Autonomous Color Selection App for Paint Stores

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers face difficulties in selecting paint colors due to the lack of user-friendly connections between color names and actual colors, with overwhelming color displays and insufficient trained staff to assist in the process.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous software application that receives oral queries, converts them into digital signals, and communicates responses, using augmented or virtual reality to guide users to the selected colors on a color display, providing recommendations and synchronizing virtual and physical color spaces for accurate location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If consumers use traditional methods (printed index or software) to locate colors, then they can find color information, but the process is time-consuming and frustrating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime to locate colorVSAvoidease of color selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical search methods (printed indexes, manual software navigation) with voice-based speech recognition technology. Consumers can verbally request colors without manually searching through physical or digital catalogs, dramatically reducing search time and effort while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an autonomous software application as an intermediary between the consumer and the color selection system. This application processes voice queries, retrieves color information, and guides consumers to physical color displays, eliminating the need for consumers to directly navigate complex color catalogs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If color displays contain multiple hundreds of color chips arranged in various hues and saturations, then comprehensive color selection is available, but consumers are overwhelmed and unsure where to begin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor selection rangeVSAvoidease of navigating color display

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous application provides real-time feedback to consumers by processing their voice queries and immediately responding with specific color chip locations and recommendations. The system continuously guides consumers through the color selection process, offering directional instructions and color suggestions based on their verbal requests, making the extensive color display manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and highlights only the relevant color information that matches the consumer's voice query, rather than requiring them to search through all hundreds of color chips. The application isolates and presents specific color recommendations, reducing the overwhelming display into focused, actionable options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If paint store employees are not trained in color theories, then labor costs are reduced, but consumers cannot receive expert guidance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestaff training requirementVSAvoidquality of color selection assistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous color selection application enables consumers to independently obtain expert-level color guidance without requiring trained staff. The system performs color theory analysis, provides harmonious color palette recommendations, and guides color selection autonomously, allowing consumers to serve themselves with the quality of assistance previously requiring specialized training.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The software application acts as an intermediary that provides expert color theory knowledge to consumers, replacing the need for trained employees. The system bridges the gap between consumer needs and expert color knowledge through automated voice processing and color recommendation algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Loss of information

If consumers need to look up color identification indicia on printed indexes or software, then they can access color information, but the process is cumbersome and intimidating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to color informationVSAvoidsimplicity of color lookup process

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual information lookup methods (reading printed indexes, navigating software interfaces) with natural voice-based interaction. Consumers can verbally request color information without manually searching through identification systems, making the process intuitive and accessible even for those untrained in color theories.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11521253B2Autonomous system to assist consumers to select colors

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 COLUMBIA INSURANCE CO

AI summary

An autonomous App for selecting color is disclosed. The App includes (i) receiving an oral query concerning a color from a user, (ii) converting the oral query into a digital signal, (iii) associating the queried color with indicia of said queried color in a color database, and (iv) communicating an oral response to the user based on the queried color. The App resides in a general computing machine, such as a smart phone, a smart speaker or a computer tablet. The App can also guide the user to color merchandises on a color display by the general computing machine capable of augmenting an image of the color display with color information.