US6809741B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic color contrast adjuster
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1999-06-09
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Granted: 2004-10-26
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Expires: 2019-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A color contrast adjuster is disclosed that automatically selects and applies a new color combination for text and background based on the current color combination for the text and background, if the current color combination is a problem color combination. The text can be any text object (such as a hypertext link, bold text, underline text, groups of text etc.) and the background can be any background object whose color can be determined (such as a solid color, a button, a global interchange format file, etc.). Additionally, the color contrast adjuster can store multiple problem and preferred color combinations for each user. The color contrast adjuster can replace a problem color combination with a preferred color combination. Furthermore, the color contrast adjuster can provide example color combinations to a user, allow the user to select a better color combination, and add this preferred and problem combination to a user preferences. This allows the color contrast adjuster to adapt to additional problem color combinations. The color contrast adjuster can also provide the user with an indication of previous colors for objects whose color has been changed. This option is useful if the user is to select an object based on the color of the object.
Inventors
- 👤 Cary Lee Bates
- 👤 Paul Reuben Day
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04845; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04817; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to the at least one processor; a browser residing in the memory and displaying at least one text object that is surrounded by a background object, the at least one text object comprising a text object color and the background object comprising at least one background object color, the text object color and one of the at least one background object colors comprising a current color combination; a user preferences residing in the-memory and comprising a plurality of problem color combinations and a plurality of preferred color combinations, each color combination comprising a text object color and a background object color, each problem color combination corresponding to a preferred color combination; and a color contrast adjuster residing in the memory, the color contrast adjuster selecting a specific preferred color combination corresponding to one of the problem color combinations and applying the specific color combination to the at least one text object and the background object if the current color combination matches a problem color combination in the user preferences.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to the at least one processor; a browser residing in the memory and displaying at least one text object that is surrounded by a background object, the at least one text object comprising a text object color and the background object comprising at least one background object color, the text object color and one of the at least one background object colors comprising a current color combination; a user preferences residing in the-memory and comprising a plurality of problem color combinations and a plurality of preferred color combinations, each color combination comprising a text object color and a background object color, each problem color combination corresponding to a preferred color combination; and a color contrast adjuster residing in the memory, the color contrast adjuster selecting a specific preferred color combination corresponding to one of the problem color combinations and applying the specific color combination to the at least one text object and the background object if the current color combination matches a problem color combination in the user preferences.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a user sets the range of colors that comprises the match between the problem color combination and the current color combination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the color contrast adjuster determines the at least one text object color and background object color.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the color contrast adjuster provides a user with at least one example color combination for the at least one text object and the background object, allows the user to choose an example color combination from the at least one example color combination, adds any chosen example color combination to the user preferences, and adds the current color combination to the plurality of problem color combinations, the current color combination corresponding to the chosen example color combination.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one background object color is a plurality of colors and wherein the color contrast adjuster selects the specific color combination by combining each of the plurality of background object colors with the text object color to create a plurality of current color combinations and by comparing the plurality of current color combinations with the plurality of problem color combinations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein there is more than one match between the plurality of current color combinations and the plurality of problem color combinations, and wherein the specific color combination selected and applied by the color contrast adjuster is a default color combination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the background object comprises a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a pixel color, and wherein the color contrast adjuster categorizes and weights each pixel's color.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the background object has a diagonal and wherein the weight assigned to a pixel's color is determined by one minus the fraction of the distance from that pixel to the nearest part of the text object divided by the length of the diagonal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the weight is one.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one text object is a plurality of text objects such that there are a plurality of current color combinations and wherein the color contrast adjuster compares each current color combination with the plurality of problem color combinations to select the specific preferred color combination.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a cursor, wherein the color contrast adjuster saves the name of the color of the object whose color is changed in the current color combination when the color contrast adjuster applies the specific color combination to the at least one text object and the background object, and wherein the color contrast adjuster displays the name of the color when the cursor is placed over the object whose color is changed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the browser comprises at least one data structure that comprises the text object color and the at least one background object color, and wherein the color contrast adjuster applies the specific color combination by modifying the text object color and the at least one background object color in the at least one data structure to the specific color combination.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for improving color contrast between browser displayed text objects and background objects, an at least one text object comprising a text object color and a background object comprising at least one background object color, the text object color and one of the at least one background object colors comprising a current color combination, the method comprising the steps of: providing a user preferences that resides in the memory and comprises a plurality of problem color combinations and a plurality of preferred color combinations, each color combination comprising a text object color and a background object color, each problem color combination corresponding to a preferred color combination; searching user preferences and comparing the current color combination with at least one of the plurality of problem color combinations; selecting a specific preferred color combination corresponding to one of the problem color combinations if the current color combination matches the at least one problem color combination in the user preferences; and applying the specific color combination to the at least one text object and the background object if the current color combination matches the at least one problem color combination in the user preferences.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for improving color contrast between browser displayed text objects and background objects, an at least one text object comprising a text object color and a background object comprising at least one background object color, the text object color and one of the at least one background object colors comprising a current color combination, the method comprising the steps of: providing a user preferences that resides in the memory and comprises a plurality of problem color combinations and a plurality of preferred color combinations, each color combination comprising a text object color and a background object color, each problem color combination corresponding to a preferred color combination; searching user preferences and comparing the current color combination with at least one of the plurality of problem color combinations; selecting a specific preferred color combination corresponding to one of the problem color combinations if the current color combination matches the at least one problem color combination in the user preferences; and applying the specific color combination to the at least one text object and the background object if the current color combination matches the at least one problem color combination in the user preferences.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of a user setting the range of colors that comprises the match between the problem color combination and the current color combination.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of determining the text object color and the background object color.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of providing a user with at least one example color combination for the at least one text object and the background object, allowing the user to choose an example color combination from the at least one example color combination, adding any chosen example color combination to the user preferences, and adding the current color combination to the plurality of problem color combinations, the current color combination corresponding to the chosen example color combination.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
124 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one background object color comprises a plurality of background object colors such that there are a plurality of current color combinations, wherein the method further comprises the step of selecting one of the plurality of current color combinations of the at least one text object and the background object as the selected current color combination, and wherein the steps of selecting one of the plurality of current color combinations, searching user preferences, and selecting a specific preferred color combination are performed until each of the plurality of current color combinations is compared to the plurality problem combinations unless more than one preferred color combination is selected, whereupon a default color combination is selected and applied.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the background object comprises a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a pixel color, wherein the method further comprises the step of categorizing and weighting each pixel's color and the step of summing the weights for each color category and determining the highest N color categories having the highest sums, and wherein the highest N color categories are used as the plurality of background object colors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
122 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one text object is a plurality of text objects such that there are a plurality of current color combinations, wherein the method further comprises the step of selecting one of the plurality of current color combinations of the at least one text object and the background object as the selected current color combination, and wherein the steps of selecting one of the plurality of current color combinations, searching user preferences, and selecting a specific preferred color combination are performed until each of the plurality of current color combinations is compared to the plurality problem combinations unless more than one preferred color combination is selected, whereupon a default color combination is selected and applied.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the step of applying the specific color combination further comprises the step of saving the name of the color of the object in the current color combination whose color is changed during the step of applying the specific color combination, and wherein the method further comprises the step of displaying the name of the color when a cursor is placed over the object whose color is changed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the browser comprises at least one data structure that comprises the text object color and the background object color, and wherein the step of applying the specific color combination the specific color combination comprises the step of modifying the text object color and the at least one background object color in the at least one data structure to the specific color combination.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
172 words
A program product that interacts with a browser, the browser displaying at least one text object that is surrounded by a background object, the at least one text object comprising a text object color and the background object comprising at least one background object color, the text object color and one of the at least one background object colors comprising a current color combination, the program product comprising: a user preferences able to comprise a plurality of problem color combinations and a plurality of preferred color combinations, each color combination comprising a text object color and a background object color, each problem color combination corresponding to a preferred color combination; a color contrast adjuster, the color contrast adjuster selecting a specific preferred color combination corresponding to one of the problem color combinations and applying the specific color combination to the at least one text object and the background object if the current color combination matches a problem color combination in the user preferences; and signal bearing media bearing the color contrast adjuster.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
172 words
A program product that interacts with a browser, the browser displaying at least one text object that is surrounded by a background object, the at least one text object comprising a text object color and the background object comprising at least one background object color, the text object color and one of the at least one background object colors comprising a current color combination, the program product comprising: a user preferences able to comprise a plurality of problem color combinations and a plurality of preferred color combinations, each color combination comprising a text object color and a background object color, each problem color combination corresponding to a preferred color combination; a color contrast adjuster, the color contrast adjuster selecting a specific preferred color combination corresponding to one of the problem color combinations and applying the specific color combination to the at least one text object and the background object if the current color combination matches a problem color combination in the user preferences; and signal bearing media bearing the color contrast adjuster.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The program product of claim 22 wherein the signal bearing media comprises transmission media.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The program product of claim 22 wherein the signal bearing media comprises recordable media.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein a user sets the range of colors that comprises the match between the problem color combination and the current color combination.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the color contrast adjuster determines the at least one text object color and background object color.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the color contrast adjuster provides a user with at least one example color combination for the at least one text object and the background object, allows the user to choose an example color combination from the at least one example color combination, adds any chosen example color combination to the user preferences, and adds the current color combination to the plurality of problem color combinations, the current color combination corresponding to the chosen example color combination.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the at least one background object color is a plurality of colors and wherein the color contrast adjuster selects the specific color combination by combining each of the plurality of background object colors with the text object color to create a plurality of current color combinations and by comparing the plurality of current color combinations with the plurality of problem color combinations.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein there is more than one match between the plurality of current color combinations and the plurality of problem color combinations, and wherein the specific color combination selected and applied by the color contrast adjuster is a default color combination.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the background object comprises a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a pixel color, and wherein the color contrast adjuster categorizes and weights each pixel's color.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the background object has a diagonal and wherein the weight assigned to a pixel's color is determined by one minus the fraction of the distance from that pixel to the nearest part of the text object divided by the length of the diagonal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the weight is one.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the at least one text object is a plurality of text objects such that there are a plurality of current color combinations and wherein the color contrast adjuster compares each current color combination with the plurality of problem color combinations to select the specific preferred color combination.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the apparatus further comprises a cursor, wherein the color contrast adjuster saves the name of the color of the object whose color is changed in the current color combination when the color contrast adjuster applies the specific color combination to the at-least one text object and the background object, and wherein the color contrast adjuster displays the name of the color when the cursor is placed over the object whose color is changed.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the browser comprises at least one data structure that comprises the text object color and the at least one background object color, and wherein the color contrast adjuster applies the specific color combination by modifying the text object color and the at least one background object color in the at least one data structure to the specific color combination.
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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) | 2007-10-26 | 2008-04-26 | 2008-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-10-26 | 2012-04-26 | 2012-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-10-26 | 2016-04-26 | 2016-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |