Patent US6664972B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6664972B2
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US
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Methods, systems and computer program products for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for interior spaces
Assignee: REED CONSTRUCTION DATA Inc
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Filing: 2001-01-09
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Granted: 2003-12-16
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Expires: 2021-01-09
Abstract
Abstract A storyboard of interior design surface treatments for a commercial and/or residential interior space is generated by obtaining a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments. The arrays of patterns are displayed on a computer display. Each array of patterns corresponds to a surface treatment product type, such as floor treatments, upholstery, textiles (fabrics), wall treatments and solid surface materials or laminates (countertops). The product type also can include product subtypes, such as carpet, vinyl composition tile, resilient sheet flooring, porcelain tile and ceramic tile for floor treatments. A plurality of subarrays of patterns then are generated, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type. The plurality of subarrays of patterns are generated in response to selection by a user, generally an interior designer/decorator, architect, facility planner, product dealer and/or general contractor, from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type. Finally, at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns are combined to produce a storyboard of interior design surface treatments for an interior space. Thus, large numbers of patterns may be considered and combined without the need to peruse a large library of sample books. Moreover, the one or more storyboards may be generated without the need to physically order samples or cut samples from sample books. The subarrays of patterns that are under consideration and/or one or more storyboards, may be viewed on a computer system, and may be emailed and/or printed and sent to a client to allow improved efficiency in the decision-making process. Data mining, standardized patterns and attributes, storyboard enhancements, additional user search criteria, discontinued product handling and locators also may be provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Lauranne P. Eichel
- 👤 Alan S. Kabus
- 👤 Nathan A. Kredich
- 👤 Stephen N. Cole
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 190
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed on a computer system: displaying a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; generating a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; and combining at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed on a computer system: displaying a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; generating a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; and combining at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of displaying is preceded by the step of: storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the storing step comprises the step of storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the following steps are performed between the step of storing and the step of displaying: accepting at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types to define the user search criteria; and searching the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the user search criteria.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the displaying step further comprises the step of displaying with each pattern an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the surface treatment product types comprise at least one of floor treatments, wall treatments, fabrics and countertop materials.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the surface treatment product types comprise at least one of tile floor treatments, carpet floor treatments and carpet floor treatments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the pattern attributes include at least one of an identification of a manufacturer, an identification of a primary color and an identification of an overall style.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the following step is performed between the steps of generating and combining: displaying the plurality of subarrays of patterns to create a catalog.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the combining step is followed by the step of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the displaying step is followed by the step of: annotating the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in response to user input.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the displaying step is followed by the step of: emailing the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the displaying step is followed by the step of: electronically ordering samples of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the displaying step is followed by the step of: electronically ordering sufficient quantities of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined, for the interior space.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the step of displaying a plurality of arrays of patterns is performed in a first window on a display and wherein the step of displaying the plurality of subarrays of patterns is performed in a second window on the display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein the combining step is followed by the step of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in a third window on the display.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the steps of displaying and combining are performed on a client that is connected to a server via a network and wherein the steps of storing and searching are performed on the server.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed on a computer system: displaying a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; and combining at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed on a computer system: displaying a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; and combining at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the step of displaying is preceded by the step of: storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein the storing step comprises the step of storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the following steps are performed between the step of storing and the step of displaying: accepting at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types to define the user search criteria; and searching the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the user search criteria.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 21 wherein the displaying step further comprises the step of displaying with each pattern an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the surface treatment product types comprise at least one of floor treatments, wall treatments, fabrics and countertop materials.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the surface treatment product types comprise at least one of tile floor treatments, carpet floor treatments and carpet floor treatments.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the pattern attributes include at least one of an identification of a manufacturer, an identification of a primary color and an identification of an overall style.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the combining step is followed by the step of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 26 wherein the displaying step is followed by the step of: annotating the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined in response to user input.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 26 wherein the displaying step is followed by the step of: emailing the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 26 wherein the displaying step is followed by the step of: electronically ordering samples of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 26 wherein the displaying step is followed by the step of: electronically ordering sufficient quantities of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined, for the interior space.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 26 wherein the step of displaying a plurality of arrays of patterns is performed in a first window on a display and wherein the step of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined is performed in a second window on the display.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 21 wherein the steps of displaying and combining are performed on a client that is connected to a server via a network and wherein the steps of storing and searching are perfornmed on the server.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed on a computer system: displaying in a first window on a display, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; displaying in a second window on the display a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type that is displayed in the first window; and displaying in a third window on the display, at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns in the second window.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed on a computer system: displaying in a first window on a display, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; displaying in a second window on the display a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type that is displayed in the first window; and displaying in a third window on the display, at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns in the second window.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 33 wherein the step of displaying in a first window is preceded by the step of: storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 34 wherein the storing step comprises the step of storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein the following steps are performed between the step of storing and the step of displaying in a first window: accepting at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types to define the user search criteria; and searching the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the user search criteria.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the step of displaying in a first window further comprises the step of displaying with each pattern in the first window an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 33 wherein the step of displaying in a third window is followed by the step of: annotating the third window in response to user input.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 33 wherein the step of displaying in a third window is followed by the step of: emailing the third window.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 33 wherein the step of displaying in a third window is followed by the step of: electronically ordering samples of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the third window.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 33 wherein the step of displaying in a third window is followed by the step of: electronically ordering sufficient quantities of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the third window, for the interior space.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the steps of displaying in a first window, displaying in a second window and displaying in a third window are performed on a client that is connected to a server via a network and wherein the steps of storing and searching are performed on the server.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed on a computer system: generating a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; generating a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; and combining at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed on a computer system: generating a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; generating a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; and combining at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 43 wherein the step of generating a plurality of arrays is preceded by the step of: storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 44 wherein the storing step comprises the step of storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method according to claim 45 wherein the following steps are performed between the step of storing and the step of generating a plurality of arrays: accepting at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types to define the user search criteria; and searching the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the user search criteria.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 46 wherein the step of generating a plurality of arrays further comprises the step of generating for each pattern, an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 43 wherein the combining step is followed by the step of: annotating the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in response to user input.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 43 wherein the combining step is followed by the step of: emailing the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 43 wherein the combining step is followed by the step of: electronically ordering samples of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 43 wherein the combining step is followed by the step of: electronically ordering sufficient quantities of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined, for the interior space.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
171 words
A server method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed at a server that is connected to a client by a network: storing a set of patterns for a plurality of surface treatment product types, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes; accepting from the client over the network at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types; searching the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate a plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute; transmitting the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute to the client over the network; receiving from the client over the network a file of interior design surface treatments for an interior space that represents at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns; and storing the received file.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
171 words
A server method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed at a server that is connected to a client by a network: storing a set of patterns for a plurality of surface treatment product types, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes; accepting from the client over the network at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types; searching the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate a plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute; transmitting the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute to the client over the network; receiving from the client over the network a file of interior design surface treatments for an interior space that represents at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns; and storing the received file.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 52 wherein the searching step further comprises the step of generating for each pattern, an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
202 words
A client method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed at a client that is connected to a server by a network: accepting at least one user selected attribute for at least one of a plurality of surface treatment product types to define a user search criteria; transmitting the user search criteria to the server over the network; receiving from the server over the network, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to the user search criteria, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; displaying the plurality of arrays of patterns; accepting at least one user selection from at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns; generating a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to the at least one user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; displaying the plurality of subarrays of patterns; combining at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns; and displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
202 words
A client method of coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising the following steps that are performed at a client that is connected to a server by a network: accepting at least one user selected attribute for at least one of a plurality of surface treatment product types to define a user search criteria; transmitting the user search criteria to the server over the network; receiving from the server over the network, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to the user search criteria, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; displaying the plurality of arrays of patterns; accepting at least one user selection from at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns; generating a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to the at least one user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; displaying the plurality of subarrays of patterns; combining at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns; and displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 54 wherein the step of displaying the plurality of arrays of patterns further comprises the step of displaying with each pattern an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 54 wherein the step of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined is followed by the step of: annotating the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in response to user input.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 54 wherein the step of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined is followed by the step of: emailing the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method according to claim 54 wherein the step of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined is followed by the step of: electronically ordering samples of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 54 wherein the step of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined is followed by the step of: electronically ordering sufficient quantities of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined, for the interior space.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 59 wherein the step of displaying the plurality of arrays of patterns is performed in a first window on a display and wherein the step of displaying the plurality of subarrays of patterns is performed in a second window on the display.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 60 wherein the step of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined is performed in a third window on the display.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
139 words
A computer program product for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that displays a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; computer readable program code that generates a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; and computer readable program code that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
139 words
A computer program product for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that displays a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; computer readable program code that generates a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; and computer readable program code that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer program product according to claim 62 further comprising: computer readable program code that stores a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program product according to claim 63 wherein the computer readable program code that stores comprises computer readable program code that stores a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer program product according to claim 64 further comprising: computer readable program code that accepts at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types to define the user search criteria; and computer readable program code that searches the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the user search criteria.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program product according to claim 65 wherein the computer readable program code that displays further comprises computer readable program code that displays with each pattern an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program product according to claim 62 further comprising: computer readable program code that displays the plurality of subarrays of patterns to create a catalog.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer program product according to claim 62 further comprising: computer readable program code that displays the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer program product according to claim 68 further comprising: computer readable program code that annotates the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in response to user input.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer program product according to claim 68 further comprising: computer readable program code that emails the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer program product according to claim 68 further comprising: computer readable program code that electronically orders samples of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer program product according to claim 68 further comprising: computer readable program code that electronically orders sufficient quantities of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined, for the interior space.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer program product according to claim 67 wherein the computer readable program code displays a plurality of arrays of patterns in a first window on a display and wherein the computer readable program code displays the plurality of subarrays of patterns in a second window on the display.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program product according to claim 73 further comprising: computer readable program code that displays the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in a third window on the display.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer program product according to claim 65 wherein the computer readable program code that displays and the computer readable program code that combines execute on a client that is connected to a server via a network and wherein the computer readable program code that stores and the computer readable program code that searches executes on the server.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer program product for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that displays a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; and computer readable program code that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer program product for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that displays a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; and computer readable program code that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer program product according to claim 76 further comprising: computer readable program code that stores a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program product according to claim 77 wherein the computer readable program code that stores comprises computer readable program code that stores a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer program product according to claim 78 further comprising: computer readable program code that accepts at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types to define the user search criteria; and computer readable program code that searches the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the user search criteria.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program product according to claim 79 wherein the computer readable program code that displays further comprises computer readable program code that displays with each pattern an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer program product according to claim 76 further comprising: computer readable program code that displays the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer program product according to claim 81 further comprising: computer readable program code that annotates the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined in response to user input.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer program product according to claim 81 further comprising: computer readable program code that emails the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer program product according to claim 81 further comprising: computer readable program code that electronically orders samples of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer program product according to claim 81 further comprising: computer readable program code that electronically orders sufficient quantities of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined, for the interior space.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer program product according to claim 81 wherein the computer readable program code displays a plurality of arrays of patterns in a first window on a display and wherein the computer readable program code displays the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined in a second window on the display.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
57 words
A computer program product according to claim 79 wherein the computer readable program code that displays and the computer readable program code that combines execute on a client that is connected to a server via a network and wherein computer readable program code that stores and the computer readable program code that searches execute on the server.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
171 words
A computer program product for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that displays in a first window on a display, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; computer readable program code that displays in a second window on the display a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type that is displayed in the first window; and computer readable program code that displays in a third window on the display, at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns in the second window.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
171 words
A computer program product for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that displays in a first window on a display, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; computer readable program code that displays in a second window on the display a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type that is displayed in the first window; and computer readable program code that displays in a third window on the display, at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns in the second window.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer program product according to claim 88 further comprising: computer readable program code that stores a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program product according to claim 89 wherein the computer readable program code that stores comprises computer readable program code that stores a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer program product according to claim 90 further comprising: computer readable program code that accepts at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types to define the user search criteria; and computer readable program code that searches the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the user search criteria.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
48 words
A computer program product according to claim 91 wherein the computer readable program code that displays in a first window further comprises computer readable program code that displays with each pattern in the first window an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer program product according to claim 88 further comprising: computer readable program code that annotates the third window in response to user input.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer program product according to claim 88 further comprising: computer readable program code that emails the third window.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer program product according to claim 88 further comprising: computer readable program code that electronically orders samples of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the third window.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer program product according to claim 88 further comprising: computer readable program code that electronically orders sufficient quantities of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the third window, for the interior space.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
77 words
A computer program product according to claim 91 wherein the computer readable program code that displays in a first window, the computer readable program code that displays in a second window and the computer readable program code that displays in a third window execute on a client that is connected to a server via a network and wherein the computer readable program code that stores and the computer readable program code that searches execute on the server.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
139 words
A computer program product for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that generates a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; computer readable program code that generates a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; and computer readable program code that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
139 words
A computer program product for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that generates a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; computer readable program code that generates a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; and computer readable program code that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer program product according to claim 98 further comprising: computer readable program code that stores a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program product according to claim 99 wherein the computer readable program code that stores comprises computer readable program code that stores a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer program product according to claim 100 further comprising: computer readable program code that accepts at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types to define the user search criteria; and computer readable program code that searches the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the user search criteria.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer program product according to claim 101 wherein the computer readable program code that generates a plurality of arrays further comprises computer readable program code that generates for each pattern, an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer program product according to claim 98 further comprising: computer readable program code that annotates the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in response to user input.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer program product according to claim 98 further comprising: computer readable program code that emails the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer program product according to claim 98 further comprising: computer readable program code that electronically orders samples of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer program product according to claim 98 further comprising: computer readable program code that electronically orders sufficient quantities of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined, for the interior space.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
222 words
A computer program product that executes on a server that is connected to a client over a network, for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that stores a set of patterns for a plurality of surface treatment product types, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes; computer readable program code that accepts from the client over the network at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types; computer readable program code that searches the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate a plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute; computer readable program code that transmits the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute to the client over the network; computer readable program code that receives from the client over the network a file of interior design surface treatments for an interior space that represents at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns; and computer readable program code that stores the received file.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
222 words
A computer program product that executes on a server that is connected to a client over a network, for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that stores a set of patterns for a plurality of surface treatment product types, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes; computer readable program code that accepts from the client over the network at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types; computer readable program code that searches the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate a plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute; computer readable program code that transmits the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute to the client over the network; computer readable program code that receives from the client over the network a file of interior design surface treatments for an interior space that represents at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns; and computer readable program code that stores the received file.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer program product according to claim 107 wherein the computer readable program code that searches further comprises computer readable program code that generates for each pattern, an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
268 words
A computer program product that executes on a client that is connected to a server over a network, for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that accepts at least one user selected attribute for at least one of a plurality of surface treatment product types to define a user search criteria; computer readable program code that transmits the user search criteria to the server over the network; computer readable program code that receives from the server over the network, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to the user search criteria, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; computer readable program code that displays the plurality of arrays of patterns; computer readable program code that accepts at least one user selection from at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns; computer readable program code that generates a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to the at least one user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; computer readable program code that displays the plurality of subarrays of patterns; computer readable program code that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns; and computer readable program code that displays the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
268 words
A computer program product that executes on a client that is connected to a server over a network, for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code that accepts at least one user selected attribute for at least one of a plurality of surface treatment product types to define a user search criteria; computer readable program code that transmits the user search criteria to the server over the network; computer readable program code that receives from the server over the network, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to the user search criteria, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; computer readable program code that displays the plurality of arrays of patterns; computer readable program code that accepts at least one user selection from at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns; computer readable program code that generates a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to the at least one user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; computer readable program code that displays the plurality of subarrays of patterns; computer readable program code that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns; and computer readable program code that displays the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
46 words
A computer program product according to claim 109 wherein the computer readable program code that displays the plurality of arrays of patterns further comprises computer readable program code that displays with each pattern an indicator of an extent that the pattern matches the user search criteria.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer program product according to claim 109 further comprising: computer readable program code that annotates at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in response to user input.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer program product according to claim 109 further comprising: computer readable program code that emails the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer program product according to claim 109 further comprising: computer readable program code that electronically orders samples of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer program product according to claim 109 further comprising: computer readable program code that electronically orders sufficient quantities of the interior design surface treatments that are contained in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined, for the interior space.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer program product according to claim 114 wherein the computer readable program code displays the plurality of arrays of patterns in a first window on a display and wherein the computer readable program code displays the plurality of subarrays of patterns in a second window on the display.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer program product according to claim 115 wherein the computer readable program code displays the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in a third window on the display.
Claim 129
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a computer display that displays a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; a computer that generates a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type, and that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 130
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a computer display that displays a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; a computer that generates a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type, and that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 131
Independent Claim
72 words
A system for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a computer display that displays a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; and a computer that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns.
Claim 132
Independent Claim
72 words
A system for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a computer display that displays a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; and a computer that combines at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns.
Claim 133
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a computer display that displays in a first window on a display, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; the computer display also displaying in a second window on the display a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type that is displayed in the first window; and the computer display also displaying in a third window on the display, at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns in the second window.
Claim 134
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a computer display that displays in a first window on a display, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; the computer display also displaying in a second window on the display a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type that is displayed in the first window; and the computer display also displaying in a third window on the display, at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns in the second window.
Claim 135
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a computer that generates a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; the computer also generating a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; and the computer also combining at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 136
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for coordinating patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a computer that generates a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, from a stored set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; the computer also generating a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; and the computer also combining at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns.
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
167 words
A server that coordinates patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a server computer that stores a set of patterns for a plurality of surface treatment product types, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes; the server computer also accepting from a client over a network at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types; the server computer also searching the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate a plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute; the server computer also transmitting the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute to the client over the network; the server computer also receiving from the client over the network a file that represents at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns; and the server computer also storing the received file.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
167 words
A server that coordinates patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a server computer that stores a set of patterns for a plurality of surface treatment product types, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes; the server computer also accepting from a client over a network at least one user selected attribute for at least one of the surface treatment product types; the server computer also searching the stored pattern attributes for the at least one of the surface treatment product types to generate a plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute; the server computer also transmitting the plurality of arrays of patterns that meet the at least one user selected attribute to the client over the network; the server computer also receiving from the client over the network a file that represents at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns; and the server computer also storing the received file.
Claim 139
Dependent Claim
219 words
A client that coordinates patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a client computer that accepts at least one user selected attribute for at least one of a plurality of surface treatment product types to define a user search criteria; the client computer also transmitting the user search criteria to a server over a network; the client computer also receiving from the server over the network, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to the user search criteria, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; the client computer also displaying the plurality of arrays of patterns; the client computer also accepting at least one user selection from at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns; the client computer also generating a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to the at least one user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; the client computer also displaying the plurality of subarrays of patterns; the client computer also combining at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns; and the client computer also displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 140
Dependent Claim
219 words
A client that coordinates patterns of interior design surface treatments for an interior space, comprising: a client computer that accepts at least one user selected attribute for at least one of a plurality of surface treatment product types to define a user search criteria; the client computer also transmitting the user search criteria to a server over a network; the client computer also receiving from the server over the network, a plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to the user search criteria, each array of patterns corresponding to a surface treatment product type; the client computer also displaying the plurality of arrays of patterns; the client computer also accepting at least one user selection from at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns; the client computer also generating a plurality of subarrays of patterns, each subarray corresponding to a surface treatment product type, in response to the at least one user selection from the corresponding array of patterns for the corresponding surface treatment type; the client computer also displaying the plurality of subarrays of patterns; the client computer also combining at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns; and the client computer also displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 141
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: storing data related to the plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria, data related to the plurality of subarrays of patterns and/or data related to the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in a database; and mining the database to extract information related to projects of a user and/or products of a manufacturer of the interior design surface treatments.
Claim 142
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method according to claim 123 wherein the mining step comprises mining the database to extract information related to search criteria of a user, patterns that are frequently selected by a user, combinations of interior design surface treatments that are used by a user, samples of interior design surface treatments that have been ordered by a user or quantities of interior design surface treatments that have been ordered by a user.
Claim 143
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 123 wherein the mining step comprises mining the database to extract information related to past projects of a user, work in progress projects of a user or future projects of a user.
Claim 144
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method according to claim 123 wherein the mining step comprises mining the database to extract information related to products, product categories and/or attributes of a manufacturer of the interior design surface treatments that are selected in response to user search criteria, that are selected from the corresponding array of patterns or that are included in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 145
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim 126 further comprising the step of using the information related to products and product categories of a manufacturer of the interior design surface treatments that are selected in response to user search criteria, that are selected from the corresponding array of patterns or that are included in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined to generate sales leads, to design new patterns, to direct marketing or to manufacture interior design surface treatments.
Claim 146
Dependent Claim
125 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the step of storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments is preceded by the steps of: obtaining a plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from a plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments; converting the plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments into a standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments; and wherein the step of storing comprises storing the standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments.
Claim 147
Dependent Claim
157 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the step of storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes, is preceded by the steps of: obtaining a plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from a plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes; converting the plurality of patterns and the plurality of pattern attributes for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments into a standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns and the plurality of attributes for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments; and wherein the step of storing comprises storing the standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns and the plurality of attributes for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments.
Claim 148
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method according to claim 128 wherein the step of converting the plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments into a standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments comprises the steps of: scaling the plurality of patterns to a common scale; capturing images of the plurality of patterns under common lighting; and color correcting the plurality of patterns.
Claim 149
Dependent Claim
113 words
A method according to claim 129 wherein the step of converting the plurality of patterns and the plurality of pattern attributes for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments into a standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns and the plurality of attributes for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments comprises the steps of: generating specifications for the plurality of patterns from a standard set of attributes and attribute values; scaling the plurality of patterns to a common scale; capturing images of the plurality of patterns under common lighting; and color correcting the plurality of patterns.
Claim 150
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a product specification that is associated with a selected pattern in the plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to the user search criteria.
Claim 151
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of displaying a product specification that is associated with a selected pattern in the plurality of subarrays of patterns in the catalog.
Claim 152
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of displaying a product specification that is associated with a selected interior design surface treatment in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 153
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of resizing at least one of the images of the patterns that is displayed on the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined, without resizing the pattern, in response to user input.
Claim 154
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of rotating at least one of the patterns on the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in response to user input.
Claim 155
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of adding legends to the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined that identify selected attributes of the patterns on the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 156
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of importing images, graphics or text into the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 157
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising exporting the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 158
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the displaying step is preceded by: accepting a user selection of a pattern; and searching the stored set of patterns to generate at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns that are similar to the user selection of a pattern.
Claim 159
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the at least one user selected attribute is a custom product attribute.
Claim 160
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the at least one user selected attribute is a collection, correlate or related material attribute.
Claim 161
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying a plurality of patterns that correspond to user search criteria and that are not flagged as being discontinued.
Claim 162
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the step of displaying the plurality of subarrays of patterns to create a catalog comprises the step of displaying the plurality of subarrays of patterns, including a flag of those patterns which are discontinued, to create the catalog.
Claim 163
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the step of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined comprises the steps of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined, including a flag of those interior design surface treatments that are discontinued.
Claim 164
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising identifying a service provider for at least one of the interior design treatments in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in response to a user query.
Claim 165
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising identifying a manufacturer's representative for at least one of the interior design treatments in the at least one pattern from at least two of the subarrays of patterns that are combined in response to a user query.
Claim 166
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the at least one user-selected attribute is an availability attribute.
Claim 167
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of: storing data related to the plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to user search criteria and/or data related to the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined in a database; and mining the database to extract information related to projects of a user and/or products of a manufacturer of the interior design surface treatments.
Claim 168
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method according to claim 149 wherein the mining step comprises mining the database to extract information related to search criteria of a user, patterns that are frequently selected by a user, combinations of interior design surface treatments that are used by a user, samples of interior design surface treatments that have been ordered by a user or quantities of interior design surface treatments that have been ordered by a user.
Claim 169
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 149 wherein the mining step comprises mining the database to extract information related to past projects of a user, work in progress projects of a user or future projects of a user.
Claim 170
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method according to claim 149 wherein the mining step comprises mining the database to extract information related to products, product categories and/or attributes of a manufacturer of the interior design surface treatments that are selected in response to user search criteria or that are included in the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 171
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method according to claim 152 further comprising the step of using the information related to products and product categories of a manufacturer of the interior design surface treatments that are selected in response to user search criteria or that are included in the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined to generate sales leads, to design new patterns, to direct marketing or to manufacture interior design surface treatments.
Claim 172
Dependent Claim
125 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein the step of storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments is preceded by the steps of: obtaining a plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from a plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments; converting the plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments into a standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments; and wherein the step of storing comprises storing the standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments.
Claim 173
Dependent Claim
157 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the step of storing a set of patterns for interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes, is preceded by the steps of: obtaining a plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from a plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments, each pattern including a plurality of pattern attributes; converting the plurality of patterns and the plurality of pattern attributes for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments into a standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns and the plurality of attributes for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments; and wherein the step of storing comprises storing the standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns and the plurality of attributes for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments.
Claim 174
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method according to claim 154 wherein the step of converting the plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments into a standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments comprises the steps of: scaling the plurality of patterns to a common scale; capturing images of the plurality of patterns under common lighting; and color correcting the plurality of patterns.
Claim 175
Dependent Claim
113 words
A method according to claim 155 wherein the step of converting the plurality of patterns and the plurality of pattern attributes for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments into a standardized set of representations of the plurality of patterns and the plurality of attributes for interior design surface treatments from the plurality of manufacturers of interior design surface treatments comprises the steps of: generating specifications for the plurality of patterns from a standard set of attributes and attribute values; scaling the plurality of patterns to a common scale; capturing images of the plurality of patterns under common lighting; and color correcting the plurality of patterns.
Claim 176
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of displaying a product specification that is associated with a selected pattern in the plurality of arrays of patterns that correspond to the user search criteria.
Claim 177
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 26 further comprising the step of displaying a product specification that is associated with a selected interior design surface treatment in the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 178
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 26 further comprising the step of resizing at least one of the images of the patterns that is displayed on the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined, without resizing the pattern, in response to user input.
Claim 179
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 26 further comprising the step of rotating at least one of the patterns on the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined in response to user input.
Claim 180
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 26 further comprising the step of adding legends to the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined that identify selected attributes of the patterns on the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 181
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of importing images, graphics or text into the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 182
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising exporting the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined.
Claim 183
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the displaying step is preceded by: accepting a user selection of a pattern; and searching the stored set of patterns to generate at least one of the plurality of arrays of patterns that are similar to the user selection of a pattern.
Claim 184
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one user selected attribute is a custom product attribute.
Claim 185
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one user selected attribute is a collection, correlate or related material attribute.
Claim 186
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein the step of displaying comprises displaying a plurality of patterns that correspond to user search criteria and that are not flagged as being discontinued.
Claim 187
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 26 wherein the step of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined comprises the steps of displaying the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined, including a flag of those interior design surface treatments that are discontinued.
Claim 188
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising identifying a service provider for at least one of the interior design treatments in the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined in response to a user query.
Claim 189
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising identifying a manufacturer's representative for at least one of the interior design treatments in the at least one pattern from at least two of the arrays of patterns that are combined in response to a user query.
Claim 190
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one user-selected attribute is an availability attribute.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-12-15 | 2007-06-16 | 2007-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-15 | 2011-06-16 | 2011-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-15 | 2015-06-16 | 2015-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |