Data-driven color coordinator

• US 9,911,153 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Ma, Tize
• Application Number:
  US14/491,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20150046872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• 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 an input device, the computing device having access to a database including a plurality of paint colors;

wherein the computing device is configured to receive a starting paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors via the input device, to display on the display device a color palette including the starting paint color and a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color, to receive a selection of a type of interior room of a house from a plurality of interior room types including at least one of a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom, to display a plurality of interior room templates corresponding to the selected type of interior room, each interior room template being preformatted to include a plurality of predetermined separate elements for selection including at least one of a wall, a trim, a door, a floor, and a ceiling, to receive a selection of an interior room template from the plurality of interior room templates, to receive a selection of a predetermined separate element from the plurality of predetermined separate elements associated with the selected interior room template, to display on the display device a first simulated environment showing the selected interior room template with at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors on a surface of the selected predetermined separate element of the selected interior room template, to display a tutorial option that includes a plurality of video demonstrations, each video demonstration including how-to instructions for a painting project, and to receive a selection for a video demonstration from the plurality of video demonstrations.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of paint colors in the database are in a predetermined relationship with other paint colors in the database, the predetermined relationship between paint colors being based on color theory.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to receive a second paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors via the input device and to display a second simulated environment showing an exterior of a house with the selected second paint color on a surface of the exterior of the house.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to identify the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database by sending the starting paint color to a 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.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the computing device is a personal computer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to display on the display device product information for the at least one selected 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 at least one selected paint color.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to display inspirational content including at least one inspirational color palette with a plurality of coordinating paint colors from the plurality of paint colors and to receive a selection from the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to receive a picture of a project including at least one of a living room and a dining room uploaded to the remote computing device by a user of the remote computing device, and to display on the display device a second simulated environment showing the project from the picture with a paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors on at least one surface of at least one of the living room and a dining room, the at least one surface including at least one of a wall surface, a trim surface, a door surface, a floor surface, and a ceiling surface.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the computing device is configured to store at least one of the first simulated environment and the second simulated environment on a server.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, with an input device of a computing device, a selection for a starting paint color from a plurality of paint colors, the computing device having access to a database including the plurality of paint colors;

displaying, with a display device of the computing device, a color palette including the starting paint color and a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color;

receiving, with the input device of the computing device, a selection of a type of interior room of a house from a plurality of interior room types including at least one of a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom;

displaying, with the display device of the computing device, a plurality of interior room templates corresponding to the selected type of interior room, each interior room template being preformatted to include a plurality of predetermined separate elements for selection including at least one of a wall, a trim, a door, a floor, and a ceiling;

receiving, with the input device of the computing device, a selection of an interior room template from the plurality of interior room templates;

receiving, with the input device of the computing device, a selection of a predetermined separate element from the plurality of predetermined separate elements associated with the selected interior room template;

displaying, on the display device of the computing device, a first simulated environment showing the selected interior room with at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors on a surface of the selected predetermined separate element of the selected interior room template;

displaying, on the display device of the computing device, a tutorial option that includes a plurality of video demonstrations, each video demonstration including how-to instructions for a painting project; and

receiving, with the input device of the computing device, a selection for a video demonstration from the plurality of video demonstrations.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of paint colors in the database are in a predetermined relationship with other paint colors in the database, the predetermined relationship between paint colors being based on color theory.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving, with the input device of the computing device, a second paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors and displaying, on the display device of the computing device, a second simulated environment showing an exterior of a house with the second paint color on a surface of the exterior of the house.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

identifying, with the computing device, the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color based on data received from the database by sending, with the computing device, the starting paint color to a server and receiving, with the computing device, the plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color from the server;

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; and

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

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the computing device is a personal computer.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising displaying, on the display device of the computing device, product information for the at least one selected 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 at least one selected paint color.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

displaying, with the display device of the computing device, inspirational content including at least one inspirational color palette with a plurality of coordinating paint colors from the plurality of paint colors; and

receiving, with the input device of the computing device, a selection from the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving, with the computing device, a picture of a project including at least one of a living room and a dining room uploaded to the remote computing device by a user of the remote computing device;

displaying, on the display device of the computing device, a second simulated environment showing the project from the picture with a paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors on at least one surface of at least one of the living room and a dining room, the at least one surface including at least one of a wall surface, a trim surface, a door surface, a floor surface, and a ceiling surface.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

storing, with the computing device, at least one of the first simulated environment and the second simulated environment on a server.

19. A system comprising:

a server communicatively coupled to a remote computing device over the Internet, the remote computing device having a display device and an input device and the server having a database including a plurality of paint colors;

wherein the remote computing device is configured to receive a starting paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors via the input device, to display on the display device a color palette including the starting paint color and a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color, to receive a selection of a type of interior room of a house from a plurality of interior room types including at least one of a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom, to display a plurality of interior room templates corresponding to the selected type of interior room, each interior room template being preformatted to include a plurality of predetermined separate elements for selection including at least one of a wall, a trim, a door, a floor, and a ceiling, to receive a selection of an interior room template from the plurality of interior room templates, to receive a selection of a predetermined separate element from the plurality of predetermined separate elements associated with the selected interior room template, to display on the display device a first simulated environment showing the selected interior room template with at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors on a surface of the selected predetermined separate element of the selected interior room template, to display inspirational content including at least one inspirational color palette with a plurality of coordinating paint colors from the plurality of paint colors, to receive a selection from the plurality of coordinating paint colors, to receive a picture of a project including at least one of a living room and a dining room uploaded to the remote computing device by a user of the remote computing device, and to display on the display device a second simulated environment showing the project from the picture with a paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors on at least one surface of at least one of the living room and the dining room, the at least one surface including at least one of a wall surface, a trim surface, a door surface, a floor surface, and a ceiling surface.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the remote computing device is configured to display on the display device product information for the at least one selected 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 at least one selected paint color.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein each of the plurality of paint colors in the database are in a predetermined relationship with other paint colors in the database, the predetermined relationship between paint colors being based on color theory.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the remote computing device is configured to display a tutorial option that includes a plurality of video demonstrations, each video demonstration including how-to instructions for a painting project and to receive a selection for a video demonstration from the plurality of video demonstrations.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein the remote computing device is configured to store at least one of the first simulated environment and the second simulated environment on the server.

21. The system of 20 wherein the consumer purchases paint corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

25. A method comprising:

receiving, with an input device of a remote computing device, a selection for a starting paint color from a plurality of paint colors, the remote computing device being communicatively coupled to a server over the Internet, the server having a database including the plurality of paint colors;

displaying, with a display device of the remote computing device, a color palette including the starting paint color and a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the starting paint color;

receiving, with the input device of the remote computing device, a selection of a type of interior room of a house from a plurality of interior room types including at least one of a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom;

displaying, with the display device of the remote computing device, a plurality of interior room templates corresponding to the selected type of interior room, each interior room template being preformatted to include a plurality of predetermined separate elements for selection including at least one of a wall, a trim, a door, a floor, and a ceiling;

receiving, with the input device of the remote computing device, a selection of an interior room template from the plurality of interior room templates;

receiving, with the input device of the remote computing device, a selection of a predetermined separate element from the plurality of separate elements associated with the selected interior room template;

displaying, on the display device of the remote computing device, a first simulated environment showing the selected interior room with at least one paint color selected from the starting paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors on a surface of the selected predetermined separate element of the selected interior room template;

displaying, with the display device of the computing device, inspirational content including at least one inspirational color palette with a plurality of coordinating paint colors from the plurality of paint colors; and

receiving, with the input device of the computing device, a selection from the plurality of coordinating paint colors;

receiving, with the computing device, a picture of a project including at at least one of a living room and a dining room uploaded to the remote computing device by a user of the remote computing device; and

displaying, on the display device of the computing device, a second simulated environment showing the project from the picture with a paint color selected from the plurality of paint colors on at least one surface of at least one of the living room and the dining room, the at least one surface including at least one of a wall surface, a trim surface, a door surface, a floor surface, and a ceiling surface.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising displaying, on the display device of the remote computing device, product information for the at least one selected 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 at least one selected paint color.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the consumer purchases paint corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein each of the plurality of paint colors in the database are in a predetermined relationship with other paint colors in the database, the predetermined relationship between paint colors being based on color theory.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

displaying, on the display device of the computing device, a tutorial option that includes a plurality of video demonstrations, each video demonstration including how-to instructions for a painting project; and

receiving, with the input device of the computing device, a selection for a video demonstration from the plurality of video demonstrations.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

storing, with the computing device, at least one of the first simulated environment and the second simulated environment on the server.