Method system and software for ordering goods and/or services over a communication network

• US 20060235763A1
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: William C. Tate
• Inventors: Tate, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,895,086 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 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• 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 1/00135 Scanning of a photographic original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0014 via e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• 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 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00461 marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32053 Delayed transmission, e.g. to make use of reduced connection rates H04N1/32074 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image

Abstract

A system, computer software product and a method for ordering goods and/or services with respect to digital images over a communication network. A server provided for sending e-mail to a receiving site of a customer over the communication network. The e-mail has a static section for containing static text and/or graphics and a dynamic area/section for containing dynamic data, the dynamic data is automatically forwarded to the receiving site only upon opening of the e-mail at the receiving site. The dynamic data comprising at least digital data files containing digital images. The static section contains an order section for ordering of goods and/or services with respect to the dynamic data. The order is automatically forwarded to and fulfilled by a remote service provider.

Claims

1. A system for ordering goods and/or services with respect to digital images over a communication network using e-mail, comprising:

a server coupled to a retailer for sending e-mail to a receiving site of a customer over a communication network, the server having a low resolution digital image file including at least one digital image, the e-mail having a static section for containing static text and/or graphics including an order section, and a dynamic area/section for containing dynamic data including the low-resolution digital image file, the order section for creating an order for goods and/or services at the receiving site using by selecting the at least one digital image; and

dynamic data automatically forwarded by the server to the receiving site only upon opening of the e-mail at the receiving site.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the order is automatically sent to a second party using a URL address of the second party included in the e-mail.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is remote from the retailer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the e-mail having information for allowing the automatic forwarding of the order to a fulfillment provider for fulfillment of the order.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the fulfillment provider is remote from the retailer.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the fulfillment provider is remote from the server.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the fulfillment provider pays the retailer a portion of payment received from the customer for the order.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the fulfillment provider receives orders from a plurality of retailers, where means are provided for keeping track of which of the plurality retailers forwards which of the orders to the fulfillment provider.

9. The system of claim 4, a means for keeping track when the customer pays the fulfillment provider and forwarding a portion of payment received from the customer to the retailer that sent the order to the fulfillment provider.

10. A computer software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program which when loaded into a computer causes the computer to perform the following steps:

providing a server of a first party for sending e-mail to a receiving site of a customer over a communication network, the server having a low resolution digital image file including at least one digital image, the e-mail having a static section for containing static text and/or graphics including an order section, and a dynamic area/section for containing dynamic data including the low-resolution digital image file;

automatically forwarding the dynamic data by the server to the receiving site only upon opening of the e-mail at the receiving site;

creating an order for goods and/or services at the receiving site using the order section by selecting the at least one digital image; and

automatically sending the order to a second party upon placement of the order by using a URL address of the second party included in the e-mail.

11. The product of claim 10, wherein when the URL address of the second party is different from a URL address of the first party.

12. The product of claim 10, wherein the second party will fulfill the order placed by the customer.

13. The product of claim 10 wherein a portion of money paid by the customer to the second party is allocated to the first party.

14. The product of claim 13 wherein the portion of the money paid to the second party is forwarded to the first party upon or after receipt of payment by the customer to the second party.

15. The product of claim 10 wherein a notice is send to the first party by the second party when the order is placed with the second party.

16. The product of claim 10 wherein the e-mail includes the ability for the customer to send an e-mail to a third party for allowing access to the images at the server and for placement of an order by the third party.

17. The product of claim 16 wherein the customer further permits the third party to provide additional data to the images.

18. The product of claim 16 wherein the server allows the third party to provide data to the dynamic data.

19. The product of claim 10 wherein the communication network comprises the Internet.