Distributed digital film processing system and method

• US 6,554,504 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Applied Science Fiction, Inc.
• Inventors: Lester, Leland A., Cook, Stacy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rutledge; D.
• Application Number:
  US09/777,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20010036366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 396/564,604,567-570,626,639 355/27-29,77,40
• US Class Current: 396/567
• 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 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing

Abstract

Photo-images are read from film using a digital film processing (DFP) system, and then transmitted for processing, along with any necessary associated information. After processing, the images can be stored in a database or transmitted to an image delivery system, such as a personal computer or kiosk, where a print, negative, computer file, or other representation of the image is prepared for delivery to a customer. All or any part of the image processing, archival, manipulation, retrieval, and delivery systems and associated interfaces may reside on an Internet web site.

Claims

1. A DFP system comprising:

at least a first communications interface, said at least a first communications interface to receive image information requiring further processing from at least one remotely located DFP imaging system and to transmit processed information to at least one image delivery system;

at least one processor operably associated with said at least a first communications interface;

memory operably associated with said processor; and

a program of instructions capable of being stored in said memory and executed by said processor, said program of instructions enabled to manipulate said received image information to generate a processed electronic representation of a desired image.

2. The system as in claim 1, further comprising a user interface, said user interface configured to receive information associated with said received image information.

3. The system as in claim 1, further comprising an image collection system, said image collection system comprising:

at least one detector, said detector enabled to generate electrical signals in response to light, and said detector further enabled to output said electrical signals for image processing;

at least one illumination source enabled to illuminate at least a portion of a film having images formed thereon, such that light traveling from said film strikes said at least one detector; and

a second communications interface, said second communications interface capable of transmitting image information requiring further processing to said at least a first communications interface.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein said image information is recorded using digital film processing techniques.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein image information includes originally recorded image data.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein said image information includes partially processed image data.

7. The system as in claim 1, further comprising an image delivery system, said image delivery system comprising:

a customer interface capable of accepting customer input and providing feedback;

a second communications interface capable of receiving a processed electronic representation of a desired image, transmitted by said at least a first communications interface; and

wherein said image delivery system is enabled to encode a physical medium with a representation of said desired image.

8. The system as in claim 7, further comprising at least one drive configured to accept removable computer readable media, and wherein encoding a physical medium with a representation of said desired image includes encoding said desired image onto a computer readable medium.

9. The system as in claim 7, wherein said image delivery system further comprises a printer, and wherein encoding a physical medium with a representation of said desired image includes printing said desired image as a negative film image.

10. The system as in claim 7, wherein said image delivery system further comprises a printer, and wherein encoding a physical medium with a representation of ad desired image includes printing said desired image as a positive film image.

11. The system as in claim 7, wherein said image delivery system further comprises a printer, and wherein encoding a physical medium with a representation of said desired image includes printing said desired image as a photographic print.

12. The system as in claim 1, wherein said image delivery system is an information handling system capable of receiving, via the internet, information transmitted by said at least a first communications interface.

13. The system as in claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile storage medium capable of storing said received image information.

14. A method of processing digital film images, the method comprising:

scanning a film having an image formed thereon;

recording at least one electronic representation of the image, the at least one electronic representation requiring further processing before being suitable for viewing;

transmitting information associated with the at least one electronic representation to a remote processing system;

processing the transmitted information to generate a processed electronic representation of a desired image; and

transmitting the processed electronic representation of a desired image to an image delivery system.

15. The method as in claim 14, further comprising encoding the electronic representation of the desired image onto a computer readable medium.

16. The method as in claim 14, further comprising printing the desired image as a negative film image.

17. The method as in claim 14, further comprising printing the desired image as a positive film image.

18. The method as in claim 14, further comprising printing the desired image as a photographic print.

19. The method as in claim 14, further comprising developing the film.

20. The method as in claim 19, further comprising scanning the film at a plurality of different times during development.

21. The method as in claim 14, further comprising partially processing the at least one electronic representation, and wherein the information associated with the at least one electronic representation includes the partially processed at least one electronic representation.

22. The method as in claim 14, wherein transmitting includes the transmission of information via at least one of the following communication channels:

fiber optic lines, telephone lines, coaxial cables, cellular communication links, personal communication system (PCS) links, or satellite transmission links.

23. A distributed DFP system comprising:

an imaging system to record electronic representations of images formed on film and to transmit said electronic representations for processing, said electronic representations requiring further processing before being suitable for viewing;

an image processing system capable of receiving said transmitted electronic representations, and further capable of manipulating said transmitted electronic representations to generate a processed electronic representation of a desired image, said processing system further capable of transmitting said processed electronic representation of a desired image for storage;

a database enabled to store said processed electronic representation of a desired image, and to transmit said processed electronic representation of a desired image for delivery; and

an image delivery system enabled to receive said processed electronic representation of a desired image, and to encode a physical medium with a representation of said desired image.

24. The system as in claim 23, wherein encoding a physical medium with a representation of said desired image includes encoding said electronic representation of a desired image onto a computer readable medium.

25. The system as in claim 23, wherein said image delivery system further comprises a printer, and encoding a physical medium with a representation of said desired image includes printing the desired image on photographic print paper.

26. The system as in claim 23, wherein said image delivery system further comprises a printer, and encoding a physical medium with a representation of said desired image includes printing the desired image on film.

27. The system as in claim 23, wherein said image delivery system is an information handling system enabled to receive said electronic representation of a desired image via the Internet.

28. The system as in claim 23, wherein said database is maintained separate from said image processing system.

29. The system as in claim 23, wherein said imaging system is a digital film processing system.

30. ;

The method as in claim 23, wherein transmitting includes the transmission of information via at least on of the following communication channels;

fiber optic lines, telephone lines, coaxial cables, cellular communication links, personal communication system (PCS) links, or satellite transmission links.

31. A DFP system comprising:

an image capturing system enabled to record a plurality of electronic representations of an image formed on film, said electronic representations requiring further processing before being suitable for viewing;

an image processing system capable of manipulating said plurality of electronic representations of an image formed on film to generate a processed electronic representation of a desired image; and

at least one communications interface enabled to receive and transmit information via the Internet, said information including information associated with said desired image.

32. The system as in claim 31, further comprising a database, said database enabled to store at least said electronic representation of a desired image.

33. The system as in claim 31, wherein said image capturing system is configured to record said plurality of electronic representations using infra-red (IR) light.

34. The system as in claim 31, wherein said image capturing system is configured to record said plurality of electronic representations using multiple light spectrums.

35. The system as in claim 31, wherein said image processing system comprises:

at least one processor;

memory operably associated with said processor; and

a program of instructions, said program of instructions capable of being stored in said memory and executed by said processor, and wherein said program of instructions is enabled to manipulate said plurality of electronic representations of an image formed on film to generate an electronic representation of a desired image.

36. The system as in claim 35, wherein said program of instructions is further enabled to maintain an Internet web page.

37. The system as in claim 31, wherein said image capturing system and said image processing system are maintained in a distributed configuration.

38. The system as in claim 31, wherein said communications interface is further enabled to deliver said electronic representation of a desired image via e-mail.

39. The system as in claim 31, further comprising an image delivery system, said image delivery system capable of encoding a physical medium with a representation of said desired image.

40. The system as in claim 39, wherein encoding includes printing said desired image onto a physical medium.

41. A method of delivering images resulting from DFP, the method comprising:

recording a plurality of electronic representations of an image formed on a film, said electronic representations requiring further processing before being suitable for viewing;

processing the plurality of electronic representations to generate a processed electronic representation of a desired image; and

delivering the electronic representation of the desired image via the Internet.

42. The method as in claim 41, further comprising storing the electronic representation of a desired image in a database.

43. The method as in claim 41, further comprising maintaining an Internet web page, and wherein delivering includes transmitting information in response to a user action initiated via the Internet web page.

44. The method as in claim 41, wherein delivering the electronic representation includes sending the electronic representation via e-mail.

45. The method as in claim 41, further comprising receiving user input via the Internet, and wherein processing includes altering the electronic representation of a desired image in accordance with the received user input.

46. The method as in claim 41, further comprising receiving and delivering, via the Internet, information associated with the electronic representation of a desired image.

47. The method as in claim 46, wherein information associated with the electronic image includes at least one of the following:

billing information, payment information, image identification information, address information, service selection options, archive information, and image processing options.

48. A signal embodied in a propagation medium, said signal comprising:

at least one instruction enabled to record a plurality of electronic representations of an image formed on a film, said electronic representations requiring further processing before being suitable for viewing;

at least one instruction enabled to process the plurality of electronic representations to generate a processed electronic representation of the desired image via the Internet.

49. The signal as in claim 48, further comprising at least one instruction enabled to store the electronic representation of a desired image in a database.

50. The signal as in claim 48, further comprising at least one instruction enabled to maintain an Internet web page, and wherein said delivering includes transmitting information in response to a user action initiated via the Internet web page.

51. The signal as in claim 48, wherein said at least one instruction enabled to deliver includes at least one instruction enabled to send the electronic representation via e-mail.

52. The signal as in claim 48, further comprising at least one instruction enabled to receive user input via the Internet, and wherein said at least one instruction enabled to process includes at least one instruction enabled to alter the electronic representation of a desired image in accordance with the received user input.

53. The signal as in claim 48, further comprising at least one instruction enabled to receive and deliver, via the Internet, information associated with the electronic representation of a desired image.

54. The signal as in claim 53, wherein information associated with the electronic image includes at least one of the following:

billing information, payment information, image identification information, address information, service selection options, archive information, and image processing options.

55. A storage and retrieval system for electronic images, said system comprising:

a plurality of electronic image archives, said plurality of image archives enabled to store electronic images recorded from film and information associated with said electronic images;

a plurality of image delivery systems, said plurality of image delivery systems enabled to encode physical media with representations of said electronic images; and

wherein

at least one of said plurality of image delivery systems includes at least one of said plurality of electronic image archives.

56. The system as in claim 55, wherein at least one of said image delivery systems comprises a user interface.

57. The system as in claim 55, wherein at least one of said image delivery systems comprises a printer, and wherein encoding a physical medium includes printing an image on photographic paper.

58. The system as in claim 55, wherein at least one of said image delivery systems comprises a printer, and wherein encoding a physical medium includes printing an image on film.

59. The system as in claim 55, wherein at least one of said image delivery systems comprises at least one drive configured to accept removable storage media, and wherein encoding a physical medium includes encoding copies of electronic images onto said removable storage media.

60. The system as in claim 55, wherein at least one of said image delivery systems is enabled to deliver electronic images via the Internet.

61. The system as in claim 55, wherein said image archives comprise:

at least one processor;

memory operably associated with said processor;

at least on non-volatile storage medium, said non-volatile storage medium enabled to store a plurality of said electronic images and said information associated with said electronic images; and

a program of instructions capable of being stored in said memory and executed by said processor, said program of instructions configured to store and retrieve, from said at least one non-volatile storage medium, said electronic images and said information associated with said electronic images.

62. The system as in claim 55, wherein said plurality of electronic image archives are enabled to operate as a single distributed database.