Method and system for ordering image related goods and services

• US 7,120,593 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Fry, Peter T., Chauvin, Louis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAQ, NAEEM U
• Application Number:
  US09/540,148
• Time in Patent Office: 2,384 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 345/600
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A method and system for ordering digital image goods and/or services with respect to an image provided as a low resolution digital file and a low resolution digital image file. The method includes transmitting the low resolution digital image file to a server at a remote image service provider over a communication network, manipulating the image and/or ordering of goods and/or services with respect to the image, and transmitting of the high resolution digital image file.

Claims

1. A method for ordering digital image goods and/or services by a user over a communication network, comprising the steps of:

a. said user obtaining a low-resolution digital image file, a high-resolution digital image file, and associated meta data of an image;

b. transmitting said low resolution digital image file and said associated meta data which contains information about the high-resolution digital image file by said user from a first location to a server at a remote image photoservice provider at a second location over said communication network, said server having software for manipulating and for ordering of goods and/or services by said user with respect to said image;

c. said user using said software on said server at said first location with respect to said low resolution digital image file;

d. said service provider providing feed back to said user based on said meta data and said user using said software with respect to said low resolution digital image file; and

e. said user transmitting the high-resolution digital image file from said first location to said service provider at said second location after using said software for use in fulfillment of said goods and/or services.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said communication network comprises the internet.

3. A met according to claim 1 wherein said using said software comprises viewing of said image on a display device using said low resolution digital image file.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said using said software further comprises manipulating of said image.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein said using said software comprises placing an order for goods and/or services with respect to said image.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said remote image photoservice provider fulfills said order.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said remote image photoservice provider comprises a photofinisher.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said transmission of high resolution may be interrupted and resumed at the same place where the transmission was interrupted.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said meta data comprises information about the image files.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said feed back comprises information regarding customizing processing that can be preformed.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said feed back comprises a warning the image data available is insufficient to produce an expected quality level for a requested product or service.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said feed back comprises a statement that the image can benefit from image enhancement.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein said feed back comprises said images are not suitable for a requested operation.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein said meta data comprises information about the image files.

15. A method for ordering digital image goods and/or services by a user over a communication network with respect to an image provided in a low resolution digital file and a high resolution digital image file, said image also having associated meta data which contains information about the high-resolution digital image file, comprising the steps of:

a. said user transmitting said low resolution digital image file and said associated meta data by a user from a first location to a server at a remote image service provider at a second location over said communication network, said server having software for manipulating and for ordering of goods and/or services by said user with respect to said image;

b. said user using said software on said server at said first location with respect to said low resolution digital image file;

c. said service provider providing feed back to said user based on said meta data and said user using said software with respect to said low resolution digital image file; and

d. said user transmitting the high resolution digital image file from said first location to said service provider after said user is finished using said software for use in fulfillment of said goods and/or services.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said communication network comprise the internet.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said using said software comprises viewing of said image using on a display device using said low resolution digital image file.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said using said software further comprises manipulating of said image.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein said using said software comprises placing of an order for goods and/or services with respect to said image.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said remote image service provider fulfills said order.

21. A method according to claim 15 wherein said remote image service provider comprises a photofinisher.

22. A method according to claim 15 wherein said transmission of high resolution may be interrupted and resumed at the same place where the transmission was interrupted.

23. A method according to claim 15 wherein said feed back comprises information regarding customizing processing that can be preformed.

24. A method according to claim 15 wherein said feed back comprises a warning the image data available is insufficient to produce an expected quality level for a requested product or service.

25. A method according to claim 15 wherein said feed back comprises a statement that the image can benefit from image enhancement.

26. A method according to claim 15 wherein said feed back comprises said images are not suitable for a requested operation.

27. A method for ordering digital image goods and/or services by a user over a communication network with respect to an image provided as a low resolution digital file and a high resolution digital image file, said image also having associated meta data which contains information about the high-resolution digital image file, comprising the steps of:

a. said user transmitting said low resolution digital image file and said meta data to a server at a remote image service provider over a communication network, said server having software for manipulation of a digital image;

b. said user using said software at said service provider manipulating said image and ordering of goods and/or services with respect to said image;

c. said service provider providing feed back to said user based on said meta data and said user using said software; and

d. after completing step c said user transmitting said high resolution digital image file to said server for use in fulfillment of said goods and/or services.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein said communication network comprises the internet.

29. A method according to claim 27 wherein said using said software comprises viewing of said image on a display device using said low resolution digital image file.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein said using said software further comprises manipulating of said image.

31. A method according to claim 29 wherein said using said software comprises placing an order for goods and/or services with respect to said image.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein said remote image photoservice provider fulfills said order.

33. A method according to claim 27 wherein said remote image photoservice provider comprises a photofinisher.

34. A method according to claim 27 wherein said transmission of high resolution may be interrupted and resumed at the same place where the transmission was interrupted.

35. A method according to claim 27 wherein said meta data comprises information about the image files.

36. A method according to claim 27 wherein said feed back comprises information regarding customizing processing that can be preformed.

37. A method according to claim 27 wherein said feed back comprises a warning the image data available is insufficient to produce an expected quality level for a requested product or service.

38. A method according to claim 27 wherein said feed back comprises a statement that the image can benefit from image enhancement.

39. A method according to claim 27 wherein said feed back comprises said images are not suitable for a requested operation.

40. A system for manipulating and order of goods and/or services with respect to images provided in a digital format over a communication network, comprising:

an image provider having a server at a first location capable of being connected to a remote user computer at a second location over a communication network, said server allowing the receiving of a high resolution digital image file, a low resolution digital image file, and associated meta data of an image from said remote user computer, said meta data containing information about the high-resolution image file, said server having software for manipulating and for ordering of goods and/or services by said user on said remote user computer with respect to said image, said user using said software on said server with respect to said low resolution image file of said image at said first location, said service provider providing feed back to said user based on said meta data and said user using said software with respect to said low resolution image file prior to receiving said high resolution digital image file, transmitting said high resolution digital image file being transmitted to said server after completion of manipulation and/or ordering of goods by said user with respect to said low resolution digital image file for use in fulfillment of said goods and/or services.

41. A system according to claim 40 wherein said high resolution digital image file, low resolution digital image file and associated meta data is received from a digital device.

42. A system according to claim 41 wherein said digital device comprises a scanner for capturing a high resolution digital image file of said image.

43. A system according to claim 41 wherein said digital device comprises a digital memory device having a high resolution digital image file of said image.

44. A system according to claim 41 wherein said digital device comprises a camera memory device having a high resolution digital image file of said image.

45. A system according to claim 41 wherein said digital device comprises a CD having a high resolution digital image file of said image.

46. A system according to claim 41 wherein said digital device comprises a computer memory storage disc having a high resolution digital image file of said image.

47. A system according to claim 41 wherein said low resolution digital image file comprises an digital image having a resolution no greater than about 200 pixels by 150 pixels.

48. A system according to claim 41 wherein said high resolution digital image file comprises an digital image file having a resolution no less than about 780 pixels by 560 pixels.

49. A system according to claim 41 wherein said low resolution digital image file is no greater than about 50% of the high resolution digital image file.

50. A method for ordering digital image goods and/or services by a user from a remote service provider over a communication network with respect to an image provided as a low resolution digital file and a high resolution digital image file, said image captured by a user and having associated meta data, said meta data containing information about the high-resolution image file, comprising the steps of:

a. said remote image service provider receiving at a server said low resolution digital image file and said meta data of said image from said user over said communication network, said server having software for allowing manipulation of digital images;

b. said server allowing said user using said software provided by said server to manipulate said image and ordering of goods and/or services with respect to said image over a communication network;

c. said service provider providing feed back to said user based on said meta data and said user using said software; and

d. said service provider obtaining said high resolution digital image file after completing step c for use in fulfillment of said goods and/or services.

51. A method according to claim 50 wherein said communication network comprises the internet.

52. A method according to claim 50 wherein said using said software comprises viewing of said image on a display device using said low resolution digital image file.

53. A method according to claim 52 wherein said using said software further comprises manipulating of said image.

54. A method according to claim 52 wherein said using said software comprises placing an order for goods and/or services with respect to said image.

55. A method according to claim 50 wherein said remote image photoservice provider comprises a photofinisher.

56. A method according to claim 55 wherein said remote image photoservice provider fulfills said order.

57. A method according to claim 50 wherein said meta data comprises information about the image files.

58. A method according to claim 50 wherein said feed back comprises information regarding customizing processing that can be preformed.

59. A method according to claim 50 wherein said feed back comprises a warning the image data available is insufficient to produce an expected quality level for a requested product or service.

60. A method according to claim 50 wherein said feed back comprises a statement that the image can benefit from image enhancement.

61. A method according to claim 50 wherein said feed back comprises said images are not suitable for a requested operation.