System and method for notification of digital images to be shared via a service provider

• US 8,069,212 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Johns, Mark, Mohsenin, Kamran
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEA, PHILIP J
• Application Number:
  US12/564,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 370/93.01
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• 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 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3209 of a telephone number

Abstract

A method and system for organizing and sharing digital images over a communication network wherein an image server at a service provider stores digital images for a customer which may have more two more electronic addresses which may receive e-mail. The server automatically forwarding all electronic mail having an address from one of the registered two or more electronic addresses to the primary electronic address that is received over a communication network. The e-mail includes a link to the share images and/or images folder.

Claims

1. A method for organizing and sharing digital images over a communication network to a single user, the single user having more than one electronic address, comprising the steps of:

providing an image server by a service provider for storing the digital images for the user, said user registering on the server two or more electronic addresses owned by the user which may receive e-mail for the user;

said server recording one of said two or more electronic addresses as a primary electronic address for the user in accordance with instructions from said user; and

said server automatically forwarding a plurality of e-mail, at least one of which is addressed to said primary electronic address and at least another of which is addressed to a second one of said registered two or more electronic addresses owned by the user, to said primary electronic address in one combined electronic message that is received over the communication network, said e-mail including a link to shared images and/or image folders.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said two or more electronic addresses each comprise an SMS address.

3. The method to claim 1 wherein said primary electronic address comprises an MMS address.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein one of said electronic addresses comprises a phone number.

5. A system for organizing and managing digital images over a communication network for a single user, the single user having more than one electronic address, comprising:

a server for storing the digital images for the user, for registering two or more electronic addresses owned by the user which are capable of receiving e-mail for the user over the communication network, for designating one of said two or more electronic addresses as a primary electronic address for the user, and for automatically forwarding in a single combined e-mail a plurality of electronic messages that include at least one electronic message addressed to said primary electronic address and at least another addressed to a second one of said two or more electronic addresses for use by said user, the e-mail including a link to the digital images and/or image folders stored on said server.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said communication network comprises the Internet.

7. A system according to claim 5 wherein said two or more electronic addresses each comprise an MMS address.

8. A system according to claim 5 wherein said primary electronic address comprises an SMS address.

9. A system according to claim 5 wherein said one of said two or more electronic addresses comprises an electronic address of a phone.