System and method for automatically assisting a consumer with space design and furnishings selection

Abstract

A system and method automatically assists a consumer with space design and furnishing selection. The method receives information from a client about a space to be designed, the information including dimension and desired use; applies floor plan design rules to generate a floor plan that satisfies the dimension and use information, the floor plan including an arrangement of furnishings; receives preference information such as color palette, period/genre, budget, etc. from the client for the space; searches a furnishings database for a furnishing combination that substantially matches the arrangement of furnishings of the floor plan and the preference information; and presents the furnishing combination to the client. Embodiments of the present invention enable the floor plan design and furnishing combination alternatives to be based on the skill and experience of professional designers.

1 . A method of generating a floor plan, comprising: 
 receiving from a client information about a space to be designed, the information including dimension and desired use; and    applying floor plan design rules to generate a floor plan that satisfies the dimension and use information, the floor plan including an arrangement of furnishings.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information about a space includes object location information.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the floor plan design rules includes general designer guidelines.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of enabling the client to modify the floor plan.  
   
   
       5 . A system for generating a floor plan, comprising: 
 a user interface for receiving from a client information about a space to be designed, the information including dimension and desired use; and    a design engine coupled to the user interface for applying floor plan design rules to generate a floor plan that substantially satisfies the dimension and use information, the floor plan including an arrangement of furnishings.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the information about a space includes object location information.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the floor plan design rules includes general designer guidelines.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the design engine enables the client to modify the floor plan.  
   
   
       9 . A system for generating a floor plan, comprising: 
 means for receiving from a client information about a space to be designed, the information including dimension and desired use; and    means for applying floor plan design rules to generate a floor plan that substantially satisfies the dimension and use information, the floor plan including an arrangement of furnishings.    
   
   
       10 . A method of generating a floor plan design, comprising: 
 receiving from a client information about a space to be designed, the information including dimension and desired use; and    reviewing floor plan design templates to identify a floor plan template that substantially satisfies the dimension and use information, each floor plan design template including an arrangement of furnishings.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the information includes object location information.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of reviewing includes applying general designer guidelines.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of enabling the client to modify the identified floor plan design template.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of reviewing the floor plan design templates includes the step of identifying the floor plan design template that best satisfies the dimension and use information.  
   
   
       15 . A system for generating a floor plan design, comprising: 
 a user interface for receiving from a client information about a space to be designed, the information including dimension and desired use; and    a design engine coupled to the user interface for reviewing floor plan design templates to identify a floor plan template that substantially satisfies the dimension and use information, each floor plan design template including an arrangement of furnishings.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the information includes object location information.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the design engine applies general designer guidelines.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the design engine enables the client to modify the identified floor plan design template.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the step of reviewing the floor plan design templates includes the step of identifying the floor plan design template that best satisfies the dimension and use information.  
   
   
       20 . A system for generating a floor plan design, comprising: 
 means for receiving from a client information about a space to be designed, the information including dimension and desired use; and    means for reviewing floor plan design templates to identify a floor plan template that substantially satisfies the dimension and use information, each floor plan design template including an arrangement of furnishings.    
   
   
       21 . A method of generating a furnishing combination recommendation, comprising: 
 receiving a floor plan design including an arrangement of furnishings;    receiving style information from a client;    searching a furnishings database for a furnishing combination that substantially matches the arrangement of furnishings of the floor plan design and the style information; and    presenting the furnishing combination to the client.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of matching the furnishings of the furnishings combination so that the furnishings coordinate according to their attributes.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of matching the furnishings of the furnishings combination so that the furnishings coordinate according to grouping information generated by a designer.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of enabling user modifications to the furnishing combination.  
   
   
       25 . A system for generating a furnishing combination recommendation, comprising: 
 a user interface for receiving style information from a client; and    a design engine coupled to the user interface for searching a furnishings database for a furnishing combination that substantially matches an arrangement of furnishings of a floor plan design and the style information.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the design engine matches the furnishings of the furnishings combination so that the furnishings coordinate according their to attributes.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the design engine matches the furnishings of the furnishings combination so that the furnishings coordinate according to grouping information generated by a designer.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the design engine enables user modifications to the furnishing combination.  
   
   
       29 . A system for generating a furnishing combination recommendation, comprising: 
 means for receiving style information from a client; and    means for searching a furnishings database for a furnishing combination that substantially matches an arrangement of furnishings of a floor plan design and the style information.    
   
   
       30 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving from a client information about a space to be designed, the information including dimension and desired use;    applying floor plan design rules to generate a floor plan that satisfies the dimension and use information, the floor plan including an arrangement of furnishings;    receiving style preference information from the client for-the space;    searching a furnishings database for a furnishing combination that substantially matches the arrangement of furnishings of the floor plan and the style information; and    presenting the furnishing combination to the client.    
   
   
       31 . A system, comprising: 
 a user interface for receiving from a client information about a space to be designed, the information including dimension information, desired use information and style preference information;    a design engine coupled to the user interface to apply floor plan design rules to determine a floor plan that satisfies the dimension and use information, the floor plan including an arrangement of furnishings, and for searching a furnishings database for a furnishing combination that substantially matches the arrangement of furnishings of the floor plan and the style information.