Configuring image storage devices to enable imaging services

• US 20050102198A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kenneth A. Parulski
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• 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 1/00145 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 1/00175 from a still image storage medium H04N1/00172, H04N1/0018 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00193 to a portable storage medium, e.g. a read-writable compact disk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs

Abstract

A removable memory device is configured and utilized to enable digital imaging services by establishing a service account which defines at least one digital imaging service to be provided using at least one digital image file captured by a digital camera, the service account having an associated service account identifier; storing service account information in a database, the database being remotely accessible using a communications network; configuring the removable memory device by storing the service account identifier associated with the service account, the removable memory device being capable of storing a plurality of digital image files captured by the digital camera; accessing the removable memory device, at a location remote from the database, to retrieve at least one stored digital image file captured by the digital camera and the service account identifier; communicating the service account identifier over the communications network to the database; accessing the database and using the service account identifier to retrieve the service account information; and providing the at least one digital imaging service specified in the service account using the at least one stored digital image file

Claims

1. A method for configuring a removable memory device and utilizing such configured removable memory device to enable digital imaging services, comprising:

(a) establishing a service account which defines at least one digital imaging service to be provided using at least one digital image file captured by a digital camera, the service account having an associated service account identifier;

(b) storing service account information in a database, the database being remotely accessible using a communications network;

(c) configuring the removable memory device by storing the service account identifier associated with the service account, the removable memory device being capable of storing a plurality of digital image files captured by the digital camera;

(d) accessing the removable memory device, at a location remote from the database, to retrieve at least one stored digital image file captured by the digital camera and the service account identifier;

(e) communicating the service account identifier over the communications network to the database;

(f) accessing the database and using the service account identifier to retrieve the service account information; and

(g) providing the at least one digital imaging service specified in the service account using the at least one stored digital image file.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the removable memory device is a memory card.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the memory card uses Flash EPROM memory.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital imaging service comprises printing the at least one stored digital image file.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the service account identifies a print size to be used for the printing.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the service account identifies a print finish to be used for the printing.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital imaging service comprises storing the at least one stored digital image file on an Internet accessible digital storage device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the Internet accessible digital storage device is a hard drive connected to an Internet Server.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital imaging service comprises emailing the at least one stored digital image file.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital imaging service is provided by a service provider, and the at least one stored digital image file is uploaded to the service provider from the location remote from the database.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital imaging service is provided by a retail establishment, and the at least one stored digital image file is uploaded to the service provider from the location remote from the database

12. The method of claim 1 further including modifying the service account information to provide additional services.