System and method for providing custom stock images

• US 20060031089A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OnRequest Images, Inc.
• Original Assignee: OnRequest Images, Inc.
• Inventors: Norris, David L., Tarr, Christopher A., Norris, Daniel Thaine
• Application Number:
  US11/248,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031089A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

A method for providing images includes receiving a first image and a second image from a photographer. The second image includes a release image. The first and second images are stored, and the first image is associated with the second image.

Claims

1. A method for providing images, comprising:

receiving a first image from a photographer;

receiving a second image from the photographer, the second image comprising a release image;

storing the first and second images; and

associating the first image with the second image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second image comprises a scan of a signed rights assignment contract.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second image comprises a photograph of a signed rights assignment contract.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the second image comprises storing the release image with at least one other release image previously submitted by the photographer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an image interface that displays the second image as a thumbnail image to a user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the release image comprises a model release.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the release image comprises a property release.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second image from the photographer comprises receiving an electronically transmitted upload of the release image.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving metadata associated with at least one of the first and second images.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the metadata is received when the first or second image is received.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the metadata identifies the first image as being associated with the release image.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the metadata identifies a plurality of images as being associated with the release image.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the metadata identifies the release image as being associated with the first image.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the metadata identifies a plurality of release images as being associated with the first image.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a tag associated with the release image, the tag indicating that the release image is a release document.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the release image with the first image comprises:

displaying the release image to a user on a graphical user interface; and

receiving a user input identifying the first image as being associated with the release image; and

storing image domain data identifying an association between the release image and the first image.

17. A method for providing images, comprising:

inviting a plurality of photographers to submit one or images in fulfillment of an assignment;

receiving a first assignment image and a release image from a first invited photographer;

receiving a first assignment image from a second invited photographer;

storing the first assignment image and the release image from the first invited photographer;

storing the first assignment image from the second invited photographer; and

associating the first assignment image with the release image.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a release image comprises a scan of a signed rights assignment contract.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a release image comprises a photograph of a signed rights assignment contract.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein storing the release images comprises grouping the release image with at least one other release image submitted by the first invited photographer.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing an image interface that displays the release image as a thumbnail image to a user.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein a release image comprises a model release.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein a release image comprises a property release.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the release image from the first invited photographer comprises receiving an electronically transmitted upload of the release image.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving metadata associated with the first assignment image.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the metadata is received when the first assignment image is received.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the metadata identifies the first assignment image as being associated with the release image.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the metadata identifies the first assignment image and at least one additional assignment image submitted by the first invited photographer as being associated with the release image.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving metadata associated with the release image.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the metadata is received when the release image is received.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the metadata identifies the first assignment image and at least one additional assignment image submitted by the first invited photographer as being associated with the release image.

32. The method of claim 17, further comprising identifying a tag associated with the release image, the tag indicating that the release image is a release document.

33. The method of claim 17, wherein associating each assignment image with at least one release image comprises:

displaying the release image to a user on a graphical user interface;

receiving a user input identifying the first assignment image from the first invited photographer as being associated with the release image; and

storing image domain data identifying an association between the first assignment image from the first invited photographer and the release image.

34. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a second assignment image from the first invited photographer; and

storing the second assignment image from the first invited photographer.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

associating the second assignment image from the first invited photographer with the first release image from the first invited photographer.

36. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a release image from the second invited photographer;

storing the release image from the second invited photographer; and

associating the first assignment image from the second invited photographer with the release image from the second invited photographer.

37. A method for associating unresolved release documents, comprising:

receiving a plurality of images from a plurality of photographers;

receiving a plurality of release images from the plurality of photographers;

displaying a selected one of the plurality of release images to a user on a graphical user interface; and

receiving a user input identifying a selected one of the plurality of images as being associated with the selected release image.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising inviting the plurality of photographers to submit one or more images for an assignment, and wherein the plurality of images are received in response to inviting the plurality of photographers to submit one or more images.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising storing image domain data identifying an association between the selected release image and the selected image.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the selected release image comprises a scan of a signed rights assignment contract.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the selected release image comprises a photograph of a signed rights assignment contract.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the selected release image comprises a model release.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the selected release image comprises a property release.

44. A system for providing images, comprising:

an image library storing a plurality of images received from a plurality of photographers; and

an image manager in communication with the image library, the image manager operable to;

receive a first image from a photographer; and

receive a second image from the photographer, the second image comprising a release image;

store the first and second images in the database; and

maintain an association of the first image with the second image.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the second image comprises a scan of a signed rights assignment contract.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the second image comprises a photograph of a signed rights assignment contract.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the image manager is further operable to store the second image with at least one other release image previously submitted by the photographer.

48. The system of claim 44, further comprising an image interface that displays the second image as a thumbnail image to a user.

49. The system of claim 44, wherein the release image comprises a model release.

50. The system of claim 44, wherein the release image comprises a property release.

51. The system of claim 44, wherein the second image comprises an electronically transmitted upload of the release image.

52. The system of claim 44, wherein the image manager is further operable to receive metadata associated with at least one of the first and second images.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the metadata is received when the first or second image is received.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the metadata identifies the first image as being associated with the release image.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the metadata identifies a plurality of images as being associated with the release image.

56. The system of claim 52, wherein the metadata identifies the release image as being associated with the first image.

57. The system of claim 52, wherein the metadata identifies a plurality of release images as being associated with the first image.

58. The system of claim 44, wherein the image manager is further operable to identify a tag associated with the release image, the tag indicating that the release image is a release document.

59. The system of claim 44, wherein when associating the release image with the first image the image manager is further operable to:

display the release image to a user on a graphical user interface; and

receive a user input identifying the first image as being associated with the release image; and

store image domain data identifying an association between the release image and the first image.

60. A system for providing images, comprising:

a photographer selection subsystem operable to invite a plurality of photographers to submit one or images in fulfillment of an assignment;

an image library operable to store a plurality of images submitted by a plurality of photographers; and

an image manager in communication with the image library, the image manager operable to;

receive a first assignment image and a release image from a first invited photographer;

receive a first assignment image from a second invited photographer;

store, in the image library, the first assignment image and the release image from the first invited photographer;

store, in the image library, the first assignment image from the second invited photographer; and

associate the first assignment image and the release image.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein a release image comprises a scan of a signed rights assignment contract.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein a release image comprises a photograph of a signed rights assignment contract.

63. The system of claim 60, wherein the release image is grouped with at least one other release image submitted by the first invited photographer.

64. The system of claim 60, further comprising an image interface that displays the release image as a thumbnail image to a user.

65. The system of claim 60, wherein a release image comprises a model release.

66. The system of claim 60, wherein a release image comprises a property release.

67. The system of claim 60, wherein the second image comprises an electronically transmitted upload of the release image.

68. The system of claim 60, wherein the image manager is further operable to receive metadata associated with the first assignment image.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the metadata is received when the first assignment image is received.

70. The system of claim 68, wherein the metadata identifies the first assignment image as being associated with the release image.

71. The system of claim 68, wherein the metadata identifies the first assignment image and at least one additional assignment image submitted by the first invited photographer as being associated with the release image.

72. The system of claim 60, wherein the image manager is further operable to receive metadata associated with the release image.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the metadata is received when the release image is received.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein the metadata identifies the first assignment image and at least one additional assignment image submitted by the first invited photographer as being associated with the release image.

75. The system of claim 60, wherein the image manager is further operable to identify a tag associated with the release image, the tag indicating that the release image is a release document.

76. The system of claim 60, wherein when associating each assignment image with at least one release image, the image manager is operable to:

display the release image to a user on a graphical user interface;

receive a user input identifying the first assignment image from the first invited photographer as being associated with the release image; and

store image domain data identifying an association between the first assignment image from the first invited photographer and the release image.

77. The system of claim 60, wherein the image manager is further operable to:

receive a second assignment image from the first invited photographer; and

store the second assignment image from the first invited photographer.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein the image manager is further operable to:

associate the second assignment image from the first invited photographer with the first release image from the first invited photographer.

79. The system of claim 60, wherein the image manager is further operable to:

receive a release image from the second invited photographer;

store the release image from the second invited photographer; and

associate the first assignment image from the second invited photographer with the release image from the second invited photographer.

80. A system for associating unresolved release documents, comprising:

an image library storing a plurality of images associated with a plurality of photographers;

a user interface operable to display one or more images to a user on a graphical user interface screen; and

an image manager for managing the plurality of images stored in the image library, the image manager operable to;

receive a plurality of images from a plurality of photographers;

receive a plurality of release images from the plurality of photographers;

cause a selected one of the plurality of release images to be displayed to a user on the graphical user interface screen; and

receive a user input identifying a selected one of the plurality of images as being associated with the selected release image.

81. The system of claim 80, further comprising a photographer selection subsystem operable to invite the plurality of photographers submit one or more images in fulfillment of an assignment, and wherein the image manager is operable to receive the plurality of images in response to inviting the plurality of photographers to submit one or more images in fulfillment of the assignment.

82. The system of claim 80, wherein the image manager is further operable to store image domain data identifying an association between the selected release image and the selected image.

83. The system of claim 80, wherein the selected release image comprises a scan of a signed rights assignment contract.

84. The system of claim 80, wherein the selected release image comprises a photograph of a signed rights assignment contract.

85. The system of claim 80, wherein the selected release image comprises a model release.

86. The system of claim 80, wherein the selected release image comprises a property release.