Sharing photos electronically

• US 20040230663A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ICU Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ICU Software, Inc.
• Inventors: Ackerman, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US10/836,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• 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 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00177 from a user terminal, e.g. personal computer
• 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 1/32438 Informing the addressee of reception

Abstract

A method for a computer user to share photos electronically begins when the user identifies one or more photos that are stored on a computer as files. Files for each identified photo are uploaded from the computer to a webspace that is controlled by the user. HTML code is generated for an email message to be used for sharing the photos from the user to a recipient of the email message. The HTML code includes a source path instruction for each identified photo as it is stored on the webspace. Due to the source path instruction, the identified photos are not attached to the email message itself. This enables the email message to be of a small, manageable size. The email recipient may read the email message and may access the identified photos using standard email and browser software.

Claims

1. A method for a computer user to share photos electronically, comprising:

identifying at least one photo from a plurality of photos stored as files on a computer;

uploading from the computer at least one file for each identified photo to a webspace controlled by the user; and

generating HTML code for an email message;

wherein the HTML code includes a source path for each identified photo stored on the webspace;

wherein the at least one photo is not attached to the email message for enabling the email message to be of manageable size; and

wherein a recipient of the email message may view each identified photo using a email reader program and a web browser program.

2. The method from claim 1, wherein the at least one file comprises a photo file and an HTML file for presenting the photo to a viewer.

3. The method from claim 1, wherein the HTML code of the email message comprises an advertising message.

4. The method from claim 1, wherein the HTML code of the email message comprises a maximize feature for displaying the photo in a maximum mode.

5. The method from claim 1, further comprising the step of sizing the identified photo.

6. The method from claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a size for a maximum mode.

7. The method from claim 1, further comprising the step of compressing each identified photo.

8. The method from claim 1, further comprising the step of password protecting the identified photo.

9. The method from claim 1, further comprising the step of associating a copyright notice to the identified photo.

10. The method from claim 1, further comprising creating a hotspot region upon the identified photo.

11. A system for sharing photos electronically, comprising:

means for identifying at least one photo from a plurality of photos stored as files on a computer;

means for uploading from the computer at least one file for each identified photo to a webspace controlled by the user; and

means for generating HTML code for an email message;

wherein the HTML code includes a source path for each identified photo stored on the webspace;

wherein the at least one photo is not attached to the email message for enabling the email message to be of manageable size; and

wherein a recipient of the email message may view each identified photo using a email reader program and a web browser program.

12. The system from claim 11, wherein the at least one file comprises a photo file and an HTML file for presenting the photo to a viewer.

13. The system from claim 11, wherein the HTML code of the email message comprises an advertising message.

14. The system from claim 11, wherein the HTML code of the email message comprises a maximize feature for displaying the photo in a maximum mode.

15. The system from claim 11, further comprising means for sizing the identified photo.

16. The system from claim 11, further comprising means for determining a size for a maximum mode.

17. The system from claim 11, further comprising means for compressing each identified photo.

18. The system from claim 11, further comprising means for password protecting the identified photo.

19. The system from claim 11, further comprising means for associating a copyright notice to the identified photo.

20. The system from claim 11, further comprising means for creating a hotspot region upon the identified photo.

21. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for execution by a computer for sharing photos electronically, the computer program comprising:

a code segment for identifying at least one photo from a plurality of photos stored as files on a computer;

a code segment for uploading from the computer at least one file for each identified photo to a webspace controlled by the user; and

a code segment for generating HTML code for an email message;

wherein the HTML code includes a source path for each identified photo stored on the webspace;

wherein the at least one photo is not attached to the email message for enabling the email message to be of manageable size; and

wherein a recipient of the email message may view each identified photo using a email reader program and a web browser program.

22. The computer program from claim 21, wherein the at least one file comprises a photo file and an HTML file for presenting the photo to a viewer.

23. The computer program from claim 21, wherein the HTML code of the email message comprises an advertising message.

24. The computer program from claim 21, wherein the HTML code of the email message comprises a maximize feature for displaying the photo in a maximum mode.

25. The computer program from claim 21, further comprising a code segment for sizing the identified photo.

26. The computer program from claim 21, further comprising a code segment for determining a size for a maximum mode.

27. The computer program from claim 21, further comprising a code segment for compressing each identified photo.

28. The computer program from claim 21, further comprising a code segment for password protecting the identified photo.

29. The computer program from claim 21, further comprising a code segment for associating a copyright notice to the identified photo.

30. The computer program from claim 21, further comprising a code segment for creating a hotspot region upon the identified photo.