Web print system with image enhancement

• US 6,914,694 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Tatsuya, Miyasaka, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/687,043
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.9, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/400, 358/448, 358/1.18, 358/302, 358/442, 358/408, 709/201, 709/203, 709/242, 709/250, 709/232
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1225 Software update, e.g. print driver, modules, plug-ins, fonts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1289 in server-client-printer device configuration, e.g. the server does not see the printer
• 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 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• 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 1/32776 using an interactive, user-operated device, e.g. a computer terminal, mobile telephone H04N1/32782, H04N1/32784 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

A system for printing photos, or images generally, includes a server computer that stores data representing a plurality of images in a photo database. A server web interface enables communication over the Internet, and the server computer includes an image print application that enables images to be printed using a client computer connected to the server web interface over said Internet. The server computer also includes an image enhancement module that enhances an image for printing. In response to a print request (over the Internet) from the client computer, the server computer sends image data and the image enhancement module to the client computer. The server computer activates the image print application to create print commands for a printer driver, and to create enhanced image data in the client computer with the image enhancement module prior to printing. The enhanced image data is removed from the client computer immediately following printing.

Claims

1. A system for printing images comprising:

a server computer including;

memory that stores data representing a plurality of images;

a server web interface that enables communication over the Internet;

an image print application that enables images to be printed using a client computer connected to said server web interface over said Internet;

an image enhancement module that enhances an image for printing;

a printer;

a client computer connected to said printer, said client computer including;

a client web interface that enables communication over the Internet;

a printer driver that generates image data representing images for printing by said printer;

said server computer including a web server responsive to a print request from said client computer for sending image data and said image enhancement module to said client computer and activating said image print application to create print commands for said printer driver, and to create enhanced image data in said client computer with said image enhancement module prior to printing, to print said enhanced image data and to remove said enhanced image data from said client computer immediately following printing.

2. A system for printing images as in claim 1, wherein said image print application is written in device independent code and is sent by said server computer to said client computer in response to a print request from said client computer.

3. A system for printing images as in claim 1, wherein said image enhancement module is written is device independent code.

4. A system for printing images comprising:

a server computer including;

a server web interface that enables communication over the Internet;

an image print application written in device independent code that enables images to be printed using a client computer connected to said server web interface over said Internet;

a printer;

a memory device that stores data representing a plurality of images;

a client computer connected to said printer and to said memory device, said client computer including;

a client web interface that enables communication over the Internet;

said server computer including a web server responsive to a print request from said client computer for sending said image print application written in device independent code to said client computer, said image print application being activated upon receipt by said client computer to read image data from said memory device to create printable image data to print said printable image data on said printer, and to remove said printable image data from said client computer immediately following printing.

5. A system for printing images as in claim 4, further comprising an image enhancement module that enhances an image for printing, said image enhancement module being written is device independent code and sent by said server computer to said client computer in response to a print request from said client computer.

6. A system for printing images as in claim 5, wherein said image print application is activated upon receipt by said client computer to read image data from said memory device, and further to create enhanced image data in said client computer with said image enhancement module prior to printing, to print said enhanced image data, and to remove said enhanced image data from said client computer immediately following printing.

7. A method for printing images comprising:

storing data representing a plurality of images in a memory of a server computer;

providing an image print application that enables images to be printed using a client computer connected to said server over said Internet;

providing an image enhancement module that enhances an image for printing using said client computer;

receiving an image data print request from said client computer over the Internet;

sending image data and said image enhancement module to said client computer;

activating said image print application to create print commands for a printer driver in said client computer;

creating enhanced image data in said client computer with said image enhancement module prior to printing;

printing said enhanced image data; and

,

removing said enhanced image data from said client computer immediately following printing.

8. A method for printing images as in claim 7, wherein said image print application is written in device independent code and further comprising sending said image print application to said client computer in response to a print request from said client computer.

9. A method for printing images as in claim 8, wherein said image enhancement module is written is device independent code.

10. A method for printing images comprising:

storing data representing a plurality of images in a memory device connected to a client computer;

providing on a server computer an image print application written in device independent code that enables images to be printed using said client computer connected to said server computer over said Internet;

receiving an image data print request from said client computer over the Internet;

sending said image print application written in device independent code to said client computer;

activating said image print application upon receipt by said client computer to read image data from said memory device and to print said image data on a printer connected to said client computer;

creating enhanced image data in said client computer with an image enhancement module prior to printing;

printing said enhanced image data; and

,

removing said enhanced image data from said client computer immediately following printing.