Data-driven color coordinator

• US 9,928,543 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Ma, Tize
• Application Number:
  US14/489,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20150002534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 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 touch screen, a display device, and a sensor 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 color for which coordinating colors are sought via the sensor device, to associate the starting color with a closest matching paint color in the database to the starting color, to determine a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the closest matching paint color based on data received from the database, to display on the display device a color palette including the closest matching paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors, 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 the starting color is received based on the sensor device scanning an item.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor device is a spectrophotometer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to receive input, via the touch screen, for fine-tuning the closest matching paint color to achieve a second paint color, the input for fine-tuning the closest matching paint color including input for changing at least one of a tint and a shade of the closest matching paint color.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the computing device is configured to display on the display device product information for the closest matching 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 closest matching paint color.

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

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the consumer purchases paint corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.

9. The system recited by claim 1 wherein the computing device is further configured to store the color palette with user identification information on a server communicatively coupled to the computing device for subsequent retrieval using the user identification information.

10. The system recited by claim 1 wherein the computing device is further 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.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, with a sensor device of a computing device that includes a touch screen, a starting color for which coordinating colors are sought, the computing device having access to a database including a plurality of paint colors;

determining, with the computing device, a closest matching paint color in the database to the starting color;

determining, with the computing device, a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the closest matching paint color based on data received from the database;

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

displaying, with 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 touch screen of the computing device, a selection for a video demonstration from the plurality of video demonstrations.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of receiving the starting color includes the sensor device scanning an item.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the sensor device is a spectrophotometer.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving, with the touch screen, input for fine-tuning the closest matching paint color to achieve a second paint color, the input for fine-tuning the closest matching paint color including input for changing at least one of a tint and a shade of the closest matching paint color.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying, with the display device of the computing device, product information for the closest matching 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 closest matching paint color.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying, with the display device of the computing device, product information for at least one paint color selected from the closest matching 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.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the consumer purchases paint corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.

19. The method recited by claim 11 further comprising storing, with the computing device, the color palette with user identification information on a server communicatively coupled to the computing device for subsequent retrieval using the user identification information.

20. The method recited by claim 11 further comprising:

displaying, with the display 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 touch screen, a selection from the plurality of coordinating paint colors.

21. A system comprising:

a server communicatively coupled to a computing device having a touch screen, a display device, and a sensor device, the computing device having access to a database including a plurality of paint colors, the server configured to provide an application to the computing device;

wherein the application configures the computing device to receive a starting color for which coordinating colors are sought via the sensor device, to associate the starting color with a closest matching paint color in the database to the starting color, to determine a plurality of coordinating paint colors for the closest matching paint color based on data received from the database, to display on the display device a color palette including the closest matching paint color and the plurality of coordinating paint colors, 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.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the starting color is received based on the sensor device scanning an item.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the sensor device is a spectrophotometer.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the application further configures the computing device to receive input, via the touch screen, for fine-tuning the closest matching paint color to achieve a second paint color, the input for fine-tuning the closest matching paint color including input for changing at least one of a tint and a shade of the closest matching paint color.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the application further configures the computing device to display on the display device product information for the closest matching 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 closest matching paint color.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the application further configures the computing device to display on the display device product information for at least one paint color selected from the closest matching 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.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the consumer purchases paint corresponding to the at least one selected paint color.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the computing device is accessible to the consumer while the consumer is at a store for purchasing paint.

29. The system recited by claim 21 wherein the application further configures the computing device to store the color palette with user identification information on a server communicatively coupled to the computing device for subsequent retrieval using the user identification information.

30. The system recited by claim 21 wherein the application further configures the computing device 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.