Method and apparatus for ordering photofinishing goods and/or services

• US 6,636,837 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc (KPP (no. 2) Trustees Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Shah, Hetal R., Clark, Tina M., Lewis, Frederic T., Bhat, Dinesh H., Hodge, Lawrence C., Nardozzi, Frank M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/492,063
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/005 Order systems, e.g. printsorter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for displaying photofinishing goods and/or services that are being offered for sale. An apparatus is provided which includes a display device for displaying photofinishing goods and/or services that are being offered for sale and a computer for controlling what is displayed on the display device. A computer software program is also provide for programming the computer so that a plurality of the photofinishing goods and/or services will be displayed on the display device and for program monitoring the sales the photofinishing goods. The system allows for the remote reprogramming of the computer for modifying and or re-arranging the position of the photofinishing goods and/or services on the display device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying photofinishing goods or services that are being offered for sale, comprising:

a display device for displaying photofinishing goods or services that are being offered for sale;

a computer for controlling what is displayed on said display device;

a computer software program for programming said computer so that a plurality of said photofinishing goods or services will be displayed on said display device, said computer software program monitoring the sales of said photofinishing goods or services only at the apparatus with respect to their position on said display device and re-arranging the position of said photofinishing goods or services on said display device based on said monitoring.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said software program periodically rearranges the position of said photofinishing goods or services on said display device.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said software modifies only a portion of goods or services.

4. An apparatus for displaying photofinishing goods or services that are being offered for sale, comprising:

a display device for displaying photofinishing goods or services that are being offered for sale;

a data entry device for entering an order dropped at said apparatus;

a computer for controlling what is being displayed on said display device; and

a computer software program for programming said computer for monitor the sales said photofinishing goods or services entered into data entry device, said computer software program re-arranging the position of said photofinishing goods or services on said display device based on said monitoring.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said date entry device comprises said display device being a touch CRT.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said data entry device comprises key pad or key board.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said data entry device comprises a computer mouse.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said apparatus further comprises a communication means for forwarding data to a remote computer.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said computer software is capable of being modified by receiving instructions from said remote computer.

10. A system for displaying photofinishing goods or services at a plurality of different kiosks, each kiosk having a display device for displaying photofinishing goods or services that are being offered for sale, a data entry device for entering an order dropped at said apparatus, a computer for monitoring what has been entered into said kiosk, comprising;

a central computer in electronic communication with said computer of plurality of said kiosks, said central computer obtaining information regarding orders that have been placed at said kiosks;

wherein said computer of said kiosk comprises a first directory and a second directory, said first directory containing information for controlling the display screens of said display device, said second directory having information for controlling the display screens upon reaching a predetermined criteria.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the status of order entered at said kiosks are periodically obtained by said central computer.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein said predetermined criteria comprises a date.

13. A method for controlling a photofinishing product or service offering at a remote kiosk, comprising the steps of:

providing an initial product offering with respect to a plurality of goods or services on a display screen provided on said kiosk;

said initial product offering being provided in a first presentation sequence;

collection of order information with respect to orders placed at said kiosk; and

analyzing said order information and re-sequencing said presentation of said goods or services based on said analysis.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising periodically repeating said analysis step.

15. An apparatus for displaying photofinishing goods or services on a display device comprising;

a computer for controlling what is being displayed on said display device;

a software computer program such that when loaded on said computer will control what is being displayed on said display device;

said software segmenting said display device into a plurality of smaller visual segments in which graphical or text information may be provided; and

a navigation section for building or rebuilding what is being displayed on said display device by controlling what is displayed in each of plurality of smaller segments responsive to computer software monitoring sales of said photofinishing goods and services.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein there is provided a pre-staging directory for constructing a display screen that may be substituted for the existing display screen upon reaching a predetermined criteria.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said predetermined criteria comprises a date.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said pre-staged screen is automatically substituted upon reaching of said criteria.