System and method for remote image communication and processing using data recorded on photographic film
First Claim
1. An automated film processing system, comprising:
- a film having at least one recordable section for storing at least one customer selected electronic address;
a film finishing system for reading the electronic addresses recorded on said film, developing said film, digitizing the images developed on said film, and for transmitting the digitized images to the customer selected electronic addresses; and
at least one customer station, remotely located from said film finishing system, said station electronically connected to said film finishing system for receiving and displaying the digitized images when addressed by said film finishing system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated film processing system, comprising: a film having at least one recordable section for storing at least one customer selected electronic address; a film finishing system for reading the electronic addresses recorded on said film, developing said film, digitizing the images developed on said film, and for transmitting the digitized images to the customer selected electronic addresses; and at least one customer station, remotely located from said film finishing system, said station electronically connected to said film finishing system for receiving and displaying the digitized images when addressed by said film finishing system. Photographs taken by a photojournalist are automatically communicated to a remotely located news agency by recording a telecommunication address for the remote location on the film. The data can be prerecorded on the film or recorded by the photographer before dispatching the film to a processor. At the processor, the developed film images are scanned and stored as image files. The address data, and any other data recorded by the photographer on the film is stored in a header appended to the image files. When the order is complete, a control computer at the processor automatically links to the remote image server via a telecommunications link based on address data in the file header. When the link is established, the image data is communicated to the remote server where image processing can be performed prior to making hard copy photoprints for publication. Other data recorded on the film can include such instructions as image scan resolution, color/tone scale calibration data, photolab identification and billing information.
213 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An automated film processing system, comprising:
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a film having at least one recordable section for storing at least one customer selected electronic address; a film finishing system for reading the electronic addresses recorded on said film, developing said film, digitizing the images developed on said film, and for transmitting the digitized images to the customer selected electronic addresses; and at least one customer station, remotely located from said film finishing system, said station electronically connected to said film finishing system for receiving and displaying the digitized images when addressed by said film finishing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An automated film processing system, comprising:
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a film having at least one recordable section for storing at least one customer selected electronic address; a film finishing system for reading the electronic addresses recorded on said film, developing said film, digitizing the images developed on said film, and forming the digitized images into an index of digitized images, said film finishing system transmitting the index of digitized images to the customer selected electronic addresses; and at least on customer station, remotely located from said film finishing system, said station electronically connected to said film finishing system for receiving and displaying the index of digitized images when addressed by said film finishing system. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for remote image communication using data recorded on photographic film comprising:
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means for recording data on the film, said data including telecommunication data representing at least a remote destination address to which images on the film are to be transmitted by telecommunication means; means for scanning images on the film after development processing to produce digital image signals and for reading said telecommunication data from the film; means responsive to said read telecommunication data for establishing a telecommunication link and for transmitting said digital image signals to said destination address. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. Film handling apparatus for sorting out film orders for telecommunication to a remote destination;
- said apparatus comprising;
data reading means for reading data recorded on said film orders including telecommunication data identifying said remote destination; scanner means for converting developed images on said film orders into digital image data signals; and controller means responsive to said telecommunication data on the film for establishing a telecommunication link and for transmitting said digital image signals to said destination address. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- said apparatus comprising;
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24. A method of performing remote image processing and communication using data recorded on film comprising the steps of:
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recording telecommunication data on a photographic film magnetic layer, said telecommunication data including at least a remote destination address to which images on the film are to be transmitted by telecommunication means; processing said film to develop images exposed on the film; scanning said images to produce digital image data; reading said telecommunication data from the film magnetic layer; establishing a telecommunication link to a remote destination address represented by said telecommunication data; and communicating said digital image data to said remote destination address.
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Specification