Data-Driven Color Coordinator

• US 20150002534A1
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• 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 9,928,543 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 computing device having a display device and a sensor device, the computing device having access to 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 computing device is configured to receive a starting color for which coordinating colors are sought via the sensor device, to associate the starting color with a closest matching paint color in the database to the starting color, to determine a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the closest matching paint color based on data received from the database, and to display on the display device a color palette including the closest matching paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the starting color is received based on the sensor device scanning an item.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor device is a spectrophotometer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the starting color is received based on an image generated by the sensor device.

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

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the computing device includes a touch screen and wherein the computing device is configured to receive input, via the touch screen, for fine-tuning the closest matching paint color to achieve a second paint color, the input for fine-tuning the closest matching paint color including input for changing at least one of a tint and a shade of the closest matching paint color.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to display on the display device product information for the closest matching 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 closest matching 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 a sensor device of a computing device, a starting color for which coordinating colors are sought, the computing device having access to a database including a 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 computing device, a closest matching paint color in the database to the starting color;

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

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

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the receiving the starting color includes the sensor device scanning an item.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the sensor device is a spectrophotometer.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the receiving the starting color includes receiving the starting color based on an image generated by the sensor device.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the determining the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the closest matching paint color based on data received from the database includes sending, with the computing device, the closest matching paint color to a server and receiving, with the computing device, the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the closest matching paint color from the server, the method further comprising:

receiving, with the server, the closest matching paint color from the computing device;

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

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

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the computing device includes a touch screen, the method further comprising receiving, with the touch screen, input for fine-tuning the closest matching paint color to achieve a second paint color, the input for fine-tuning the closest matching paint color including input for changing at least one of a tint and a shade of the closest matching paint color.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising displaying, with the display device of the computing device, product information for the closest matching 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 closest matching 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 computing device having a display device and a sensor device, the computing device having access to 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 computing device is configured to receive a starting color for which coordinating colors are sought via the sensor device, to associate the starting color with a closest matching paint color in the database to the starting color, to determine a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the closest matching paint color based on data received from the database, and to display on the display device a color palette including the closest matching paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

20. The system of claim 19 where the computing device is configured to display on the display device product information for at least one paint color selected from the closest matching paint color and the 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 computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the sensor device is a spectrophotometer.

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

25. A method comprising:

receiving, with a sensor device of a computing device, a starting color for which coordinating colors are sought, the computing device having access to 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;

determining, with the computing device, a closest matching paint color in the database to the starting color;

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

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

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising displaying, with the display device of the computing device, product information for at least one paint color selected from the closest matching paint color and the 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 computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the sensor device is a spectrophotometer.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising storing, with the computing device, the color palette on at least one of the computing device and a server.