Design support device and design support method

Abstract

To provide a design support device and a design support method capable of more easily proposing building design contents to a customer in accordance with the customer's intentions.SOLUTION: A design support device 10 comprises: a proposal candidate acquisition part 28 that acquires a plurality of proposal candidates relating to building design specifications; an input information acquisition part 30 that acquires from a user input information for determining the design specifications; a color identification part 38 that analyzes an image captured at a predetermined location of a building currently used by the user and identifies a color used at the predetermined location; a selection part 32 that selects one or more proposal candidates for presentation from among the plurality of proposal candidates on the basis of the input information; and an output part 42 that outputs to the user proposal information relating to the building having the design specifications determined on the basis of the selected one or more proposal candidates for presentation, the input information, and the identified color used at the predetermined location. The plurality of proposal candidates each includes at least information on building construction cost, design specifications, and drawings, and the input information includes at least information on a desired building price.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a design support device and a design support method, and more particularly to a design support device and a design support method for supporting a purchaser of a building or the like in determining the specifications of the building. [Background technology]

[0002] When a customer builds or renovates a building such as a house, the building manufacturer will usually hold multiple meetings with the customer, prepare specifications and estimates for the building, and present them to the customer.The customer will then review the specifications and estimates and enter into a contract with the building manufacturer.

[0003] In addition, methods and tools have been proposed to facilitate meetings between customers and building manufacturers, and to prevent discrepancies between customer requirements and the building manufacturer's understanding, such as by presenting an image of the completed building. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a floor plan acquisition method that allows a customer to input conditions into a terminal and acquire a floor plan that matches the conditions. Patent Document 2 describes a method for analyzing the state and behavior of customers who visit a housing exhibition and proposing a design that meets the customer's objectives and preferences. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-345858 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-044176 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, many meetings are generally required before a building manufacturer proposes the final design specifications for a building to a customer. Furthermore, after the meetings, it takes a long time for the manufacturer to present the building's blueprints and specifications. Furthermore, if the final blueprints do not fully capture the customer's intentions and preferences, the customer's desire to purchase may be dampened, and the contract may not be concluded. Furthermore, when customers first consider purchasing a custom-built home, they often have little information about construction costs (budget), how to select a home builder, and differences in design specifications (for example, the type and grade of equipment to be installed in the home), making it difficult to form a concrete image of the building that meets their desired conditions. As a result, customers often lack motivation to purchase a home and do not end up consulting with home builders, etc.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a design support device and a design support method that make it possible to more easily propose to a customer building design contents that meet the customer's wishes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The above object is achieved by the design support device of the present invention, which comprises a candidate acquisition unit that acquires multiple candidate proposals for the design specifications of a building, an input information acquisition unit that acquires input information from a user for determining the design specifications, a color identification unit that analyzes photographed images of specified locations in a building currently being used by the user and identifies the colors to be used in the specified locations, a selection unit that selects one or more candidate proposals to be presented from the multiple candidate proposals based on the input information, and an output unit that outputs to the user proposed information regarding a building whose design specifications have been determined based on the selected one or more candidate proposals, the input information, and the colors to be used in the identified specified locations, wherein each of the multiple candidate proposals includes at least information regarding the construction costs, design specifications, and drawings of the building, and the input information includes at least information regarding the desired price of the building.

[0008] According to the design support device of the present invention, information about buildings with design specifications that meet the user's preferences can be easily presented. In addition, since the design specifications are determined based on the colors of the building currently being used by the user, information about buildings with design content that is close to the user's preferences can be presented appropriately and in a short time.

[0009] Preferably, the plurality of candidate plans and the input information each include at least one of the exterior silhouette of the building, the number of floors of the building, the size in each direction, and the direction in which the entrance is located. With the above configuration, it is possible to present proposal information regarding buildings with design specifications that better meet the user's wishes.

[0010] Preferably, the proposed information is a three-dimensional image of a building constructed in accordance with the design specifications. With the above configuration, it becomes easier for users to visualize the design specifications of the completed building. It also becomes easier for users to confirm whether the completed building matches their tastes and preferences. This makes it possible to reduce the discrepancy between the image of the building that the user envisioned at the time of design and the image of the completed building.

[0011] Preferably, the system further comprises a presentation unit that presents guide information to the user regarding the user's photographing of a specified location, and the presentation unit displays the guide information on a display screen of a device used to photograph the building. With the above configuration, it is possible to guide the user so that the predetermined location in the building currently being used can be appropriately photographed in accordance with the specification information related to the design specifications of the building, thereby enabling the color of the photographed image of the predetermined location to be appropriately identified.

[0012] Preferably, the guide information includes at least one of instructions for a photography location, instructions for photography conditions, instructions for panoramic photography, and instructions for a photography range. With the above configuration, it is possible to guide the user to more appropriately capture a specific location in a building currently in use, based on specification information related to the building's design specifications, thereby more appropriately identifying the color of the captured image of the specific location.

[0013] In addition, it is preferable that the color identification unit analyzes the captured image, determines the area occupied by each color in a specified location for each hue, and identifies the color used in the specified location based on the area occupied by each hue. With the above configuration, it is possible to appropriately identify the colors used in specific parts of a building, thereby presenting a building whose design content is in line with the user's preferences (especially preferences regarding colors).

[0014] It is also preferable that the color identification unit identify the color to be used in a specified location according to the first hue with the largest occupied area, the second hue with the second largest occupied area, and the third hue with the third largest occupied area. With the above configuration, it is possible to more appropriately identify the colors to be used in specific locations of a building, thereby making it possible to present a building with a design that better suits the user's preferences (especially preferences regarding colors).

[0015] It is also preferable to further include a color correction section that performs color correction on the captured image based on the environmental conditions at the time of capturing the captured image. With the above configuration, it is possible to correct (strictly speaking, color correct) the captured image according to the environmental conditions at the time of capture, thereby making it possible to more appropriately identify the colors used in a given location of a building.

[0016] Furthermore, it is preferable to further include an image generation unit that stores correspondence information that defines the correspondence between predetermined specification information for each part of the building and information related to the colors used in the specified locations, and that generates a colored three-dimensional image of the building based on the identified colors used in the specified locations and the correspondence information. With the above configuration, a colored 3D image of the building that has been designed based on the user's input information can be presented to the user, making it easier for the user to confirm whether the completed building meets their preferences and tastes.

[0017] Furthermore, the above-mentioned object is achieved by the design support method of the present invention, in which a processor executes the following processes: acquiring a plurality of candidate designs for the design specifications of a building; acquiring input information from a user for determining the design specifications; analyzing a photographed image of a predetermined location in a building currently being used by the user and identifying the colors to be used in the predetermined location; selecting one or more candidate designs to be presented from the plurality of candidate designs based on the input information; and outputting to the user proposed information regarding a building having design specifications determined based on the selected one or more candidate designs, the input information, and the colors to be used in the identified predetermined location; each of the plurality of candidate designs includes at least information regarding the building's construction costs, design specifications, and drawings, and the input information includes at least information regarding the building's desired price. By using the design support method of the present invention, information about buildings with design specifications that meet the user's preferences can be easily presented. In addition, since the design specifications are determined based on the colors of the building currently in use, information about buildings with design content that is close to the user's preferences can be presented appropriately and in a short time. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, a design support device and a design support method are realized that allow a building design to be carried out appropriately, easily, and in a short time in accordance with the customer's intentions and preferences. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a design support system including a design support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a general design flow according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which guide information for support information is displayed. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which guide information for support information is displayed. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of functions of a design support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the steps of the design support flow. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the steps of a photography support flow. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A design support apparatus and a design support method according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to preferred embodiments (hereinafter referred to as the present embodiments) shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is merely one of the specific examples given to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified or improved from the embodiment described below without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. Furthermore, the screen examples shown in the figures referenced in the following description are merely examples, and the screen configuration examples, the displayed information, and the specific contents of the GUI (Graphical User Interface) can be freely designed and changed according to the design specifications and user preferences.

[0021] In the following embodiments, a "house" is given as an example of a building, but the present invention can be implemented in buildings other than houses, such as offices, stores, facilities such as hospitals or schools, buildings within factories, and other buildings for various purposes. The "house" in the following description specifically refers to a custom-built house whose design specifications are determined based on the wishes of the owner (customer).

[0022] In this specification, a "user" refers to a person who uses the design support device and design support method of the present invention, and more specifically, the user can enjoy the benefits (design support services) provided by the functions of the design support device and design support method of the present invention by operating a device owned by the user (for example, a user terminal 12 described below). In the following embodiments, a customer who wishes to purchase a custom-built home is taken as an example of a user.

[0023] In addition, in this specification, the concept of "device" includes a single device that performs a specific function by itself, as well as a combination of multiple devices that are distributed and exist independently but work together (in cooperation) to perform a specific function.

[0024] Furthermore, the basic information processing technologies (communication / transmission technology, information acquisition technology, information recording technology, information processing technology, information analysis technology, image processing technology, visualization technology, etc.) required to realize the contents of this embodiment are well-known technologies, and therefore explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0025] <<Outline of design support according to this embodiment>> The design support device and design support method of the present invention are used by customers to determine the design specifications of a house, and specifically, are used by customers who wish to purchase a custom-built house to get a concrete image of the house with design specifications that meet their wishes before consulting with a home builder or the like.

[0026] In this invention, "design specifications" includes the type and grade (including names, dimensions, manufacturer names, product numbers, etc.) of the main structural parts of a house (e.g., roof, exterior walls, interior walls, ceilings, floors, sashes, windows, stairs, etc.), materials, construction methods, sizes, arrangement, and designs, as well as the number of rooms, floor plan, layout of each room, and the type and grade, materials, construction methods, sizes, arrangement, and designs of the equipment and interior furnishings installed in each room (e.g., system kitchens, furniture such as storage shelves and bookshelves, wallpaper, etc.).

[0027] 1, a design support device 10 according to this embodiment is communicably connected to a database server 11 as a storage device and user terminals 12 used by users via a communication network N, thereby constructing a design support system S. Note that although only one user terminal 12 is shown in FIG. 1, in reality, the number of user terminals 12 corresponds to the number of users.

[0028] An outline of design support performed using a design support system S including a design support device 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 is a diagram showing a rough flow of this embodiment.

[0029] When a user inputs information (desired conditions) about the design specifications of a desired house through a design support app downloaded to the user terminal 12, the information is sent to the design support device 10 via the communication network N. The design support device 10 selects one or more candidate plans to present from a plurality of candidate plans (candidate plan information) about the design specifications of the house that have been previously acquired from the database server 11, based on the input desired conditions. Here, the desired conditions input by the user correspond to input information, and are the content necessary for the user to decide the design specifications of the house when purchasing the house, and include at least the desired purchase price (construction cost) of the house. In addition to the desired purchase price, the desired conditions may also include the exterior silhouette of the desired house (the outline of the house's outer shape), the number of floors, the size in each direction (width, depth, etc.), and the orientation in which the entrance will be located.

[0030] Furthermore, candidate plan information is information indicating the design specifications of each of multiple homes that each home builder can offer, such as information indicating the design specifications of homes that are currently selling well or information indicating the design specifications of homes that are in high demand among customers. Each candidate plan includes at least information regarding the construction costs, design specifications, and drawings of the home being proposed. Each candidate plan also includes a building design (including color scheme) that can be identified from information regarding the design specifications and drawings. The information included in each candidate plan is not particularly limited, and may include the exterior silhouette of the home (the outline of the home's exterior shape), the number of floors, the size in each direction (the width and depth of the home), the direction in which the entrance is located, the number of rooms, the floor area, etc.

[0031] The construction cost of a house is the total cost of the house, which is the sum of all costs related to design, materials, construction, etc. required to build a house. Information about design specifications is associated with each part of the house and stored for each part. Here, the "design specifications for each part" indicated by the information about design specifications includes the type, model, shape, size, material, color, and other external characteristics of each part, the location and height (level) of each part in the house, and the orientation in which each part is installed. Each part refers to the individual components of the main structural parts of the house mentioned above (e.g., roof, exterior walls, interior walls, ceiling, floor, sash, windows, stairs, etc.), as well as the various facilities and interior items installed in each room (e.g., system kitchen, storage shelves, furniture, etc.). A house drawing is a drawing data of a floor plan and elevation constructed according to design specifications, and indicates the layout position and orientation of the house. One or more house drawings are stored in the database server 11. For a multi-story house, floor plan data for each floor is stored.

[0032] Furthermore, when proposing design specifications for a house to the user, the design support device 10 displays guidance (see FIG. 3) encouraging the user to take a picture of a predetermined location in the house currently being used by the user, and support information related to the picture taking (see FIG. 4) on the screen of the user terminal 12. Based on this displayed information, the user takes a picture of the predetermined location with the camera mounted on the user terminal 12. Here, the predetermined location of the house is a space in the house where the user currently resides, and is a room that reflects the user's sensibilities and preferences, specifically, a room in the house where the user spends the most time each day, such as a living room or a study. The captured image (image data) taken by the user is input to, or specifically received by, the design support device 10 from the user terminal 12 via the communication network N.

[0033] The design support device 10 also analyzes the captured image input from the user terminal 12 to identify colors used in a predetermined location of the house (i.e., the location where the image was captured). The identified colors are colors that strongly reflect the user's preferences in the predetermined location of the house. Specifically, the colors include at least the top three colors, counting from the most frequently used area in the predetermined location, and identify the colors to be used as base colors, main colors, and accent colors in the predetermined location in descending order of used area. Once the colors are identified, the design support device 10 generates an image in which the house plan (in the case of a house interior plan, a plan including equipment and facilities installed in the house) included in each of one or more presented candidate plans is colored in the identified colors based on the identified colors and the correspondence information stored in the database server 11, and displays the generated image proposal information on the screen of the user terminal 12.

[0034] Here, the correspondence information is information, specifically table information, that defines the correspondence between preset specification information for each part of the house and information about the colors used in specific locations of the house. Here, the preset specification information for each part of the house is information (specification information) about the design specifications of each part that a house typically has, such as the roof, exterior walls, interior walls, sashes, and furniture within the house, and specifically information about the colors of those parts. The design specifications included in each candidate plan and presented candidate plan, and the house drawings, contain information (specification information) about such design specifications.

[0035] Regarding the correspondence information, the correspondence between the specification information and the colors used in a specified location is such that, when the colors used in a specified location, specifically the top three colors in terms of the area used in that specified location, are identified, the color with the largest area used (base color) is set as the color of the first part (exterior walls, interior walls, ceiling), the color with the second largest area used (main color) is set as the color of the second part (roof, floor), and the color with the third largest area used (accent color) is set as the color of the third part (sashes and furniture in the house).

[0036] <<About the design support system configuration>> Next, the configuration of the design support system S according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The design support device 10 is composed of a computer, such as a personal computer (PC), a workstation, or a server computer. The design support device 10 may be composed of a single computer or multiple computers distributed in parallel. Furthermore, if the computer constituting the design support device 10 is a server computer, it may be a server computer for an ASP (Application Service Provider), SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), or IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service). In this case, when necessary information is input into a client terminal, the server computer performs various processes (calculations) based on the input information, and the calculation results are output on the client terminal. In other words, the functions of the server computer, which is the design support device 10, can be used on the client terminal.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, the computer constituting the design support device 10 includes a processor 21, a memory 22, a storage 23, a communication interface 24, an input device 25, and an output device 26.

[0038] The processor 21 is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit), an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a TPU (Tensor Processing Unit), or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The memory 22 is configured by semiconductor memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0039] The storage 23 is configured by, for example, a flash memory, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), an FD (Flexible Disc), an MO disk (Magneto-Optical disc), a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), an SD card (Secure Digital card), or a USB memory (Universal Serial Bus memory), etc. The storage 23 may be built into the computer main body that configures the design support device 10, or may be attached to the computer main body in an external format.

[0040] The communication interface 24 may be configured by, for example, a network interface card, a communication interface board, etc. The computer configuring the design support device 10 can communicate with other devices connected to the Internet, a mobile communication line, etc. via the communication interface 24.

[0041] The input device 25 is configured by, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel. The output device 26 is configured by, for example, a display and a speaker.

[0042] Furthermore, a program for an operating system (OS) and a program for design support are installed as software in the computer constituting the design support device 10. These programs are read and executed by the processor 21, causing the computer constituting the design support device 10 to fulfill the functions of the design support device 10, and specifically, to execute a series of information processing related to the actual design.

[0043] The database server 11 is a cloud-type server prepared by, for example, a company that operates a service using the design support device 10, specifically, a housing sales company (housing manufacturer) that provides users with proposal information based on this design support, and stores various information (strictly speaking, information that has been converted into data) necessary for this design support. The information stored in the database server 11 includes information about the user (user information), the above-mentioned candidate information, photography support information, correspondence information, photographed images provided by the user, and the like. The information about the user includes personal information such as the user's identification ID, the user's name, address, contact details, etc. It also includes data for managing the user and the proposed information output to the user.

[0044] The photography support information is guide information for photographing the house currently being used by the user, and more specifically, includes guidance information that prompts the user to photograph a predetermined location in the house currently being used, information that prompts the user to move to a predetermined location in the house (location guidance information), and support information that is presented when the user photographs a predetermined location in the house. The support information includes at least one of instructions for the photography location when the user photographs a predetermined location in the house, instructions for photography conditions (specifically, f-number, ISO sensitivity, shutter speed, etc.), instructions for panoramic photography, and instructions for the photography range (angle of view).

[0045] The captured image provided by the user is image information, specifically RGB image data, that indicates a specific location in the house that the user photographed. The captured image includes at least the entire specific location, specifically, if the specific location is a room in the house, the room's walls, floor, ceiling, main lighting, etc. The captured image is also assigned a file name. Furthermore, the captured image incorporates Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) information as tag information related to the photograph. The Exif information includes the exposure conditions (specifically, ISO sensitivity, shutter speed, and f-stop), the date and time of the photograph, the weather at the time of the photograph, the photographing location, and whether or not the photographic aids described below were used during the photographing.

[0046] The user terminal 12 is an information processing terminal used by a user, and may be a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a laptop computer, a wearable terminal, or the like. The user terminal 12 includes a display unit and a camera. Therefore, the user terminal 12 functions as a camera used to capture images of specific locations in a house. The user terminal 12 can also communicate with the design support device 10 via the communication network N, and the display screen of the display unit displays, for example, information transmitted from the design support device 10.

[0047] An application program for design support (hereinafter referred to as the design support app) is installed in the user terminal 12. When a user wishes to receive design support services from the design support device 10, the user operates the user terminal 12 to launch the design support app. The user then inputs information (desired conditions) related to the design specifications of the house that the user desires through the design support app and transmits the input information to the design support device 10. Furthermore, when the user photographs a predetermined location of the house, the user can check the photography support information through the design support app. Specifically, when the user photographs a predetermined location of the house, the photography support information is displayed on the display screen of the user terminal 12 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The user moves to a location where the predetermined location of the house can be photographed in accordance with the displayed support information, and at that location, photographs the predetermined location of the house in the mode, direction, and angle of view instructed by the photography support information.

[0048] <<Functions of the design support device according to this embodiment>> Next, the configuration of the design support device 10 according to this embodiment will be explained again from a functional perspective. As shown in Fig. 5, the design support device 10 has a candidate acquisition unit 28, an input information acquisition unit 30, a selection unit 32, a presentation unit 34, a color correction unit 36, a color identification unit 38, an image generation unit 40, and an output unit 42. These functional units are realized by cooperation between hardware devices included in a computer constituting the design support device 10 and a program (i.e., software) installed on the computer. Each functional unit will be described below.

[0049] The candidate acquisition unit 28 reads out from the database server 11 a plurality of candidate plans for house design specifications that can be proposed to a customer (in other words, a user), and transmits them to the selection unit 32. Each candidate plan includes at least information on the construction cost, design specifications, and drawings of the house. The input information acquisition unit 30 acquires (receives) from the user terminal 12 input information that the user has entered by operating the user terminal 12 to determine the design specifications of the house, and transmits the information to the selection unit 32. The input information includes at least information related to the desired price of the house. The input information may also include information related to conditions other than the desired price, more specifically, the desired conditions described above, such as the number of floors, size (depth and width) of the house, and the direction of the entrance.

[0050] The selection unit 32 selects one or more candidate plans to present from among the multiple candidate plans sent from the candidate plan acquisition unit 28, based on the input information sent from the input information acquisition unit 30. Specifically, the selection unit 32 selects, as the candidate plans to present, candidate plans of houses whose purchase prices fall within the range of the desired price of the house included in the input information. Note that, if the input information includes conditions other than the desired price (specifically, the number of floors, size (depth and width) of the house, and direction of the entrance, etc.), the candidate plans to present may be selected based on conditions other than the desired price.

[0051] The presentation unit 34 displays photography support information on the screen of the user terminal 12. Specifically, the presentation unit 34 displays guidance (location guidance information) encouraging the user to photograph a predetermined location in the house currently being used by the user (see FIG. 3), and prompts the user to move to the predetermined location. The predetermined location to be photographed (i.e., photography location) may be specified in advance by the user via the user terminal 12 as a room that reflects the user's sensibilities and preferences. Alternatively, for example, the living room may be set as the predetermined location as a default setting. The following description will be given assuming a case where the living room is set as the predetermined location (photography location).

[0052] When the user performs a predetermined operation on the user terminal 12 after moving to the living room, data corresponding to the operation is sent from the user terminal 12 to the design support device 10. When this data is received by the design support device 10, the presentation unit 34 displays guide information relating to the shooting conditions when the user shoots the living room on the screen of the user terminal 12. Specifically, the guide information displayed includes instructions to shoot the living room using a panoramic shooting method, information to adjust the angle of view so that the entire living room is included, and the like.

[0053] The presentation unit 34 can also display, on the display screen of the user terminal 12, a guide to prompt the user to input the environmental conditions when photographing a predetermined location of the house. The environmental conditions include the photographing location, the photographing date, the photographing time, the weather at the time of photographing, the lighting conditions such as incandescent light, the position of the window at the time of photographing, and whether or not a photographing aid (height from the ground) was used when photographing, as described below. The input information on the environmental conditions is transmitted from the user terminal 12 to the design support device 10.

[0054] The color correction unit 36 ​​acquires a captured image (RGB image data) of a predetermined location in the house and the environmental conditions at the time the captured image was captured from the user terminal 12 via the input information acquisition unit 30. The color correction unit 36 ​​performs image processing for color correction, specifically white balance adjustment, on the captured image based on the environmental conditions at the time of capture. As a result, the color of white areas in the captured image is corrected to the white color that would appear when captured under sunlight. Note that the specific techniques and procedures for white balance adjustment can be known from general image processing techniques and procedures. The photographed image for which color correction has been completed (hereinafter also referred to as the corrected photographed image) is sent to the color specifying unit .

[0055] The color specifying unit 38 acquires the corrected photographed image (RGB image data) from the color correcting unit 36, analyzes the corrected photographed image, and specifies the color used in a predetermined location of the house. Specifically, the color specifying unit 38 converts the color coordinate space of the photographed image into L * a * b *After converting the image data into the HSV or HSV space, the hue value is calculated. Then, the color identification unit 38 calculates the area occupied by each hue in the captured image of the predetermined location based on the calculated hue value, and identifies the color used in the predetermined location based on the area occupied by each hue. In this embodiment, the same hue refers to hues that belong to the same group when the hue circle is divided into 12 equal parts. Furthermore, the color specifying unit 38 ranks and specifies the colors to be used in the predetermined location according to the first hue with the largest occupancy area, the second hue with the second largest occupancy area, and the third hue with the third largest occupancy area. Specifically, the color specifying unit 38 specifies the color of the first hue as the base color of the predetermined location, the color of the second hue as the main color of the predetermined location, and the color of the third hue as the accent color.

[0056] The image generation unit 40 generates an image of the house indicated by the proposed candidate plan (hereinafter also referred to as the proposed house) based on the presented candidate plan selected by the selection unit 32 and information related to the colors specified by the color specification unit 38 (i.e., the base color, main color, and accent color of predetermined locations). Specifically, the image generation unit 40 reads the above-mentioned correspondence information from the database server 11. Then, in accordance with the correspondence indicated by the correspondence information, the image generation unit 40 sets the colors of each part of the house specified by the presented candidate plan (specifically, the exterior walls, roof, interior walls, ceiling, floor, sashes, and furniture within the house) according to the colors specified by the color specification unit 38. More specifically, the image generation unit 40 sets the colors of the exterior walls, interior walls, and ceiling of the proposed house as the base colors of predetermined locations, sets the colors of the roof and floor of the proposed house as the main colors of predetermined locations, and sets the colors of the sashes, furniture, etc. of the proposed house as accent colors of predetermined locations.

[0057] The image generation unit 40 then generates an image of the proposed home colored in the color scheme set in the above-described manner. The generated image is image information related to the home whose design specifications are determined based on the presented candidate plans selected by the selection unit 32 and the colors specified by the color specification unit 38. In this embodiment, the image generation unit 40 generates a three-dimensional image of the proposed home constructed in accordance with the above-described design specifications, and more specifically, generates a colored three-dimensional image colored in the color scheme set in the above-described manner. The three-dimensional image of the home can be generated from the design specifications indicated by the candidate plans by using known 3D modeling technology.

[0058] The output unit 42 outputs the colored three-dimensional image of the proposed home generated by the image generation unit 40 to the user as proposal information, and specifically displays it on the display screen of the user terminal 12. The output unit 42 also causes the colored three-dimensional image to be displayed on the display screen of the user terminal 12 in association with the design specifications of the proposed home. Specifically, the output unit 42 causes the design specifications, purchase price, etc. of the proposed home to be displayed together on the screen of the user terminal 12 on which the colored three-dimensional image is displayed. The image of the proposed house displayed as proposal information is not limited to a three-dimensional image, but may be a planar image (two-dimensional image), that is, an elevation view and a floor plan view of the proposed house.

[0059] <<About the design support flow according to this embodiment>> Next, we will explain the design support flow, which is a data processing flow using the above-mentioned design support device 10. This design support flow employs the design support method of the present invention and progresses along the flow shown in Fig. 6. In other words, each step in the flow shown in Fig. 6 corresponds to each element constituting the design support method of the present invention. The flow shown in FIG. 6 is merely an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the order in which steps are performed may be changed, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0060] In the following, for the purpose of easily explaining this design support flow, a specific example will be given in which a user takes a picture of the living room of the house in which the user currently resides as a predetermined location in the house.

[0061] This design support flow is initiated when the user launches a design support application on the user terminal 12. In each step of this design support flow, the processor 21 of the computer constituting the design support device 10 communicates with the user terminal 12 in which the design support application is launched, and executes information processing corresponding to each step.

[0062] In this design support flow, first, the processor 21 executes a process of acquiring a plurality of candidate plans for the design specifications of a house (S001). Specifically, the processor 21 reads a plurality of candidate plans for the design specifications of a house from the database server 11. Each candidate plan includes at least the construction cost, design specifications, and drawings of the house.

[0063] Next, processor 21 displays a screen on the display screen of user terminal 12 for the user to input information about the design specifications of the house desired by the user (S002). When the user inputs the desired conditions through the display screen, the input information is sent to design support device 10, and processor 21 acquires the input information (S003). The input information includes at least the desired purchase price of the house.

[0064] When processor 21 acquires input information for determining design specifications from the user, it performs a process of selecting one or more candidate plans to present from among multiple candidate plans based on the acquired input information (S004). Specifically, multiple options for the desired price of the house are presented on the display screen of user terminal 12. When the user selects the desired price, processor 21 performs a process of narrowing down the multiple candidate plans to candidate plans whose construction costs are within the range of the user's desired price based on the input information. Here, if there are multiple narrowed-down candidate plans, processor 21 presents multiple options for each of the exterior silhouette of the house, the number of floors of the house, the size in each direction, and the direction in which the entrance will be located on the display screen of user terminal 12. When the user selects one desired option for each of these conditions, processor 21 performs a process of further narrowing down the candidate plans to those corresponding to the option selected by the user. The candidate plans finally narrowed down in this way are selected as the presented candidate plans.

[0065] Next, the processor 21 displays, on the display screen of the user terminal 12, guidance to encourage the user to photograph a predetermined location in the house currently being used by the user, specifically, photography support information related to photographing a predetermined location in the house currently being used by the user (S005). Details of this step S005 will be described with reference to the photography support flow in FIG. In step S005, the processor 21 first displays a guide to prompt the user to move to the living room on the display screen of the user terminal 12 (S501).

[0066] When the user performs a movement completion operation on the user terminal 12 after moving to the living room, data corresponding to the operation is transmitted from the user terminal 12 to the design support device 10, and the reception of the data triggers the processor 21 to display shooting support information as guide information on the display screen of the user terminal 12 (S502). Specifically, the processor 21 switches the display screen of the user terminal 12 to a shooting screen (for example, a screen for live view shooting) and prompts the user to set the shooting mode to panoramic shooting. Next, the processor 21 prompts the user to adjust the angle of view, placement position, orientation, etc. of the camera so that all predetermined parts in the living room (specifically, the walls, floor, ceiling, lighting, etc. in the room) are included in the shooting range.

[0067] Based on the above-mentioned photography support information, the user uses the camera of the user terminal 12 to photograph a predetermined location (living room) in the house currently being used. Specifically, the user stands in a position where the entire living room can be photographed, and photographs the living room while slowly moving (panning) the camera. Once the photographing is complete, the photographed image (RGB image data) is input to the design support device 10. Then, once the input of the photographed image is complete (S503), the processor 21 acquires the photographed image of the living room. The acquired photographed image is associated with the user and stored in the database server 11.

[0068] The processor 21 also displays a guide on the display screen of the user terminal 12 to prompt the user to input the environmental conditions when photographing the living room (S504). Specifically, the processor 21 displays a guide to prompt the user to input information such as the weather, date and time, color of the lighting (incandescent white, daylight white, or coherent white), and position of windows when photographing the living room. The environmental conditions when photographing input by the user are transmitted from the user terminal 12 to the design support device 10.

[0069] When the design support device 10 acquires information on the environmental conditions at the time of photographing, the processor 21 executes color correction processing on the photographed image based on the environmental conditions at the time of photographing (S006). Specifically, white balance adjustment is performed on the photographed image based on the weather, date and time, color of the illumination light, etc. at the time of photographing.

[0070] Processor 21 then analyzes the corrected captured image after white balance adjustment and executes a process to identify the colors used in the living room (S007). Specifically, processor 21 first converts the color coordinate space of the corrected captured image into L*a*b* space or HSV space, and then calculates the hue value. Based on the calculated hue value, processor 21 then calculates the area occupied by each hue in the captured image of the living room where the same hue is used, and performs a process to identify the colors used in the living room based on the area occupied by each hue. In this process, processor 21 identifies the base color, main color, and accent color of the living room according to the first hue with the largest area occupied, the second hue with the second largest area occupied, and the third hue with the third largest area occupied.

[0071] The processor 21 executes a process of generating an image of the proposed home indicated by the presented candidate plan, specifically a three-dimensional image of the proposed home, based on the presented candidate plan selected in step S004, the input information acquired in step S003, and the color used for the living room identified in step S007 (S008). In this step S008, the processor 21 reads out the above-mentioned correspondence information stored in the database server 11, and generates a colored three-dimensional image by coloring the three-dimensional image of the proposed home, based on this correspondence information and the color identified in step S007.

[0072] Specifically, for example, in the above correspondence information, the exterior walls, interior walls, and ceiling correspond to a first hue, the roof and floor correspond to a second hue, and the sashes, furniture, etc. correspond to a third hue. In this case, the processor 21 sets the colors of the exterior walls, interior walls, and ceiling of the proposed house to the base color of the specified living room, sets the colors of the roof and floor of the proposed house to the main color of the specified living room, and sets the colors of the sashes, furniture, etc. of the proposed house to the accent color of the specified living room. The processor 21 then generates a colored three-dimensional image in which each part of the three-dimensional image of the proposed house is colored according to the above color scheme.

[0073] After generating the image, the processor 21 outputs the generated colored three-dimensional image of the proposed house to the user as proposal information, specifically, causes it to be displayed on the display screen of the user terminal 12 (S009).

[0074] This design support flow ends when the above series of steps are completed. In this embodiment, this design support is performed repeatedly, either periodically or irregularly, so this design support flow is performed repeatedly each time this design support is performed.

[0075] <<Effectiveness of this embodiment>> By using the design support device 10 and the design support method of the present embodiment, it is possible to more easily propose to a user (in other words, a customer) a building design that meets the user's (customer's) wishes.

[0076] According to this embodiment, the user can easily grasp the image of the house that meets the user's wishes without having to ask a home builder or a specialist contractor by using the online service, in other words, by starting up the design support application on the user terminal 12. Furthermore, the user can grasp the discrepancy between the budget and the image of the house after completion before consulting with a home builder or the like. On the other hand, home builders can provide customers with a tentative proposal for a home design that meets their needs before the customer visits the store, which can lead to a full-scale consultation.

[0077] While one embodiment of the design support system and design support method of the present invention has been described above, the above embodiment is merely an example for facilitating understanding of the present invention and does not limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 10 Design support equipment 11 Database Server (Storage Device) 12 User terminal 21 processors 22 Memory 23. Storage 24 Communication Interface 25 Input Devices 26 Output Devices 28 Candidate proposal acquisition department 30 Input information acquisition unit 32 Selection Department 34 Presentation part 36 Color Correction Section 38 Color identification section 40 Image generation unit 42 Output section N communication network S Design Support System

Claims

1. a candidate acquisition unit that acquires multiple candidate proposals for building design specifications; an input information acquisition unit that acquires input information for determining the design specifications from a user; a color specifying unit that analyzes a captured image of a predetermined location in a building currently being used by the user and specifies a color used in the predetermined location; a selection unit that selects one or more presented candidate plans from the plurality of candidate plans based on the input information; an output unit that outputs to the user proposal information regarding a building having design specifications determined based on the one or more selected presented candidate proposals, the input information, and the color to be used in the identified predetermined location; Each of the plurality of candidate plans includes at least information regarding the construction cost, design specifications, and drawings of the building; A design support device, wherein the input information includes at least information regarding the desired price of the building.

2. 2. The design support device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of candidate plans and the input information each include at least one of an exterior silhouette of the building, the number of floors of the building, the size in each direction, and the direction in which the entrance is located.

3. The design support device according to claim 1 , wherein the proposed information is a three-dimensional image of the building constructed in accordance with the design specifications.

4. a presentation unit that presents to the user guide information regarding the user's photographing of the predetermined location, The design support device according to claim 1 , wherein the presentation unit displays the guide information on a display screen of a device used to photograph the building.

5. The design support device according to claim 4 , wherein the guide information includes at least one of an instruction for a photography location, an instruction for photography conditions, an instruction for panoramic photography, and an instruction for a photography range.

6. 2. The design support device according to claim 1, wherein the color specifying unit analyzes the captured image to determine, for each hue, an area occupied by each color in the predetermined location, and specifies the color used in the predetermined location based on the area occupied by each hue.

7. 7. The design support device according to claim 6, wherein the color specifying unit specifies the color to be used in the predetermined location according to a first hue having the largest occupied area, a second hue having the second largest occupied area, and a third hue having the third largest occupied area.

8. The computer aided design apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a color correction unit that performs color correction on the captured image based on environmental conditions at the time of capturing the captured image.

9. Correspondence information that defines a correspondence between specification information that is preset for each part of the building and information about the color used in the predetermined location is stored in a storage device, 4. The design support device according to claim 3, further comprising an image generation unit that generates a colored three-dimensional image by coloring the three-dimensional image of the building based on the colors used in the identified predetermined locations and the correspondence relationship.

10. The processor: obtaining multiple candidate building design specifications; A process of acquiring input information for determining the design specifications from a user; A process of analyzing a photographed image of a predetermined location in a building currently being used by the user and identifying the color used in the predetermined location; a process of selecting one or more presented candidate plans from the plurality of candidate plans based on the input information; outputting to the user proposal information relating to a building having design specifications determined based on the one or more selected presented candidate proposals, the input information, and the identified color to be used in the predetermined location; Each of the plurality of candidate plans includes at least information regarding the construction cost, design specifications, and drawings of the building; A design support method, wherein the input information includes at least information regarding the desired price of the building.

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