Imaging system providing automated fulfillment of image photofinishing based on location

• US 7,535,492 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syniverse ICX LLC
• Original Assignee: LightSurf Technologies, Inc. (VeriSign, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bodnar, Eric O., Bodmer, Brian, Kirani, Shekhar, Tarantino, Mark, Kahn, Philippe R., Egli, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Nhan T
• Application Number:
  US10/190,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,513 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/207.1, 348/207.99, 348/14.02, 455/456.1, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 348/211.1
• 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 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00151 with selective access
• 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 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• 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 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data

Abstract

An imaging system is described that automates fulfillment of image photofinishing based on location. The system includes the following components: an imaging device capable of capturing a plurality of images; a local host, at least occasionally connected to the imaging device, that is capable of offloading images from the imaging device and capable of determining a current position based on GPS (Global Positioning System) information; and a remote (e.g., Web-based) host capable of receiving the plurality of images, capable of receiving a request for photofinishing the images, and capable of transmitting the plurality of images to a particular fulfiller for photofinishing, based on the current position.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a user with fulfillment of image photofinishing, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of images captured at an imaging device at a server-side image manager;

storing the plurality of images in one or more image servers coupled with the server-side image manager, wherein the plurality of images are associated with a corresponding user account in a metadata database maintained by the server-side image manager;

receiving a request for photofinishing that identifies one or more images of the stored plurality of images;

automatically determining at least one fulfiller that is at a location appropriate for the user based on data received simultaneously with the one or more images;

displaying a promotion, for the photofinishing service, that is based at least in part on both a current location and a given geographic region distinct from the current location where the one or more images were captured, and provides the promotion for photofinishing images; and

transmitting the identified one or more images from the one or more image servers, by the server-side image manager, to the selected fulfiller for photofinishing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said request is generated in response to an action by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said request is automatically generated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein photofinishing includes generating hardcopies of the images.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically determining at least one fulfiller includes:

determining at least one fulfiller that the user is near.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically determining at least one fulfiller includes:

determining a current location for the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of determining a current location for the user includes:

determining GPS (Global Positioning System) information for the current location of the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of determining GPS (Global Positioning System) information includes:

connecting the imaging device to a local host device capable of transmitting the images to another system; and

querying a GPS module that is in communication with the local host device for determining the current location of the user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a list of said at least one fulfiller to the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said selecting step includes:

receiving user selection of a particular fulfiller from the list.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting the images wirelessly.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting step includes:

transmitting the images from the imaging device to a corresponding user account on a Web server; and

transmitting the images from the Web server to the fulfiller.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically determining at least one fulfiller includes:

determining a longitude and latitude for the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining step includes:

querying a GPS (Global Positioning System) module for the longitude and latitude.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

uploading the captured images to a host device; and

during uploading, transmitting location information to the host device for the captured images, for indicating a location where each image was captured.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically determining at least one fulfiller that is at a location appropriate for the user includes:

determining current GPS (Global Positioning System) information; and

cross-referencing the determined GPS information against a database of fulfillers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the database stores a plurality of entries for different fulfiller locations, each entry including a central location and a radius.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting the plurality of images to the selected fulfiller for photofinishing includes:

connecting the imaging device to a local host; and

using the local host to wirelessly transmit the plurality of images from the imaging device.

19. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform the method of claim 1.

20. A computer readable medium storing a downloadable set of computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform the method of claim 1.

21. An imaging system with support for automated image photofinishing fulfillment, the system comprising:

an imaging device capable of capturing a plurality of images;

a local host, at least occasionally connected to the imaging device, that is capable of offloading images from the imaging device and capable of determining a current position;

a remote host capable of receiving the plurality of images and associated position information together at the same time, capable of storing the plurality of images in one or more image servers coupled with the remote host, wherein the plurality of images are associated with a corresponding user account in a metadata database maintained by the remote host, capable of receiving a request for photofinishing the images stored in the one or more image servers, and capable of transmitting the plurality of images from the one or more image servers to a particular fulfiller for photofinishing, based on the current position; and

wherein said local host includes a display for displaying a promotion, for a photofinishing service, that is based at least in part on both said current position and a given geographic region distinct from the current position where the plurality of images were captured, and provides the promotion for photofinishing image.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said imaging device comprises a digital camera.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host comprises a cellular phone.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host comprises a computing device.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA) device.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host is capable of wirelessly transmitting the captured images to the remote host.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host is capable of querying a GPS (Global Positioning System) module for determining position information.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said GPS module is housed within said local host.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said GPS module is connected externally to said local host.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein said particular fulfiller is selected based on determining fulfillers that are near said current position.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein said request for photofinishing occurs in response to user input.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein said request for photofinishing occurs automatically.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host includes a display for listing fulfillers that are located nearby.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said local host includes an input for receiving user selection of a particular fulfiller from the fulfillers that are displayed.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein said images are transmitted from the remote host to the particular fulfiller.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said images are transmitted via the Internet from the remote host to the particular fulfiller.

37. The system of claim 21, wherein said local host includes a display for indicating when photofinishing of the images is complete.

38. The system of claim 21, wherein said promotion for the photofinishing service provides a coupon or a discount.

39. A wireless digital camera device with fulfillment support, the device comprising:

an imaging module capable of capturing a plurality of images;

a module capable of wirelessly transferring the images from the device to a server side image manager for storage by an image server, coupled with the server side image manager, and associated with a corresponding user account maintained by the server-side image manager, the transferring including location information transferred simultaneously with the images;

an application logic module enabling selection of a particular fulfiller from a list of fulfillers, the list of fulfillers selected based at least in part on the location information, wherein the application logic module further enables a display of a promotion, for a photofinishing service, that is based at least in part on both a current location and a given geograrphic region distinct from the current location where one or more of the images were captured, and provides the promotion for photofinishing the images.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images is detachable from the device.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images includes cellular phone capability.

42. The device of claim 40, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images includes computing capability.

43. The device of claim 39, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images and said application logic module are housed within a unit that is detachable from the device.

44. The device of claim 40, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images is capable of functioning as a stand-alone personal digital assistant (PDA) device.

45. The device of claim 39, wherein the device facilitates wireless transfer to a particular fulfiller in response to user input.

46. The device of claim 39, wherein the device includes support for wireless uploading the images to a remote host, prior to transfer to the particular fulfiller.

47. The device of claim 39, wherein said module capable of wirelessly transferring the images from the device comprise a GPS-enabled (Global Positioning System-enabled) cellular phone that is detachable from the device.