System and method for facilitating imaging services using a service identification number stored in an image capture device

• US 8,589,241 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wolcott, Dana W., McIntyre, Dale F., Parulski, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayat, Bradley B
• Application Number:
  US11/613,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20070103723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,526 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/26.1, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• 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 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4092 Image resolution transcoding, e.g. by using client-server architectures
• 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 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00161 Viewing or previewing
• 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 1/00798 Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device or according to a measured quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A system and method for obtaining photographic products and/or services comprises bundling image capture and printing technologies into products and/or services that are paid for by a consumer with monthly or yearly subscription fees. The system and method involves selecting a camera and selecting a photographic products/service plan which designates photographic products and/or services which are to be associated with the selected camera. The system and method gives the consumer the option of selecting a specific camera from a menu of cameras, and a specific photographic product/service plan which is to be associated with the selected camera from a product/service menu. As a further option, the consumer can customize his/her product/service plan in accordance with his/her preference. The plan can provide for products and/or services for images captured and/or film exposed by the camera for a predetermined amount of time at a predetermined fee. At the end of the plan, the consumer could have the option of returning the camera, exchanging the camera for a different camera, or keeping the camera at no cost or for a reduced price. The photographic products and/or services provided by the plan could be products and/or services such as film developing, printing, image products, scanning, photo CDs, image storage, etc.

Claims

1. A system for providing image services, comprising:

an image capture device comprising;

an image sensor configured for capturing images;

an image memory configured for storing the captured images;

a firmware memory having stored thereon a service identification number, wherein the service identification number is stored in a portion of the firmware that is only modifiable by the provider server; and

a network interface connected to a communication network for electronically transferring over the communication network the stored images and the service identification number, wherein the transferring comprises the image capture device automatically accessing the firmware memory and the image memory to automatically retrieve the captured images; and

an input unit coupled to the communication network for electronically communicating customer billing information to a preselected provider, the billing information corresponding to the service identification number stored in the firmware memory of the image capture device;

a provider server connecting to the communication network and configured to electronically receiving receive the transferred images, the customer billing information and the service identification number, wherein the provider server uses the service identification number to access a service account that the provider server associates with the service identification number, wherein the service account comprises an electronic database that includes information indicative of the preselected image service to be applied by the provider server to received images associated with the service identification number, and wherein the provider server automatically applies the preselected image service to the received images together with the service identification number, and facilitates payment for the applied preselected image service using the customer billing information in the service account.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the network interface is capable of connecting to the communication network through a personal computer.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the network interface is capable of connecting to the communication network through a dedicated kiosk.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image service comprises emailing the transferred images to one or more email addresses.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image service comprises printing the transferred images.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image service comprises electronic storage of the transferred images.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the electronic storage is provided for a predetermined period of time.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image capture device is leased to the customer for a predetermined period of time.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the lease includes a predetermined amount of imaging services.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image capture device is a digital camera.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the provider server customizes the image capture device by programming the firmware memory with the service identification number.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the input unit provides a menu of user selectable features and wherein the provider server customizes the image capture device by programming the firmware memory responsive to at least one feature selected by a user from the menu.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the firmware memory is programmed to provide customer selected border templates.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the firmware memory is programmed to provide customer selected sounds.

15. A system for capturing images and providing image services, comprising:

a self-contained image capture device comprising;

an image sensor for capturing images;

a firmware memory having stored thereon a service identification number, wherein the service identification number is stored in a portion of the firmware that is only modifiable by the provider server; and

a network interface connected to a communication network for electronically transferring over the communication network the captured images with the service identification number, and

a provider server connected to the communication network and configured to electronically receive the transferred images, customer billing information and the service identification number, wherein the provider server uses the service identification number to access a service account that the provider server associates with the service identification number, wherein the service account comprises an electronic database that includes information indicative of a preselected image service user to be applied by the provider server to received images associated with the service identification number, and wherein, in response to receiving the captured images with the service identification number, the provider server applies the preselected image service to the images and facilitates payment for the applied preselected image service using the customer billing information in the service account.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the image capture device is capable of automatically accessing the firmware memory and the image memory to automatically retrieve and forward over the communication network the service identification number and the captured digital images to the provider server.

16. A system for providing image services, comprising:

an image capture device comprising;

an image memory configured for storing digital images; and

a firmware memory having stored thereon a service identification number, wherein the service identification number is stored in a portion of the firmware memory that is only modifiable by a provider server;

a network interface connecting the image capture device to a communication network to electronically transfer over the communication network the digital images with the service identification number, and an input unit coupled to the communication network for electronically communicating customer billing information to a provider, the billing information corresponding to the service identification number stored in the firmware memory of the image capture device;

the provider server connecting to the communication network and configured to electronically receive the transferred digital images, the customer billing information and the service identification number, wherein the provider server uses the service identification number to access a service account that the provider server associates with the service identification number, wherein the service account comprises an electronic database that includes information indicative of a preselected image service to be applied by the provider server to received digital images associated with the service identification number, and wherein, in response to receiving the captured images with the service identification number, the provider server applies the preselected image service to the digital images received and facilitates payment for the applied preselected image service using the customer billing information in the service account.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the, wherein the image capture device is capable of automatically accessing the firmware memory and the image memory to automatically retrieve and forward over the communication network the service identification number and the captured digital images to the provider server.