System and method for providing a configured camera, image products, and services

• US 8,612,308 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• 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): LEVINE, ADAM L
• Application Number:
  US13/238,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20120054064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 272
• US Class Current: 705/26.5
• 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.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, using a processor, a configuration selection for a digital camera;

receiving a service plan selection in association with the digital camera;

customizing the digital camera based on the configuration selection, wherein the customized digital camera is sent to a user;

storing, in a computer database, information identifying the digital camera and the associated service plan;

receiving digital images captured by the digital camera in accordance with the associated service plan, wherein the digital images captured by the digital camera are stored on an image storage device at a location remote from the digital camera; and

billing the user of the digital camera in accordance with a designated periodic usage fee included in the selected service plan.

2. The method to of claim 1, wherein the digital images captured by the digital camera are received over a communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the customizing the digital camera comprises customizing a firmware of the digital camera.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the customized firmware is downloaded to the digital camera.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the customized firmware comprises personal digital data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the personal digital data comprises information selected by the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized digital camera captures images based at least on the configuration selection.

8. A system comprising one or more processors, the processors configured to:

receive a configuration selection for a digital camera;

receive a service plan selection in association with the digital camera;

customize the digital camera based on the configuration selection, wherein the customized digital camera is sent to a user;

store, in a computer database, information identifying the digital camera and the associated service plan;

receive digital images captured by the digital camera in accordance with the associated service plan, wherein the digital images captured by the digital camera are stored on an image storage device at a location remote from the digital camera; and

bill the user of the digital camera in accordance with a designated periodic usage fee included in the selected service plan.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the digital images captured by the digital camera are received over a communication network.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the customizing the digital camera comprises customizing a firmware of the digital camera.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the customized firmware is downloaded to the digital camera.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the customized firmware comprises personal digital data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the personal digital data comprises information selected by the user.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the customized digital camera captures images based at least on the configuration selection.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor, that when executed by the processor perform the instructed steps, said instructions comprising:

instructions to receive a configuration selection for a digital camera;

instructions to receive a service plan selection in association with the digital camera;

instructions to customize the digital camera based on the configuration selection, wherein the customized digital camera is sent to a user;

instructions to store, in a computer database, information identifying the digital camera and the associated service plan;

instructions to receive digital images captured by the digital camera in accordance with the associated service plan, wherein the digital images captured by the digital camera are stored on an image storage device at a location remote from the digital camera; and

instructions to bill the user of the digital camera in accordance with a designated periodic usage fee included in the selected service plan.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the digital images captured by the digital camera are received over a communication network.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable of claim 15, wherein the customizing the digital camera comprises customizing a firmware of the digital camera.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable of claim 17, wherein the customized firmware is downloaded to the digital camera.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable of claim 17, wherein the customized firmware comprises personal digital data.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable of claim 15, wherein the customized digital camera captures images based at least on the configuration selection.