Method for organizing digital images

• US 20040139398A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Sailus, Carl A. Testa, Dale F. Mcintyre, Joseph A. Manico, Kenneth D. Corby, Leanne M. Capozzi
• Inventors: McIntyre, Dale F., Manico, Joseph A., Capozzi, Leanne M., Sailus, Andrew, Testa, Carl A., Corby, Kenneth D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/517
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• 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 1/00135 Scanning of a photographic original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00145 from a remote location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00169 Digital image input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00196 Creation of a photo-montage, e.g. photoalbum H04N1/0019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A computer software product and a method of organizing and searching images. The digital images may be obtained from a plurality of hard copy prints that are digitally scanned. The digital image are analyzed in accordance with a predetermined criteria based on the information obtained by scanning of the images and categorizing in accordance with the predetermined criteria. At least one goods and/or services may be provided in accordance with the predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. A method of organizing a plurality of hard copy prints, each of said hard copy prints having an image thereon, comprising the steps of:

placing said hard copy prints into a desired order;

digitally scanning said hard copy prints in said desired order; and

providing a product or service wherein said plurality of digitized images are grouped in the order in which they have been scanned.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said product comprises an album page.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said product comprises a computer storage media having said images.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said storage media comprises a CD.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said product comprises a digital image file containing said image.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of scanning an instruction form which provides an instruction with respect to said images.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said instruction provides information as to grouping of said images.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein said instruction provides information about at least one of said images.

9. A method of organizing a plurality of images provided on a plurality of separate hard copy prints, comprising the steps of:

placing said hard copy prints into a desired order;

placing in front of at least one of said hard copy prints an instruction form capable of being scanned;

scanning said hard copy prints so as to obtain a digital record of said images on said hard copy prints;

scanning said instruction form so as to obtain information provided on said instruction form.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said instructions are followed with respect to said images.

11. A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of:

providing at least one good and/or service in accordance with said instructions.

12. A method according to claim 9 wherein said instruction is provided in the form of an icon.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said icon is provided on a sticker.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said icon is automatically associated by said scanner with respect to a particular instruction and/or information.

15. A method according to claim 9 wherein said instruction form includes at least one machine readable instruction.

16. A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of searching said images using sad information provided on said instruction form.