Computerized interior design expert system

• US 6,572,377 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cynthia H. Masters
• Original Assignee: Cynthia H. Masters
• Inventors: Masters, Cynthia H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rovnak, John Edmund
• Application Number:
  US09/877,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20020006602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 434/72, 434/74, 434/75, 434/76, 434/79, 434/80
• US Class Current: 434/72
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/04 of buildings

Abstract

This invention is a computerized expert system for providing interior design by allowing a homeowner to enter interior design requirements and selecting interior design treatments according to the homeowner'"'"'s design requirements so that a grouping of compatible interior design treatments is provided for the homeowner to be used in decorating the homeowner'"'"'s home.

Claims

1. A computerized system for providing interior design for selecting interior design treatments in accordance with a homeowner'"'"'s interior design wishes comprising:

a computer processor;

a computer readable medium in electronic communication with said processor;

a database in electronic communication with said processor containing data representing individual interior design treatments selectable by selection criteria;

an input device in communication with said processor for inputting a homeowner'"'"'s design requirements;

a output device in communication with said processor for providing output to the homeowner; and

,

a set of computer readable instructions embodied within said computer readable medium controlling said processor for receiving the design requirements from said input device, selecting a set of interior design treatments by selection criteria in accordance with said design requirements, selecting at least one grouping of design treatments from said set of interior design treatments that is internally compatible within said at least one grouping, and outputting said at least one grouping to the homeowner so that the homeowner is provided the available interior design treatments according to the homeowner'"'"'s interior design wishes.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for providing a plurality of groupings and organizing said plurality of groupings in a hierarchy in accordance with said design requirements so that the most desired treatments are displayed higher in said hierarchy.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for limiting the interior design treatments provided to those above a predetermined level in said hierarchy.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for receiving existing treatment characteristics, selecting said set of interior design treatments by selection criteria in accordance with said existing treatments characteristics.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for providing a plurality of groupings and organizing said plurality of groupings in a hierarchy in accordance with said design requirements so that the most desired treatments are displayed higher in said hierarchy.

6. The system of claim 1 including:

a color requirement included within said homeowner'"'"'s design requirements; and

a color selection criteria included within said selection criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for comparing said color requirement of said homeowner'"'"'s design requirement with said color selection criteria of said interior design treatment selection criteria and providing said at least one grouping wherein said color selection criteria is within a predetermined tolerance of said color requirement.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said set of computer readable instructions includes instructions for excluding said interior design treatments said at least one grouping wherein said selection criteria is outside a predetermined tolerance of said color requirement.

9. The system of claim 1 including a pattern selection criteria included within said selection criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

10. The system of claim 1 including a style selection criteria included within said selection criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

11. A computerized system having a processor and a computer readable medium for providing interior design for selecting interior design treatments in accordance with a homeowner'"'"'s design requirements comprising:

means for storing data representing individual interior design treatments selectable by selection criteria;

means for receiving a homeowner'"'"'s design requirements;

means for selecting a set of interior design treatments, selected by said selection criteria, from said stored data in accordance with said design requirements;

means for selecting at least one grouping of design treatments from said set of interior design treatments that are internally compatible; and

,

means for outputting said at least one grouping so that the homeowner is provided the available interior design treatments according to the homeowner'"'"'s interior design wishes.

12. The system of claim 11 including:

means for receiving existing treatment characteristics; and

,

means for selecting a set of interior design treatments, selected by said selection criteria, from said stored data in accordance with said existing treatment characteristics.

13. The system of claim 11 including means for providing a plurality of groupings and for organizing said plurality of groupings in a hierarchy in accordance with said design requirements so that the most desired treatments are displayed higher in said hierarchy.

14. The system of claim 11 including means for limiting the interior design treatments provided to those of a predetermined level in said hierarchy.

15. The system of claim 11 including:

a color requirement included within said homeowner'"'"'s design requirements; and

,

a color selection criteria included within said selection criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

16. The system of claim 11 including a pattern selection criteria included within said selected criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

17. The system of claim 11 including a style selection criteria included within said selection criteria of said data representing said interior design treatments.

18. The system of claim 15 including means for comparing said color requirements of said homeowner'"'"'s design requirement with said color sealed criteria of said interior design treatment and selecting said interior design treatments wherein said color selection criteria is within a predetermined tolerance of said color requirement.

19. The system of claim 15 including means for excluding said interior design treatments from said at least one grouping wherein said color selection criteria is outside a predetermined tolerance of said color requirement.