Standard System and Method for Assigning Ratings to Art Materials and Works of Art Based on the Projected Stability of the Constituents

Abstract

Computer-powered system for determining a stability rating of an artwork piece, comprising a server, network, computer database(s) containing data regarding preservation-effecting factors and sub-factors and relating the factors and sub-factors to other pieces of artwork of various types, wherein data contained within the database forms a dynamic and searchable catalog of records of artwork pieces, at least one computing device having a software application stored therein that receives data from a user pertaining to queries about the artwork piece based on the examination of and research about the artwork and transmits the data to the network; the server applies algorithmic computations to the received data to convert it into representative grades for each factor and sub-factor and calculate a stability rating, wherein the stability rating represents the projected stability of the artwork and the resulting grades and stability rating are dependent upon the entire body of data within the database(s).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-powered system for determining a stability rating of an artwork piece, comprising:
 at least one server having at least one processor and at least one computer-readable storage medium, the at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer program instructions configured to be executed by the at least one processor of the server;   a network communicatively coupled to the at least one server;   at least one computer database communicatively coupled to the network and containing data regarding preservation-effecting factors and sub-factors relevant to the stability of the artwork and relating the preservation-effecting factors and sub-factors to other pieces of artwork of various types, wherein the data contained within the at least one computer database forms a dynamic and searchable catalog of records of artwork pieces, wherein each record comprises data pertaining to the material constituents, the physical conditions of the material constituents, and the stability rating of the artwork piece that is associated with the record;   at least one executing computing device having:
 at least one computer-readable storage medium; 
 a computer software application stored in the at least one computer-readable storage medium, the computer software application comprising a graphical user interface; 
 at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one computer-readable storage medium and configured to run the computer software application; 
 a network interface communicatively coupled to the network and configured to transmit to and receive data from the network; and 
 at least one input device through which, in conjunction with the graphical user interface, all user-operations are performed; 
   wherein the computer software application receives data from a user that pertains to a set of queries about the artwork piece based on the user's examination of and research about the artwork piece and transmits the data to the network; and   wherein the at least one server:
 creates a record in the at least one computer database uniquely associated with the artwork piece and stores the data received from the user in the record; and 
 applies a series of algorithmic computations to the data received from the user to:
 convert the data received from the user into representative grades for each preservation-effecting factor and sub-factor; and 
 calculate a stability rating of the artwork piece from the grades, wherein the stability rating represents the projected stability of the artwork piece and the resulting grades and stability rating are dependent upon the entire body of data contained within the at least one computer database. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one executing computing device is a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the data received from the user about the artwork piece is in response to a series of prompts generated by the computer software application. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the data received from the user about the artwork piece pertains to:
 the material constituents of the artwork piece; and   the physical condition of the material constituents of the artwork piece.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the data received from the user about the artwork piece identifies:
 the artwork type;   the one or more layers of construction;   the materials comprising the one or more layers of construction; and   the current condition of each of the one or more layers of construction.   
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the data received from the user about the artwork piece pertains to the reliability of an information source relied upon in the user's research of the artwork piece. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the data received from the user about the artwork piece comprises at least one photographic image and the physical dimensions of the artwork piece. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the computer software application is configured to:
 convert the photographic image into a digital image; and   based upon the physical dimensions of the artwork piece, generate a grid underlay of the digital image, wherein the grid underlay is comprised of a number of cells, each cell representing a percentage of the surface area of the artwork piece.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein using the input device, a user selects a condition type from a series of selectable condition types displayed in the graphical user interface and selects the cells of the grid underlay that correspond to the physical location of the actual artwork piece where the selected condition type is present. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the computer software application is configured to translate the selected cells into data points pertaining to the physical condition of the material constituents of the artwork piece. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the resulting data points are transmitted to the network. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the stability rating is in alphanumeric form. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the stability rating is provided in a Stability Rating Certificate. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein access to the records of artwork pieces contained within the at least one computer database is restricted by a subscription model. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the series of algorithmic computations interrelate the grades and the stability rating with the entire body of data contained within the at least one computer database such that a change in the data contained within the database may alter the resulting grades and stability rating. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein an increase in the entire body of data contained within the at least one computer database automatically increases the accuracy of the grades and the stability rating that are generated by the series of algorithmic computations as a computer learning function. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the data received from the user is entered into the computer software application coextensively with the user's examination of the artwork piece. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the network interface of the executing computing device is wirelessly coupled to the network. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one computer database is stored within the executing computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein examination of the artwork piece is performed using non-invasive and/or invasive tools of examination.