Systems and methods for establishing the colors of a customized stamp

Abstract

The field of the invention relates to online postage systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for establishing the colors of a customized stamp purchased through an online postage system. In one embodiment, a method is employed for customizing the colors of a customized stamp having a panel and an image. The method includes the steps of enabling a user to select a region of the image, retrieving a color value corresponding to the region of the image, and applying the retrieved color value to a visual feature of the panel, such as the background and text of the panel. The method also maintains a minimum amount of contrast in brightness and color between the background and the text of the panel.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-usable medium for facilitating computer-assisted creation of a customized postage item via computer-automated color replacement the computer-usable medium storing computer program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to execute a method comprising: providing a presentation of a postage item at a user interface on a display device associated with the computer system, the postage item comprising a region having a background and text over the background; determining a user-indicated location within the postage item, the user-indicated location indicating a color to be applied to one of the background or the text; selecting, based on the user-indicated location, a first color for the one of the background or the text; selecting, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the other one of the background or the text, a second color for the other one of the background or the text based on the second color having a predetermined threshold of contrast in color or brightness to the first color; and causing modification of the presentation of the postage item at the user interface such that a prior color of the one of the background or the text is replaced with the first color and a prior color of the other one of the background or the text is replaced with the second color, the modification of the presentation of the postage item being caused without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the other one of the background or the text.

2. The computer-usable medium of claim 1, wherein the user-indicated location indicates a color to be applied to the background, wherein selecting the first color comprises selecting, based on the user-indicated location, the first color for the background, wherein selecting the second color comprises selecting, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the text, the second color for the text based on the second color having the predetermined threshold of contrast in color or brightness to the first color, and wherein causing the modification of the presentation of the postage item comprises causing, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the text, the modification of the presentation of the postage item at the user interface such that a prior color of the background is replaced with the first color and a prior color of the text is replaced with the second color.

3. The computer-usable medium of claim 1, wherein the user-indicated location indicates a color to be applied to the text, wherein selecting the first color comprises selecting, based on the user-indicated location, the first color for the text, wherein selecting the second color comprises selecting, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the background, the second color for the background based on the second color having the predetermined threshold of contrast in color or brightness to the first color, and wherein causing the modification of the presentation of the postage item comprises causing, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the background, the modification of the presentation of the postage item at the user interface such that a prior color of the text is replaced with the first color and a prior color of the background is replaced with the second color.

4. The computer-usable medium of claim 1, wherein determining the user-indicated location comprises determining a location of where an input-device-associated pointer was positioned over the postage item and determining, based on the determined location, the user-indicated location within the postage item, and wherein selecting the first color comprises selecting the first color based on the first color having color characteristics matched to a color associated with a single point corresponding to the user-indicated location on the postage item that the input-device-associated pointer was positioned over when a user input was received.

5. The computer-usable medium of claim 1, wherein determining the user-indicated location comprises determining a location of where an input-device-associated pointer was positioned over the postage item and determining, based on the determined location, the user-indicated location within the postage item, and wherein color values associated with the first color comprise weighted numerical Red, Green, Blue intensities that average color values associated with a plurality of points corresponding to the user-indicated location on the postage item that the input-device-associated pointer was positioned over when the user input was received.

6. The computer-usable medium of claim 1, wherein color values associated with the first color or color values associated with the second color comprise numerical Hue, Saturation, and Luminosity values ranging from zero to two-hundred and forty.

7. A method of facilitating computer-assisted creation of a customized postage item via computer-automated color replacement, the method being implemented by a computer system that comprises one or more processors executing computer program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform the method, the method comprising: providing, by the computer system, on a display device, a presentation of a postage item at a user interface, the postage item comprising a region having a background and text over the background; determining a user-indicated location within the postage item, the user-indicated location indicating a color to be applied to one of the background or the text; selecting, based on the user-indicated location, a first color for the one of the background or the text; selecting, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the other one of the background or the text, a second color for the other one of the background or the text based on the second color having a predetermined threshold of contrast in color or brightness to the first color; and causing, at the user interface, modification of the presentation of the postage item such that a prior color of the one of the background or the text is replaced with the first color and a prior color of the other one of the background or the text is replaced with the second color, the modification of the presentation of the postage item being caused without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the other one of the background or the text.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user-indicated location indicates a color to be applied to the background, wherein selecting the first color comprises selecting, based on the user-indicated location, the first color for the background, wherein selecting the second color comprises selecting, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the text, the second color for the text based on the second color having the predetermined threshold of contrast in color or brightness to the first color, and wherein causing the modification of the presentation of the postage item comprises causing, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the text, the modification of the presentation of the postage item at the user interface such that a prior color of the background is replaced with the first color and a prior color of the text is replaced with the second color.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the user-indicated location indicates a color to be applied to the text, wherein selecting the first color comprises selecting, based on the user-indicated location, the first color for the text, wherein selecting the second color comprises selecting, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the background, the second color for the background based on the second color having the predetermined threshold of contrast in color or brightness to the first color, and wherein causing the modification of the presentation of the postage item comprises causing, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the background, the modification of the presentation of the postage item at the user interface such that a prior color of the text is replaced with the first color and a prior color of the background is replaced with the second color.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the user-indicated location comprises determining a location of where an input-device-associated pointer was positioned over the postage item and determining, based on the determined location, the user-indicated location within the postage item, and wherein selecting the first color comprises selecting the first color based on the first color having color characteristics matched to a color associated with a single point corresponding to the user-indicated location on the postage item that the input-device-associated pointer was positioned over when a user input was received.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the user-indicated location comprises determining a location of where an input-device-associated pointer was positioned over the postage item and determining, based on the determined location, the user-indicated location within the postage item, and wherein color values associated with the first color comprise weighted numerical Red, Green, Blue intensities that average color values associated with a plurality of points corresponding to the user-indicated location on the postage item that the input-device-associated pointer was positioned over when the user input was received.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein color values associated with the first color or color values associated with the second color comprise numerical Hue, Saturation, and Luminosity values ranging from zero to two-hundred and forty.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the postage item comprises a barcode representing a postage indicium, and wherein the text comprises text to indicate that the postage item represents United States postage and text to indicate one or more of a monetary value, a piece count, a vendor identification, and a postage account associated with the postage indicium.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising: calculating a perceived brightness associated with the first color based on color values associated with the first color and one or more predetermined formulas; calculating a perceived brightness associated with the second color based on color values associated with the second color and the one or more predetermined formulas; and determining whether the second color maintains the predetermined threshold of contrast in color or brightness to the first color based on the perceived brightness associated with the first color and the perceived brightness associated with the second color.

15. The method of claim 7, further comprising: obtaining, subsequent to the modification of the presentation of the postage item, a user input to replace the second color for the other one of the background or the text with another color for the other one of the background or the text; and responsive to the user input to replace the second color, causing further modification of the presentation of postage item at the user interface such that the second color for the other one of the background or the text is replaced with the other color.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the user-indicated location comprises determining a location of where an input-device-associated pointer was positioned over the postage item when a mouse input command was received and determining, based on the determined location, the user-indicated location within the postage item.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mouse input command comprises a right click mouse command.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the user-indicated location comprises determining a location of where an input-device-associated pointer was positioned over the postage item when a keyboard input command was received and determining, based on the determined location, the user-indicated location within the postage item.

19. A system for facilitating computer-assisted creation of a customized postage item via computer-automated color replacement, the system comprising: a computer system comprising one or more processors programmed to execute computer program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to: provide, at a user interface, a presentation of a postage item, the postage item comprising a region having a background and text over the background; determine a user-indicated location within the postage item, the user-indicated location indicating a color to be applied to one of the background or the text; select, based on the user-indicated location, a first color for the one of the background or the text; select, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the other one of the background or the text, a second color for the other one of the background or the text based on the second color having a predetermined threshold of contrast in color or brightness to the first color; and cause, at the user interface, modification of the presentation of the postage item such that a prior color of the one of the background or the text is replaced with the first color and a prior color of the other one of the background or the text is replaced with the second color, the modification of the presentation of the postage item being caused without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the other one of the background or the text.

20. A The system of claim 19, wherein the user-indicated location indicates a color to be applied to the background, wherein selecting the first color comprises selecting, based on the user-indicated location, the first color for the background, wherein selecting the second color comprises selecting, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the text, the second color for the text based on the second color having the predetermined threshold of contrast in color or brightness to the first color, and wherein causing the modification of the presentation of the postage item comprises causing, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the text, the modification of the presentation of the postage item at the user interface such that a prior color of the background is replaced with the first color and a prior color of the text is replaced with the second color.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the user-indicated location indicates a color to be applied to the text, wherein selecting the first color comprises selecting, based on the user-indicated location, the first color for the text, wherein selecting the second color comprises selecting, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the background, the second color for the background based on the second color having the predetermined threshold of contrast in color or brightness to the first color, and wherein causing the modification of the presentation of the postage item comprises causing, without receiving a user indication of a color to be applied to the background, the modification of the presentation of the postage item at the user interface such that a prior color of the text is replaced with the first color and a prior color of the background is replaced with the second color.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein determining the user-indicated location comprises determining a location of where an input-device-associated pointer was positioned over the postage item and determining, based on the determined location, the user-indicated location within the postage item, and wherein selecting the first color comprises selecting the first color based on the first color having color characteristics matched to a color associated with a single point corresponding to the user-indicated location on the postage item that the input-device-associated pointer was positioned over when a user input was received.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein determining the user-indicated location comprises determining a location of where an input-device-associated pointer was positioned over the postage item and determining, based on the determined location, the user-indicated location within the postage item, and wherein color values associated with the first color comprise weighted numerical Red, Green, Blue intensities that average color values associated with a plurality of points corresponding to the user-indicated location on the postage item that the input-device-associated pointer was positioned over when the user input was received.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein color values associated with the first color or color values associated with the second color comprise numerical Hue, Saturation, and Luminosity values ranging from zero to two-hundred and forty.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein color values associated with the first color or color values associated with the second color comprise numerical Red, Green, and Blue intensities ranging from zero to two-hundred and fifty.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer system is a user device, and wherein the one or more processors of the computer system are one or more processors of the user device.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the postage item comprises a barcode representing a postage indicium, and wherein the text comprises text to indicate that the postage item represents United States postage and text to indicate one or more of a monetary value, a piece count, a vendor identification, and a postage account associated with the postage indicium.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer system is further caused to: calculate a perceived brightness associated with the first color based on color values associated with the first color and one or more predetermined formulas; calculate a perceived brightness associated with the second color based on color values associated with the second color and the one or more predetermined formulas; and determine whether the second color maintains the predetermined threshold of contrast in color or brightness to the first color based on the perceived brightness associated with the first color and the perceived brightness associated with the second color.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer system is further caused to: obtain, subsequent to the modification of the presentation of the postage item, a user input to replace the second color for the other one of the background or the text with another color for the other one of the background or the text; and responsive to the user input to replace the second color, cause further modification of the presentation of postage item at the user interface such that the second color for the other one of the background or the text is replaced with the other color.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein determining the user-indicated location comprises determining a location of where an input-device-associated pointer was positioned over the postage item when a mouse input command was received and determining, based on the determined location, the user-indicated location within the postage.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the mouse input command comprises a right click mouse command.

32. The system of claim 19, wherein determining the user-indicated location comprises determining a location of where an input-device-associated pointer was positioned over the postage item when a keyboard input command was received and determining, based on the determined location, the user-indicated location within the postage item.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order to better appreciate how the above-recited and other advantages and objects of the inventions are obtained, a more particular description of the embodiments briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. However, like parts do not always have like reference numerals. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely.

(2) FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an online postage system known in the art;

(3) FIG. 2 is an illustration of an online postage stamp known in the art;

(4) FIG. 3 is an illustration of a color palette known in the art;

(5) FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a user interface used by a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) As mentioned above, for a postage stamp 100 such as one shown in FIG. 2, attempting to match the color of the panel 120 of the stamp 100 with the image 110 would be very difficult for many users. Flowchart 400 illustrates a method of facilitating the matching of the color of the panel 120 of the stamp 100 with a region of the image 110 as shown in FIG. 4. According to the process 400, a postage software program, such as the one described above, provides a user with an interface that allows the user to select an area of the image, which can be achieved by allowing the user to position a mouse pointer, or similar pointing device, over a specific area of the image 110 (action block 410). The program then reads the color characteristics matching the desired color of the location of the selected region, e.g., the position of the mouse pointer (action block 420). This action can be performed automatically or in response to a mouse or keyboard command. The color value is preferably established using the RGB model or the HSL model. After the program obtains the desired color value (action block 420), the program then applies the obtained color value to the panel, e.g., the program refreshes background of the panel 120 and/or the text within the panel 120 with the desired color value (action block 430). Thus, the designer and/or user has immediate feedback with respect to the color selection and can quickly explore other sections of their image 110 to see if the image 110 colors in that section make for a complementary panel 120 color. If the user is drawing from RGB values in the image 110, substantially all of the choices for the panel 120 can represent viable color matches.

(8) If the selected area of the image 110 encompasses more than a single point, a variety of weighted RGB averaging computations can be performed over the selected area, which will reveal an “average” color value for the panel 120.

(9) In addition, in order to maintain the readability of the text within the panel 120, it is preferable that the colors of the background and the text maintain a minimum amount of contrast in brightness and/or color (action block 440). For example, if the designer selected a very light blue background color and then chose a white text, the result might be difficult to read with the human eye and/or USPS® imaging systems that process the mail. Thus, it may be preferable to have the program exclude color combinations that result in unreadable color combinations. In one embodiment, if RGB values are used, the contrast in brightness and color are calculated in accordance with the World Wide Web Consortium™. For example, the color brightness, CB, is determined by the following formula:
CB=((Red value×299)+(Green value×587)+(Blue value×114))/1000  (1),

(10) wherein CB provides a perceived brightness for a color, and the color difference, CD, is determined by the following formula:
CD=(maximum(Red value 1,Red value 2)−minimum(Red value 1,Red value 2))+(maximum(Green value 1,Green value 2)−minimum(Green value 1,Green value 2))+(maximum(Blue value 1,Blue value 2)−minimum(Blue value 1,Blue value 2))  (2).

(11) (This approach is equally applicable to HSL values). Thus, during operation, if a user selects a color for the text of the panel 120, then the program automatically establishes a color for the background of the panel 120 that has sufficient contrast with the color of the text, preferably using one or more of Eqs. 1 and 2 above. Likewise, if the user selects a color for the background of the panel 120, then the program automatically establishes a color for the text of the panel 120 that maintains the desired contrast. If the user/designer chooses colors for both the text and the background, the program can present the contrast values, e.g., results from Eqs. 1 and 2, to the user.

(12) In an alternative embodiment, instead of having the program identify a color that matches the selected region of the image 110 to be applied to the panel 120 (action block 420), the program calculates one or more colors, in accordance with Eqs. 1 and 2, that produces a desirable contrast with the selected region of the image 110 to be applied to the panel 120.

(13) Turning to FIG. 5, an example interface 500 employed by the software program to implement the process in FIG. 4 is shown. The software program can reside on a stand-alone client, or in the alternative, the software program can be implemented in a Web design environment, wherein the interface 500 is browser based. The interface 500 allows a user to move a mouse pointer 530 over the image 110 of the postage stamp 100. The software program then obtains the color value, such as the RGB value, that corresponds to the location of the mouse pointer 530. The color value is obtained automatically by the program. In an alternative embodiment, retrieval of the color value can be invoked by the user, preferably in the form of a “right mouse click.” The user then identifies whether the color is to be applied to the text of the panel 120 or the background of the panel 120. The program then displays the color value in either the “text color” text box 520 or the “panel color” text box 510, depending upon what the user selects. The display can be in the form of the actual color, a textual identification of the color, and/or the numerical equivalent value. Once the desired color is displayed, the user can review the selection and apply the color to the background, text, and/or other visual features of the panel 120 of the stamp 100. In a preferred embodiment, once either of the panel color 510 or the text color 520 is selected, the program determines a color and/or brightness for the unselected option that provides a desirable contrast between the panel color 510 and the text color 520 so as to maintain readability of the text in the panel 120. The user can adjust the program's determined color if the determined color is undesirable. In the alternative, the contrast values may be displayed to the user if colors for both the background and the text are shown. The net result is that even an artistically-challenged user can upload a birthday or vacation photo, and quickly and easily arrive at a complementary (and readable) color pair for the panel 120 of the customized postage stamp 100. The stamp 100 can be printed at a remote facility controlled by the administrator of the online postage system. Further, the stamp 100 can be created and printed locally by the purchaser of the stamp, preferably subject to review and approval by the administrator.

(14) In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. As an example, each feature of one embodiment can be mixed and matched with other features shown in other embodiments. Additionally and obviously, features may be added or subtracted as desired. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.