Method and system for sharing digital images over a network
First Claim
1. A method for sharing digital images over a network, wherein a first user desires to send images from a first computer to a second user having a second computer, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. Providing a client application for use on the first computer that communicates directly with a server, the client having a user interface that provides functions for managing the images;
b. In response to a request by the first user to create an email for sending the images, displaying on the first computer by the client user interface an email request that appears as an email template, and allowing the first user to specify an address of the second user;
c. Sending from the client application the email request with the images and the address of the second user directly to the server without sending the email request to an intervening mail server; and
d. In response to the server receiving the email request, i. Storing the images on the server, and creating a web album for the images comprising one or more web pages containing scaled representations of the images, ii. Creating an email message from the email request, iii. Inserting a link to the web album into the email message, iv. Transmitting the email message over the network for delivery to the second user via the second computer, and e. In response to the second user clicking on the link, displaying to the second user the web album containing the scaled images, whereby the second user is not required to download the images to view the images.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for sharing digital images over a network, such as the Internet, wherein the first person desires to send images from a first computer to a second person having a second computer that includes a standard email program. The system and method include sending an email request with the images and an address of the second user from the first computer to a server. In response to receiving the email request, the images are stored on the server, and the server creates a standard email message from the email request. The method and system further include inserting at least one link to the stored images into the email message, and transmitting the email message over the network for delivery to the second user. The second user may then receive and open the email message on the second computer using the standard email program and click on the at least one link to display the images.
113 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for sharing digital images over a network, wherein a first user desires to send images from a first computer to a second user having a second computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. Providing a client application for use on the first computer that communicates directly with a server, the client having a user interface that provides functions for managing the images;
b. In response to a request by the first user to create an email for sending the images, displaying on the first computer by the client user interface an email request that appears as an email template, and allowing the first user to specify an address of the second user;
c. Sending from the client application the email request with the images and the address of the second user directly to the server without sending the email request to an intervening mail server; and
d. In response to the server receiving the email request, i. Storing the images on the server, and creating a web album for the images comprising one or more web pages containing scaled representations of the images, ii. Creating an email message from the email request, iii. Inserting a link to the web album into the email message, iv. Transmitting the email message over the network for delivery to the second user via the second computer, and e. In response to the second user clicking on the link, displaying to the second user the web album containing the scaled images, whereby the second user is not required to download the images to view the images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for sharing digital images over a network, comprising:
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a. A photomail client application executing on a user computer, the user computer being connected to a network and storing a plurality of digital images, wherein the photomail client includes a user interface that allows the user to select and edit images, and to form and send an email request that designates a recipient and includes the selected images, wherein the email request is displayed to appear as an email template; and
b. A server connected to the network for receiving the email request and in response to receiving the email request, perform functions of;
i. Storing the images included in the email request, and creating a web album for the images comprising one or more web pages containing scaled representations of the images, ii. Creating an email message from the email request, iii. Inserting a link to the web album into the email message, iv. Transmitting the email message over the network for delivery to the recipient, and v. In response to the recipient clicking on the link, displaying to the recipient the web album containing the scaled images, whereby the recipient is not required to download the images to view the images. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for sharing digital images over a network, wherein a first user desires to send images from a first computer to a second user having a second computer, the program instructions for:
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a. Providing a client application for use on the first computer that communicates directly with a server, the client having a user interface that provides functions for managing the images;
b. In response to a request by the first user to create an email for sending the images, displaying on the first computer by the client user interface an email request that appears as an email template, and allowing the first user to specify an address of the second user;
c. Sending from the client application the email request with the images and the address of the second user directly to the server without sending the email request to an intervening mail server; and
d. In response to the server receiving the email request, i. Storing the images on the server, and creating a web album for the images comprising one or more web pages containing scaled representations of the images, ii. Creating an email message from the email request, iii. Inserting a link to the web album into the email message, iv. Transmitting the email message over the network for delivery to the second user via the second computer, and e. In response to the second user clicking on the link, displaying to the second user the web album containing the scaled images, whereby the second user is not required to download the images to view the images. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification