Interactive image activation and distribution system and associated methods

• US 7,966,223 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Freeze Frame, LLC
• Original Assignee: Clifford R. David
• Inventors: David, Clifford R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US11/691,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,547 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/50 of still image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• 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 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• 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 1/00143 Ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00169 Digital image input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00193 to a portable storage medium, e.g. a read-writable compact disk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

A method for distributing a digital image of a customer includes receiving a request from a customer to a human representative (i.e., a “roving” photographer) for an image to be taken of the customer at a site. An image of the customer is captured by the “roving” photographer at the site in response to the received request. The image is transmitted to a remote processor. An electronic request is received from the customer to view the transmitted image, and the image is transmitted from the remote processor to the customer'"'"'s communication device. If the customer decides to purchase the image, a transaction is finalized by receiving payment data from the customer, and the final image is provided to the customer. A commission is then paid to the photographer for the transaction. In another embodiment, the cost is at least partially subsidized by advertisement pushed to the customer'"'"'s communication device.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a digital image of a customer comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from a customer to a human representative for an image to be taken of the customer at a site;

capturing an image of the customer at the site in response to the received request;

transmitting the image to a remote processor;

receiving an electronic request from the customer to view the transmitted image;

transmitting the image and an advertisement from the remote processor to a customer communication device;

receiving compensation from a sponsor of the advertisement; and

if the customer decides to keep the image, providing the image to the customer and compensating the human representative for the transaction.

2. The digital image distribution method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step, following the image-request-receiving step, of providing the customer with an identifier code, and wherein:

the step of transmitting the image to the remote processor comprises transmitting the image and the identifier code to the remote processor; and

the electronic-request-receiving step includes receiving the identifier code from the customer and matching the image with the identifier code.

3. The digital image distribution method recited in claim 2, wherein the identifier-code-providing step comprises providing the customer with an indicia-bearing element including the identifier code and information on how to request to view the image from the remote processor.

4. The digital image distribution method recited in claim 3, wherein the indicia-bearing element comprises a card having imprinted thereon a barcode identifier, and wherein the identifier-code-transmitting step comprises reading the bar code electronically and transmitting the electronically read barcode to the remote processor.

5. The digital image distribution method recited in claim 2, wherein the identifier code is associated with the human representative, and further comprising the step, prior to the compensating step, of matching the identifier code with the human representative.

6. The digital image distribution method recited in claim 1, wherein the image-capturing step comprises capturing a plurality of images, and wherein the step of transmitting the image to a remote processor comprises transmitting the plurality of images to the remote processor in a batch.

7. The digital image distribution method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the image to a remote processor comprises transmitting a first image comprising a reduced-data-size image to the remote processor first, and then queuing a second image comprising a full-data image for subsequent transmittal to the remote processor.

8. The digital image distribution method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the image to the customer communication device comprises transmitting a proof image to a mobile personal communication device.

9. The digital image distribution method recited in claim 8, wherein the image-providing step comprises at least one of transmitting the image to a customer communication device and transmitting the image for printing to a commercial site for retrieval by the customer.

10. The digital image distribution method recited in claim 1, wherein:

the image-capturing step comprises capturing a high-definition video image of the customer;

the step of transmitting the image to the customer communication device comprises transmitting at least a portion of the video image; and

further comprising the steps of;

permitting the customer to step through the video image portion frame by frame; and

permitting the customer to select one or more frame for purchase.

11. The digital image distribution method recited in claim 10, wherein the advertisement comprises a video clip.

12. The digital image distribution method recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of editing a pre-created video clip into the captured image, and wherein the image-providing step comprises providing the customer with a composite video image of the captured image and the pre-created video clip.