Method and system for setting up a system for sharing images over a communication network between multiple users

• US 8,307,046 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Ortiz, Juan E., Dawson, Mark D., McIntyre, Dale F., Telek, Michael J., McBride, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Application Number:
  US10/174,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,793 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207, 709217-219, 715751-759
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• 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 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2183 the stored images being distributed among a plurality of different locations, e.g. among a plurality of users

Abstract

A method for setting up a system for sharing images among a plurality of users in a first image sequence. The method includes providing a plurality of digital images to a controlling computer having software for controlling the sharing of the digital images among a plurality of designated users in the first image sequence; providing a list of list of electronic addresses for the designated users; forwarding an invitation to the designated users for gaining access to the plurality of images over a communication network by the controlling computer; forwarding user software to the designated users that accept the invitation; and automatically forwarding the plurality of digital images in a predetermined sequence to the designated users that accepted the invitation.

Claims

1. A method for setting up a system for sharing images among a plurality of users in a first image sequence, comprising:

providing a plurality of digital images to a controlling computer having software for controlling the sharing of said plurality of digital images between a plurality of designated users in a first image sequence;

providing a list of electronic addresses of said plurality of designated users;

forwarding an invitation to said plurality of designated users in said list for gaining access to said plurality of digital images over a communication network by said controlling computer;

forwarding user software to said designated users that accept said invitation; and

automatically controlling the forwarding of said plurality of digital images in a predetermined sequence between said designated users that accepted said invitation by said controlling computer.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said designated users that receive said plurality of digital images having the ability to add digital images and/or comments with respect to plurality of digital images that can be seen by said designated users that view said plurality of digital images at a later point in time so as to create a new image sequence.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said designated users can, without viewing said plurality of digital images in said predetermined sequence, retain the ability to add a digital image to said plurality of digital images that can be seen by said designated users that view said plurality of digital images at a later point in time so as to create a new image sequence.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said digital images are displayed in a presentation format on a display device of a computer such that another task may be viewed and/or interacted with on said display device without interrupting the presentation format of the digital images.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said presentation format comprises a plurality of imagettes that are located along at least a portion of the peripheral area of said display device.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said controlling computer is operated by one of said plurality of users.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said controlling computer is operated by a service provider.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said sharing is initiated by an initiator.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said initiator controls what may be shared among said plurality of users.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said initiator and/or a user designated by the initiator may ban a user from said plurality of designated users.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said compilation of digital images corresponds to a selected theme.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein additional data may be associated with any of said images of said compilation.

13. A method according to claim 12 where said additional information is related to said associated image.

14. A method according to claim 13 where said additional data comprises sound.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein said compilation is presented to each of said users in a preselected pattern.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein said preselected pattern comprises scrolling said compilation of images on said display device being used by said user.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein said user display device is controlled by a computer, said compilation is scrolled across said display device.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said user display device is controlled by a computer, said compilation is presented atop another program being run by said computer.

19. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of said user making an inquiry with respect to one of said images of said compilation.

20. A program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a computer software program having instructions executable by the computer for sharing images over a communication network, said computer software program when loaded onto a computer will cause said computer to perform the steps of:

a. providing a plurality of digital images to a controlling computer having software for controlling the sharing of said plurality of digital images between a plurality of designated users in a first image sequence;

b. providing a list of electronic addresses to said plurality of designated users;

c. forwarding an invitation to said plurality of designated users for gaining access to said plurality of digital images over a communication network by said controlling computer;

d. forwarding user software to said designated users that accept said invitation; and

e. automatically controlling the forwarding of said plurality of digital images in a predetermined sequence between said designated users that accepted said invitation by said controlling computer.