System and apparatus for automatically forwarding digital images to a service provider

• US 6,812,962 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2000
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Cloutier, Robert P., Simon, Richard A., Parulski, Kenneth A., Fredlund, John R., Wess, Raymond E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Application Number:
  US09/569,170
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/207.2, 348/211.2, 348/211.4, 348/231.1, 348/231.2, 348/552, 348/231.3, 348/211.1, 348/211.3, 348/231.9, 705/26
• US Class Current: 348/231.2
• 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 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2104 for one or a few pictures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically forwarding digital images to a service provider. The apparatus includes a reading device for reading said digital images from a removable digital storage medium and a communication device for automatically forwarding said digital image data over a network to said service provider when a predetermined criteria is met. The service provider may send transmission to the communication device so as to activate the apparatus for transmitting digital images. The apparatus has a unique ID known by the service provider which can be used to identify the apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically forwarding digital images to a service provider, comprising:

a memory for storing digital images to be transmitted to a service provider;

a communication device for automatically forwarding said stored digital images over a network to said service provider at a predetermined time period;

a data entry device for entering order instructions for placing an order for image products with respect to said digital images transmitted to said service provider, said communication device forwarding said order instruction along with said digital images to said service provider when said predetermined time period is met, said communication device automatically receiving from said service provider a confirmation receipt of said digital images and said order instructions having been received by said service provider, the confirmation receiving includes the thumbnail representation of the images that have been received by said image fulfillment provider.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes a display for displaying said thumbnail images.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said data entry device comprises a touch pad.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said confirmation receipt is transferred to a camera for displaying said on camera.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a writing mechanism for writing said confirmation of said order on an image storage medium that can be provided to a camera for display on said camera.

6. A method for automatically transmitting digital images to a service provider comprising the steps of:

storing said digital images on said memory of said apparatus;

receiving instructions for placement of an order for transmitting to said service provider;

transmitting said order to said service provider at said predetermined time period; and

receiving from said service provider confirmation of receipt of said order which includes thumbnail images of the images received for producing said order.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said apparatus includes a display for displaying said confirmation and said thumbnail images.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein said confirmation receipt is transferred to a camera for display on said camera.

9. A method according to claim 6 wherein said device writes said confirmation receipt on an image storage medium that can be provided to a camera for display on said camera.