Method and system for a photo selection service

• US 7,167,272 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Fredlund, John R., Chiu, Yat Fan
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT II, JEROME
• Application Number:
  US10/116,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20030189721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.2, 358/1.12, 358/1.16, 358/506, 358/504, 358/527, 358/530
• US Class Current: 358/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/005 Order systems, e.g. printsorter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method for facilitating orders for image services, including the steps of: storing at least one high resolution digital image file and an associated identifier on a photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device; storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier to a memory device; delivering the memory device to the user; selecting the at least one high resolution digital image file for display and at least one image service with user selection creating at least one image service order using the user selection software; the photofinisher receiving the at least one image service order from the user over a communication network; and fulfilling the at least one image service order using the at least one stored high resolution digital image file in the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to fulfill the at least one image service order.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating orders for image services, comprising the steps of:

a) manually providing an image bearing medium having at least one high resolution image from a user to a photofinisher without transmitting any images over an electronic network;

b) associating an identifier for the at least one high resolution image and storing the at least one high resolution image and the associated identifier on a photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device;

c) storing the at least one high resolution image and the associated identifier to a memory device;

d) delivering the memory device to the user;

e) selecting the at least one high resolution image for display and at least one image service with user selection software;

f) creating at least one image service order using the user selection software;

g) the photofinisher receiving the at least one image service order from the user over a communication network, wherein the user transmits the image service order, without any images, over the communication network,

and h) fulfilling the at least one image service order using the at least one stored high resolution image in the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to fulfill the at least one image service order.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein an address of the photofinisher is stored on the memory device.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein a valid order date is stored on the memory device.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein order enticements are stored on the memory device.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the user makes a selection at a location remote from the photofinisher.

6. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

i) receiving, at a print server, the at least one image service order from a telecommunications server networked to the user'"'"'s memory device; and

j) transmitting the at least one high resolution digital image file from the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to the print server.

7. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory device is selected from the group consisting of:

a CD, a DVD, a zip-disc, a memory card, a smart card, and a memory stick.

8. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

i) developing exposed film so as to develop at least one latent image on the film; and

j) scanning the developed film so as to obtain at least one high resolution image of the at least one latent image on the exposed film.

9. A method for facilitating orders for image services, comprising the steps of:

a) providing exposed film of a user to a photofinisher;

b) developing the exposed film so as to develop at least one latent image on the film;

c) scanning the developed film so as to obtain at least one high resolution digital image file of the at least one latent image on the exposed film;

d) associating an identifier for the at least one high resolution digital image file and storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier on a photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device;

e) storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier to a memory device;

f) delivering the memory device to the user;

g) selecting the at least one high resolution digital image file for display and at least one image service with user selection software;

h) creating at least one image service order using the user selection software;

i) the photofinisher receiving the at least one image service order from the user over a communication network;

j) fulfilling the at least one image service order using the at least one stored high resolution digital image file in the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to fulfill the at least one image service order;

k) receiving, at a print server, the at least one image service order from a telecommunications server networked to the user'"'"'s memory device, wherein an address of the photofinisher and a valid order date are stored on the user'"'"'s memory device; and

l) transmitting the at least one high resolution digital image file from the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to the print server.

10. A photo selection system for fulfilling an image service order, comprising:

a) a photofinishing high resolution image storage device that stores high resolution digital image files subsequent to a manual delivery of the high resolution digital image files to a photofinisher;

b) a memory device writer that stores, on a memory device, the high resolution digital image files for a consumer'"'"'s subsequent use; and

c) a telecommunications server that receives an image service order without any imaging file from the consumer and transmits the image service order to a print server, wherein the print server requests a transfer of the high resolution digital image files from the high resolution image storage device.

11. The photo selection system claimed in claim 10, wherein the telecommunications server receives the image service order from a data transmission device.

12. The photo selection system claimed in claim 10, wherein the memory device with the high resolution digital image files are given to the consumer for remote use.

13. The photo selection system claimed in claim 10, wherein the memory device includes selection software having a valid order period for creating the image service order.

14. The memory device claimed in claim 13, wherein the selection software includes an address of a photofinisher.

15. Memory device claimed in claim 13, wherein the selection software includes an image identifier that enables rapid identifying of corresponding high resolution digital image files stored at the photofinishing high resolution image storage device.

16. The memory device claimed in claim 13, wherein the selection software changes functionality upon a lapsed valid order period.

17. The memory device claimed in claim 13, wherein the selection software includes order enticements.

18. The memory device claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for obtaining the high resolution digital image files includes scanning developed film.

19. The memory device claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for obtaining the high resolution digital image files includes uploading digital images to a remote storage device.

20. The photo selection system claimed in claim 10, wherein the memory device is selected from the group consisting of:

a CD, a DVD, a zip-disc, a memory card, a smart card, and a memory stick.

21. A method for facilitating orders for image services, comprising the step of:

a) manually providing exposed film of a user to a photofinisher without transmitting any images over an electronic network;

b) developing the exposed film so as to develop at least one latent image on the exposed film;

c) scanning the developed film so as to obtain at least one high resolution digital image file of the at least one latent image on the exposed film;

d) associating an identifier for the at least one high resolution digital image tile and storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier on a photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device;

e) storing the at least one high resolution digital image file and the associated identifier to a memory device;

f) delivering the memory device to the user;

g) selecting at least one image service and at least one high resolution digital image file for display by zooming and cropping the at least one high resolution digital image file with user selection software;

h) creating an image service order using the user selection software;

i) the photofinisher receiving the image service order from the user over a communication network, wherein the user transmits the image service order without any images over the communication network; and

j) fulfilling the image service order using the at least one stored high resolution digital image tile in the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to fulfill the image service order.

22. The method claimed in claim 21, wherein the user selection software includes an image identifier that enables rapid identifying of corresponding high resolution digital image files stored at the photofinisher.

23. The method claimed in claim 21, wherein an address of the photofinisher is stored on the memory device.

24. The method claimed in claim 21, wherein a valid order date is stored on the memory device.

25. The method claimed in claim 21, wherein order enticements are stored on the memory device.

26. The method claimed in claim 21, wherein the user makes a selection at a location remote from the photofinisher.

27. A method for facilitating orders for image services, comprising the steps of:

a) manually providing an image bearing medium having at least one high resolution image from a user to a photofinisher without transmitting any images over an electronic network;

b) associating an identifier for the at least one high resolution image and storing the at least one high resolution image and the associated identifier on a photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device;

c) storing the at least one high resolution image and the associated identifier to a memory device;

d) delivering the memory device to the user;

e) selecting the at least one high resolution image for display and at least one image service with user selection software;

f) creating at least one image service order using the user selection software;

g) the photofinisher receiving the at least one image service order from the user over a communication network, wherein the user transmits the image service order, without any images whose resolution is useful for fulfilling the image service order, over the communication network; and

h) fulfilling the at least one image service order using the at least one stored high resolution image in the photofinisher'"'"'s image storage device to fulfill the at least one image service order.