Method and system for a photo selection service

• US 20030189721A1
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Fredlund, John R., Chiu, Yat Fan
• Granted Patent: US 7,167,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/005 Order systems, e.g. printsorter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method for facilitating orders for image services, including the steps of: storing at least one high resolution digital image file and an associated identifier on a photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device; storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier to a memory device; delivering the memory device to the user; selecting the at least one high resolution digital image file for display and at least one image service with user selection creating at least one image service order using the user selection software; the photofinisher receiving the at least one image service order from the user over a communication network; and fulfilling the at least one image service order using the at least one stored high resolution digital image file in the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to fulfill the at least one image service order.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating orders for image services, comprising the steps of:

a) providing exposed film of a user to a photofinisher;

b) developing the exposed film so as to develop at least one latent image on the film;

c) scanning the developed film so as to obtain at least one high resolution digital image file of the at least one latent image on the exposed film;

d) associating an identifier for the at least one high resolution digital image file and storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier on a photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device;

e) storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier to a memory device;

f) delivering the memory device to the user;

g) selecting the at least one high resolution digital image file for display and at least one image service with user selection software;

h) creating at least one image service order using the user selection software;

i) the photofinisher receiving the at least one image service order from the user over a communication network; and

j) fulfilling the at least one image service order using the at least one stored high resolution digital image file in the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to fulfill the at least one image service order.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein an address of the photofinisher is stored on the memory device.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein a valid order date is stored on the memory device.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein order enticements are stored on the memory device.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the user makes a selection at a location remote from the photofinisher.

13. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

k) receiving, at a print server, the at least one image service order from a telecommunications server networked to the user'"'"'s memory device; and

l) transmitting the at least one high resolution digital image file from the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to the print server.

24. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory device is selected from the group consisting of:

a CD, a DVD, a zip-disc, a memory card, a smart card, and a memory stick.

6. A method for facilitating orders for image services, comprising the steps of:

a) providing exposed film of a user to a photofinisher;

b) developing the exposed film so as to develop at least one latent image on the film;

c) scanning the developed film so as to obtain at least one high resolution digital image file of the at least one latent image on the exposed film;

d) associating an identifier for the at least one high resolution digital image file and storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier on a photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device;

e) storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier to a memory device;

f) delivering the memory device to the user, g) selecting the at least one high resolution digital image file for display and at least one image service with user selection software;

h) creating at least one image service order using the user selection software;

i) the photofinisher receiving the at least one image service order from the user over a communication network;

j) fulfilling the at least one image service order using the at least one stored high resolution digital image file in the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to fulfill the at least one image service order;

k) receiving, at a print server, the at least one image service order from a telecommunications server networked to the user'"'"'s memory device, wherein an address of the photofinisher and a valid order date are stored on the user'"'"'s memory device; and

l) transmitting the at least one high resolution digital image file from the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to the print server.

7. A memory device, comprising:

a) captured image files that are substantially the same resolution as corresponding image files stored at a remote photofinisher; and

b) selection software that allows a user to create an image bearing service order from the corresponding image files at the remote photofinisher, wherein the remote photofinisher is automatically connected to the memory device via a communication network that accesses the memory device.

8. The memory device claimed in claim 7, wherein the selection software includes a valid order period for creating the image bearing service order.

9. The memory device claimed in claim 7, wherein the selection software includes an address of the photofinisher.

10. The memory device claimed in claim 7, wherein the selection software includes an image identifier that enables rapid identifying of the corresponding image files stored at the remote photofinisher.

11. The memory device claimed in claim 8, wherein the selection software changes functionality upon a lapsed valid order period.

12. The memory device claimed in claim 7, wherein the selection software includes order enticements.

25. The memory device claimed in claim 7, wherein the memory device is selected from the group consisting of:

a CD, a DVD, a zip-disc, a memory card, a smart card, and a memory stick.

14. A photo selection system for fulfilling an image service order, comprising:

a) a photofinishing high resolution image storage device that receives and transmits high resolution digital image files;

b) a means for obtaining the high resolution digital image files;

c) a memory device writer that stores, on a memory device, the high resolution digital image files for a consumer'"'"'s subsequent use; and

d) a telecommunications server that receives an image service order sans any imaging file from the consumer and transmits the image service order to a print server, wherein the print server requests a transfer of the high resolution digital image files from the high resolution image storage device.

15. The photo selection system claimed in claim 14, wherein the telecommunications server receives the image service order from a data transmission device.

16. The photo selection system claimed in claim 14, wherein the memory device with the high resolution digital image files is given to the consumer for remote use.

17. The photo selection system claimed in claim 14, wherein the memory device includes selection software having a valid order period for creating the image service order.

18. The memory device claimed in claim 17, wherein the selection software includes an address of a photofinisher.

19. The memory device claimed in claim 17, wherein the selection software includes an image identifier that enables rapid identifying of corresponding high resolution digital image files stored at the photofinishing high resolution image storage device.

20. The memory device claimed in claim 17, wherein the selection software changes functionality upon a lapsed valid order period.

21. The memory device claimed in claim 17, wherein the selection software includes order enticements.

22. The memory device claimed in claim 17, wherein the means for obtaining the high resolution digital image files includes scanning developed film.

23. The memory device claimed in claim 17, wherein the means for obtaining the high resolution digital image files includes uploading digital images to a remote storage device.

26. The photo selection system claimed in claim 14, wherein the memory device is selected from the group consisting of:

a CD, a DVD, a zip-disc, a memory card, a smart card, and a memory stick.

27. A method for facilitating orders for image services, comprising the steps of:

a) providing exposed film of a user to a photofinisher;

b) developing the exposed film so as to develop at least one latent image on the exposed film;

c) scanning the developed film so as to obtain at least one high resolution digital image file of the at least one latent image on the exposed film;

d) associating an identifier for the at least one high resolution digital image file and storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier on a photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device;

e) storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier to a memory device;

f) delivering the memory device to the user;

g) selecting at least one image service and at least one high resolution digital image file for display by zooming and cropping the at least one high resolution digital image file with user selection software;

h) creating an image service order using the user selection software;

i) the photofinisher receiving the image service order from the user over a communication network; and

j) fulfilling the image service order using the at least one stored high resolution digital image file in the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to fulfill the image service order.

28. The method claimed in claim 27, wherein the user selection software includes an image identifier that enables rapid identifying of corresponding high resolution digital image files stored at the photofinisher.

29. The method claimed in claim 27, wherein an address of the photofinisher is stored on the memory device.

30. The method claimed in claim 27, wherein a valid order date is stored on the memory device.

31. The method claimed in claim 27, wherein order enticements are stored on the memory device.

32. The method claimed in claim 27, wherein the user makes a selection at a location remote from the photofinisher.