Visual cell phone notification of processed film images

• US 20020141661A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: FotoMedia Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Steinberg, Eran
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00106 using land mobile radio networks, e.g. mobile telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00135 Scanning of a photographic original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00177 from a user terminal, e.g. personal computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems

Abstract

A method relating to film photography and digital delivery of images wherein a consumer can preview images of processed film sent from a film development laboratory to the consumer'"'"'s cell phone equipped with a visual display. The consumer dropped the film at a service where the film is developed, and then scanned to create digital picture data. The picture data is then sent to the consumer'"'"'s cell phone or similar device with wireless capability equipped for reception of digital image data, and in response to the data, the cell phone displays the pictures on the camera'"'"'s image display. The consumer then views the pictures and can make decisions concerning how many prints of each image to order. The print order can then be placed with the service through the cell phone. Additional features include the consumer processing the digital image data including forwarding the images to another cell phone or to a computer.

Claims

1. A method relating to photographic film processing comprising:

(a) developing photographic film to produce a developed film;

(b) scanning said developed film to create digital image data; and

(c) transmitting said digital image data through a telephone network to a first portable device including wireless communication apparatus and a visual display screen for visual display of an image.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising

displaying a visual image of said digital image data on said visual display screen.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising

placing an order for a print corresponding to an image viewed on said device visual display screen.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said device is a cell phone.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising

forwarding said digital image data from a first user of said first cell phone to a

second user of a second cell phone.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein said digital image data that is sent to the cell phone is low resolution image data.

7. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein said digital image data is high resolution image data.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the user can zoom and view details of the said high resolution image on said visual display which may be of lower resolution that said high resolution image.

9. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising forwarding said digital image data from said first cell phone to a network computer.

10. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising digitally processing said digital image data subsequent to reception by said cell phone.

11. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising displaying an icon on said first cell phone display wherein the selection of said icon automatically causes said first cell phone to be communicatively connected with a service facility, wherein said service facility performs said developing and said scanning and said transmitting.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein selection of said icon further causes an instruction to be sent to a computer at said service facility for requesting that a customer'"'"'s job data be placed on a computer monitor screen.

13. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein said computer may have programmed therein billing information of said customer.

14. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising placing an order for a print corresponding to an image received on said cell phone visual display screen.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 further comprising automatically adding a fee for said prints to a phone account of said cell phone user.

16. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising placing an interactive display on said visual display screen allowing a user to interact with said display.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said interactive display provides said user with the ability to order prints of said images via said cellular phone.

18. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said interactive display allows a user to adjust an image color.

19. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said interactive display allows a user to include and manipulate a color border for an image.

20. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said interactive display allows a user to place a textual note on an image.

21. A method of processing digital images comprising:

(a) uploading first digital image data to a photographic service facility; and

(b) transmitting second digital image data derived from said first digital image data through a telephone network to a first portable device capable of wireless communication and equipped with a visual display screen for visual display of an image.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein said second image data is a copy of said first image data.

23. A method as recited in claim 21 further comprising

displaying a visual image of said second digital image data on said visual display screen.

24. A method as recited in claim 23 further comprising

placing an order for a print corresponding to an image viewed on said first device visual display screen.

25. A method as recited in claim 21 further comprising

forwarding said second digital image data from a first user of said first device to a second user of a second device.

26. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein said second digital image data that is sent to the first device is low resolution image data.

27. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein said second digital image data is high resolution image data.

28. A method as recited in claim 27 wherein the user can zoom and view details of a high resolution image corresponding to said high resolution image data on said visual display which may be of lower resolution that said high resolution image.

29. A method as recited in claim 21 further comprising forwarding said second digital image data from said first device to a network computer.

30. A method as recited in claim 21 further comprising digitally processing said second digital image data subsequent to reception by said first device.

31. A method as recited in claim 21 further comprising displaying an icon on said first device display wherein the selection of said icon automatically causes said first device to be communicatively connected with a service facility, wherein said service facility performs said developing and said scanning and said transmitting.

32. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein selection of said icon further causes an instruction to be sent to a computer at said service facility for requesting that a customer'"'"'s job data be placed on a computer monitor screen.

33. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein said computer is programmed to contain billing information of said customer.

34. A method as recited in claim 24 wherein said first device is a cell phone.

35. A method as recited in claim 34 further comprising automatically adding a fee for said prints to a phone account of said cell phone user.

36. A method as recited in claim 23 further comprising placing an interactive display on said visual display screen allowing a user to interact with said display.

37. A method as recited in claim 36 wherein said interactive display provides said user with the ability to order prints of said images via said first device.

38. A method as recited in claim 36 wherein said interactive display allows a user to adjust an image color.

39. A method as recited in claim 36 wherein said interactive display allows a user to include and manipulate a color border for an image.

40. A method as recited in claim 36 wherein said interactive display allows a user to place a textual note on an image.