METHOD FOR PROVIDING IMAGE GOODS AND/OR SERVICES TO A CUSTOMER

• US 20070157273A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Craig Willand, Dale McIntyre, Joel White, Kenneth A. Parulski, William Brumlow
• Original Assignee: Craig Willand, Dale McIntyre, Joel White, Kenneth A. Parulski, William Brumlow
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth, McIntyre, Dale, White, Joel, Brumlow, William, Willand, Craig
• Application Number:
  US11/685,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157273A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• 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 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• 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 1/00177 from a user terminal, e.g. personal computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0018 of images captured using a loaned, rented or limited-use still digital camera, e.g. recyclable or disposable camera
• 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 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00291 with receiver circuitry television receiver circuitry per se H04N5/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00299 with a television transmission apparatus, e.g. a videophone, a teletext system or a digital television system
• 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 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 : for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2542 : for selling goods, e.g. TV shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 : Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 : for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 : Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 : comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 : Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/617 : Upgrading or updating of programs or applications for camera control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 : Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 : for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/843 : Demosaicing, e.g. interpolating colour pixel values
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system and method for obtaining photographic products and/or services and for the sharing of digital images without the need of a computer. In particular a cable set top box and cable communication network is used for communication with third parties, including image service providers.

Claims

1. A method for providing a plurality of digital cameras associated with a service plan and storing digital images captured by the plurality of digital cameras, comprising:

selecting a plurality of digital cameras from a plurality of differently configured digital cameras by each of a plurality of users.

selecting a service plan having a designated periodic fee by each of the plurality of users, each selected service plan being associated with each of the user'"'"'s selected digital cameras;

storing, in a computer database, information identifying each of the plurality of digital cameras and the associated service plan for each of the plurality of users;

storing digital images captured using the plurality of digital cameras in accordance with each associated service plan, wherein the digital images captured by each of the plurality of digital cameras are stored on the same image storage system remote from each of the plurality of digital cameras, the image storage system being accessible over a network; and

billing each of the plurality of users on a periodic basis in accordance with the designated periodic fee for each user'"'"'s selected service plan.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein storing digital images captured using the plurality of digital cameras further comprises uploading said digital images by said plurality of users to said database over a communication network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication network comprises the internet.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said periodic basis comprises monthly.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said periodic basis comprises yearly.