METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLOR MATCHING AND COLOR RECOMMENDATION

• US 20130300761A1
• Filed: 11/11/2011
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Colormodules Inc.
• Original Assignee: Colormodules Inc.
• Inventors: Ahmed, Asmau
• Application Number:
  US13/884,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300761A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/595
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/463 Colour matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/528 using colour harmony theory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/02 characterised by the way in which colour is displayed details of colour display specific for CRTs G09G1/28; specific for flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/644 using a reduced set of representative colours, e.g. each representing a particular range in a colour space

Abstract

A color matching and color recommendation system. In one embodiment, the system may (i) receive a color input indicative of one or more colors, (ii) select at least one reference color from the one or more colors, (iii) associate the at least one reference color with at least one of a plurality of predefined color categories, and (iv) identify at least one related color based on the at least one of the plurality of predefined color categories. In another embodiment, the system may (i) receive a color input indicative of one or more colors, (ii) select at least one reference color from the one or more colors, and (iii) compare the at least one reference color to a plurality of predetermined colors to identify one or more related colors having color data closest to the at least one reference color.

Claims

1. A method for color recommendation, the method comprising:

receiving, by a color matching and recommendation computing device, a color input indicative of one or more colors;

selecting, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, at least one reference color from the one or more colors;

associating, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, the at least one reference color with at least one of a plurality of predefined color categories; and

identifying, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, at least one related color based on the at least one of the plurality of predefined color categories.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, the plurality of predefined color categories for the one or more colors within a visible spectrum.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the defining includes further comprises:

establishing, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, a database of the one or more colors, and

defining, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, the plurality of predefined color categories based on the one or more colors in the database.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the colors are categorized based on a combination of two or more of hue, temperature, value, or chroma.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one related color is at least one of a matching color or a coordinating color.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying further comprises identifying, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, the at least one related color based on a color-category descriptor uniquely identifying the at least one of the plurality of predefined color categories.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, one or more items associated with the at least one related color.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the identifying the at least one item further comprises:

receiving, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, an indication of the geographic location of a user;

identifying, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, the at least one item further based on a geographic location of the user; and

providing, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, an indication of the at least one item to a user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the identifying the at least one item further comprises identifying, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, the at least one item based on a user'"'"'s purchase at a first retail location that is in a vicinity of the geographic location of the user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifying the at least one item further comprises identifying, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, the at least one item from a second retail location in a vicinity of the first retail location or from an on-line retailer.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, an indication of the at least one related color to a user.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one item further comprises at least one of a cosmetic product or a fashion product.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cosmetic product further comprises at least one of a foundation, powder, lipstick, or an eye shadow or wherein the fashion product further comprises at least one of an item of clothing, shoes or an accessory.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of predefined color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the characteristics further comprise at least one of color temperature, color hue, color value, or color chroma.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising color-correcting, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, the color input.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, color information from the color input, wherein the selecting is based on the obtained color information.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference color further comprises multiple reference colors.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one related color is associated at least with the same one of the plurality of predefined color categories as the reference color.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics, and wherein the at least one related color has one or more of the same color-category characteristics as the at least one reference color.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference color is associated with a first predefined color category of the plurality of predefined color categories, and wherein the at least one related color is associated with a second predefined color category of the plurality of predefined color categories that is different from the first predefined color category.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the second predefined color category comprises a complementary color.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of predefined color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics, and wherein each of the color-category characteristics has a plurality of levels.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference color is a dominant color.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more colors further comprise a plurality of colors, and wherein the selecting further comprises determining, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, a dominant color from the plurality of colors.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein each of the plurality of predefined color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics, wherein each of the color-category characteristics has a plurality of levels, and wherein the determining further comprises determining the dominant color, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, the dominant color based on the levels of each of the category characteristic.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the determining the dominant color further comprises assigning, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, a respective weight to each of the plurality of colors.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the determining the dominant color further comprises determining, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, the dominant color based on at least one of a plurality of factors.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the plurality of factors comprise a dominant presence of a color and an intensity of a color.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the dominant presence of the color is determined based on a surface area of the color.

6-7. -7. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

18-19. -19. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

26-28. -28. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

42-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A method for color matching, the method comprising:

receiving, by a color matching and recommendation computing device, a color input indicative of one or more colors;

selecting, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, at least one reference color from the one or more colors; and

comparing, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, the at least one reference color to a plurality of predetermined colors to identify one or more related colors having color data closest to the at least one reference color.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the comparing further comprises calculating, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, color-data differences between the at least one reference color and the plurality of predetermined colors to identify the one or more colors having color data closest to the at least one reference color.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising identifying, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, at least one color from the one or more colors having the closest data that belongs to a same color family as the reference color.

50-91. -91. (canceled)

92. A computerized method comprising:

receiving, by a color matching and recommendation computing device, a color input indicative of at least a skin color of a given person; and

automatically identifying, by the color matching and recommendation computing device, one or more related colors based at least on the skin color of the given person.

93-95. -95. (canceled)

96. A color matching and recommendation computing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor, the processor configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device comprising;

receiving a color input indicative of one or more colors,

selecting at least one reference color from the one or more colors,

associating the at least one reference color with at least one of a plurality of predefined color categories; and

identifying at least one related color based on the at least one of the plurality of predefined color categories.

133. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device further comprising defining the plurality of predefined color categories for the one or more colors within a visible spectrum.

134. The apparatus of claim 133, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device for the defining further comprising:

establishing a database of the one or more colors, and

defining the plurality of predefined color categories based on the one or more colors in the database.

135. The apparatus of claim 133, wherein the colors are categorized based on a combination of two or more of hue, temperature, value, or chroma.

136. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the at least one related color is at least one of a matching color or a coordinating color.

137. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device for the identifying further comprising identifying the at least one related color based on a color-category descriptor uniquely identifying the at least one of the plurality of predefined color categories.

138. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device further comprising identifying at one or more items associated with the at least one related color.

139. The apparatus of claim 138, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device for the identifying the at least one item further comprising:

receiving an indication of the geographic location of a user;

identifying the at least one item further based on a geographic location of a user; and

providing an indication of the at least one item to the user.

140. The apparatus of claim 139, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device for the identifying the at least one item further comprising identifying the at least one item based on a user'"'"'s purchase at a first retail location that is in a vicinity of the geographic location of the user.

141. The apparatus of claim 140, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device for the identifying the at least one item further comprising identifying the at least one item from a second retail location in a vicinity of the first retail location or from an on-line retailer.

142. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device further comprising providing an indication of the at least one related color to a user.

143. The apparatus of claim 138, wherein the at least one item further comprises at least one of a cosmetic product or a fashion product.

144. The apparatus of claim 143, wherein the cosmetic product further comprises at least one of a foundation, powder, lipstick, and an eye shadow or wherein the fashion product further comprises at least one of an item of clothing, shoes and an accessory.

145. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein each of the plurality of predefined color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics.

146. The apparatus of claim 145, wherein the characteristics further comprise at least one of color temperature, color hue, color value, or color chroma.

147. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device further comprising color-correcting the color input.

148. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device further comprising obtaining color information from the color input, wherein the selecting is based on the obtained color information.

149. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the at least one reference color further comprises multiple reference colors.

150. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the at least one related color is associated at least with the same one of the plurality of predefined color categories as the reference color.

151. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein each one of the plurality of color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics, and wherein the at least one related color has one or more of the same color-category characteristics as the at least one reference color.

152. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the at least one reference color is associated with a first predefined color category of the plurality of predefined color categories, and wherein the at least one related color is associated with a second predefined color category of the plurality of predefined color categories that is different from the first predefined color category.

153. The apparatus of claim 152, wherein the second predefined color category comprises a complementary color.

154. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein each of the plurality of predefined color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics, and wherein each of the color-category characteristics has a plurality of levels.

155. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the at least one reference color is a dominant color.

156. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein the one or more colors further comprise a plurality of colors, and wherein the selecting further comprises determining a dominant color from the plurality of colors.

157. The apparatus of claim 156, wherein each of the plurality of predefined color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics, wherein each of the color-category characteristics has a plurality of levels, and wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device for the determining the dominant color further comprising determining the dominant color based on the levels of each of the category characteristic.

158. The apparatus of claim 156, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device for the determining the dominant color further comprising assigning a respective weight to each of the plurality of colors.

159. The apparatus of claim 156, wherein the processor is configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory device for the determining the dominant color further comprises determining the dominant color based on at least one of a plurality of factors.

160. The apparatus of claim 159, wherein the plurality of factors comprise a dominant presence of a color and an intensity of a color.

161. The apparatus of claim 160, wherein the dominant presence of the color is determined based on a surface area of the color.

97-132. -132. (canceled)

162. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for color recommendation comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform steps comprising:

receiving a color input indicative of one or more colors,

selecting at least one reference color from the one or more colors,

associating the at least one reference color with at least one of a plurality of predefined color categories; and

identifying at least one related color based on the at least one of the plurality of predefined color categories.

163. The medium of claim 162, further comprising defining the plurality of predefined color categories for the one or more colors within a visible spectrum.

164. The medium of claim 163, further comprising:

establishing a database of the one or more colors, and

defining the plurality of predefined color categories based on the one or more colors in the database.

165. The medium of claim 163, wherein the colors are categorized based on a combination of two or more of hue, temperature, value, or chroma.

166. The medium of claim 162, wherein the at least one related color is at least one of a matching color or a coordinating color.

167. The medium of claim 162, wherein the identifying further comprising identifying the at least one related color based on a color-category descriptor uniquely identifying the at least one of the plurality of predefined color categories.

168. The medium of claim 162, further comprising identifying one or more item associated with the at least one related color.

169. The medium of claim 168, wherein the identifying the at least one item further comprising:

receiving an indication of the geographic location of a user;

identifying the at least one item further based on a geographic location of a user; and

providing an indication of the at least one item to the user.

170. The medium of claim 169, wherein the identifying the at least one item further comprising identifying the at least one item based on a user'"'"'s purchase at a first retail location that is in a vicinity of the geographic location of the user.

171. The medium of claim 170, wherein the identifying the at least one item further comprising identifying the at least one item from a second retail location in a vicinity of the first retail location or from an on-line retailer.

172. The medium of claim 162, further comprising providing an indication of the at least one related color to a user.

173. The medium of claim 168, wherein the at least one item further comprises at least one of a cosmetic product or a fashion product.

174. The medium of claim 173, wherein the cosmetic product further comprises at least one of a foundation, powder, lipstick, and an eye shadow or wherein the fashion product further comprises at least one of an item of clothing, shoes and an accessory.

175. The medium of claim 162, wherein each of the plurality of predefined color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics.

176. The medium of claim 175, wherein the characteristics further comprise at least one of color temperature, color hue, color value, or color chroma.

177. The medium of claim 162, further comprising color-correcting the color input.

178. The medium of claim 162, further comprising obtaining color information from the color input, wherein the selecting is based on the obtained color information.

179. The medium of claim 162, wherein the at least one reference color further comprises multiple reference colors.

180. The medium of claim 162, wherein the at least one related color is associated at least with the same one of the plurality of predefined color categories as the reference color.

181. The medium of claim 162, wherein each one of the plurality of color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics, and wherein the at least one related color has one or more of the same color-category characteristics as the at least one reference color.

182. The medium of claim 162, wherein the at least one reference color is associated with a first predefined color category of the plurality of predefined color categories, and wherein the at least one related color is associated with a second predefined color category of the plurality of predefined color categories that is different from the first predefined color category.

183. The medium of claim 182, wherein the second predefined color category comprises a complementary color.

184. The medium of claim 162, wherein each of the plurality of predefined color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics, and wherein each of the color-category characteristics has a plurality of levels.

185. The medium of claim 162, wherein the at least one reference color is a dominant color.

186. The medium of claim 162, wherein the one or more colors further comprise a plurality of colors, and wherein the selecting further comprises determining a dominant color from the plurality of colors.

187. The medium of claim 186, wherein each of the plurality of predefined color categories is defined based on a combination of different characteristics, wherein each of the color-category characteristics has a plurality of levels, and wherein the determining the dominant color further comprising determining the dominant color based on the levels of each of the category characteristic.

188. The medium of claim 186, wherein the determining the dominant color further comprising assigning a respective weight to each of the plurality of colors.

189. The medium of claim 186, wherein the determining the dominant color further comprises determining the dominant color based on at least one of a plurality of factors.

190. The medium of claim 189, wherein the plurality of factors comprise a dominant presence of a color and an intensity of a color.

191. The medium of claim 190, wherein the dominant presence of the color is determined based on a surface area of the color.