Method for organizing digital images

• US 7,260,587 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: McIntyre, Dale F., Manico, Joseph A., Testa, Carl A., Sailus, Andrew, Corby, Kenneth D., Capozzi, Leanne M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US10/744,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20040139398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/1, 707/100, 715500-507, 715/517, 358/505, 358/506, 705/26, 705/27, 355/40, 382/181, 382/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 automatically organizing digital images obtained from a plurality of hard copy prints, each of said hard copy prints having an image thereon, comprising the steps of:

digitally scanning a plurality of hard copy prints that have been grouped into one or more categories, each category separated by an associated machine readable instruction form as to obtain a digital file of each of said images and digitally associating said one or more categories with said digital images in accordance with said associated machine readable instruction form executed by a computer;

storing said digital images files and associated categories on a digital storage medium; and

producing a product incorporating images from one or more of said categories as requested by a customer.

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 providing instructions on said machine readable instruction form relating to said ordering of said product.

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

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

9. A method according to claim 1 further comprising providing a product or service created from said at least one of the plurality of modified digital image files.

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

scanning a plurality of hard copy prints that have been provided in a desired order and having at least one instruction form place in association with a ground of said plurality of hard copy prints so as to obtain a digital record of said images on said hard copy prints and a digital record of information provided on said instruction form; and

combining said digital record of said images with said digital record of said information provided on said instruction form to produce a plurality of modified digital image files.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said instructions and modified digital images files are accessed by a computer wherein said instructions are implemented by said computer with respect to said images.

12. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of:

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

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein said instruction is provided in the form of an icon.

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

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

16. A method according to claim 10 wherein said instruction form includes at least one machine readable instruction.

17. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of searching said images using said information provided on said instruction form.

18. A method of automatically organizing digital images obtained from a plurality of hard copy prints, comprising the steps of:

obtaining hard copy prints from a plurality of different sources, each of said hard copy prints having an image thereon;

digitally scanning a plurality of hard copy prints each having an image thereon wherein said plurality of hard copy prints have been grouped together into one or more categories, each category being associated with an instruction form to create digital image files of said images and obtaining associated category information for said digital images in accordance with said machine readable instruction executed by a computer;

automatically grouping said digital image files into said categories in accordance with said instruction; and

storing the digital image files and said associated category on a digital storage medium.