the pattern value of products listed in said product data storage.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein said queried color and said queried pattern are selected by a user via said graphical user interface.

25. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of assigning each of said plurality of selectable color swatches a corresponding alias.

26. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, in communication with color data storage and product data storage, said product data storage being populated by merchant IMS/SCM feeds, and said non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

provide a plurality of selectable colors swatches;

assign a unique color value to each of said plurality of selectable color swatches;

store said plurality of selectable color swatches and said unique color values in a table;

provide a plurality of selectable pattern swatches;

assign a pattern value to each of a plurality of selectable pattern swatches;

store said plurality of selectable pattern swatches and said pattern values in said table;

provide a graphical user interface to display said plurality of selectable color swatches and said plurality of selectable pattern swatches, wherein each of said plurality of selectable color swatches may serve as a queried color and each of said plurality of selectable pattern swatches may serve as a queried pattern when selected by a user to transform said selectable color swatches and said selectable pattern swatches to a color-pattern based query for a product;

in response to a color-pattern based query for a product by a user, match said queried color and said queried pattern with products from multiple merchants listed in said product data storage associated with a matching color value and a matching pattern value.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein said color value corresponds to a hexadecimal value.

28. The device of claim 26 wherein said color value corresponds to individual RGB color values.

29. The device of claim 26 wherein said matching color and said queried color each have the same hexadecimal value.

30. The device of claim 26 wherein said matching color and said queried color each have the same individual RGB color values.

31. The device of claim 26 wherein said matching pattern and said queried pattern each have the same pattern value.

32. The device of claim 26 the one or more programs further including instructions to compare the color value of said queried color to the color value of products listed in said product data storage and comparing the pattern value of said queried pattern to the pattern value of products listed in said product data storage.

33. The device of claim 26 wherein said queried color and said queried pattern are selected by a user via said graphical user interface.

34. The device of claim 26 the one or more programs further including instructions to assign each of said plurality of selectable color swatches a corresponding alias.

35. With a processor controlled system in communication with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having product data storage and color data storage, said product data storage being populated by merchant IMS/SCM feeds, a method of color based product searching comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of selectable color swatches on a graphical user interface, each of said plurality of selectable color swatches having an associated unique color value stored in said color data storage;

in response to a user selecting one of said plurality of selectable color swatches, sending a query to said product data storage for products from multiple merchants having an associated unique color value that matches the unique color value associated with said selected color swatch;

determining whether there are any products in said product data storage which match said query; and

displaying representations of products having an associated unique color value that matches the unique color value associated with said selected color swatch.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said unique color value comprises a 6-digit hexadecimal code.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said unique color value comprises component RGB intensities.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein said determining step returns a positive match when there are products having an associated unique color value that is the same as the unique color value associated with said selected color swatch.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein said determining step returns a positive match when there are products having an associated unique color value that is within a predetermined range of the unique color value associated with said selected color swatch.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein a variety of said selectable color swatches is a variety chosen by a user.

41. The method of claim 35 further comprising the steps of assigning each of said plurality of selectable colors swatches a corresponding alias.

42. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of providing selectable user parameters to narrow query results.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein, in response to a user selecting a number of said user parameters, displaying representations of products that also conform to said selected user parameters.

44. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, in communication with color data storage and product data storage, said product data storage being populated by merchant IMS/SCM feeds, and said non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

display a plurality of selectable color swatches on a graphical user interface, each of said plurality of selectable color swatches having an associated unique color value stored in said color data storage;

in response to a user selecting one of said plurality of selectable color swatches, send a query to said product data storage for products from multiple merchants having an associated unique color value that matches the unique color value associated with said selected color swatch;

determine whether there are any products in said product data storage which match said query; and

display representations of products having an associated unique color value that matches the unique color value associated with said selected color swatch.

45. The device of claim 44 wherein said unique color value comprises a 6-digit hexadecimal code.

46. The device of claim 44 wherein said unique color value comprises component RGB intensities.

47. The device of claim 44, the one or more programs further including instructions to return a positive match when there are products having an associated unique color value that is the same as the unique color value associated with said selected color swatch.

48. The device of claim 44, the one or more programs further including instructions to return a positive match when there are products having an associated unique color value that is within a predetermined range the unique color value associated with said selected color swatch.

49. The device of claim 44, wherein a variety of said selectable color swatches is a variety chosen by a user.

50. The device of claim 44, the one or more programs further including instructions to assign each of said plurality of selectable colors a corresponding alias,

51. The device of claim 44, the one or more programs further including instructions to provide selectable user parameters to narrow query results.

52. The device of claim 44, the one or more programs further including instructions to, in response to a user selecting a number of said user parameters, display representations of products that also conform to said selected user parameters.

53. A graphical user interface operatively connected to a processor controlled computer system for conducting color-based searches of an item table populated with representations of products from merchant IMS/SCM feeds, each of said products being associated with at least one of a plurality of unique color identifiers, comprising:

a plurality of selectable color swatches, each selectable color swatch being associated with one of said plurality of unique color identifiers and configured to initiate a color-based query for products associated with said one of said plurality of unique color identifiers when one of said selectable color swatches is selected by a user;

a textual search field configured to receive textual query parameters used to supplement said color-based query for products;

a search result display area configured to display representations of products that match said textual query parameters and are associated with the same unique color identifier as the selectable color swatch selected by a user in response to it being selected by a user.

54. The graphical user interface of claim 53 wherein said selectable color swatches form a color bar of different selectable color swatches, said bar being located adjacent to said textual search field.

55. The graphical user interface of claim 54 wherein each selectable color swatch on said color bar can be expanded to display different shades of said selectable color swatch when said color swatch is selected.

56. The graphical user interface of claim 53 further comprising a plurality of selectable pattern swatches which, when selected by a user, is configured to supplement said color-based query for products.

57. The graphical user interface of claim 53 further comprising a selectable bookmark function to save searches utilizing previously selected color swatches.

58. A graphical user interface operatively connected to a processor controlled computer system for conducting color-based searches of an item table populated with representations of products from merchant IMS/SCM feeds, each of said products being associated with at least one of a plurality of unique color identifiers, comprising:

a plurality of selectable color swatches, each selectable color swatch being associated with one of said plurality of unique color identifiers and configured to initiate a color-based query for products associated with said one of said plurality of unique color identifiers when one of said selectable color swatches is selected by a user;

a search result display area, populated in response to a selection of a selectable color swatch, said search result display area configured to display products having a color that matches said selected color swatch.

59. The graphical user interface of claim 58 further comprising a textual search field to supply textual search parameters to narrow the results of a color-based query.

60. The graphical user interface of claim 58 further comprising a plurality of selectable pattern swatches, wherein when one of said selectable pattern swatch fields is selected by a user, said products results from said color-based query also matches said selected pattern swatch.

61. The graphical user interface of claim 58, wherein said displayed products are associated with a unique color identifier that is identical to the unique color identifier associated with the selected color swatch.

62. The graphical user interface of claim 58, wherein said displayed products are associated with a unique color identifier that is the closest having associated products to the unique color identifier associated with the selected color swatch.

63. The graphical user interface of claim 58, wherein each of said unique color identifiers comprise a 6-digit hexadecimal color code.

64. The graphical user interface of claim 58, wherein each of said unique color identifiers comprise a RGB component values.

65. A graphical user interface operatively connected to a processor controlled computer system for conducting color-based searches of an item table populated with representations of products from merchant IMS/SCM feeds, each of said products being associated with at least one of a plurality of color codes being formed from a concatenation of digital values for R, G and B components of a color, comprising:

a plurality of selectable color swatches, each selectable color swatch being associated with one of said plurality of color codes and configured to initiate a color-based query for products associated with said one of said plurality of color codes when one of said selectable color swatches is selected by a user;

a search result display area, populated in response to a selection of a selectable color swatch, said search result display area sized to display products having a color code that matches that of the selected color swatch.

66. The graphical user interface of claim 65 further comprising a textual search field to supply textual search parameters to narrow the results of a color-based query.

67. The graphical user interface of claim 65 further comprising a plurality of selectable pattern swatches, wherein when one of said selectable pattern swatch fields is selected by a user, said products results from said color-based query also matches said selected pattern swatch.

68. The graphical user interface of claim 65, wherein said displayed products are associated with a color code that is identical to that associated with the selected color swatch.

69. The graphical user interface of claim 65, wherein said displayed products are associated with a color code that is the closest one having associated products to the color code associated with the selected color swatch.

70. A processor-based computer system with machine readable storage media operatively connected to a plurality of merchant ISM/SCM feeds and configured to receive formatted data on products and color from said feeds, comprising:

a color table database, said color table database comprising a plurality of unique color identifiers, each associated with a color swatch;

a product table database, said product table database comprising a plurality of products, each associated with at least one of said plurality of unique color identifiers;

one or more processors configured to (a) transform product data and color data received from said ISM/SCM feeds so that said product data and color data is incorporated into said product table database, and (b) execute IMS/SCM functions by accessing said product table database and, in response to a query, retrieving data entries therein which are related in a manner that dictates retrieval of both a unique color identifier and products associated therewith.

71. A relational database access system for performing ISM/SCM functions comprising:

a processor-based computer system with a machine readable storage medium and memory operatively connected by a channel to a plurality of merchant ISM/SCM feeds and configured to receive formatted data from said feeds via said channel; and

a relational database responsive to a query language and queries from a user, said relational database having transformed forms of data records input therein from a plurality of merchants including product records, each associated with a color identifier in the form of a concatenation of digital values for R, G and B components;

wherein product records associated with a different merchant and having the same color identifier are related to one another by said color identifier in said relational database such that when a color query for said color identifier returns a positive match, product records having the same color identifier are displayed in response.

72. In a processor controlled system in communication with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having color data storage and product data storage, a method comprising the steps of:

populating an item table by merchant IMS/SCM feeds transformed by a middleware engine with values in a unique color coding scheme;

conducting a color analysis of said merchant IMS/SCM feeds when said merchant IMS/SCM feeds do not contain a value in said unique color coding scheme

determining a value in said unique color coding scheme based upon said merchant IMS/SCM feeds which do not contain a value;

populating a color/pattern table with said determined value in said unique color coding scheme;

receiving a query to said item table and said color/pattern table from a user to return a color based product record having a value that matches said query; and

returning all color based product records having a value that matches said query from said item table and said color/pattern table.

73. In a processor controlled system in communication with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having color data storage and product data storage, a method comprising the steps of:

receiving in a middleware engine a plurality of merchant IMS/SCM data feeds of item information including, for each data feed, a color field comprising a concatenation of digital values for R, G and B components of a color represented in a color field; and

receiving in an item table from the middleware engine said color fields of all of said data feeds;

wherein the item table comprises additional product identification fields.