Automated printing system for producing copyright protected image-based product

• US 20040260614A1
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
• Original Assignee: Shutterfly Incorporated (Shutterfly, LLC)
• Inventors: Taratino, Paul D., Quek, Su Mien, Teo, Patrick, Dildine, Lance
• Granted Patent: US 7,328,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

An automated printing system for producing an image-based product comprises a server computer that receives from a first user a group of one or more copyright protected digital images and price information for image-based product. The price information can be distinct for each group of copyright protected digital images. The automated printing system also includes a computer processor that processes the copyright protected digital images in response to an order from a second user and calculates payment to the first user based on the price information and a digital printer that produces the image-based product in response to the processed copyright protected digital image.

Claims

1. An automated printing system for producing an image-based product, comprising

a) a server computer that receives from a first user a group of one or more copyright protected digital images and price information for the image-based product, such price information being distinct for each group of the copyright protected digital images;

b) a computer processor that processes the copyright protected digital images in response to an order of at least one of the image-based products from a second user and calculates payment to the first user based on the price information; and

c) a digital printer that produces the image-based product in response to the processed copyright protected digital image.

2. The automated printing system of claim 1 wherein the first user owns the copyright of the copyright protected digital image.

3. The automated printing system of claim 1 wherein the computer processor inserts a copyright message to at least one of the copyright protected digital images.

4. The automated printing system of claim 1 wherein the copyright protected digital images is accessible by the second user at an Internet address.

5. The automated printing system of claim 1 wherein the price information received from the first user specifies a selling price of the image-based product to the second user.

6. The automated printing system of claim 1 wherein the copyright protected digital images are digitized from photographic media provided by the first user.

7. The automated printing system of claim 1 wherein the price information can be entered or changed by the first user at a web user interface.

8. The automated printing system of claim 1 wherein the image-based product can be one or more of photographic prints, photo calendars, photo greeting cards, photo snapbook, and photo album.

9. The automated printing system of claim 1 wherein the order of the image-based products is received from the second user over a computer network.

10. An automated printing system for producing an image-based product, comprising

a) a server computer that receives from a first user two or more groups of copyright protected digital images and price information for the image-based product, such price information being distinct for each group of the copyright protected digital images;

b) a computer storage device that stores the two or more groups of copyright protected digital images and the price information associated with each group of the copyright protected digital images;

c) a computer processor that processes the copyright protected digital images in response to an order including the image-based product from a second user and calculates payment to the first user based on the price information; and

d) a digital printer that produces the image-based product in response to the processed copyright protected digital image.

11. The automated printing system of claim 10 wherein at least one group of copyright protected digital images is accessible by the second user at an Internet address.

12. The automated printing system of claim 11 wherein at least a second group of copyright protected digital images is not accessible to the second user.

13. The automated printing system of claim 10 wherein the computer processor inserts a copyright message to at least one of the copyright protected digital images.

14. The automated printing system of claim 10 wherein one or more groups of the copyright protected digital images are uploaded by the first user to the server computer over the Internet.

15. The automated printing system of claim 10 wherein the price information received from the first user specifies a selling price of the image-based product to the second user.

16. An automated printing system for producing an image-based product, comprising

a) a server computer that receives from a first user a group of one or more copyright protected digital images, a design for the image-based product, and price information for the image-based product, such price information being distinct for each group of the copyright protected digital images;

b) a computer processor that processes the copyright protected digital images in accordance to the design of the image-base product in response to an order including the image-based product from a second user and calculates payment to the first user based on the price information; and

c) a digital printer that produces the image-based product in response to the processed copyright protected digital image.

17. The automated printing system of claim 16 wherein the design for the image-based product is provided by the first user at a web user interface.

18. The automated printing system of claim 16 wherein the design for the image-based product can be previewed by the second user at a web user interface before the order including the image-based product.

19. The automated printing system of claim 16 wherein the design for the image-based product is customized for the group of one or more copyright protected digital images.

20. The automated printing system of claim 16 wherein the design for the image-based product is customized for the first user or the second user.