SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING IMAGING SERVICES USING A SERVICE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER STORED IN AN IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE

• US 20070103723A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth, McIntyre, Dale, Wolcott, Dana
• Granted Patent: US 8,589,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• 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 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• 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 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4092 Image resolution transcoding, e.g. by using client-server architectures
• 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 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• 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 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00798 Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device or according to a measured quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A system and method for obtaining photographic products and/or services comprises bundling image capture and printing technologies into products and/or services that are paid for by a consumer with monthly or yearly subscription fees. The system and method involves selecting a camera and selecting a photographic products/service plan which designates photographic products and/or services which are to be associated with the selected camera. The system and method gives the consumer the option of selecting a specific camera from a menu of cameras, and a specific photographic product/service plan which is to be associated with the selected camera from a product/service menu. As a further option, the consumer can customize his/her product/service plan in accordance with his/her preference. The plan can provide for products and/or services for images captured and/or film exposed by the camera for a predetermined amount of time at a predetermined fee. At the end of the plan, the consumer could have the option of returning the camera, exchanging the camera for a different camera, or keeping the camera at no cost or for a reduced price. The photographic products and/or services provided by the plan could be products and/or services such as film developing, printing, image products, scanning, photo CDs, image storage, etc.

Claims

1. A system for capturing images and providing imaging services, comprising:

an image capture device comprising

an image sensor for capturing images;

an image memory for storing the captured images;

a firmware memory for storing a service identification number; and

an interface for transferring the stored images and the service identification number;

an input unit coupled to a communication network for inputting customer billing information to be associated with the service identification number of the image capture device, and for communicating the customer billing information over the communication network; and

a service provider coupled to the communication network which receives the customer billing information and which stores service account information, the service account information including the customer billing information and the service identification number, in a service account database;

wherein the service provider receives the stored images and the service identification number transferred from said interface of said image capture device, initiates an imaging service using the transferred stored images, and facilitates payment for the imaging service using the customer billing information in the service account database corresponding to the service identification number transferred from the image capture device.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is a personal computer;

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is a kiosk.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input device is also used to input lease information which provides the image capture device and a predetermined amount of imaging services for a set periodic fee.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging service comprises emailing the transferred images to one or more email addresses.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging service comprises printing the transferred images.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging service comprises electronic storage of the transferred images.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said electronic storage is provided for a predetermined period of time.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the image capture device is leased to the customer for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined fee.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the lease includes a predetermined amount of imaging services

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the image capture device is a digital camera.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the service provider customizes the image capture device by programming said firmware memory with said service identification number.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said input station provides a menu of user selectable features and wherein said service provider customized the image capture device by programming said firmware memory responsive to at least one feature selected by a user from said menu.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein said firmware memory is programmed to provide customer selected border templates.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein said firmware memory is programmed to provide customer selected sounds.