System and method for communication of digital images generated from photographic film

• US 6,373,551 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Willand, Craig S., Manico, Joseph A., Bussey, Howard E., Mehra, Madhav
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Khaled
• Application Number:
  US09/800,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20010009454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 355/38, 355/40, 355/41, 355/77, 396/319, 396/321, 396/311, 396/511, 396/512
• US Class Current: 355/41
• 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 1/00151 with selective access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 to a particular document or image or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image

Abstract

A photographic system includes a photographic film having a unique identification code thereon. An identification tag is included with the photographic film; the identification tag bears a uniform resource locator that includes the unique identification code, and an associated password. The film is scanned after processing to generate a digital image and the unique identification code is associated with the digital image and stored in a digital storage device. A web server connected to the digital image storage device includes a resource identified by the uniform resource locator for accessing the digital image. A database accessible by the web server contains the unique identification code and the associated password wherein the resource is password protected and accessible by use of the password.

Claims

1. A photographic system, comprising:

a) a photographic film having a unique identification code thereon;

b) an identification tag included with the photographic film, the identification tag bearing a uniform resource locator that includes the unique identification code, and an associated password;

c) a scanner for scanning the film after processing to generate a digital image;

d) means for associating the unique identification code with the digital image;

e) a digital image storage device for storing the digital image;

f) a web server connected to the digital image storage device, having means for accessing the digital image using the uniform resource locator;

g) a database accessible by the web server having stored therein the unique identification code and the associated password; and

h) wherein the means for accessing the digital image is password protected and accessible by use of the password.

2. The photographic system claimed in claim 1, wherein the film is in a one-time-use camera.

3. The photographic system claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification tag is removably attached to packaging associated with the film.

4. The photographic system claimed in claim 1, wherein the film is contained in a cassette and the cassette also bears the unique identification code.

5. The photographic system claimed in claim 1, wherein the scanner includes means for automatically reading the unique identification code on the film.

6. The photographic system claimed in claim 1, wherein the film includes a magnetic layer and the unique identification code is stored in the magnetic layer.

7. The photographic system claimed in claim 1, wherein the unique identification code is exposed on the film as a latent image.

8. The photographic system claimed in claim 1, wherein the unique identification code is both human and machine readable.

9. The photographic system claimed in claim 4, wherein the cassette includes an integrated circuit and the unique identification code is stored in the integrated circuit.

10. A method of delivering photographic services comprising the steps of:

a) providing a photographic film having a unique identification code thereon;

b) providing an identification tag included with the photographic film, the identification tag bearing a uniform resource locator (URL) that includes the unique identification code, and an associated password;

c) exposing and processing the film

d) scanning the film after processing to generate a digital image;

e) associating the unique identification code with the digital image;

f) storing the digital image in a password protected URL access account accessible by using the URL and the password; and

g) accessing the digital images in the URL access account via the Internet using the URL and the password.

11. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein the film is in a one-time-use camera.

12. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein the identification tag is removably attached to packaging associated with the film.

13. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein the film is contained in a cassette and the cassette also bears the unique identification code.

14. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein the scanner includes means for automatically reading the unique identification code on the film.

15. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein the film includes a magnetic layer and the unique identification code is stored in the magnetic layer.

16. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein the unique identification code is exposed on the film as a latent image.

17. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein the unique identification code is both human and machine readable.

18. The method claimed in claim 13, wherein the cassette includes an integrated circuit and the unique identification code is stored in the integrated circuit.