Data-Driven Color Coordinator

• US 20140375674A1
• Filed: 09/11/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BEHR Process Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEHR Process Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Rice, Mary Rose, Reynolds, Damien, Webb, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 9,035,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/593
• 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 system comprising:

a remote computing device having a display device and an input device; and

a server communicatively coupled to the remote computing device over the Internet, the server having a database including a plurality of paint colors each in a predetermined relationship with other paint colors in the database, the predetermined relationship between paint colors being based on color theory;

wherein the remote computing device is configured to receive a starting paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors via the input device, to determine a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database, to display on the display device a color palette including the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors, and to display on the display device a simulated environment showing at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the simulated environment is an interior room of a house and the remote computing device is configured to display the at least one selected paint color on a surface of the interior room of the house.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the simulated environment is an exterior of a house and the remote computing device is configured to display the at least one selected paint color on a surface of the exterior of the house.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computing device is configured to receive a selection of an interior room of a house from a plurality of preformatted interior rooms, wherein the simulated environment includes the selected interior room, and wherein the remote computing device is configured to display the at least one selected paint color on a surface of the selected interior room of the house.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computing device is configured to receive an image of an interior room of a house, wherein the simulated environment includes the interior room shown in the image, and wherein the remote computing device is configured to display the at least one selected paint color on a surface of the interior room of the house.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computing device is configured to determine the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database by sending the starting paint color to the server and receiving the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color from the server and wherein the server is configured to receive the starting paint color from the remote computing device, to determine the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color using the database, and to transmit the plurality of coordinating paint colors to the remote computing device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the input device of the remote computing device is a touch screen.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computing device is a personal computer.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computing device is configured to display on the display device product information for the at least one selected paint color for use by a consumer when purchasing paint, the product information including at least one of a color name, a number, and a code for the at least one selected paint color.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the database includes a color data structure associated with each paint color of the plurality of paint colors, each color data structure including a plurality of coordinating color references each identifying a predetermined coordinating paint color for the associated paint color.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein at least one predetermined coordinating paint color for at least one associated paint color in the database is predetermined based on human expert input.

12. A method comprising:

receiving, with an input device of a remote computing device, a selection for a starting paint color from a plurality of paint colors, the remote computing device being communicatively coupled to a server over the Internet, the server having a database including the plurality of paint colors each in a predetermined relationship with other paint colors in the database, and the predetermined relationship between paint colors being based on color theory;

determining, with the remote computing device, a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database;

displaying, with a display device of the remote computing device, a color palette including the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors; and

displaying, on the display device of the remote computing device, a simulated environment showing at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the simulated environment is an interior room of a house, the method further comprising displaying, on the display device of the remote computing device, the at least one selected paint color on a surface of the interior room of the house.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the simulated environment is an exterior of a house, the method further comprising displaying, on the display device of the remote computing device, the at least one selected paint color on a surface of the exterior of the house.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving, with the remote computing device, a selection of an interior room of a house from a plurality of preformatted interior rooms, the simulated environment including the selected interior room; and

displaying, with the display device of the remote computing device, the at least one selected paint color on a surface of the selected interior room of the house.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving, with the remote computing device, an image of an interior room of a house, the simulated environment including the interior room shown in the image; and

displaying, with the display device of the remote computing device, the at least one selected paint color on a surface of the interior room of the house.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the determining the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database includes sending, with the remote computing device, the starting paint color to the server and receiving, with the remote computing device, the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color from the server, the method further comprising:

receiving, with the server, the starting paint color from the remote computing device;

determining, with the server, the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color using the database; and

transmitting, with the server, the plurality of coordinating paint colors to the remote computing device.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the input device of the remote computing device is a touch screen.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the remote computing device is a personal computer.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising displaying, on the display device of the remote computing device, product information for the at least one selected paint color for use by a consumer when purchasing paint, the product information including at least one of a color name, a number, and a code for the at least one selected paint color.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the database includes a color data structure associated with each paint color of the plurality of paint colors, each color data structure including a plurality of coordinating color references each identifying a predetermined coordinating paint color for the associated paint color.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein at least one predetermined coordinating paint color for at least one associated paint color in the database is predetermined based on human expert input.

23. A system comprising:

a remote computing device having a display device and an input device; and

a server communicatively coupled to the remote computing device over the Internet, the server having a database including a plurality of paint colors each in a predetermined relationship with other paint colors in the database, the predetermined relationship between paint colors being based on color theory, the database including a color data structure associated with each paint color of the plurality of paint colors, each color data structure including a plurality of coordinating color references each identifying a predetermined coordinating paint color for the associated paint color;

wherein the remote computing device is configured to receive a starting paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors via the input device, to determine a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database, to display on the display device a color palette including the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors, and to display on the display device a simulated environment showing at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the remote computing device is configured to display on the display device product information for the at least one selected paint color for use by a consumer when purchasing paint, the product information including at least one of a color name, a number, and a code for the at least one selected paint color.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the consumer purchases paint corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the remote computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.

27. A method comprising:

receiving, with an input device of a remote computing device, a selection for a starting paint color from a plurality of paint colors, the remote computing device being communicatively coupled to a server over the Internet, the server having a database including the plurality of paint colors each in a predetermined relationship with other paint colors in the database, the predetermined relationship between paint colors being based on color theory, and the database including a color data structure associated with each paint color of the plurality of paint colors, each color data structure including a plurality of coordinating color references each identifying a predetermined coordinating paint color for the associated paint color;

determining, with the remote computing device, a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database;

displaying, with a display device of the remote computing device, a color palette including the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors; and

displaying, on the display device of the remote computing device, a simulated environment showing at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising displaying, on the display device of the remote computing device, product information for the at least one selected paint color for use by a consumer when purchasing paint, the product information including at least one of a color name, a number, and a code for the at least one selected paint color.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the consumer purchases paint corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the remote computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.