System and method for managing images over a communication network

• US 7,398,319 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Fredlund, John R., McIntyre, Dale F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter; Kenneth R
• Application Number:
  US11/627,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20070118536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 709/229, 709223-225, 709/227, 709216-219, 726 2- 8, 726/21, 726 26- 30
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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 1/0014 via e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00151 with selective access
• 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 1/0019 on souvenir-type products or the like, e.g. T-shirts or mugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4426 involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 to a particular document or image or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• 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 2201/3246 of data relating to permitted access or usage, e.g. level of access or usage parameters for digital rights management [DRM] related to still images

Abstract

A system, method, and software product for managing digital images. A server is provided for controlling access to a user image storage device having at least one digital image file of an image. The server has a communication device capable of communicating with a plurality of user computers wherein at least one of the user computers having the at least one digital image file. A software program permits automatic controlled access to the at least one digital image file on the user computer by a third party and monitors access by the third party without any further authorization by the user.

Claims

1. A system for managing digital images comprising:

a plurality of user computers each having an image storage device having at least one image file of an image, said user computers identifying at least one authorized third party that may have access to said at least one image file; and

a server for allowing controlled access to said at least one image file stored on said user image storage device, said server capable of communicating with said plurality of user computers over a communication network and receiving an identification of the at least one authorized third party that may have access to the stored image file, said server controlling access to said at least one image file on said user computer when said at least one authorized third party places a request to said server to access said at least one image file whereby said server first accesses said at least one image file on said user computer and then forwards said at least one image file to said third party without any further authorization by said user, wherein said identification of said at least one authorized third party includes providing a low resolution image file of said image to said at least one authorized third party.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one image file includes an electronic address for identifying that said image came from said user computer.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said third party pays an access fee for use and/or down loading of said image file.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said request of said third party comprises using said low resolution image for requesting access to a high resolution image file of said image.

5. A method for controlling access to digital image files on a user computer by third parties over a communication network by server, comprising the steps of:

receiving authorization by said server from said user identifying a third party that may have access to digital images stored on said user computer, including providing a low resolution image file of said image to said third party;

allowing controlled access by said server to said digital images stored on said user computer, said server capable of communicating with a plurality of user computers;

controlling access to said at least one digital image file stored on said user computer by said server when said server receives a request from said authorized third party to have access to said at least one image file whereby said server first accesses said at least one image file and then forwards said at least one image file to said third party without any further authorization by said user.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said request of said third party comprises using said low resolution image for requesting access to a high resolution image file of said image.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein said third party pays an access fee for use and/or down loading of said image file.

8. A computer software product for managing at least one digital image file stored on a user computer, said software product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon which when loaded into a server causes the server to perform the following steps of:

receiving authorization by said server from said user computer, said authorization received over a network and identifying a third party that is authorized to access said at least one digital image file stored on said user computer, said authorization including a low resolution version of said at least one digital image file;

allowing controlled access by said server to said at least one digital image file stored on said user computer, said server capable of communicating with a plurality of other user computers;

controlling access to said at least one digital image file stored on said user computer by said server when said server receives a request, including said low resolution version of said at least one digital image file, from said authorized third party to access said at least one digital image file, whereby said server first accesses said at least one digital image file and then forwards said at least one digital image file to said third party without receiving any further authorization by said user computer.