System and method for notification of digital images to be shared via a service provider

• US 20050097173A1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Johns, Mark, Mohsenin, Kamran
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• 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 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3209 of a telephone number

Abstract

A method and system for organizing and sharing digital images over a communication network wherein an image server at a service provider stores digital images for a customer which may have more two more electronic addresses which may receive e-mail. The server automatically forwarding all electronic mail having an address from one of the registered two or more electronic addresses to the primary electronic address that is received over a communication network. The e-mail includes a link to the share images and/or images folder.

Claims

1. A method for organizing and sharing digital images over a communication network to a single user having more than one electronic address, comprising the steps of:

providing an image server by a service provider for storing digital images for a first user, said first user registering two or more electronic addresses which may receive e-mail;

said server recording one of said two or more electronic addresses as the primary electronic address in accordance with said first users instructions; and

said server automatically forwarding all electronic mail having an address from one of said registered two or more electronic addresses to said primary electronic address that is received over a communication network, said e-mail includes a link to shared images and/or image folders.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said two or more electronic addresses each comprise an SMS addresses.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said primary electronic address comprises an MMS address.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein one of said electronic address comprises a phone number.

5. A system for organizing and managing digital images over a communication network to a single user having more than one electronic address, comprising:

an image service provider having an image server for storing digital images for a first user, said user registering two or more electronic addresses which may receive e-mail over a communication network, said user designating one of said two or more electronic addresses as the primary electronic address, said server automatically forwarding all electronic messages addressed to either of said two or more registered electronic addresses to said primary electronic address for use by said first user, said e-mail includes a link to digital images and/or image folders stored on said server.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said communication network comprises the Internet.

7. A system according to claim 5 wherein said two or more electronic addresses each comprise an MSS addresses.

8. A system according to claim 5 wherein said primary electronic address comprises an SMS address.

9. A system according to claim 5 wherein said one of said two or more electronic addresses comprises the electronic address of a phone.

10. A method for automatically sharing digital images over a communication network, comprising the steps of:

a service provider providing a owner account for storing digital images on a server on behalf of said owner and for accessing over a communication network;

said server receiving digital images over said communication network from more than one source for placement in said owner account; and

said server sending a single electronic notification over said communication network to said owner that new digital images have been placed in said folder.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said notification is send based on a predetermined criterion.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said predetermined criterion comprises a defined period of time.

13. A method according to claim 11 where in said predetermined criterion comprises a defined number of sources.

14. A method according to claim 10 wherein server sends a message to other individual inviting said individual to become a subscriber to said folder for accessing said digital images placed in said folder.

15. A method according to claim 14 where said recipient account includes a permission level for controlling access to said folder by said subscriber.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said permission level comprises automatically notifying said subscriber when new digital images are placed in said folder.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein said permission level comprises controlling whether said subscriber may read or write comments with respect to said digital images.

18. A method according to claim 14 wherein said subscriber can provide contact information where said subscriber may receive notices that may be sent with respect to said folder.

19. A method according to claim 10 wherein said digital images in said folder are organized in accordance with a particular criterion.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said criterion is selected from the following group:

date that the digital images were captured or stored in the folder,

rating of the digital images by popularity, type of content, or times accessed

by keyword,

author or owner of the digital images,

location where the images were taken, or

feature of the digital image.

21. A method according to claim 10 wherein said notification includes a thumbnail representation of each of the new digital images from all of the digital images placed in said folder

22. A system for automatically sharing digital images over a communication network, comprising the steps of:

a server of a service provider for storing digital images in a customer account on behalf of said customer and for allowing accessing to said digital images over a communication network;

said server receiving digital images over said communication network from more than one source for placement in said owner account; and

said server sending a single electronic notification over said communication network to said customer that digital images have been placed in said folder.

23. A system according to claim 22 wherein said notification is send based on a predetermined criterion.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein said predetermined criterion comprises a defined period of time.

25. A system according to claim 23 where in said predetermined criterion comprises a defined number of sources.

26. A system according to claim 22 wherein server sends a message to other individual inviting said individual to become a subscriber to said folder for accessing said digital images placed in said folder.

27. A system according to claim 26 where said customer account includes a permission level for controlling access to said folder by said subscriber.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein said permission level comprises automatically notifying said subscriber when new digital images are placed in said folder.

29. A system according to claim 27 wherein said permission level comprises controlling whether said subscriber may read or write comments with respect to said digital images.

30. A system according to claim 26 wherein said subscriber can provide contact information where said subscriber may receive notices that may be sent with respect to said folder.

31. A system according to claim 22 wherein said digital images in said folder are organized in accordance with a particular criterion.