Method of processing a roll of exposed photographic film containing photographic images into corresponding digital images and then distributing visual prints produced from the digital images

• US 6,512,570 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Garfinkle, Philip N., Jaffe, Elliot D., Yaacov, Yaacov Ben
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathews, Alan A.
• Application Number:
  US09/490,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 355/40, 355/27, 355/18, 355/77, 396/310, 396/311, 396/429, 396/564, 396/639, 358/506, 358/487, 358/527, 348/96, 348/211, 348/552, 705/40, 705/26, 705/27, 705/400, 707/10, 707/104, 707/501, 707/526
• US Class Current: 355/40
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/005 Order systems, e.g. printsorter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• 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 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00164 at a remote location
• 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 1/00185 Image output for details of particular output arrangements see the relevant sub-class, e.g. B41J, G03B, G09G, G11B
• 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4426 involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 : to a particular document or image or part thereof

Abstract

This invention is directed to a method of processing at least one digital image of at least one photographic image and distributing at least one visual print produced from the at least one digital image. The method includes the steps of storing at least one digital image of at least one photographic image on at least one image server at a first location. Selective authorized access to the at least one digital image of the at least one photographic image from a second location is then facilitated. Orders are received for at least one visual print of the at least one photographic image from the second location. Based upon the orders at least one visual image is produced from the stored digital image at the first location in response to the at least one order.

Claims

1. A method for selectively receiving an order for goods and/or services by a service provider with respect to a digital image obtain from a plurality of different sources over a communication network from a plurality of different users, comprising the steps of:

a. storing an album containing one or more digital images on a server for each of said plurality of different users;

b. associating a price sheet to said album with respect to each of said plurality of different users depending upon which of said sources said digital images originated, said price sheet setting forth the cost for said goods and/or services to be offered with respect to said album;

c. allowing selective access to said album by said user from a remote location to said server over a communication network for viewing and ordering said goods and/or services being offered in said associated price sheet with respect to said album; and

d. receiving an order with respect to said album over said communication network wherein said associated price sheet was used for assessing cost with respect to said order.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said price sheet is assigned at the time of obtainment of said one or more digital images in said album.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said time of obtainment comprises the uploading of said one or more digital images to said server.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said one or more digital images are obtained by scanning a roll of photographic film.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of said service provider controls said associated price sheet.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said service provider is assigned an administrative account and password in order to control said associated price sheet.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of assessing the cost of said order using said associated price sheet.

8. A method for receiving orders for goods and/or services over a communication network on behalf of a plurality of different service providers, comprising the steps of:

a. storing a plurality of albums each containing one or more digital images on a server for a plurality of different users, each of said albums being associated with one of said plurality of different service providers;

b. associating a price sheet to each of said plurality of albums that is uniquely associated with said associated service provider, said price sheet setting forth the goods and/or services and the cost for said goods and/or services to be offered with respect to said album;

c. allowing selective access to said album by said user from a remote location to said server over a communication network for viewing and ordering of goods and/or services; and

d. receiving an order with respect to said album over said communication network wherein said associated price sheet is used for assessing cost with respect to said order.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said price sheet is assigned at a time of obtainment of said one or more digital images in said album.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said time of obtainment of said one or more digital images comprises the time at which said one or more images are uploaded to said server.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein said one or more digital images are obtained by scanning a roll of photographic film.

12. A method according to claim 8 wherein each of said service providers independently controls said associated price sheet.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein each of said service providers is assigned an administrative account and password in order to control said price sheet.

14. A method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of transmitting said price sheet associated with said album to said remote location.

15. A system for receiving orders for photographic products over a communication network comprising:

a. a service provider for obtaining digital images on behalf of a user;

b. an image server where said digital images are stored and a price sheet from a plurality of price sheets is associated with said digital images;

one of said price sheets identifying one or more products and prices for said products that may be ordered using the digital images; and

c. a remote computer for accessing said digital image and placing an order for one or more products over a communication network, wherein said price sheet is used to identify the products that may be ordered and prices for said products.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein said service provider comprising a fulfillment center where said order is received and produced.

17. A system according to claim 16 further comprising a disbursement sheet stored on the said image server;

wherein said disbursement sheet is associated with said price sheet;

said disbursement sheet identifying how any profit obtained from said order is distributed between the developer, scanning center, and fulfillment center.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein the disbursement sheet specifies the percentage of net margins to be received by the developer, scanning center, and fulfillment center.

19. A system according to claim 15 wherein said digital images are obtained by uploading of digital images to said image server by a customer.

20. A system according to claim 15 wherein said digital images are obtained by scanning a roll of photographic film.

21. A method for receiving orders for photographic products over a communication network comprising:

a. obtaining digital images by a service provider on behalf of a user;

b. storing said digital images on an image server and associating a price sheet from a plurality of price sheets to said digital images;

said price sheet identifying one or more products and prices for said products that may be ordered using the digital images; and

c. accessing said digital images and placing an order for one or more products over a communication network from a remote computer, wherein said price sheet is used to identify the products that may be ordered and prices for said products.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said service provider comprising a fulfillment center where said order is received and produced.

23. A method according to claim 21 further comprising associating a disbursement sheet with said price sheet and identifying how any profits obtained from said orders are distributed among various service providers.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said various service providers are selected from the following group:

image developer;

scanning center;

fulfillment center.

25. A method according to claim 23 wherein the disbursement sheet specifies the percentage of net margins to be received by the developer, scanning center, and fulfillment center.

26. A method according to claim 21 wherein said digital images are obtained by scanning a roll of photographic film.

27. A method according to claim 21 wherein said digital images are obtained by uploading of digital images to said image server by a customer.

28. A system for receiving orders for photographic products over a communication network comprising:

a. a service provider for obtaining digital images on behalf of a user;

b. an image server where said digital images and a plurality of different price sheets are stored, each of said price sheets identifying one or more products and prices for said products that may be ordered using the digital images, wherein one of said price sheets is associated with said digital images based on a predetermined criteria; and

c. a remote computer for accessing said digital images and placing an order for one or more products over a communication network, wherein said associated price sheet is used to identify the products that may be ordered and prices for said products.

29. A system according to claim 28 wherein said service provider comprising a fulfillment center where said order is received and produced.

30. A system according to claim 28 further comprising a disbursement sheet stored on the said image server;

wherein said disbursement sheet is associated with said associated price sheet;

said disbursement sheet identifying how any profit obtained from said order is distributed between the developer, scanning center, and fulfillment center.

31. A system according to claim 30 wherein the disbursement sheet specifies the percentage of net margins to be received by the developer, scanning center, and fulfillment center.

32. A system according to claim 28 wherein said digital images are obtained by uploading of digital images to said image server by a customer.

33. A system according to claim 28 wherein said digital images are obtained by scanning a roll of photographic film.

34. A system according to claim 28 wherein said predetermined criteria comprises a source from which said digital images were obtained.

35. A system according to claim 34 wherein said source comprises a plurality of different image providers.

36. A system according to claim 35 wherein said plurality of different image providers comprises a plurality of developers wherein one of said plurality of different price sheets is associated with each of said plurality of developers.

37. A method for receiving orders for photographic products over a communication network comprising:

a. obtaining digital images by a service provider on behalf of a user;

b. storing said digital images on an image server and associating a price sheet from a plurality of different price sheets to said digital images based on a predetermined criteria;

said price sheet identifying one or more products and prices for said products that may be ordered using the digital images; and

c. accessing said digital images and placing an order for one or more products over a communication network from a remote computer, wherein said price sheet is used to identify the products that may be ordered and prices for said products.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein said service provider comprising a fulfillment center where said order is received and produced.

39. A method according to claim 37 further comprising associating a disbursement sheet with said price sheet and identifying how any profits obtained from said orders are distributed among various service providers.

40. A method according to claim 39 wherein said various service providers are selected from the following group:

image developer;

scanning center;

fulfillment center.

41. A method according to claim 39 wherein the disbursement sheet specifies the percentage of net margins to be received by the developer, scanning center, and fulfillment center.

42. A method according to claim 37 wherein said digital images are obtained by scanning a roll of photographic film.

43. A method according to claim 37 wherein said digital images are obtained by uploading of digital images to said image server by a customer.

44. A method according to claim 37 wherein said predetermined criteria comprises a source from which said digital images were obtained.

45. A method according to claim 44 wherein said source comprises a plurality of different image providers.

46. A method according to claim 45 wherein said plurality of different providers comprises a plurality of developers wherein one of said plurality of different price sheets is associated with each of said plurality of developers.