Method for using customer images in a promotional product

• US 7,177,484 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Fredlund, John R., Manico, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KANJIBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US10/375,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 382/284, 382/305, 382/312, 345/630, 345/641, 345634-637, 345/629, 705/23, 705/26
• US Class Current: 382/284
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3871 the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals

Abstract

A method of offering a customized promotional product to a user. The method comprises the steps of: accessing a user-supplied digital image at a digital imaging device; providing a digital image representative of a promotional product, the promotional product digital image having a predetermined image location adapted to receive at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image; generating a modified user image by modifying the at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image to simulate an application of the at least a portion of the user-supplied image to the promotional product; generating a customized digital image representative of the customized promotional product, the customized digital image comprising the promotional product digital image having the modified user image disposed within the predetermined image location; and displaying the customized digital image to the user on a display of the digital imaging device.

Claims

1. A method of offering a customized promotional product to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing a user-supplied digital image at a digital imaging device;

providing a digital image representative of a promotional product, the promotional product digital image having a predetermined image location adapted to receive at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image;

generating a modified user image by modifying the at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image to simulate an application of the at least a portion of the user-supplied image to the promotional product;

generating a customized digital image representative of the customized promotional product, the customized digital image comprising the promotional product digital image having the modified user image disposed within the predetermined image location; and

displaying the customized digital image to the user on a display of the digital imaging device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of customized digital images are displayed, each representative of a different customized promotional product.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of providing an order menu proximate the customized digital image for placing a product order for the customized promotional product.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a content of the user-supplied image;

categorizing the detected content to determine a category; and

selecting the promotional product from a plurality of promotional products within the category.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital imaging device comprises a computer for processing a request for an imaging service and/or product, and the step of displaying the customized digital image is accomplished when the computer is processing the request.

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

generating a plurality of views of the customized digital image representative of the customized promotional product; and

displaying the plurality of views of the customized digital image to the user on the display of the digital imaging device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the customized digital image to the user on a display of the digital imaging device in a scene.

8. A method of placing an order for a customized product, the method comprising the steps of:

accessing a user-supplied digital image at a digital imaging device;

providing a digital image representative of a promotional product, the promotional product digital image having a predetermined image location adapted to receive at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image;

generating a modified user image by modifying the at least a portion of the user-supplied digital image to simulate an application of the at least a portion of the user-supplied image to the promotional product;

generating a customized digital image representative of the customized product, the customized digital image comprising the promotional product digital image having the modified user image disposed within the predetermined image location;

displaying the customized digital image to the user on a display of the digital imaging device;

providing a product order menu adapted to place a product order for the customized product;

receiving the product order for the customized product;

generating the customized product; and

delivering the customized product.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a plurality of customized digital images are displayed, each representative of a different customized promotional product.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of providing an order menu proximate the customized digital image for placing a product order for the customized promotional product.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a content of the user-supplied image;

categorizing the detected content to determine a category; and

selecting the promotional product from a plurality of promotional products within the category.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the digital imaging device comprises a computer for processing a request for an imaging service and/or product, and the step of displaying the customized digital image is accomplished when the computer is processing the request.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of views of the customized digital image representative of the customized promotional product; and

displaying the plurality of views of the customized digital image to the user on the display of the digital imaging device.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of displaying the customized digital image to the user on a display of the digital imaging device in a scene.