Portable color and style analysis, match and management system

• US 20040078299A1
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: X-Rite Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: X-Rite Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Logan, Mark Smith, Down-Logan, Kathleen
• Application Number:
  US10/354,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078299A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

This invention relates to the measurement of color and patterns in everyday objects using a simple, inexpensive, self-contained, handheld device (such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with a digital imaging array video camera attachment). A key component of the invention is a novel color search engine for measurement and matching of color, which runs on the PDA, but can also be used as a server based application, or in a client server model over the internet. The invention will help professionals and consumers to identify, match and remember patterns and manage custom palettes for a wide variety of products anywhere None of the traditional methods for pattern matching adequately address the need for a portable, inexpensive method of acquiring and managing pattern information for a random physical object. Each of them is targeted at a specific industry application, from the industry'"'"'s point of view.

Claims

1. ) A method for gathering, storing, manipulating displaying pattern information, including color information, about three dimensional objects using a personal digital assistant and digital camera and a stored computer program comprising the steps of:

a) gathering pattern image reference data for commercially available by scanning a variety of materials samples with a color digital camera,

b) creating and storing on the personal digital assistant a searchable database by coordinating the pattern image data for each sample with the pattern descriptive information for the same sample.

c) offering information to the users on matching and complimentary patterns using computer algorithms operating on the database,

d) displaying scanned and database patterns and pattern information on the display screen of the personal digital assistant,

e) determining the pattern composition of any object using the camera and the personal digital assistant and displaying that information,

f) converting the pattern and color data for an object to a true perceptual version using a stored computer program and displaying it on the personal digital assistant,

g) manipulating the pattern information for an object to with a stored computer program compute the percentage of match to different patterns and other useful metrics,

h) transmitting all of the data described above data via the infrared port or computer interface connector of the personal digital assistant to another personal digital assistant, personal computer, printer, display, web page or other electronic device,

i) imputing pattern reference data, where available, directly from a commercial database, using the computer interface connector, and converting it to the appropriate format, and loading it into the database,

j) outputting the pattern and pattern information data to a printer.

whereby an operator can acquire, store, manipulate and compare to a database of commercially available products true color and pattern information using an integrated handheld device and

whereby a consumer can determine the color (s) and pattern(s) of any consumer product, such as a couch or wallpaper, carry this information with them easily, determine other patterns that match or complement and at a later point in time compare the information to help in purchasing other decorating products from suppliers;

similarly a vendor of consumer or industrial products could use the invention to communicate clearly the characteristics of their products consumers, determine the appropriate product from a mix, assure that the correct products were delivered, and easily replace damaged products.

2. ) a method as in claim one, wherein the camera and personal digital assistant are replaced by a digital camera with an operating system, stored Color Search Engine program and pattern algorithm, processor, memory and interface that provides the same functionality.

3. ) a method as in claim one, wherein the camera and personal digital assistant are replaced by a cellular phone or other wireless communication device with an operating system, stored Color Search Engine program and pattern algorithm, processor, memory and interface that provides the same functionality.

4. ) a method as in claim one, wherein the camera is replaced or complimented by a compact spectrophotometer that can be attached to the personal digital assistant.

5. ) a method as in claim one, wherein the personal digital assistant is replaced by a laptop or palmtop computer with an attached digital camera, the computer having an operating system, stored Color Search Engine program, processor, memory and interface that provides the same functionality.

6. ) a method as in claim one, two, three, four or five where a specific light source, such as a flash attachment, an array of light emitting diodes, or a laser illuminator, is attached to the personal digital assistant.

7. ) A method as in claim one, two, three, four or five where the imaging is made more accurate by using reference color information is provided by incorporating in the algorithm known color data for manufactures products or packaging by either:

a. imputing consumer and commercial product and packaging system color reference data, where available, directly from a manufacturers database, using the computer interface connector, and converting it to the appropriate format or

b. creating and storing on the personal digital assistant a searchable database by coordinating the pattern image data for each sample with the pattern descriptive information for the same sample and

c. including an example of the commercial product in the field to be imaged.

8. ) A method as in claim one, two, three, four or five where a specific light source, such as a flash attachment, an array of light emitting diodes, or a laser illuminator, is attached to the personal digital assistant.

9. ) A method for obtaining, creating and analyzing color information in any format of image data files of two- or three-dimensional objects using a personal digital assistant and digital camera and a stored computer program comprising the steps of:

a) creating a computer image data file (such as a JPEG) for an object any object using the camera and the personal digital assistant and displaying that information,

b) allowing the user to select the whole image or a portion of it for analysis,

c) determining the color composition of the image,

d) manipulating the color information for an object to with a stored computer program compute the percentage of different color and other useful metrics,

e) displaying scanned and database colors and color information on the display screen of the personal digital assistant,

f) transmitting all of the data described above data via the infrared port or computer interface connector of the personal digital assistant to another personal digital assistant, personal computer, printer, display, web page or other electronic device,

g) imputing color reference data, where available, directly from a commercial database, using the computer interface connector, and converting it to the appropriate format, and loading it into the database,

h) offering information to the users on matching and complimentary colors using computer algorithms operating on the database

i) outputting the color and color information data to a printer.

whereby an operator can acquire, store, manipulate and compare color images to a database of commercially available product colors using an integrated handheld device and

whereby a consumer can determine the color(s) of any consumer product or available image, such as a couch or wall paper, carry this information with them easily, determine other colors that match or complement and at a later point in time compare the information to help in purchasing other decorating products from suppliers;

similarly a vendor of consumer or industrial products could use the invention to communicate clearly the characteristics of their products consumers, determine the appropriate product from a mix, assure that the correct products were delivered, and easily replace damaged products.

10. ) A method as in claim eight, wherein the camera and personal digital assistant are replaced by a digital camera with an operating system, stored Color Search Engine program, processor, memory and interface that provides the same functionality.

11. ) A method as in claim eight, wherein the camera and personal digital assistant are replaced by a cellular phone or other wireless communication device with an operating system, stored Color Search Engine program, processor, memory and interface that provides the same functionality.

12. ) A method as in claim eight, wherein the camera is replaced by a compact spectrophotometer that can be attached to the personal digital assistant are replaced by a cellular phone or other wireless communication device with an operating system, stored Color Search Engine program, processor, memory and interface that provides the same functionality.

13. ) A method as in claim eight, wherein the personal digital assistant is replaced by a laptop or palmtop computer with an attached digital camera, the computer having an operating system, stored Color Search Engine program, processor, memory and interface that provides the same functionality.

14. ) A method as in claim eight, wherein the computer software runs on a remote computer or server, and the images are presented to the user in an Internet browser interface. In this method, the image to be analyzed can be uploaded by the user form a digital camera, computer, or other input device to the remote server for analysis;

or selected from databases on the remote server.

15. ) A method as in claim eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve or thirteen where the image files are imputed or downloaded from another computer or other external source.

16. ) A method as in claim eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve or thirteen where a specific light source, such as a flash attachment, array of light emitting diodes, or a laser illuminator, is attached to the personal digital assistant or other embodiment.