Method and system for managing delivery of digital image files to image processing labs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- capturing an image into a digital camera;
storing the image as an image file in the digital camera;
receiving into the digital camera a user-instruction specifying a processing lab at which the image should be printed;
storing an indication of the specified processing lab as metadata in the image file; and
subsequently (i) reading the indication of the specified processing lab from the metadata in the image file, and (ii) responsively sending the image file over a data network to the specified processing lab for printing.
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Abstract
A mechanism is disclosed for managing delivery of digital image files to image processing labs for printing. The mechanism involves marking a digital image file with metadata that indicates a processing lab at which an image in the file should be printed. In turn, the mechanism involves reading the metadata indication from the file to identify the processing lab where the image should be printed and responsively sending the image file to that designated processing lab. Such digital image files could be sent to an image hub, which could then read the metadata indications from the files and responsively route the files to designated processing labs for printing.
46 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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capturing an image into a digital camera; storing the image as an image file in the digital camera; receiving into the digital camera a user-instruction specifying a processing lab at which the image should be printed; storing an indication of the specified processing lab as metadata in the image file; and subsequently (i) reading the indication of the specified processing lab from the metadata in the image file, and (ii) responsively sending the image file over a data network to the specified processing lab for printing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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capturing an image into a digital camera; storing the image as an image file in the digital camera; receiving a user-instruction specifying a processing lab at which the image should be printed; responsive to the user-indication, storing in the image file a metadata indication of the specified processing lab; sending the image file from the digital camera to an image hub, so that the image hub receives the image file, including the metadata indication of the specified processing lab, and thereby learns where the image should be printed; and reading from the image file the metadata indication of the specified processing lab, and responsively sending the image file from the image hub to the specified processing lab, to facilitate printing of the image at the specified processing lab. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A digital camera comprising:
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a lens for receiving light indicative of an image; data storage for storing a digital image file representative of the image; a processor; a network communication interface coupled with the processor; a user interface; and program instructions executable by the processor (i) to receive, from the user interface, a user-instruction specifying a processing lab at which the image should be printed and (ii) to responsively store in the digital image file a metadata indication of the specified processing lab, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to read the metadata indication of the specified processing lab from the digital image file and to responsively transmit the digital image file, via the network communication interface, to the specified processing lab. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification