Imaging system providing automated fulfillment of image photofinishing based on location

• US 20040004737A1
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syniverse ICX LLC
• Original Assignee: LightSurf Technologies, Inc. (VeriSign, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bodnar, Eric O., Bodmer, Brian, Kirani, Shekhar, Tarantino, Mark, Kahn, Philippe R., Egli, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,535,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00172 directly from a still digital camera or from a storage medium mounted in a still digital camera H04N1/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data

Abstract

An imaging system is described that automates fulfillment of image photofinishing based on location. The system includes the following components: an imaging device capable of capturing a plurality of images; a local host, at least occasionally connected to the imaging device, that is capable of offloading images from the imaging device and capable of determining a current position based on GPS (Global Positioning System) information; and a remote (e.g., Web-based) host capable of receiving the plurality of images, capable of receiving a request for photofinishing the images, and capable of transmitting the plurality of images to a particular fulfiller for photofinishing, based on the current position.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a user with fulfillment of image photofinishing, the method comprising:

capturing a plurality of images at an imaging device;

receiving a request for photofinishing the images;

automatically determining at least one fulfiller that is at a location appropriate for the user;

selecting one of said at least one fulfiller; and

transmitting the plurality of images to the selected fulfiller for photofinishing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said request is generated in response to an action by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said request is automatically generated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein photofinishing includes generating hardcopies of the images.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically determining at least one fulfiller includes:

determining at least one fulfiller that the user is near.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically determining at least one fulfiller includes:

determining a current location for the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of determining a current location for the user includes:

determining GPS (Global Positioning System) information for the current location of the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of determining GPS (Global Positioning System) information includes:

connecting the imaging device to a local host device capable of transmitting the images to another system; and

querying a GPS module that is in communication with the local host device for determining the current location of the user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a list of said at least one fulfiller to the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said selecting step includes:

receiving user selection of a particular fulfiller from the list.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting the images wirelessly.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting step includes:

transmitting the images from the imaging device to a corresponding user account on a Web server; and

transmitting the images from the Web server to the fulfiller.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically determining at least one fulfiller includes:

determining a longitude and latitude for the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining step includes:

querying a GPS (Global Positioning System) module for the longitude and latitude.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

uploading the captured images to a host device; and

during uploading, transmitting location information to the host device for the captured images, for indicating a location where each image was captured.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically determining at least one fulfiller that is at a location appropriate for the user includes:

determining current GPS (Global Positioning System) information; and

cross-referencing the determined GPS information against a database of fulfillers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the database stores a plurality of entries for different fulfiller locations, each entry including a central location and a radius.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting the plurality of images to the selected fulfiller for photofinishing includes:

connecting the imaging device to a local host; and

using the local host to wirelessly transmit the plurality of images from the imaging device.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

20. A downloadable set of computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

21. An imaging system with support for automated image photofinishing fulfillment, the system comprising:

an imaging device capable of capturing a plurality of images;

a local host, at least occasionally connected to the imaging device, that is capable of offloading images from the imaging device and capable of determining a current position based on GPS (Global Positioning System) information; and

a remote host capable of receiving the plurality of images, capable of receiving a request for photofinishing the images, and capable of transmitting the plurality of images to a particular fulfiller for photofinishing, based on the current position.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said imaging device comprises a digital camera.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host comprises a cellular phone.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host comprises a computing device.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA) device.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host is capable of querying a GPS (Global Positioning System) module for determining position information.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said GPS module is housed within said local host.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said GPS module is connected externally to said local host.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein said particular fulfiller is selected based on determining fulfillers that are near said current position.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein said request for photofinishing occurs in response to user input.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein said request for photofinishing occurs automatically.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host includes a display for listing fulfillers that are located nearby.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said local host includes an input for receiving user selection of a particular fulfiller from the fulfillers that are displayed.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein said images are transmitted from the remote host to the particular fulfiller.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said images are transmitted via the Internet from the remote host to the particular fulfiller.

37. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host includes a display for indicating when photofinishing of the images is complete.

38. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host includes a display for displaying a promotion that is based at least in part on said current location.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said promotion comprises a photofinishing coupon.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein said photofinishing coupon provides a discount for photofinishing images captured within a given geographic region.

26. The system upland 21, wherein said local host is capable of wirelessly transmitting the captured images to the remote host.

41. A wireless digital camera device with fulfillment support, the device comprising:

an imaging module capable of capturing a plurality of images;

a module capable of wirelessly transferring the images from the device;

a GPS (Global Positioning System) module; and

an application logic module facilitating wireless transfer of the captured images to a particular fulfiller, based at least in part on location information from the GPS module.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein said images comprise digital images.

43. The device of claim 41, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images is detachable from the device.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images includes cellular phone capability.

45. The device of claim 43, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images includes computing capability.

46. The device of claim 41, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images, said GPS module, and said application logic module are housed within a unit that is detachable from the device.

47. The device of claim 43, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images is capable of functioning as a stand-alone personal digital assistant (PDA) device.

48. The device of claim 41, wherein the device facilitates wireless transfer to a particular fulfiller in response to user input.

49. The device of claim 41, wherein the device includes support for wireless uploading the images to a remote host, prior to transfer to the particular fulfiller.

50. The device of claim 41, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images from the device and said GPS (Global Positioning System) module comprise a GPS-enabled cellular phone that is detachable from the device.