Data management and order delivery system

• US 6,321,231 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1997
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VPS LLC
• Original Assignee: Marshall O'Toole Gerstein Murray & Borun (Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP)
• Inventors: Carlson, Lowell D., Jebens, John H., James, Jeffrey Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Colbert, Ella
• Application Number:
  US08/908,046
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/102, 707/530, 707/104, 705/33, 705/42, 345/132, 345/302, 345/428, 382/284, 382/276, 382/249, 395/200.36, 395/200.33, 586/124, 364/468.02, 355/40, 355/70, 396/639
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00169 Digital image input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A digital data management and order delivery system is provided. The system includes a storage device for storing digital data and a searching engine for developing a subset of the digital data stored in the storage device in response to inputs received from a first user. The system is also provided with a job order developer responsive to inputs received from the first user for developing a job order which includes: a) at least one copy of the digital data contained in the subset and identified by the first user; and b) a file containing information developed by the first user outside the system. In addition, the system includes a router for electronically routing the job order compiled by the job order developer to a second user specified by the first user.

Claims

1. A data management system comprising:

an electronic storage facility for providing storage for digital assets of a plurality of unrelated asset provider users, at least some of the digital assets stored in the electronic storage facility including first sets of data each having a first bandwidth communication requirement and second sets of data each representative of an associated one of the first sets of data and having a second bandwidth communication requirement less than the first bandwidth communication requirement, the electronic storage facility storing the digital assets of a first one of the asset provider users such that the digital assets of the first asset provider user can only be accessed by authorized users identified by the first asset provider and such that the digital assets of the first asset provider user are transparent to users that are not authorized by the first asset provider user;

means for allowing an authorized user identified by the first asset provider to download a particular second set of data from the storing means to a first location;

means for accepting a work order from the authorized user at the first location wherein the work order identifies a second location as an intended destination of the work order, identifies the particular second set of data, and further includes data developed outside the system;

job order development means responsive to the accepting means for developing a job order including both (a) the first set of data associated with the particular second set of data and (b) the data developed outside the system; and

means for electronically routing the job order to the second location.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first set of data comprises high resolution digital images, and the second set of data comprises low resolution digital images.

3. A system as defined in claim 2 wherein the high resolution digital images are input to the system by the first asset provider user.

4. A system as defined in claim 3 further comprising image handling means for processing the high resolution digital images input by the first asset provider user, the image handling means being adapted to develop low resolution images of the high resolution digital images received from the first asset provider user and to store both the high resolution digital images and the low resolution images in the storage facility in an addressable fashion for future searching.

5. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising event tracking means for monitoring and recording predefined events occurring in the system.

6. A system as defined in claim 5 wherein the predefined events comprise one of the group consisting of:

storing new data in the storing means;

deleting data from the storing means;

connecting to the system;

disconnecting from the system;

conducting a search of the data stored in the storing means;

downloading data from the first set of data stored in the storing means;

downloading data from the second set of data stored in the storing means; and

routing the work order to a user.

7. A system as defined in claim 5 further comprising means for developing an indication of a charge to be assessed a user when at least one of the predefined events is recorded by the event tracking means.

8. A system as defined in claim 7 wherein the charge developing means automatically generates invoices on a periodic basis.

9. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein the routing means automatically routes the invoices to at least one user responsible for payment.

10. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the routing means automatically electronically routes the job order to the second location.

11. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein the routing means automatically sends a facsimile to the second location notifying the second location of the job order being routed.

12. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein the routing means automatically sends an e-mail message to the second location notifying the second location of the job order being routed.

13. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the job order defines a document to be printed, the second location is a printing facility, and the first set of data downloaded by the downloading means is to be printed as part of the document.

14. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein the allowing means, the accepting means, the routing means and the downloading means are implemented by at least one programmed processing device.

15. A system as defined in claim 14 wherein the at least one programmed processing device is implemented by a file storage server and an autolog server interconnected for co-operative operation.

16. A system as defined in claim 15 wherein the at least one programmed processing device is further implemented by a database server.

17. A system as defined in claim 14 wherein the at least one programmed device, the first location, and the second location are interconnected by a network.

18. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a communication device to permit users to communicate with the system.

19. A system as defined in claim 18 wherein the communication device is implemented by an internet server, a telecommunications server, and an e-mail server.

20. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the storing means is implemented by an image storage device and a data storage device.

21. A system as defined in claim 20 wherein the image storage device comprises an optical disk robot and an optical data reader.

22. A system as defined in claim 20 wherein the data storage device comprises a RAID system.

23. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for searching the storing means in response to user inputs to develop the particular second set of data.

24. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the data developed outside the system and included in the work order comprises a page description language file and the first set of data in the job order comprises a bit mapped image.

25. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means for receiving digital data from an asset provider user to be stored in the storage facility; and

,

means for compressing the digital data received by the receiving means in accordance with a parameter set by the asset provider user.

26. A system as defined in claim 25 wherein the digital data received from the asset provider user is used to develop the first and second data sets.

27. A system as defined in claim 25 wherein the parameter defines a compression format to be employed by the compressing means.

28. A system as defined in claim 25 wherein the parameter defines a degree of compression to be employed by the compressing means.

29. A system as defined in claim 25 further comprising means for developing an indication of a charge to be assessed the as provider user for storing the digital data in the storage facility.

30. A system as defined in claim 29 wherein the charge developing means develops the charge based on the amount of storage memory utilized by the digital data.

31. A digital data storage facility as defined in claim 30 wherein the charge developing means develops a further charge based on the amount of time the digital data is stored in the storage facility.

32. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for translating the particular second set of data into a file format defined by the authorized user before the allowing means downloads the particular second set of data.

33. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for translating data received by the system into a file format defined by the authorized user before storing the received data in the facility.

34. A data management system comprising:

a storage device for providing paid storage for digital assets of a plurality of unrelated asset provider users, at least some of the digital assets stored in the electronic storage facility including first sets of data each having a first bandwidth requirement and second sets of data each representative of an associated one of the first sets of data and having a second bandwidth requirement less than the first bandwidth requirement, the storage device storing the digital assets of a first one of the asset provider users such that the digital assets of the first asset provider user can only be accessed by authorized users identified by the first asset provider and such that the digital assets of the first asset provider user are transparent to users that are not authorized by the first asset provider user;

a search engine for searching among sets of data stored in the storage device;

a communication device operable to allow remote communication by a user with the system including means for sending a particular second set of data to a user in response to a user request to the search engine;

means for accepting a user-defined work order from a first location via the communication device wherein the work order identifies a second location as an intended destination of the work order, identifies the particular second set of data, and includes further data developed outside the system;

a router for electronically routing a job order to a second location, the job order including

the first set of data associated with the particular second set of data identified in the work order.

35. A digital image management and order delivery system comprising:

a storage device for providing storage for digital images of a plurality of unrelated asset provider users, the storage device storing the digital images of a first one of the asset provider users such that the digital images of the first asset provider user can only be accessed by authorized users identified by the first asset provider user and such that the digital images of the first asset provider user are transparent to users that are not authorized by the first asset provider user;

a searching engine for developing a subset of the digital images stored in the storage device by the first asset provider user in response to inputs received from a first authorized user identified by the first asset provider user, the searching engine being adapted to download low resolution copies of the subset to the first authorized user;

a job order developer responsive to inputs received from the first authorized user for developing a job order which includes;

a) at least one high resolution copy of a digital image contained in the subset and identified by the first authorized user, and b) a file containing information developed by the first authorized user outside of the system; and

,

a router for electronically routing the job order developed by the job order developer to a second user specified by the first authorized user.

36. A system as defined in claim 35 wherein the digital images are input to the system by the first asset provider user via a communication device.

37. A system as defined in claim 36 further comprising an image handler for processing the digital images input by the first asset provider user, the image handler being adapted to develop low resolution images of the digital images received from the first asset provider user and to store both the digital images received from the first asset provider and the low resolution images thereof in the storage device in an addressable fashion for future searching.

38. A system as defined in claim 36 further comprising means for translating the digital images received by the system into a file format defined by the first asset provider user before storing the digital images in the storage device.

39. A system as defined in claim 35 further comprising an event tracker for monitoring and recording predefined events occurring in the system.

40. A system as defined in claim 39 wherein the predefined events comprise one of the group consisting of:

storing a new digital image in the storage device;

deleting a stored digital image from the storage device;

connecting to the system;

disconnecting from the system;

conducting a search of the digital images stored in the storage device;

downloading a low resolution copy of one of the digital images stored in the storage device;

downloading a high resolution copy of one of the digital images stored in the storage device; and

routing a work order to a user.

41. A system as defined in claim 39 further comprising means for developing an indication of a charge to be assessed a user when at least one of the predefined events is recorded by the event tracker.

42. A system as defined in claim 41 wherein the charge developing means automatically generates invoices on a periodic basis.

43. A system as defined in claim 42 wherein the router automatically routes the invoices to the users responsible for payment.

44. A system as defined in claim 35 further comprising means for developing miniaturized depictions of the subset developed by the searching engine.

45. A system as defined in claim 44 further comprising first means for downloading the miniaturized depictions of the subset to the first authorized user, and, second means responsive to inputs from the first authorized user for downloading at least one low resolution copy corresponding to a selected one of the miniaturized depictions.

46. A system as defined in claim 44 wherein the router automatically electronically routes the job order to the second user.

47. A system as defined in claim 46 wherein the router automatically sends a facsimile to the second user notifying the second user of the job order being routed.

48. A system as defined in claim 46 wherein the router automatically sends an e-mail message to the second user notifying the second user of the job order being routed.

49. A system as defined in claim 35 wherein the file defines a document to be printed, the second user is a printer, and the at least one high resolution image is to be printed as part of the document.

50. A system as defined in claim 49 wherein the searching engine, the job order developer and the router are implemented by at least one programmed processing device.

51. A system as defined in claim 50 wherein the at least one programmed processing device is implemented by a file storage server and an autolog server interconnected for co-operative operation.

52. A system as defined in claim 51 wherein the at least one programmed processing device is further implemented by a database server.

53. A system as defined in claim 50 wherein the at least one programmed processing device, the first user, and the second user are interconnected by a network.

54. A system as defined in claim 35 further comprising a communication device for receiving and transmitting data to one or more remote users.

55. A system as defined in claim 54 wherein the communication device is implemented by an internet server, a telecommunications server, and an e-mail server.

56. A system as defined in claim 35 wherein the storage device is implemented by an image storage device and a data storage device.

57. A system as defined in claim 56 wherein the image storage device comprises an optical disk robot and an optical data reader.

58. A system as defined in claim 56 wherein the data storage device comprises a RAID system.

59. A system as defined in claim 35 further comprising:

means for receiving digital data from the first asset provider user to be stored in the storage device; and

,

means for compressing the digital data received by the receiving means in accordance with a parameter set by the first asset provider user.

60. A system as defined in claim 35 wherein the parameter defines a compression format to be employed by the compressing means.

61. A system as defined in claim 35 wherein the parameter defines a degree of compression to be employed by the compressing means.

62. A system as defined in claim 36 further comprising means for developing an indication of a charge to be assessed the first asset provider user for storing the digital data in the storage device.

63. A system as defined in claim 62 wherein the charge developing means develops the charge based on the amount of storage memory utilized by the digital data.

64. A digital data storage facility as defined in claim 63 wherein the charge developing means develops a further charge based on the amount of time the digital data is stored in the storage device.

65. A system as defined in claim 35 further comprising means for translating the low resolution copies of the subset into a file format defined by the first authorized user before the searching engine downloads the low resolution copies of the subset to the first authorized user.

66. A digital image management and order delivery system comprising:

a storage device for providing paid storage for digital assets of a plurality of unrelated asset provider users, at least some of the digital assets stored in the storage device containing digital images, the digital images including both a high resolution copy and a low resolution copy of each of the digital images;

a charge developer which accesses charges to the plurality of unrelated asset provider users based on at least one of an amount of storage memory utilized by the digital assets of the charged asset provider user and an amount of time the digital assets of the charged asset provider user are stored in the storage device;

a processor coupled to the storage device for permitting access to the digital images of a first asset provider user by a first predefined user identified by the first asset provider user, the processor providing a searching engine for addressing and retrieving the digital images, the processor being adapted to download low resolution copies of the digital images to the first predefined user identified by the first asset provider user and to provide high resolution copies of the digital images to a second predefined user specified by the first predefined user;

the processor being further adapted to automatically electronically route documents created by the first predefined user to the second predefined user, the processor downloading high resolution copies corresponding to the low resolution copies of the digital images identified by the first predefined user to the second predefined user for inclusion in the documents.

67. A method of managing digital images comprising the steps of:

storing a high resolution and a low resolution copy of each of a first plurality of digital images provided by a first asset provider user in an electronically searchable format on a storage device;

storing a high resolution and a low resolution copy of each of a second plurality of digital images provided by a second asset provider user in an electronically searchable format on the storage device;

permitting a first authorized user identified by the first asset provider user to locate and download a low resolution copy of at least one of the digital images provided by the first asset provider user, the second plurality of images being transparent to the first authorized user;

receiving an electronic file defining a document from the first authorized user, the document being designed to incorporate the at least one digital image and data developed outside of the system;

receiving instructions from the first authorized user directing that the electronic file be delivered to a second user; and

,

automatically electronically routing the electronic file and a high resolution copy of the at least one digital image to the second user identified by the first authorized user.

68. A digital data storage facility for providing storage for a plurality of third party users comprising:

a storage device;

means for receiving digital data from a user in the plurality;

means for compressing the digital data received by the receiving means in accordance with a parameter set by the user; and

,

means for storing the digital data compressed by the compressing means in the storage device.

69. A digital data storage facility as defined in claim 68 wherein the parameter defines a compression format to be employed by the compressing means.

70. A digital data storage facility as defined in claim 68 wherein the parameter defines a degree of compression to be employed by the compressing means.

71. A digital data storage facility as defined in claim 68 further comprising means for developing an indication of a charge to be assessed the user for storing the digital data in the storage device.

72. A digital data storage facility as defined in claim 71 wherein the charge developing means develops the charge based on the amount of storage memory utilized by the digital data.

73. A digital data storage facility as defined in claim 72 wherein the charge developing means develops a further charge based on the amount of time the digital data is stored in the storage device.

74. A digital image management and order delivery system comprising:

a storage device for storing digital images received from a first digital image provider and a second digital image provider;

a searching engine for developing a subset of the digital images stored in the storage device in response to inputs received from a first user, the searching engine being adapted to download low resolution copies of the subset to the first user;

a job order developer responsive to inputs received from the first user for developing a job order which includes at least one high resolution copy of a digital image contained in the subset and identified by the first user; and

,

a router for electronically routing the job order developed by the job order developer to a second user specified by the first user; and

a user identifier for discriminating between users communicating with the system to control user access to the digital images stored in the storage device, the user identifier limiting access to the digital images provided by the first digital image provider to at least one user identified by the first digital image provider, wherein the digital images provided by the first image provider are transparent to all users except users identified by the first digital image provider.