Method for managing images over a communication network

• US 6,995,789 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Fredlund, John R., McIntyre, Dale F., Manico, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Villecco, John M.
• Application Number:
  US09/891,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/211.6, 348/211.4, 348/552, 348/107, 348/207.2, 707/201, 707/203, 707/217, 707/219, 705/27, 355/40
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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 1/0014 via e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from 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 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• 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 2201/3222 of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A method for providing digital images over a communication network to a user using instruction obtained from a roll of film containing images or wireless image capture device. The instruction may be obtained by analyzing the image for an image content identifier. The instructions may include the obtaining of an offer by a third party over the communication network for providing the service.

Claims

1. A method for providing digital images of a first resolution to a user comprising the steps of:

processing roll of film and digitizing images on said roll of film and forming said first resolution digital images;

recognizing a content identifier on said roll of film by analyzing said digital images, said content identifier providing information or instructions; and

transmitting said first resolution digital images to a service provider over a communication network, said service provider forwarding said first resolution digital images to a computer of a recipient over said communication network after forming a copy of each of said first resolution digital images in accordance with said instructions or said information, wherein said service provider storing said first resolution images for an ordering period after which said first resolution images are automatically transferred to the computer of said recipient and said stored high resolution images are converted to lower resolution images and added to the recipient'"'"'s low resolution image collection at said service provider.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

said service provider storing said copy of each first resolution digital image for future access by the user and/or authorized third parties over said communication network.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

said service provider using content identifiers associated with said user to automatically recognize content within said digital images; and

automatically transmitting over said communication network said first resolution images identified by content identifier to specified individuals.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said service provider either automatically or on request can look for images to which an icon provided by a user has been applied and automatically forwarding the identified images to said user.

5. A method for providing first resolution digital images to a user comprising the steps of:

obtaining instructions with respect to a user account;

receiving first resolution digital images from a wireless capture device via a communications network;

transmitting said first resolution digital images to a service provider, said service provider forwarding said first resolution digital images to a user computer after forming a copy of each of said first resolution digital images;

said service provider storing said copy of said first resolution digital image for future access by the user and/or authorized third parties;

said service provider using a content identifier associated with said user to automatically recognize content within said digital images; and

automatically transmitting over a communication network said content information correlated to said first resolution digital image to a specified individual.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said copy comprises a resolution copy less than said first resolution image.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein said wireless capture device comprises an electronic camera.

8. A method for providing digital images of a first resolution to a user comprising the steps of:

processing roll of film and digitizing images on said roll of film and forming said first resolution digital images;

recognizing a content identifier on said roll of fun by analyzing said digital images, said content identifier providing information or instructions;

transmitting said first resolution digital images to a scrvice provider over a communication network, said service provider forwarding said first resolution digital images to a computer of a recipient over said communication network after forming a copy of each of said first resolution digital images in accordance with said instructions;

said service provider using content identifiers associated with said user to autonuticaily recognize content within said digital images; and

automatically transmitting over said communication network said first resolution image identified by said content identifier to a specified individual.

9. A method for providing digital images of a first resolution to a user comprising the steps of:

processing roll of film and digitizing images on said roll of film and forming said first resolution digital images;

recognizing a content identifier said roll of film by analyzing said digital images, said contcnt identifier providing information or instructions;

transmitting said first resolution digital images to a service provider over a communication network, said service provider forwarding said first resolution digital images to a computer of a recipient over said communication network after forming a copy of each of said first resolution digital images in accordance with said instruction; and

wherein said service provider either automatically or on request looks for images to which an icon provided by a user has been applied and automatically forward the identified images to said user.

10. A method for providing first resolution digital images to a user comprising the steps of:

obtaining instructions with respect to a user account;

receiving first resolution digital images from a wireless capture device via a communications network;

transmitting said high resolution digital images to a service provider, said service provider forwarding said first resolution digital images to a user computer after forming a copy of each of said first resolution digital images; and

wherein said service provider storing high resolution images for an ordering period after which said high resolution images are automatically transferred to the user computer and said stored high resolution images are converted to low resolution images and added to the user'"'"'s low resolution image collection.

11. A method for providing first resolution digital imagcs to a user comprising the steps of:

obtaining instructions with respect to a user account;

receiving first resolution digital images from a wireless capture device via a communications network;

transmitting said first resolution digital images to a service provider, said service provider forwarding said first resolution digital images to a user computer after forming a copy of each of said first resolution digital images; and

wherein said service provider either automatically or on request looks for images to which an icon provided by a user has been applied and automatically forward the identified images to said user.