Remote digital image enhancement system and method

• US 20020181012A1
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, David Jeffrey, Ward, Jefferson Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,269,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

A system and method are provided for remotely enhancing digital images by communication of the digital images over a network to a remote processing facility. More particularly, the digital image routing method includes steps of receiving a digital image packet that includes a digital image and a customer preference parameter and transmitting the digital image packet to a remote digital image editing system selected according to the customer preference parameter. In addition, the digital image routing method may include the steps of enhancing the digital image based on the customer preference parameter, and transmitting an enhanced digital image packet that includes an enhanced digital image and an enhancement description packet that describes the enhancements made for each of the digital images.

Claims

1. A digital image routing system, comprising:

means for receiving a digital image packet that includes a digital image and a customer preference parameter; and

means for transmitting the digital image packet to a remote digital image editing system selected according to the customer preference parameter.

2. The digital image routing system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for enhancing the a digital image based on the customer preference parameter; and

means for transmitting an enhanced digital image packet that includes a enhanced digital image and an enhancement description packet that describes the enhancements made for each of the digital images.

3. The digital image routing system of claim 2, wherein the means for enhancing the digital image, includes means for automatically enhancing the digital image based on the customer preference parameter.

4. A digital image enhancement system, comprising:

means for receiving a digital image packet that includes a digital image and a customer preference parameter;

means for enhancing the digital image based on the customer preference parameter; and

means for transmitting an enhanced digital image packet that includes an enhanced digital image and an enhancement description packet that describes the enhancements made for each of the digital images.

5. The digital image enhancement system of claim 4, wherein the means for enhancing the digital image, includes means for automatically enhancing the digital image based on the customer preference parameter.

6. The digital image enhancement system of claim 4, further comprising:

means for transmitting the digital image packet to a remote digital image editing system selected according to the customer preference parameter.

7. A digital image routing method, comprising the steps of:

receiving a digital image packet that includes a digital image and a customer preference parameter; and

transmitting the digital image packet to a remote digital image editing system selected according to the customer preference parameter.

8. The digital image routing method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

enhancing the digital image based on the customer preference parameter; and

transmitting an enhanced digital image packet that includes an enhanced digital image and an enhancement description packet that describes the enhancements made for each of the digital images.

9. The digital image routing method of claim 7, wherein the step of enhancing the a digital image, includes enhancing the digital image automatically based upon the customer preference parameter.

10. The digital image routing method of claim 7, further comprising the step of enhancing the digital image automatically using an automatic digital image enhancement system.

11. The digital image routing method of claim 10, further including the steps of:

storing an enhancement performed on a previous digital image;

analyzing the enhancement performed on the previous digital image; and

establishing the enhancement parameter to be used by the automatic digital image enhancement system to automatically enhance the digital image.

13. The digital image enhancement method of claim 12, wherein the step of enhancing the digital image, includes enhancing the digital image automatically based upon the customer preference parameter.

14. The digital image enhancement method of claim 12, further comprising the step of enhancing the digital image automatically using an automatic digital image enhancement system.

15. The digital image enhancement method of claim 14, further comprises the steps of:

storing an enhancement performed on a previous digital image;

analyzing the enhancement performed on the previous digital image; and

establishing the enhancement parameter to be used by the automatic digital image enhancement system to automatically enhance the digital image.

16. The digital image enhancement method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the digital image packet to a remote digital image editing system selected according to the customer preference parameter.

12. A digital image enhancement method, comprising the steps of:

receiving a digital image packet that includes a digital image and a customer preference parameter;

enhancing the digital image based on the customer preference parameter; and

transmitting an enhanced digital image packet that includes an enhanced digital image and an enhancement description packet that describes the enhancements made for each of the digital images.