Color management and solution distribution system and method

• US 6,999,615 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: BASF Corporation (BASF SE)
• Inventors: McClanahan, Craig J., Soss, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kanjibhai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bayat, Ali
• Application Number:
  US09/874,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20020181766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 382/162, 382/167, 382/166, 700/123, 702/32, 702/127, 702/104, 702/85, 706/20, 706/16, 345/589
• US Class Current: 382/162
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/46 Colour picture communication systems

Abstract

A computer based system and method provides color solutions to a customer. A solution request from an operator located at a remote location is received and delivered to a central location over a computer network. A composite solution database is searched to determine a color solution as a function of the solution request.

Claims

1. A computer system for providing a color solution to a customer, comprising:

a color measurement device for taking a color measurement of a part to be repaired, the color measurement including color space values and reflectance values;

a first module located at a remote location and being adapted to receive a solution request from an operator, the solution request including the color measurement; and

,

a second module coupled to the first module and being located at a central location, the second module including a composite solution database and a search routine coupled to the composite solution database and being adapted to receive the solution request from the first module, the search routine being adapted to search the composite solution database and determine the color solution as a function of the color space values and the reflectance values.

2. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second module are coupled by a computer network.

3. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second module are coupled via the internet.

4. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, including a customer interface implemented on the first module.

5. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solution request includes a customer identifier.

6. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the color measurement includes tristimulus values.

7. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the color space values represent luminous intensity, red/green appearance, and yellow/blue appearance.

8. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the color space values represent lightness, chroma, and hue.

9. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second control module being adapted to store the color measurement thereon.

10. The computer system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the color measurement database includes color measurement data obtained by inspectors.

11. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the composite solution database includes at least one formulation for a plurality of colors.

12. The computer system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the composite solution database includes a color measurement associated with each formulation.

13. The computer system, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the solution request includes a color code and a color measurement of a part to be repaired, and wherein the color solution is determined as a function of the color code and the color measurement.

14. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second module includes means for deriving a new color solution as a function of the solution request if an acceptable solution is not found in the composite solution database.

15. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second module includes means for performing a consistency check on the solution request.

16. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second module includes means for determining and employing acceptable tolerances for the color solution.

17. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solution request includes vehicle information identifying a source of the part.

18. The computer system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the solution request includes a desired paintline.

19. A computer system for providing a color solution to a customer, comprising:

a first module located at a remote location and being adapted to receive a solution request from an operator at the customer, the solution request including a customer identifier; and

,

a second module coupled to the first module and being located at a central location, the second module including a composite solution database and a search routine coupled to the composite solution database and being adapted to receive the solution request from the first module, the search routine being adapted to search the composite solution database and determine the color solution as a function of the solution request, the second module including a customer and solution usage database, and being adapted to store customer information thereon, the customer information including the customer identifier and information about the customer'"'"'s use of the system.

20. A computer system for providing a color solution to a customer, comprising:

a color measurement device for taking a color measurement of a part to be repaired, the color measurement including color space values and reflectance values;

a first module having a customer interface and being located at a remote location, the customer interface being adapted to receive a solution request from an operator, the solution request include the color measurement; and

,

a second module coupled to the first module and being located at a central location, the second module being adapted to receive the solution request, to perform a consistency check on the solution request and to responsively request clarification from the operator if the solution request is not consistent, the second module including a composite solution database and a search routine coupled to the composite solution database, the search routine being adapted to search the composite solution database and determine the color solution as a function of the color space values and the reflectance values.

21. The computer system, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the second module includes a customer and solution usage database, wherein the second module is adapted to store customer information thereon.

22. The computer system, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the second module includes a color measurement database, the second control module being adapted to store the color measurement thereon.

23. The computer system, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the second module includes means for deriving a new color solution as a function of the solution request if an acceptable solution is not found in the composite solution database.

24. The computer system, as set forth in claim 20, wherein the second module includes means for determining and employing acceptable tolerances for the color solution.

25. A computer based method for providing a color solution to a customer over a computer network, including the steps of:

taking a color measurement of a part to be repaired by a color measurement device, the color measurement including color space values and reflectance values;

receiving a solution request from an operator located at a remote location, the solution request including the color measurement;

delivering the solution request from the remote location to a central location over the computer network;

searching a composite solution database and determining the color solution as a function of the color space values and the reflectance values.

26. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 25, including the step of delivering the color solution to the operator at the remote location over the computer network.

27. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 25, including the step of providing a customer interface at the remote location.

28. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the color measurement includes tristimulus values.

29. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the color space values represent luminous intensity, red/green appearance, and yellow/blue appearance.

30. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the color space values represent lightness, chroma, and hue.

31. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 25 including the step of storing the color measurement in a color measurement database.

32. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 25, wherein the composite solution database includes at least one formulation for a plurality of colors.

33. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 32, wherein the composite solution database includes a color measurement associated with each formulation.

34. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the solution request includes a color code and a color measurement of a part to be repaired, and wherein the color solution is determined as a function of the color code and the color measurement.

35. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 25, including the step of deriving a new color solution as a function of the solution request if an acceptable solution is not found in the composite solution database.

36. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 25, including the step of performing a consistency check on the solution request.

37. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 25, including the step of determining and employing acceptable tolerances for the color solution.

38. A computer based method for providing a color solution to a customer over a computer network, including the steps of:

receiving a solution request from an operator located at a remote location, the solution request including a customer information including a customer identifier;

delivering the solution request from the remote location to a central location over the computer network;

searching a composite solution database and determining the color solution as a function of the solution request; and

,

storing customer information on a customer and solution usage database.

39. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 38, wherein the customer information includes information about the customer'"'"'s use of the system.

40. The computer based method, as set forth in claim 38, wherein the customer information includes a number of times the system has been accessed by the customer.