Data-Driven Color Coordinator

• US 20150002533A1
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BEHR Process Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEHR Process Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Rice, Mary Rose, Reynolds, Damien, Webb, Marc
• Application Number:
  US14/489,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20150002533A1
• 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 first plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database, to display on the display device a first color palette including the starting paint color and the first plurality of coordinating paint colors, to receive input, via the input device, for fine-tuning the starting paint color to achieve a second paint color, to determine a second plurality of coordinating paint colors for the second paint color based on data received from the database, and to display a second color palette including the second paint color and the second plurality of coordinating paint colors.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the input for fine-tuning the starting paint color includes input for changing at least one of a tint and a shade of the starting paint color.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computing device is configured to determine the first 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 first 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 first plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color using the database, and to transmit the first plurality of coordinating paint colors to the remote computing device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computing device is configured to store the first color palette on at least one of the server and the remote computing device.

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

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The system of claim 8 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.

10. 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 first 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 first color palette including the starting paint color and the first plurality of coordinating paint colors;

receiving, with the input device of the remote computing device, input for fine-tuning the starting paint color to achieve a second paint color;

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

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

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the input for fine-tuning the starting paint color includes input for changing at least one of a tint and a shade of the starting paint color.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the determining the first 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 first 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 first plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color using the database; and

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

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing, with the remote computing device, the first color palette on at least one of the server and the remote computing device.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the input device of the remote computing device is a touch screen.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the remote computing device is a personal computer.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying, with 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.

17. The method of claim 10 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.

18. The method of claim 17 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.

19. 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, 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;

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 first plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database, to display on the display device a first color palette including the starting paint color and the first plurality of coordinating paint colors, to receive input, via the input device, for fine-tuning the starting paint color to achieve a second paint color, to determine a second plurality of coordinating paint colors for the second paint color based on data received from the database, and to display a second color palette including the second paint color and the second plurality of coordinating paint colors.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the remote computing device is further configured to display on the display device product information for at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color, the second paint color, the first plurality of coordinating paint colors, and the second plurality of coordinating paint colors 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 system of claim 20 wherein the consumer purchases paint corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the remote computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.

23. The system of claim 20 further comprising a printer connected to the remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device is configured to print with the printer the product information for the at least one selected paint color

24. The system of claim 19 wherein the remote computing device is configured to store the first color palette on at least one of the remote computing device and the server.

25. 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 first 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 first color palette including the starting paint color and the first plurality of coordinating paint colors;

receiving, with the input device of the remote computing device, input for fine-tuning the starting paint color to achieve a second paint color;

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

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

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising displaying, with the display device of the remote computing device, product information for at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color, the second paint color, the first plurality of coordinating paint colors, and the second plurality of coordinating paint colors 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.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the consumer purchases paint corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

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

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising storing, with the remote computing device, the first color palette on at least one of the remote computing device and the server.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising printing, with a printer connected to the remote computing device, the product information for the at least one selected paint color.