Method of purchasing image bearing products

• US 20020181009A1
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc (KPP (no. 2) Trustees Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Fredlund, John R., Manico, Joseph A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,992,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42

Abstract

A method of purchasing image bearing products, including the steps of providing a plurality of network connected kiosks having image input and product output capability; generating an identifier; inputting an image at one of the plurality of network connected kiosks; storing the image at a network accessible location; notifying a recipient of the identifier after providing payment for the image bearing product; and using the identifier to retrieve the image from any one of the plurality of network connected kiosks.

Claims

1. A method of remotely purchasing an image bearing product, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of network connected kiosks having image input and product output capability;

b) generating an identifier;

c) inputting an image at one of the plurality of network connected kiosks;

d) storing the image at a network accessible location;

e) providing payment;

e) providing a recipient with the identifier;

f) using the identifier to retrieve the image; and

g) generating the image bearing product at any one of the plurality of network connected kiosks.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to providing the recipient with the identifier, the step of providing payment comprises inputting a credit card number.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of indicating a dollar limit amount for the payment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to providing the recipient with the identifier, the step of providing payment comprises inputting a credit card number at one of the plurality of network connected kiosks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of networked connected kiosks comprises a networked home computer, and wherein, prior to providing the recipient with the identifier, the step of providing payment comprises inputting a credit card number at the networked home computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing payment comprises inputting a credit card number and a name of a credit card holder.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of, after generating the image bearing product, notifying the credit card holder of a dollar amount charged to the credit card.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying, for the recipient on any one of the plurality of network connected kiosks, purchase options and pricing for the displayed purchase options.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a thank you message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is retrieved at any of the plurality of network connected kiosks.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the network accessible location is identified by the identifier, and the image is stored and retrieved from the network accessible location identified by the identifier.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a refund of a portion of or all of the payment.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of re-notifying the recipient of the identifier.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of re-notifying the recipient of the identifier if the image has not been retrieved within a pre-determined time period.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the recipient with the identifier comprises:

a) providing a network connected printer;

b) inputting a name and address of the recipient at one of the plurality of network connected kiosks;

c) printing a postcard with the network connected printer comprising the name and address of the recipient and the identifier; and

d) sending the postcard to the recipient.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of reading the identifier from the postcard.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of scanning the identifier from the postcard.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of notifying comprises:

a) providing a network connected printer;

b) inputting a name and address of the recipient at one of the plurality of network connected kiosks;

c) printing a postcard with the network connected printer comprising the name and address of the recipient and the identifier; and

d) sending the postcard to the recipient.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of reading the identifier from the postcard.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of scanning the identifier from the postcard.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of sending a thank you message.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the plurality of networked connected kiosks comprises a networked home computer.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the image is retrieved at any one of the plurality of network connected kiosks.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the image is stored at a network accessible location identified by the identifier, and the image is retrieved from the network accessible location identified by the identifier.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing a refund of a portion of or all of the payment.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of re-notifying the recipient of the identifier.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of re-notifying the recipient of the identifier if the image has not been retrieved within a pre-determined time period.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of charging the credit card for the image bearing product.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of notifying the credit card holder of the dollar amount charged to the credit card.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of sending a thank you message to the credit card holder.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the image is retrieved at any of the plurality of network connected kiosks.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the image is stored at a network accessible location identified by the identifier, and the image is retrieved from the network accessible location identified by the identifier.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of re-notifying the recipient of the identifier.

36. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of re-notifying the recipient of the identifier if the recipient has not generated the image bearing product within a predetermined time period.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of notifying a retailer of the selected purchase option.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of notifying the retailer comprises sending the retailer a postcard.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of notifying the retailer comprises sending an electronic mail message.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of sending a coupon to the recipient.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of sending a thank you message to the credit card holder.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the one of the plurality of networked connected kiosks comprises a networked home computer.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of re-notifying the recipient of the identifier.

45. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of re-notifying the recipient of the identifier if the recipient has not generated the image bearing product within a pre-determined time period.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising the steps of:

the recipient providing a credit card number, and an authorization to charge the recipient'"'"'s credit card number; and

charging the recipient'"'"'s credit card number for the image bearing product.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of the first recipient indicating a dollar limit amount for a payment of the image bearing product.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of notifying the first recipient of the dollar amount charged to the credit card.

51. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of sending the first recipient a thank you message.

18. A method of notifying a recipient of the availability of an image bearing product, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of network connected kiosks having image input capability, product output capability, and point of sale capability;

b) generating an identifier;

c) inputting an image at one of the plurality of network connected kiosks;

d) storing the image at a network accessible location;

e) providing payment for the image bearing product using the point of sale capability;

f) notifying a recipient of the identifier after payment has been provided;

g) using the identifier to retrieve the image; and

h) using the retrieved image to generate the image bearing product at any one of the plurality of network connected kiosks.

29. A method of purchasing an image bearing product, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of network connected kiosks having image input and product output capability;

b) generating an identifier;

c) providing a credit card number, a name of a credit card holder, a dollar limit amount, and an authorization to charge the credit card number up to the dollar limit amount;

d) notifying a recipient of the identifier and the authorization to charge the credit card number up to the dollar limit amount;

e) the recipient inputting an image at one of the plurality of network connected kiosks;

f) storing the image at a network accessible location;

g) using the identifier to retrieve the image; and

h) generating the image bearing product at any one of the plurality of network connected kiosks.

37. A method of remotely providing an image bearing product, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of network connected kiosks having image input and product output capability;

b) generating an identifier;

c) inputting an image at one of the plurality of network connected kiosks;

d) storing the image at a network accessible location;

e) inputting a credit card number and a name of a credit card holder;

f) indicating a dollar limit amount for the charges which can be made to the credit card;

g) providing the identifier to a recipient;

h) using the identifier to retrieve the image;

i) displaying, on any one of the plurality of network connected kiosks, purchase options;

j) selecting at least one of the plurality of purchase options as the image bearing product;

k) generating the selected purchase option from any one of the plurality of network connected kiosks;

l) charging the credit card for the selected purchase option; and

m) notifying the credit card holder of the dollar amount charged to the credit card.

46. A method of purchasing an image bearing product, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of network connected kiosks having image input and product output capability;

b) generating an identifier;

c) providing a credit card number, a name of a credit card holder, a dollar limit amount, and an authorization to charge the credit card number up to the dollar limit amount;

d) notifying a recipient of the identifier and the authorization to charge the credit card number up to the dollar limit amount;

e) the recipient inputting an image at one of the plurality of network connected kiosks;

f) storing the image at a network accessible location;

g) notifying the credit card holder of the identifier and the input of the image by the recipient;

h) using the identifier to retrieve the image; and

i) generating the image bearing product at any one of the plurality of network connected kiosks.

48. A method of purchasing an image bearing product, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a plurality of network connected kiosks having image input and product output capability;

b) providing a network connected printer;

c) generating an identifier;

d) printing a first postcard with the network connected printer comprising a name and address of a first recipient and the identifier;

e) sending the first postcard to the first recipient;

f) the first recipient inputting an image at one of the plurality of network connected kiosks;

g) the first recipient inputting a credit card number;

h) storing the image at a network accessible location;

i) printing a second postcard with the network connected printer comprising a name and address of a second recipient and the identifier;

j) sending the second postcard to the second recipient;

k) the second recipient using the identifier to retrieve the image;

l) using the retrieved image to generate the image bearing product at any one of the plurality of network connected kiosks; and

m) charging the credit card for the generated image bearing product.