Digital photofinishing system and method offering operator-defined packages of prints

• US 20040260572A1
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakura, Kohei, George, Kevin, Ilchert, Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/784,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260572A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• 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 1/00143 Ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0019 on souvenir-type products or the like, e.g. T-shirts or mugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for processing at least one digital image to provide a photofinishing product to a user. The method begins by receiving at least one digital image located on a physical medium provided by the user. Responsive to a user request, at least one operator-definable package of photofinishing products is offered to the user. An input is received, which specifies at least one package selected by the user. A photofinishing product is then provided to the user in accordance with the specified package.

Claims

1. A method for processing at least one digital image to provide a photofinishing product to a user, comprising:

receiving at least one digital image located on a physical medium provided by the user;

responsive to a user request, offering to the user at least one operator-definable package of photofinishing products;

receiving an input specifying at least one package selected by the user; and

providing a photofinishing product to the user in accordance with the specified package.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the package of photofinishing products includes a photographic print of the digital image provided in predetermined quantities and at least one predetermined size.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the package of photofinishing products includes a photographic print of the digital image provided in predetermined quantities for each of a plurality of predetermined sizes.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the package of photofinishing products further includes a price for said package.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the package of photofinishing products further includes a second physical medium onto which the digital image is transferred.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said photofinishing product is a second physical medium onto which the digital image is transferred.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said second physical medium is a CD-ROM.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving at least one digital image includes the step of receiving a plurality of digital images located on the physical medium and further comprising the step of receiving from the user a second input identifying at least one of the digital images to be embodied in the photofinishing product.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of displaying the digital images prior to the step of receiving the second input from the user.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving an input from the user specifying at least one enhancement to the digital image.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said enhancement is selected from the group consisting of brightness, contrast and retouching.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving from the operator an input defining the predetermined quantities and the predetermined size of the package.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said input is received at least in part via a touch screen display.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said input is received at least in part via a keyboard.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said input is received over a communications network.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said inputs are received at least in part via a touch screen display.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said inputs are received at least in part via a keyboard.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said inputs are received over a communications network.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the offering step is performed via a graphical user interface displayed on a monitor.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of scanning at least one photographic image to produce said at least one digital image.

21. A digital photofinishing system, comprising:

a digital image reader for receiving a physical medium on which at least one digital image is located;

a digital image processor for producing an output image from the digital image located on the physical medium;

an image output device for embodying the output image in an output medium;

a monitor for displaying the output image and offering to a user at least one operator-definable package of photofinishing products;

a controller operatively associated with the digital image reader, the digital image processor, the image output device and the monitor; and

an operator interface operatively associated with the controller for selectively defining at least one package of photofinishing products to be offered to the user.

22. The digital photofinishing system of claim 21 wherein the package of photofinishing products includes a photographic print of the digital image provided in predetermined quantities and at least one predetermined size.

23. The digital photofinishing system of claim 21 wherein the package of photofinishing products includes a photographic print of the digital image provided in predetermined quantities for each of a plurality of predetermined sizes.

24. The digital photofinishing system of claim 22 wherein the package of photofinishing products further includes a price for said package.

25. The digital photofinishing system of claim 22 wherein the package of photofinishing products further includes a second physical medium onto which the digital image is transferred.

26. The digital photofinishing system of claim 21 wherein said photofinishing product is a second physical medium onto which the digital image is transferred.

27. The digital photofinishing system of claim 25 wherein said second physical medium is a CD-ROM.

28. The digital photofinishing system of claim 21 wherein said image output device comprises a printer.

29. The digital photofinishing system of claim 21 further comprising a user interface for receiving an input from the user specifying at least one enhancement to the digital image.

30. The digital photofinishing system of claim 29 wherein said enhancement is selected from the group consisting of brightness, contrast and retouching.

31. The digital photofinishing system of claim 21 wherein said operator interface further serves as a user interface for receiving an input from the user specifying at least one enhancement to the digital image.

32. The digital photofinishing system of claim 21 wherein said operator interface comprises a touch screen display.

33. The digital photofinishing system of claim 21 wherein said operator interface comprises a keyboard.

34. The digital photofinishing system of claim 29 wherein said user interface and said operator interface comprise a common touch screen display.

35. The digital photofinishing system of claim 29 wherein said user interface and said operator interface comprise a common keyboard.

36. The digital photofinishing system of claim 21 further comprising a scanner for scanning a photographic image to produce a digital image to be processed by the digital image processor.