Data-driven color coordinator

• US 7,605,824 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BEHR Process Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEHR Process Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Webb, Marc, Reynolds, Damien, Rice, Mary Rose
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kimbinh T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ma; Tize
• Application Number:
  US11/789,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 345/589, 345593-595, 345/597, 345600-602, 356/403, 356/421, 356/425, 434/84
• US Class Current: 345/589
• 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 automated method for providing color coordination capability to a user comprising:

employing one or more programmed computers to perform a plurality of operations in conjunction with a computer queryable stored database, the operations comprising;

receiving a starting color for which coordinating colors are sought;

associating the starting color with a first color stored in the database, the first color being the closest matching color in the database to the starting color;

displaying said first color to the user on a computer controlled display apparatus;

retrieving a color palette associated with the first color, the palette including said first color and one or more coordinating colors which coordinate with said first color;

displaying the retrieved color palette on the computer controlled display apparatus;

wherein

the retrieved color palette is defined by one of at least first, second, third and fourth data structure types;

the first data structure type comprising a monochromatic color scheme;

the second data structure type comprising a complementary color scheme;

the third data structure type comprising a warm color scheme;

and the fourth data structure type comprising a cool color scheme; and

wherein each of said data structure types includes at least four colors;

a core color, a trim color, an accent color and an associated white.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the four colors of the first data structure type are selected as follows:

Core Color;

The color the user has chosen to coordinate around

Trim Color;

If core color is dark, the trim color is a tint of the core color If the core color is light, then the trim color is a shade of the core color

Accent Color;

Analogous color of equal value (chroma, depth)

White;

White of similar hue as core color,

wherein the four colors of the second data structure type are selected as follows;

Core Color;

The color the user has chosen to coordinate around

Trim Color;

The trim color is a complement of equal value

Accent Color;

The Accent Color is a tint or shade of the core color (If light, then dark, if dark, then light)

White;

White of similar hue as the core color,

wherein the four colors of the third data structure type are selected as follows;

Core Color;

The color the user has chosen to coordinate around

Trim Color;

Triad (on warm side of hue) of equal value

Accent Color;

The Accent Color is a tint or shade of core (If light, then dark, if dark, then light)

White;

White of similar hue as the core color,

and wherein the four colors of the fourth data structure type are selected as follows;

Core Color;

The color the user has chosen to coordinate around

Trim Color;

Triad (on cool side of hue) of equal value

Accent Color;

The Accent Color is a tint or shade of core color (If light, then dark, if dark, then light)

White;

White of similar hue as the core color.

3. An automated apparatus for providing color coordination capability to a user comprising:

a stored computer queryable database;

a computer controlled display apparatus; and

one or more computers programmed to perform a plurality of operations, the operations comprising;

receiving a starting color for which coordinating colors are sought;

associating the starting color with a first color stored in the database, the first color being the closest matching color in the database to the starting color;

displaying said first color to the user on the computer controlled display apparatus;

retrieving from a computer memory a color palette associated with the first color, the color palette including said first color and one or more coordinating colors which coordinate with said first color;

displaying the retrieved color palette on the computer controlled display apparatus; and

wherein

the retrieved color palette is defined by at least one of first, second, third and fourth data structure types stored in said database;

the first data structure type comprising a monochromatic color scheme;

the second data structure type comprising a complementary color scheme;

the third data structure type comprising a warm color scheme;

and the fourth data structure type comprising a cool color scheme; and

wherein in each data structure type includes at least four colors;

a core color, a trim color, an accent color and an associated white.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the four colors of the first data structure type are selected as follows:

Core Color;

The color the user has chosen to coordinate around

Trim Color;

If core is dark, the trim color is a tint of the core color If the core is light, then the trim color is a shade of the core color

Accent Color;

Analogous color of equal value (chroma, depth)

White;

White of similar hue as core

wherein the four colors of the second data structure type are selected as follows;

Core Color;

The color the user has chosen to coordinate around

Trim Color;

The trim color is a complement of equal value

Accent Color;

The Accent Color is a tint or shade of the core color (If light, then dark, if dark, then light)

White;

White of similar hue as the core color

wherein the four colors of the third data structure type are selected as follows;

Core Color;

The color the user has chosen to coordinate around

Trim Color;

Triad (on warm side of hue) of equal value

Accent Color;

The Accent Color is a tint or shade of core (If light, then dark, if dark, then light)

White;

White of similar hue as the core color

and wherein the four colors of the fourth data structure type are selected as follows;

Core Color;

The color the user has chosen to coordinate around

Trim Color;

Triad (on cool side of hue) of equal value

Accent Color;

The Accent Color is a tint or shade of core color (If light, then dark, if dark, then light)

White;

White of similar hue as the core color.