Remote processing and distribution of images in kiosks

• US 20020078458A1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Furon, Olivier, Vau, Jean-Marie
• Application Number:
  US10/021,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078458A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/75
• 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 1/00172 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 1/00177 from a user terminal, e.g. personal computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence

Abstract

A method of distributing images, linked to the use of telematics. The method permits the user of a transport vehicle to electronically issue a work order to a photographic kiosk from a multimedia console contained in a vehicle. The method includes sending an order electronically and enhancing it with navigation parameters especially concerning the vehicle'"'"'s geographic position. The user is informed automatically of the site of the kiosk located approximately on this route and compatible with the parameterized data.

Claims

1. A method of sending a photographic order from a transport vehicle equipped with a multimedia device that comprises an image display screen, the method comprising the steps of:

transferring at least one original digital image from a digital image database to the multimedia device;

choosing the at least one original digital image from the multimedia device;

automatically accessing on the multimedia device navigation parameters reflective of a geographic location of the transport vehicle;

transmitting from the multimedia device to a processing center, a list of the navigation parameters and the photographic order, the photographic order including information on a specific form and type of work to be executed from the chosen at least one original digital image;

automatically compiling the navigation parameters and the photographic order transmitted, to deliver on the screen of the multimedia device a list of fixed kiosks, compatible with the list of the navigation parameters transmitted to the processing center;

choosing on the multimedia device, from the list of fixed kiosks delivered to the screen of the multimedia device, a preferred kiosk; and

automatically sending from the multimedia device to the preferred kiosk, a work order for the work to be executed in the specific form on the at least one chosen original digital image.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein, after the step of sending the photographic order to be executed to the processing center, an invoicing is done automatically from the processing center, by debiting an electronic account of a user.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a system of voice recognition integral with the multimedia device orally alerts a user as soon as the work to be executed is available in the preferred kiosk.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the chosen at least one original digital image is transferred from an image capture device to the vehicle'"'"'s multimedia device.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the image capture device is a digital camera.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the image capture device is a portable terminal.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one chosen original image is transferred from an image server to the vehicle'"'"'s multimedia device.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the original digital image from a digital image database is simply consulted on the multimedia device without transferring the said image to the said multimedia device.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein digital data, for the, at least one, original digital image chosen and used as a basis for the work to be executed, is transferred directly from a server to the processing center.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the navigation parameters transmitted by the multimedia device to the processing center comprises, in addition to the specific form of the type of work to be executed on the, at least one, original digital image chosen, at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s geographic position at a moment of transmitting the navigation parameters to the processing center, a road route planned by a user at the moment of transmitting the navigation parameters to the processing center, a level of fuel remaining in the vehicle and an average consumption recorded of the vehicle at the moment of transmitting the parameters to the processing center.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the work order for the at least one chosen original digital image is reconstituted at the preferred kiosk in a visual form affixed to a material medium.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the work order for the at least one chosen original digital image is reconstituted at the preferred kiosk in the form of a photographic paper medium.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the work order for the at least one chosen original digital image is reconstituted at the preferred kiosk in the form of a compact disk.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the work order for the at least one chosen original digital image is reconstituted at the preferred kiosk on a portable terminal equipped with a display screen.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the preferred kiosk is placed in a service station.