Method for processing a digital image to satisfy a fulfillment request

• US 7,610,207 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zerotouchdigital Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zerotouchdigital Incorporated
• Inventors: Heins, Douglas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MISIASZEK, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/733,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20050131767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,148 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

The present invention enables a user to download digital photography images and fulfill digital photography requests through a variety of digital photography systems and methods. One digital photography system of the present invention includes a first computing environment for initiating digital photography order requests. The first computing environment receives a download of digital photography images from a user together with an order request from the user. Resident within the first computing environment is a provisioner related to the user, and storing user profile information, user personalization information, and user customization information. This provisioner utilized in fulfilling said order request in a manner personalized to said user. The digital photography system also includes a second computing environment for fulfilling the order request by way of an order fulfillment device.

Claims

1. A method for processing a digital image to satisfy a fulfillment request, comprising:

receiving the fulfillment request to perform image processing on the digital image;

wherein, the request is initiated by a user using a user device and the image processing results in generation of a modified digital image;

identifying the user that initiated the request via the user device;

generating a provisioner that determines, in an ad-hoc fashion, a set of networked computing devices that collaborate to satisfy the fulfillment request to generate the modified digital image;

in response to identifying the user, automatically performing an instantiation process, by each of the set of networked computing devices, to perform the image processing;

wherein each of the set of networked computing devices perform different functions in the image processing of the digital image, each mutually independent from each other.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, acquiring the digital image from the user device.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the multiple destinations includes an online web-services provider;

wherein, the online web-services provider includes an online album.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of networked computing devices communicate via a secure connection utilizing encryption for at least a portion of the performing the instantiation process.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of networked computing devices serve multiple purposes in performing one or more tasks of the performing the instantiation process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, the provisioner further comprises a user-customized setting specified by the identified user having a selection of multiple destinations to which the digital image is sent to satisfy the fulfillment request.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one system component of the set of networked computing devices is a server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, the user device is a mobile radiotelephone.

9. A method for processing a digital image to satisfy a fulfillment request, comprising:

receiving the fulfillment request to perform image processing on the digital image;

wherein, the request is initiated by a user using a user device and the image processing results in generation of a modified digital image;

identifying the user that initiated the request via the user device;

generating a provisioner that determines, in an ad-hoc fashion, a set of networked computing devices that collaborate to satisfy the fulfillment request to generate the modified digital image;

wherein, the provisioner further comprises a user-customized setting specified by the user having a selection of multiple destinations to which the digital image is sent to satisfy the fulfillment request;

initiating a process whereby each of the set of computing devices participate in performing the image processing and sending the modified digital image to each of the multiple destinations;

wherein, each of the set of networked computing devices perform different functions in the image processing of the digital image, each mutually independent from each other.

10. A method for processing a digital image to satisfy a fulfillment request, comprising:

receiving the fulfillment request to perform image processing on the digital image;

wherein, the fulfillment request is initiated by a user using a user device;

identifying the user that initiated the request via the user device;

generating a provisioner that determines, in an ad-hoc fashion, a set of networked computing devices that collaborate to perform the image processing;

performing a process, by each of the set of networked computing devices, to perform the image processing;

wherein, each of the set of networked computing devices perform different functions in the image processing of the digital image.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, the process is automatically performed in response to identifying the user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein, the image processing includes modification of the digital image.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein, the image processing includes enhancement of the digital image.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein, the image processing includes rotation of the digital image.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein, the image processing includes modifying a layout of the digital image.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein, the digital image is sent to an online web-services provider.

17. A method for processing a digital image to satisfy a fulfillment request, comprising:

receiving the fulfillment request to perform image processing on the digital image;

wherein, the fulfillment request is initiated by a user using a user device and the image processing results in generation of a modified digital image;

identifying the user that initiated the request via the user device;

generating a provisioner that determines, in an ad-hoc fashion, a set of networked computing devices that collaborate to satisfy the fulfillment request to generate the modified digital image;

wherein, the provisioner further comprises a user-customized setting specified by the user having a selection of multiple destinations to which the digital image is sent to satisfy the fulfillment request;

in response to identifying the user, automatically initiating a process whereby each of the set of networked computing devices participate in performing the image processing by performing different functions and sending the digital image to each of the multiple destinations.

18. A method for processing a digital image to satisfy a fulfillment request, comprising:

receiving the fulfillment request to perform image processing on the digital image;

wherein, the request is initiated by a user using a user device and the image processing results in generation of a modified digital image;

identifying the user that initiated the request via the user device;

generating a provisioner that determines, in an ad-hoc fashion, a set of networked computing devices that collaborate to satisfy the fulfillment request to generate the modified digital image;

automatically initiating a process whereby each of the set of computing devices participate in performing the image processing to generate the modified digital image;

wherein, each of the set of networked computing devices perform different functions in the image processing of the digital image.