System and camera for transferring digital images to a service provider

• US 7,034,880 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Parulski, Kenneth A., Fredlund, John R., Bryant, Steven M., Endsley, Jay A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOE, AUNG SOE
• Application Number:
  US09/718,018
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.11, 348/333.01, 348/231.99, 348/231.2, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/211.6, 348/207.1, 348/552, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/66.1, 455/566
• US Class Current: 348/333.11
• 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 1/00164 at 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 1/00188 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 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• 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 method and digital camera for capturing images to be provided to a service provider. The camera includes a capture device for capturing digital images; a memory for storing the captured digital images; an interface to a communications device for transmitting the stored images to a service provider; wherein the digital interface automatically transfers images to the network service provider during a specified time period. Rechargeable batteries may be provided for powering the digital camera; wherein the communications device recharges the batteries using the interface. The camera may further include a display for displaying digital files stored in the digital memory and displaying the at least one order status confirmation file on the display.

Claims

1. A digital camera for capturing images to be provided to a service provider, comprising:

means for capturing full resolution digital images;

means for storing at least one full resolution captured digital image file;

a display for displaying an image corresponding to the stored image file;

communication means for transferring the at least one full resolution digital image file to a service provider;

means for providing a reduced resolution image file corresponding to the at least one transferred full resolution image,

means for displaying the reduced resolution image file, and

means for selecting services to be provided using the previously transferred full resolution image file corresponding to the reduced resolution image file, wherein the communication means further transmits identifiers indicating the selected services and full resolution image file to the service provider.

2. A digital camera according to claim 1 wherein the service provider further provides confirmation that at least one image has been transmitted to the service provider.

3. A digital camera according to claim 2 wherein the confirmation is provided using low resolution images.

4. A digital camera according to claim 1 wherein the confirmation is provided using a text file.

5. A method for transferring digital images using a camera having a capture device for capturing digital images, a digital memory for storing the captured digital images, communication means for transmitting the captured digital images to a service provider, and a display for displaying digital files stored in the digital memory, comprising the steps of:

transferring at least one digital image to said service provider using the communication means;

receiving from said service provider at least one order status confirmation file and storing said file in said digital memory wherein the confirmation file includes a reduced resolution image file corresponding to the at least one digital image; and

displaying the at least one order status confirmation file on the display.