Data-Driven Color Coordinator

• US 20150095181A1
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• 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 10,311,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.5
• 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. An in-store kiosk comprising:

a touch screen including an input device and a display device;

a computing device communicatively coupled to the touch screen, the computing device having access to a database that includes 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 paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors via the input device of the touch screen, to determine a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database, and to display on the display device of the touch screen a color palette including the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

2. The in-store kiosk of claim 1 wherein the in-store kiosk is located within a store that sells paint.

3. The in-store kiosk of claim 1 wherein the database is stored at a server in communication with the computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to determine the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color 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 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 computing device.

4. The in-store kiosk of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to display product information on the display device of the touch screen for at least one paint color selected from the starting 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.

5. The in-store kiosk of claim 4 wherein the in-store kiosk is located within a store that sells paint and wherein the consumer purchases paint at the store corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

6. The in-store kiosk 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.

7. The in-store kiosk of claim 6 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.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, with a computing device of an in-store kiosk, a starting paint color selected from a plurality of paint colors via a an input device of a touch screen of the in-store kiosk, the computing device having access to a database that includes 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;

determining, with the 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 touch screen, a color palette including the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the in-store kiosk is located within a store that sells paint.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the database is stored at a server in communication with the computing device, wherein the determining the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint based on data received from the database includes sending, with the computing device, the starting paint color to the server and receiving, with the 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 computing device;

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

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

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising displaying, on the display device of the touch screen, product information for at least one paint color selected from the starting 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.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the in-store kiosk is located within a store that sells paint and wherein the consumer purchases paint at the store corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

13. The method of claim 8 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.

14. The method of claim 13 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.

15. A system comprising:

a touch screen including an input device and a display device;

a computing device communicatively coupled to the touch screen, the computing device having access to a database that includes 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 paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors via the input device of the touch screen, to determine a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database, and to display on the display device of the touch screen a color palette including the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the touch screen and the computing device are included in an in-store kiosk located within a store that sells paint.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the database is stored at a server in communication with the computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to determine the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color 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 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 computing device.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the computing device is configured to display on the display device of the touch screen product information for at least one paint color selected from the starting 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.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the touch screen and the computing device included in an in-store kiosk located within a store that sells paint and wherein the consumer purchases paint at the store corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

20. The system of claim 15 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.

21. The system of claim 15 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.

22. A method comprising:

receiving, with a computing device communicatively coupled to a touch screen, a starting paint color selected from a plurality of paint colors via an input device of the touch screen, the computing device having access to a database that includes 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;

determining, with the 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 touch screen, a color palette including the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the touch screen and the computing device are included in an in-store kiosk located within a store that sells paint.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the database is stored at a server in communication with the computing device, wherein the determining the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint based on data received from the database includes sending, with the computing device, the starting paint color to the server and receiving, with the 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 computing device;

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

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

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising displaying, on the display device of the touch screen, product information for at least one paint color selected from the starting 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.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the touch screen and computing device are included in an in-store kiosk located within a store that sells paint and wherein the consumer purchases paint at the store corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

27. The method of claim 22 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.

28. The method of claim 27 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.