System and Method for Extracting a Plurality of Images from a Single Scan

• US 20100299621A1
• Filed: 05/20/2009
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Making Everlasting Memories, LLC (Service Corporation International)
• Original Assignee: Making Everlasting Memories, LLC (Service Corporation International)
• Inventors: Becknell, Shawna M., Evans, Benjamin M., Johnson, Jeffrey J., Piehler, Michael M., Sefton, Steven C., Mindrum, G. Scott
• Application Number:
  US12/468,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20100299621A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00795 Reading arrangements details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00816 Determining the reading area, e.g. eliminating reading of margins
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2038 lying in the same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3873 defined only by a limited number of coordinate points or parameters, e.g. corners, centre; for trimming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0098 User intervention not otherwise provided for, e.g. placing documents, responding to an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0416 Performing a pre-scan
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/043 Viewing the scanned area

Abstract

A user interface is presented to a remote user via a network, such as through a computer. A preview command is received from the user. A scanning process (e.g., scanning multiple photographs simultaneously) is initiated at a scanner coupled with the user'"'"'s computer, in response to receiving the preview command. The act of initiating is performed from a location remote from the user. A single scanned image is obtained through the scanner. A plurality of crop selections are received from the user, all of which are made within the single scanned image. Several regions within multiple scanned photographs may be selected for cropping. A plurality of image files are created based on the crop selections. The plurality of image files may be created in response to the user clicking just once on a button presented by the user interface.

Claims

1. A method of processing images, the method comprising:

(a) presenting a user interface to a remote user via a network, wherein the remote user has a computer configured to display the user interface;

(b) receiving a preview command from the user;

(c) initiating a scanning process at a scanner coupled with the user'"'"'s computer, wherein the act of initiating a scanning process is performed in response to receiving the preview command, wherein the act of initiating is performed from a location remote to the user;

(d) receiving a single scanned image obtained through the scanner;

(e) receiving a plurality of crop selections from the user, wherein the crop selections are made within the single scanned image by the user; and

(f) creating a plurality of image files based on the crop selections.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is the internet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface is presented through a web browser on the user'"'"'s computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface has a preview button, wherein the preview command is initiated by the user clicking on the preview button.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of receiving the single scanned image comprises uploading the scanned image from the user'"'"'s computer via the network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the act of initiating the scanning process and the act of uploading the single scanned image are both performed in response to a single click of the user on the preview button.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the crop selections are defined by a plurality of boxes drawn by the user within the single scanned image, wherein the boxes surround different portions of the single scanned image.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the created image files provide respective views of the portions of the scanned image within the boxes drawn by the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface has an image extraction button, wherein the act of creating a plurality of image files is performed in response to a single click on the image extraction button.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the plurality of image files on a storage device remote from the user'"'"'s computer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the single scanned image includes a plurality of photographs.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the crop selections are made within each photograph of the plurality of photographs.

13. A method of processing images, the method comprising:

(a) viewing a user interface on a computer, wherein the user interface is presented by a remote computer system via a network;

(b) positioning one or more photographs relative to a scanner;

(c) initiating a preview command through the user interface, wherein the initiated preview command causes the scanner to scan the one or more photographs as a scanned image;

(d) transmitting the scanned image to the remote computer system;

(e) making a plurality of crop selections within the scanned image through the user interface; and

(f) initiating creation of a plurality of image files based on the crop selections, wherein the act of initiating creation of a plurality of image files is performed after the plurality of crop selections have been made.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the network is the internet, wherein the act of viewing the user interface is performed using a web browser.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the user interface has a preview button, wherein the act of initiating a preview command comprises clicking on the preview button.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of making a plurality of crop selections comprises drawing a plurality of boxes within the scanned image through the user interface.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the scanner comprises a flatbed scanner, wherein the act of positioning one or more photographs relative to a scanner comprises positioning a plurality of hard copy photographs on the flatbed scanner.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the user interface has an image extraction button, wherein the act of initiating creation of a plurality of image files comprises clicking on the image extraction button, wherein the plurality of image files are created in response to a single click on the image extraction button.

19. A system for processing images, the system comprising:

(a) a processor'"'"'s computer system, wherein the processor'"'"'s system is remote from a user'"'"'s computer, wherein the processor'"'"'s system is in communication with the user'"'"'s computer via a network; and

(b) a user interface, wherein the user interface is provided by the processor'"'"'s system and is viewable through the user'"'"'s computer, wherein the user interface comprises;

(i) a first user input feature operable to initiate scanning of photographs by a scanner coupled with the user'"'"'s computer and uploading of a scanned image from the scanner to the processor'"'"'s computer system,

(ii) a second user input feature operable to permit the user to make a plurality of crop selections within the scanned image, and

(iii) a third user input feature operable to cause a plurality of image files to be created in accordance with the plurality of crop selections and stored on the processor'"'"'s computer system.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor'"'"'s computer system comprises a logic configured to create all of the plurality of image files to be created from the scanned image in response to a single actuation of the third input feature by the user.