U.S. patent application number 13/238725 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-01 for system and method for providing image products and/or services.
Invention is credited to Dale F. McIntyre, Kenneth A. Parulski, Dana W. Wolcott.
Application Number | 20120054062 13/238725 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38003431 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120054062 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wolcott; Dana W. ; et
al. |
March 1, 2012 |
System And Method For Providing Image Products And/Or Services
Abstract
A system and method for obtaining photographic products and/or
services comprises bundling image capture and printing technologies
into products and/or services that are paid for by a consumer with
monthly or yearly subscription fees. The system and method involves
selecting a camera and selecting a photographic products/service
plan which designates photographic products and/or services which
are to be associated with the selected camera. The system and
method gives the consumer the option of selecting a specific camera
from a menu of cameras, and a specific photographic product/service
plan which is to be associated with the selected camera from a
product/service menu.
Inventors: |
Wolcott; Dana W.; (Hoeoye
Falls, NY) ; McIntyre; Dale F.; (Rochester, NY)
; Parulski; Kenneth A.; (Rochester, NY) |
Family ID: |
38003431 |
Appl. No.: |
13/238725 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11549733 |
Oct 16, 2006 |
8046270 |
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13238725 |
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09574985 |
May 19, 2000 |
7158945 |
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11549733 |
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09534471 |
Mar 24, 2000 |
7587337 |
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09574985 |
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60137078 |
Jun 2, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0621 20130101;
H04N 1/00132 20130101; H04N 1/00148 20130101; H04N 2201/0084
20130101; G06Q 30/0601 20130101; G06Q 30/0633 20130101; G06Q 30/06
20130101; H04N 1/00161 20130101; G06Q 30/0641 20130101; H04N
2101/00 20130101; H04N 1/00172 20130101; G06T 3/4092 20130101; G06Q
40/02 20130101; H04N 1/00145 20130101; H04N 1/0097 20130101; H04N
1/00137 20130101; H04N 1/00798 20130101; H04N 1/00188 20130101;
G06Q 30/0603 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/26.5 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20120101
G06Q030/06 |
Claims
1. A method of providing photographic products and/or photographic
services, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a selection
of a digital camera among a selection of digital cameras; selecting
a photographic product and/or photographic service plan from a menu
of photographic product and/or photographic service plans for a
predetermined time period at a predetermined fee; associating the
selected digital camera with the selected photographic product
and/or photographic service plan and creating a product and/or
photographic service plan account indicative thereof; entering said
product and/or photographic service plan account into a computer
database to maintain a record of photographic products and/or
photographic services to be provided with respect to images
captured by said selected digital camera in accordance with the
selected photographic product and/or photographic service plan for
said predetermined period of time; and automatically accessing said
computer database when images are received from said selected
digital camera and providing the associated photographic product or
photographic service according to the photographic product and/or
photographic service plan associated with the selected digital
camera.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise electronically
storing images captured by said selected camera for a predetermined
period of time.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise providing a
predetermined number of prints of images captured by said selected
camera.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said selected digital
camera is a cell camera.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise providing an image
product associated with an image captured by said selected digital
camera.
6. A method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of
updating the product and/or photographic service plan account in
the computer database as said photographic products and/or
photographic services, in accordance with the selected photographic
product and/or photographic service plan, are provided to a user to
reflect photographic products and/or photographic services rendered
to the user.
7. A method of providing photographic products and/or photographic
services to a consumer, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a selection of a digital camera from a plurality of
digital cameras for a predetermined time period at a predetermined
fee and receiving a selection of a photographic product and/or
photographic service by a customer from a menu of photographic
products and/or services which are to be associated with said
selected digital camera for a predetermined time period, wherein
said photographic product and/or photographic service is provided
with respect to images captured by said selected digital camera;
maintaining an account on a computer database of said selected
photographic products and/or photographic service associated with
said selected digital camera; and automatically accessing said
account on said computer database with respect to images received
from said selected digital camera and providing said good and or
service associated with said selected digital camera according to
the photographic product and/or photographic service plan
associated with the selected digital camera.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said photographic product
and/or photographic service comprises creating a predetermined
number of prints from said images.
9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said photographic product
and/or photographic service comprises placing said images on a disk
and forwarding said disk to the customer.
10. A system for providing photographic products and/or
photographic services, the system comprising: a photographic
product and/or photographic service server into which information
with respect to a selected digital camera and a selected
photographic product and/or photographic service plan which is to
be associated with the selected digital camera for a predetermined
period of time is inputted, said photographic product and/or
photographic service server creating a product and/or photographic
service account indicative of the selected digital camera and the
selected photographic product and/or photographic service plan; and
a computer database unit operationally associated with the
photographic product and/or photographic service server which
receives and stores the information with respect to the selected
digital camera and the selected photographic product and/or
photographic service plan, said computer database unit
automatically updating said product and/or photographic service
account as photographic product and/or photographic services in
accordance with said selected photographic product and/or
photographic service plan are requested and completed.
11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said computer database
is operationally associated with at least one photographic product
and/or photographic service provider, and said selected
photographic product/photographic service plan comprises providing
photographic products and/or photographic services to images
captured by said selected digital camera through said at least one
photographic product and/or photographic service provider in
accordance with the photographic product and/or photographic
service plan for a predetermined time period.
12. A system according to claim 10, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise electronically
storing images captured by said selected digital camera for a
predetermined period of time.
13. A system according to claim 10, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise providing a
predetermined number of prints of images captured by said selected
digital camera.
14. A system according to claim 10, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise providing an image
product associated with an image captured by said selected digital
camera.
15. A method of providing photographic products and/or photographic
services by a service provider, the method comprising the steps of:
said service provider receiving a selection of a digital camera
from a customer among a selection of digital cameras; said service
provider receiving a selection of a photographic product and/or
photographic service plan from a menu of photographic product
and/or photographic service plans for a predetermined time period
at a predetermined fee from said customer; said service provider
associating the selected camera with the selected photographic
product and/or photographic service plan and creating a product
and/or photographic service plan account indicative thereof; said
service provider entering said product and/or photographic service
plan account into a computer database to maintain a record of
photographic products and/or photographic services to be provided
with respect to images captured by said selected digital camera in
accordance with the selected photographic product and/or
photographic service plan for said predetermined period of time;
and said service provider automatically accessing said computer
database when images are received from said selected digital camera
and providing the associated photographic product or photographic
service according to the photographic product and/or photographic
service plan associated with the selected digital camera.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise electronically
storing images captured by said selected digital camera for a
predetermined period of time.
17. A method according to claim 15, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise providing a
predetermined number of prints of images captured by said selected
digital camera.
18. A method according to claim 15 wherein said selected digital
camera is a cell-camera.
19. A method according to claim 15, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise providing an image
product associated with an image captured by said selected digital
camera.
20. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of
updating the product and/or photographic service plan account in
the computer database as said photographic products and/or
photographic services, in accordance with the selected photographic
product and/or photographic service plan, are provided to a user to
reflect photographic products and/or photographic services rendered
to the user.
21. A method of providing photographic products and/or photographic
services to a consumer by a service provider, the method comprising
the steps of: said service provider receiving a selection of a
digital camera that was selected from a plurality of digital
cameras and receiving a selection of a photographic product and/or
photographic service by a customer from a menu of photographic
products and/or services which are to be associated with said
selected digital camera for a predetermined time period and fee,
wherein said photographic product and/or photographic service is
provided with respect to images captured by said selected digital
camera; said service provider maintaining an account on a computer
database of said selected photographic products and/or photographic
service associated with said selected digital camera; and said
service provider automatically accessing said account on said
computer database with respect to images received from said
selected digital camera and providing said good and or service
associated with said selected digital camera according to the
photographic product and/or photographic service plan associated
with the selected digital camera.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said photographic
product and/or photographic service comprises creating a
predetermined number of prints from said images.
23. A method according to claim 21, wherein said photographic
product and/or photographic service comprises placing said images
on a disk and forwarding said disk to the customer.
24. A system for providing photographic products and/or
photographic services to a customer by a service provider, the
system comprising: a photographic product and/or photographic
service server into which information with respect to a selected
digital camera and a selected photographic product and/or
photographic service plan for a predetermined time period at a
predetermined fee which is to be associated with the selected
digital camera for a predetermined period of time is input into
said server on behalf of a customer, said photographic product
and/or photographic service server creating a product and/or
photographic service account indicative of the selected digital
camera and the selected photographic product and/or photographic
service plan; and a computer database unit operationally associated
with the photographic product and/or photographic service server
which receives and stores the information with respect to the
selected digital camera and the selected photographic product
and/or photographic service plan, said computer database unit
automatically updating said product and/or photographic service
account as photographic product and/or photographic services in
accordance with said selected photographic product and/or
photographic service plan are requested and completed.
25. A system according to claim 24, wherein said computer database
is operationally associated with at least one photographic product
and/or photographic service provider, and said selected
photographic product/photographic service plan comprises providing
photographic products and/or photographic services to film exposed
by said selected digital camera through said at least one
photographic product and/or photographic service provider in
accordance with the photographic product and/or photographic
service plan for a predetermined time period.
26. A system according to claim 24, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise electronically
storing images captured by said selected digital camera for a
predetermined period of time.
27. A system according to claim 24, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise providing a
predetermined number of prints of images captured by said selected
digital camera.
28. A system according to claim 24, wherein said photographic
products and/or photographic services comprise providing an image
product associated with an image captured by said selected digital
camera.
29. A method of providing photographic products and/or photographic
services by a service provider, the method comprising the steps of:
said service provider receiving selections of a plurality of
digital cameras from a plurality of customers among a selection of
digital cameras; said service provider receiving a selection of a
photographic product and/or photographic service plan from a menu
of photographic product and/or photographic service plans for a
predetermined time period at a predetermined fee from said
plurality of customers; said service provider associating the
selected camera with the selected photographic product and/or
photographic service plan and creating a product and/or
photographic service plan account indicative thereof for each of
the plurality of customers; said service provider entering said
product and/or photographic service plan account into a computer
database to maintain a record of photographic products and/or
photographic services to be provided with respect to images
captured by said selected plurality of digital cameras in
accordance with the selected photographic product and/or
photographic service plan for said predetermined period of time;
and said service provider automatically accessing said computer
database when images are received from said selected plurality of
digital camera and providing the associated photographic product or
photographic service according to the photographic product and/or
photographic service plan associated with each of the selected
plurality of digital cameras.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of application U.S. Ser. No.
11/549,733, filed Oct. 16, 2006, entitled "System and Method for
Providing Image Products and/or Services"; which is a continuation
of U.S. Ser. No. 09/574,985, filed May 19, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No.
7,158,945, entitled "System and Method for Providing Image Products
and/or Services"; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No
09/534,471, filed Mar. 24, 2000, now U.S. Pat. 7,587,337, entitled
"Leasing A Configured Camera System", each of which is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety. and cross references the
following:
[0002] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/574,950, filed May 19,
2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,317, issued Sep. 19, 2006, entitled
"A Method For Providing Image Goods And/Or Services"; to Dale F.
McIntyre et al.
[0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/775,003, filed Feb. 9,
2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,260,546, issued Aug. 21, 2007, entitled
"Method For Providing Image Goods And/Or Services To A Customer",
to Dale F. McIntyre et al;
[0004] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/044, 574, filed Jan. 27,
2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,509,668, issued Mar. 24, 2009, entitled
"Leasing A Configured Camera System", to Kenneth A. Parulski;
[0005] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/613,524, filed Dec. 20,
2006, now U.S. Publication No. 20070103723, published May 10, 2007,
entitled "System and Method for Facilitating Imaging Services Using
a Service Identification Number Stored in an Image Capture Device",
to Dana W. Wolcott et al;
[0006] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/615,060, filed Dec. 22,
2006, now U.S. Publication No. 20070107007, published May 10, 2007,
entitled "System and Method for Requesting Digital Imaging Services
using a Cable TV Communications Unit", to Dana W. Wolcott et
al;
[0007] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/685,823, filed Mar. 14,
2007, now U.S. Publication No. 20070157273, published Jul. 5, 2007,
entitled "Method For Providing Image Goods And/Or Services To A
Customer", to Dale F. McIntyre et al
[0008] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/534,469, filed Mar. 24,
2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,937,997, issued Aug. 30, 2005, entitled
"Configuring and Purchasing Imaging Devices" to Kenneth A.
Parulski;
[0009] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/534,470, filed Mar. 24,
2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,617, issued Dec. 28, 2004, entitled
"Purchasing Configured Photographic Film Products" to Kenneth A.
Parulski;
[0010] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/137,078,
filed Jun. 2, 1999 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Providing a
User Customizable Digital Camera" to Girish Prabhu et al.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention relates to a system and method of
bundling image capture and printing technologies into products
and/or services that are paid for by a user, consumer or customer
with a subscription fee. More specifically, the present invention
relates to a system and method of providing photographic services,
in which a selected and/or specially configured camera and a
selected photographic product/service associated with the camera is
provided. The present invention also includes using the Internet or
other electronic network for the purchasing or registration of such
goods and services.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Digital cameras, film cameras, printers, and other imaging
devices can be purchased in stores or over the Internet from the
Eastman Kodak Company at kodak.com or other web sites. The web site
may provide text, pictures, and even animated graphics describing
and comparing various product models. However, the same standard
product, defined by the stock keeping unit (SKU), is shipped to
everyone who decides to buy that particular product.
[0013] Some products (such as golf shirts) that can be ordered over
the Internet, or via phone or the U.S. mail service, can be ordered
in a particular color with a personalized monogram or name. In this
case, the letters of the monogram/name are sent to the location
where the shirt is personalized, where the letters are manually
loaded into a sewing machine that physically stitches the monogram
into the shirt.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,411 discloses an arrangement for
ordering merchandise over the Internet. Computers can also be
ordered over the Internet. See, for example, the Dell computer
Internet site at www.dell.com. Using this site, different
configurations of a Dell computer can be purchased. The customer
can buy a "standard" configuration of a particular model computer,
or can instead select (using pull-down menus) various options. A
"learn more" link next to each option enables the user to
understand the differences between these options in order to select
the most appropriate option. Prior art patents related to
customizing computer systems include U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,571, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,995,757 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,543, and U.S. Pat. No.
5,963,743. These patents relate to ordering selected equipment over
the Internet, but the equipment that is produced is defined
entirely by the user selections from pre-existing menus. The user
does not upload personal data or digital images that are used to
personalize the computers or other merchandise.
[0015] A digital camera system, described in commonly-assigned U.S.
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/137,078 (Docket 79,556), filed Jun.
2,1999 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Providing a User
Customizable Digital Camera", the disclosure of which is herein
incorporated by reference, includes the ability to download, from
the Internet, special software components that can be used to
"upgrade" a camera to provide personalized capabilities, or to
personalize a camera in a retail store as the camera is sold.
[0016] The ability to customize a camera after purchase using a
memory card (for example, by providing a template background into
which an image is placed) is described in commonly-assigned U.S.
Pat. No. 5,477,264 to Sarbadhikari et al., the disclosure of which
is herein incorporated by reference.
[0017] The ability to provide camera defect data from a camera
manufacturing site over a network to an interactive control node
which corrects images provided by a digital camera is described in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,385, to Maurinus et al.
[0018] Commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,216 to Arnold, the
disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference, describes
a single use camera having pre-exposed latent images of symbols
that are combined with captured images.
[0019] On a web page found at littp://www.bestcameras.com/ a user
can order single-use cameras in a variety of cover designs. The
user can call a phone number posted at the web site and have a
template mailed to the user in Adobe Illustrator format. The user
can modify the design in the template and mail back the file, where
it can be printed and attached to the outside case of a single use
camera. The user can also order single use cameras on-line. The
user can choose between several printed paper cover style options,
and can personalize the cover with a text message imprinted using
the color of text that he or she selects.
[0020] The camera company (littp://www.thecamera.co.uk) enables a
user to order customized single use cameras. The customer mails the
company logo, photographs, or other literature to the company,
which designs a camera for the customer, having a customized
printed paper cover for a group of cameras.
[0021] Digital cameras are also increasingly being improved with
respect to picture quality and image storage. These improved
digital cameras, and the products and services associated with the
cameras can in some cases be prohibitively expensive. The
conventional approach to the purchase of cameras and photographic
products/services does not provide a cost efficient and convenient
way to obtain and use a variety of cameras, such as high end, high
priced digital cameras, while at the same time taking advantage of
the vast array of photographic products and services which are
available.
[0022] Further, the conventional approach to photography and the
purchasing of cameras and associated products and services, does
not give a consumer the opportunity to bundle and customize
specific photographic products and/or services with a selected
camera for a specified fee and time; and the further opportunity to
keep the camera at no cost, exchange the camera for a new camera or
purchase the camera at a reduced rate at the end of a predetermined
time period.
[0023] It has also become increasingly popular to share digital
images, particular over the internet. However, this has been
limited to individuals having relatively expensive computers for
the capture and/or transmission of digital. In addition when such
personal computers are used, the digital data files are transmitted
over standard phone lines. Transmission over conventional phone
lines generally takes substantial amounts of time to due to the
limited capacity of the typical phone lines. Thus there is a need
to expand the number of individuals that accept and transmit
digital images without requiring substantial investment in
equipment such as personal computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The present invention provides for a system and method of
providing photographic products and/or services to a consumer. With
the system and method of the present invention, a consumer has the
option of selecting a camera from, for example, a menu of cameras,
and further to select a type of photographic service which the user
wants associated with the selected camera to create a photographic
product/service plan. The photographic product/service plan would
be in the form of a subscription or contract, and would be set for
a predetermined time, for example, one year, and at a predetermined
fee, for example, a monthly fee. As an example, under the
product/service plan, the consumer would use the selected camera
for a year, and be offered the selected photographic services
and/or products for images captured by the camera, either for a
monthly fee or a yearly fee. As a further option, after the
expiration of the service plan, the consumer can either keep the
selected camera at no cost, purchase the camera at a reduced price,
or exchange the camera for a new camera.
[0025] The present invention provides for a method of providing
photographic products and/or services which comprises the steps of
selecting a camera; selecting a photographic product/service plan
from a menu of photographic product/service plans; associating the
selected camera with the selected photographic product/service plan
and creating a product/service plan account indicative thereof; and
entering the product/service plan account into a computer database
to maintain a record of photographic products and/or services
provided in accordance with the selected photographic
product/service plan.
[0026] The present invention further relates to a method of
providing photographic products and/or services to a consumer which
comprises the steps of selecting a camera and photographic products
and/or services which are to be associated with the camera for a
predetermined time period, such that the photographic products
and/or services are provided to images captured by the selected
camera; and maintaining an account of the photographic products
and/or services as the photographic products and/or services are
provided to the consumer.
[0027] The present invention further relates to a method of
providing photographic products and/or services which comprises the
steps of selecting a camera and photographic products and/or
services which are to be associated with the camera for a
predetermined time period, such that the photographic products
and/or services are provided to film exposed by the selected
camera; and maintaining a record of photographic products and/or
services as the photographic products and/or services are provided
to a user.
[0028] The present invention further relates to a system for
providing photographic products and/or services which comprises a
photographic product/service input station into which information
with respect to a selected camera and a selected photographic
product/service plan which is to be associated with the selected
camera is input. The photographic product/service input station
creates a user product/service account for a user indicative of the
selected camera and the selected photographic product/service plan.
The system further comprises a computer database unit operationally
associated with the photographic product/service input station that
receives and stores the information with respect to the selected
camera and the selected photographic product/service plan. The
computer database unit is adapted to update the user
product/service account as photographic products and/or services in
accordance with the selected photographic product/service plan are
requested and completed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a system that implements
this invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a typical purchase transaction
for providing personalized digital imaging products;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an electronic still camera that
can be personalized as part of the purchase transaction;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an APS film camera that can be
personalized as part of the purchase transaction;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a digital printer that can be
personalized as part of the purchase transaction;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a digital image display device
that can be personalized as part of the purchase transaction;
[0035] FIG. 7 depicts a one-time use film camera that can be
personalized as part of the purchase transaction;
[0036] FIG. 8 depicts a pre-exposed image on the film used in the
camera of FIG. 7 or sold as a separate film box;
[0037] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of apparatus used to personalize
the one-time use film camera depicted in FIG. 7;
[0038] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a typical purchase transaction
for providing the personalized one-time use cameras depicted in
FIG. 7 using the apparatus depicted in FIG. 9;
[0039] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a typical lease transaction for
providing personalized digital imaging products and services;
and
[0040] FIG. 12 depicts a block diagram of a modified system made in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] In accordance with the present invention, a method is
described for configuring cameras or other imaging devices. A
customer, such as a purchaser or lessor, selects various camera
features, provided by corresponding software programs. The software
programs can be, for example, various firmware modules executed by
a processor that controls the imaging device. The customer provides
a payment identifier, such as a credit card or debit card number,
specifying an account to be debited to pay for the camera. A camera
configured to include the features selected by the customer,
provided by the corresponding software programs, is then sent to a
designee of the customer. The customer's designee can, of course,
be the customer.
[0042] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, a customer selects various camera features and imaging
services. Such services can include storing digital image files
from the selected camera on-line, or producing digital prints or
digital storage products (e.g., CD-R discs) from digital images
from the selected camera. The customer completes a lease agreement
and provides a payment identifier. A camera configured to include
the features selected by the customer is then sent to a designee of
the customer, and a service account is established to specify the
selected services that the designee is entitled to use.
[0043] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, the customer also provides personal digital data
identifying the designee. This personal digital data can include
ASCII text providing the designee's name, mailing address, phone
number, or e-mail address, and a digital image of the designee.
This digital data is then stored in the digital imaging device and
can be displayed to determine the owner, in case the digital
imaging device is lost or stolen.
[0044] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, the customer orders a lot of one-time use (OTU) cameras
or a lot of film rolls, for a particular event with which the
customer is associated. The lot can, for example, include several
thousand film rolls for an event such as the Rose Bowl parade or a
few dozen OTU cameras for an event such as an anniversary party.
The customer provides one or more digital images, which are then
pre-exposed onto the first film frame(s) of the film in the OTU
cameras, or the film rolls. The customer can also provide images,
graphics, or text messages which are included on a label attached
to the OTU camera.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the system includes a computer (and
associated peripherals) 10 located at the customer, such as the
purchaser or lessor's location (e.g., their home). The system also
includes a network service provider, such as Internet service
provider (ISP) equipment 30 located at the ISP's location, which
communicates with the computer 10 to provide a network connection
for the purchaser/lessor to a channel 36, such as the Internet. The
system further includes a product customization center 40 which
communicates with the computer 10 via the channel 36 and the ISP 30
to perform the steps of selecting, configuring, purchasing,
billing, and shipping a customized imaging device 80. The product
customization center 40 includes an electronic database 44, which
is located remote from the computer 10.
[0046] The products to be customized (e.g., the digital cameras to
be customized) can be manufactured or assembled at the product
customization center 40. Alternatively, they can be manufactured at
a different location, and shipped to the product customization
center 40 where they are customized. The various portions of the
product customization center 40 can be located in a single building
or complex of adjacent buildings, or can be geographically
disbursed over several sites in different cities or even different
continents. For example, the electronic database 44 and a
manufacturing customization computer 52 can be located in different
cities and interconnected via a suitable digital communications
network, such as the Internet. Furthermore, the electronic database
44 can itself be distributed over several computers in several
different locations.
[0047] The computer 10, which can be, for example, a Dell Dimension
XPS M200, includes a CPU motherboard 12, using, for example, a
Pentium 200 MHz MMX processor as well as RAM memory. The CPU
motherboard 12 executes software stored on a hard drive 20, for
example, the well-known Windows 98 operating system software and
the Internet Explorer web browser software, both provided by
Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, WA. The CPU motherboard 12 is directly
coupled to a display monitor 14 and a keyboard 16. A mouse 18
permits the customer to readily communicate with the CPU
motherboard 12. The CPU motherboard 12 communicates with a color
scanner 24, such as a Microtek ScanMaker E6, which can scan a
photograph, for example, a picture of the customer or the designee
of the customer, and store the digital image of the photograph on
the hard drive 20. The customer's computer 10 also includes a
dial-in modem 22 for communicating with the ISP 30 in order to
connect to a channel 36, such as the Internet.
[0048] The ISP 30, for example, Earthlink Network, Inc. of
Pasadena, Calif., includes banks of modems 32, one of which is
connected to communicate with the modem 22 of the customer's
computer 10. The modem 32 in turn communicates with
computers/routers 34 in order to provide a connection to the
channel 36 using equipment and techniques well known to those
skilled in the art.
[0049] The product customization center 40 is connected to the
channel 36, such as the Internet, by a network server, such as
Internet server 42, which is comprised of one or more computers and
associated peripherals. The electronic database 44 provides
information describing numerous imaging devices 80, such as digital
cameras, APS film cameras, digital printers, image display devices,
and the like. The electronic database 44 includes information
describing different features of these devices that can be selected
and customized by the customer using the customer's computer
10.
[0050] The electronic database 44 further includes software
programs, for example, JAVA applets, MPEG or QuickTime movies, or
Shockwave files, which depict the functionality of features that
the customer can choose. The software programs may demonstrate
features, such as in-camera red-eye removal using images provided
as part of the electronic database 44. In this case, the program
shows a "before processing" picture having red-eye, and an "after
processing" picture which has been processed to remove red-eye.
Alternatively, the software program may demonstrate features using
customer supplied images, such as images provided using the scanner
24. In this case, the user can observe the effects of the feature,
such as red-eye removal, using their personal images in order to
better judge the value of a particular feature. The "before"
picture is supplied by the user, and the "after" picture is
processed using software supplied by the electronic database 44.
This software can process the image on the user's host computer 12
by using, for example, a JAVA applet. Alternatively, the user's
image may be transferred via the ISP 30 and the channel 36 to the
Internet Server 42 and processed. The "after processing" image can
then be transferred from the Internet Server 42 to the user's
computer 10 for viewing on the display monitor 14.
[0051] The electronic database 44 can be contained on the same
computer as the Internet server 42, or can utilize a separate
computer, or can be distributed over several computers at the same
physical site, or at different sites.
[0052] When a customized imaging device 80 is purchased, the
electronic database 44 communicates with a billing system 46 to
verify that the payment identifier (e.g., credit card or debit card
number) provided by the customer is valid, and to debit the account
for the purchase. The customer's account that is debited can, of
course, be located at a remote financial institution. Typically, as
with credit cards, this financial institution will make payment to
the direct provider or seller of the imaging device 80. This is
generally done by wiring the amount into the direct provider's
account, generally an account established with another financial
institution.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic database 44 is connected
to a manufacturing customization computer 52 that forms part of a
product configuration system 50. The product configuration system
50 provides and downloads software programs, such as customized
firmware modules, to the imaging devices 80 in order to configure
the imaging devices 80 to provide the customer selected features.
The firmware downloaded to a particular digital imaging device 80
includes firmware selected from a product firmware database 54 in
response to purchaser/lessor selections, and personal digital data
provided by the customer, such as name and address information, or
a digital picture. The manufacturing customization computer 52 is
also connected to a product label printer 58 which produces custom
product labels 60 which can be affixed to the imaging devices
80.
[0054] The manufacturing customization computer 52 also
communicates with a shipping system 70 that controls a shipping
label printer 72 to produce a shipping label 74. The shipping label
74 is attached to a shipping container (e.g., a cardboard box) that
contains and protects the properly configured imaging device 80
during shipment (e.g., via air express mail, ground carrier, etc.)
to the customer's designee.
[0055] Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a flow diagram of a
typical purchase transaction for providing personalized digital
imaging products. As shown in block 100, the customer, using a
digital communication network, logs onto the channel 36, which can
be the Internet. The customer can, of course, use a service
provider, such as the ISP 30, to gain access to the channel 36. The
ISP 30 uses an address, such as an Internet protocol (IP) address,
to establish a connection between the customer's computer 10 and a
product provider or seller which owns or controls the product
customization center 40.
[0056] In block 102, the product provider provides the customer
with a menu of imaging devices 80 that are available for
configuration, such as an electronic camera 300 depicted in FIG. 3,
a film camera 350 depicted in FIG. 4, a digital printer 400
depicted in FIG. 5, and a digital image display device 500 depicted
in FIG. 6.
[0057] In block 104, the customer selects a desired type of imaging
device 80 to be purchased, for example, the electronic camera 300.
At that point, in block 106, a menu of customizable features that
can be selected, and corresponding prices, is presented to the
customer. In block 108, the customer customizes the features of the
desired electronic camera 300 so as to select a desired
configuration for the electronic camera 300.
[0058] The features from which the customer can select may include
features such as:
[0059] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to provide different
types of color images, such as monochrome, sepia, false-color, or
super saturated color images or special effects filters (e.g., a
digital star filter effect);
[0060] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to support various
image resolution or compression levels, compression algorithms, or
image file formats;
[0061] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to provide the ability
to modify captured images as they are processed, such as by digital
zooming and cropping, tone or color adjustments, or sharpness
adjustments;
[0062] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to provide red-eye
removal as described in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/290,290, filed Apr. 13, 1999 to Fredlund, the
disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference;
[0063] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to provide the ability
to select one or more border templates that may be combined with
newly captured digital images, as described in commonly-assigned
U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,264 to Sarbadhikari et al., the disclosure of
which is herein incorporated by reference;
[0064] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to group images into
various categories or folders, as described in commonly-assigned
U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,678, the disclosure of which is herein
incorporated by reference; Configuring the electronic camera 300 to
provide print ordering from the camera, as described in
commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/977,382,
filed Nov. 24, 1997 (docket 75,276) to Parulski, the disclosure of
which is herein incorporated by reference;
[0065] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to provide the ability
to stitch multiple images together to produce panoramic images,
such as by using the method described in commonly-assigned U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/224,547, filed Dec. 31,1998 (docket
77,751) to Parulski, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated
by reference;
[0066] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to make selected
sounds, such as making funny noises as pictures are taken or as
various user controls 303 are depressed. One or more sound files
can be selected from a group of sound files provided as part of the
customization software. For example, one particular sound file can
be played each time the capture button is depressed to take a
picture, and a different sound file can be played each time a user
interface button is depressed when reviewing captured pictures;
[0067] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to include "slide
show" capability for automatically reviewing the image on color LCD
image display 332 for a selected period (e.g., five seconds per
image) including selected "transition" effects (e.g., fades or
pulls) from one image to the next;
[0068] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to upload, from the
user's computer 10 to the electronic camera 300, particularly
memorable personal images which are stored within firmware memory
328 to enable viewing by others via the color image display
332;
[0069] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to composite multiple
images together, for example, using the method and apparatus
described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,748 to Parulski,
the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference;
[0070] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to create html files
to produce web pages in the electronic camera, or to provide the
ability to e-mail images from the electronic camera, for example,
as described in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/004,046, filed Jan. 7, 1998 (docket 75,275) to Ward, the
disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference;
[0071] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to store personal
digital data, such as the name, address, and a digital image of the
camera owner, in an area of firmware memory 328 (shown in FIG. 3)
that cannot be modified by the customer. This information can be
displayed on an image display 332 (shown in FIG. 3), such as a
color liquid crystal display (LCD), for a specified period (e.g.,
five seconds) when the electronic camera 300 is turned on.
Alternatively, it can be displayed when the appropriate "camera
owner information" mode is selected using user controls 303 in
conjunction with a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the
image display 332; and
[0072] Configuring the electronic camera 300 to include custom
labels attached to the camera body providing favorite colors,
special messages, or images (such as a picture of the customer's
designee, or a favorite logo or cartoon character).
[0073] Depending on the features selected, the customer provides
appropriate personalization information that will later be
incorporated into the configured electronic camera 300 (block 110
of FIG. 2). Such personalization information can include personal
digital data, for example, ASCII text providing the name, mailing
address, phone number, or e-mail address of the customer's
designee, or a digital image of the customer's designee input using
the scanner 24 (shown in FIG. 1) or other forms of digital image
input, such as a PictureCD. The personalization information can
also include names of people or events to be used to categorize
images, an address book of e-mail addresses, preferred colors and
styles for graphic user interface (GUI) screens, and preferred menu
orderings for selected features, to be displayed on the color LCD
image display 332 (shown in FIG. 3). The personalization
information can also include one or more border templates selected
by the customer. The personalization information can also be a
message from the customer to the customer's designee. For example,
if the purchase is intended as a birthday gift, the personalization
information may be the message "Happy 40.sup.th Birthday John, from
Sue". This message could be displayed for a few seconds each time
the imaging device 80 is turned on. The personalization information
can also include the preferred colors, messages, logos, or images
for custom product labels 60. Depending on the variety of features
supported, different versions of electronic camera 300 can be
configured by the product configuration system 50. The different
versions can, for example, include different amounts of the
firmware memory 328 or use a different capability image processor
320, depending on the type or quantity of features selected by the
customer. The appropriate version of electronic camera 300 is
determined by the manufacturing customization computer 52 as part
of the process of customizing the imaging device 80.
[0074] In block 112 of FIG. 2, the customer enters delivery and
billing information. This information identifies the customer and
the customer's designee. It includes addresses of both the customer
and the customer's designee. The customer also identifies an
account to be debited to pay for the configured electronic camera
300. Often this will be a credit card having a payment identifier
that specifies the account of the customer to be charged or
debited. Frequently, this will be in a financial institution. The
payment identifier can be a credit card number that specifies a
particular credit card account. As used in this specification, a
credit card will also include a debit card.
[0075] After the product provider or seller verifies the customer's
account and the availability of the selected imaging device 80, the
customer is provided with an electronic agreement form specifying
payment and other items such as warranties. If acceptable, the
customer typically accepts the agreement by clicking a response box
on the graphical user interface of the computer 10. At this point,
the financial institution having the customer's account indicates
to the product provider or seller that funds are available and
designates such funds for transfer to the product provider or
seller. If funds are not available, the customer is so advised and
may have to use a different payment identifier.
[0076] In block 114, the electronic database 44 provides the
product configuration center 50 with the customer's selected
configuration, and the personalization information. This can occur
immediately after the customer accepts the agreement, or at some
later time if there is a backlog of products to be configured and
shipped for other customers, or if the particular product to be
purchased is on backorder and not immediately available for
customization.
[0077] In block 118, the manufacturing customization computer 52
shown in FIG. 1 provides the particular software programs required
to provide the features selected by the customer for the customer's
selected imaging device 80. The manufacturing customization
computer 52 obtains the required software, either in the form of
compiled firmware modules or source code routines, from the product
firmware database 54, and incorporates the personal digital data
provided by the customer, to configure the personalized firmware
for the imaging device 80. This personalized firmware provides the
features selected by the customer in block 108 of FIG. 2 and
includes the personalized digital data, such as a digital image of
the customer's designee, uploaded by the customer in block 110. If
the product firmware database 54 includes camera source code, the
source code is compiled to produce firmware capable of being
executed by image processor 320, before being downloaded to the
electronic camera 300.
[0078] In block 120, the manufacturing customization computer 52
downloads the configured firmware from block 118 to the imaging
device 80 in order to provide a configured imaging device 80, such
as the configured electronic camera 300. The firmware can be
downloaded to the imaging device 80 using an cable interface, such
as interface cable 342 shown in FIG. 3, which connects between a
host interface 322 in the electronic camera 300 and a host computer
340, which in this situation is the manufacturing customization
computer 52. The firmware can, alternatively, be downloaded to the
imaging device 80 using a removable memory, such as a removable
flash memory card 330 shown in FIG. 3, which connects to a memory
card interface 324 in the electronic camera 300. These techniques
for downloading firmware to an imaging device are further described
in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,264 to Sarbadhikari et
al., the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by
reference.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing customization computer
52 also controls the product label printer 58 in order to produce
the custom product labels 60. These labels 60 are then attached,
for example, by glue or another lamination process, to the
configured imaging device 80. The custom product labels 60 are
provided in the color scheme selected by the customer in block 110,
and include any special messages, logos, or images (such as a
picture of the customer's designee, or a favorite logo or cartoon
character) provided by the customer.
[0080] In block 122, the shipping system 70, which communicates
with the manufacturing customization computer 52, controls the
shipping label printer 72 to produce the shipping label 74. As
previously described with respect to FIG. 1, the configured
electronic camera 300 or other imaging device 80 is placed in a
shipping container (not shown), and the shipping label 74 is
attached to the shipping container.
[0081] In block 124, the configured electronic camera 300 or other
imaging device 80 is delivered to the customer or the customer's
designee. The term "delivery" means that the configured electronic
camera 300 can be shipped to the customer or the customer's
designee by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) or by a carrier service,
such as the United Parcel Service (UPS) or Federal Express.
Alternatively, the configured electronic camera 300 can be
delivered to a location such as a store where it can be picked
up.
[0082] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electronic camera 300
in more detail, which is a first type of imaging device 80 that can
be personalized by the product configuration system 50 depicted in
FIG. 1. The electronic camera 300 produces digital images that are
stored on the removable memory card 330. The electronic camera 300
includes a zoom lens 312 having zoom and focus motor drives 310 and
an adjustable aperture and shutter (not shown). The zoom lens 312
focuses light from a scene (not shown) on an image sensor 314, for
example, a single-chip color CCD image sensor, using the well-known
Bayer color filter pattern. The image sensor 314 is controlled by
clock drivers 306. The zoom and focus motors 310 and the clock
drivers 306 are controlled by control signals supplied by a control
processor and timing generator circuit 304. The control processor
and timing generator 304 receives inputs from autofocus and
autoexposure detectors 308 and controls a flash 302. The analog
output signal from the image sensor 314 is amplified and converted
to digital data by the analog signal processing (ASP) and
analog-to-digital (A/D) converter circuit 316. The digital data is
stored in a DRAM buffer memory 318 and subsequently processed by a
processor 320 controlled by the firmware stored in the firmware
memory 328, which can be flash EPROM memory.
[0083] The processed digital image file is provided to a memory
card interface 324 which stores the digital image file on the
removable memory card 330. Removable memory cards 330 are known to
those skilled in the art. For example, the removable memory card
330 can include memory cards adapted to the PCMCIA card interface
standard, as described in the PC Card Standard, Release 2.0,
published by the Personal Computer Memory Card International
Association, Sunnyvale, Calif., September 1991. The removable
memory card 330 can also be adapted to the Compact Flash interface
standard, such as described in the CompactFlash Specification
Version 1.3, published by the CompactFlash Association, Palo Alto,
Calif., Aug. 5, 1998. Other types of digital memory devices, such
as magnetic hard drives, magnetic tape, or optical disks, could
alternatively be used to store the digital images.
[0084] The processor 320 performs color interpolation followed by
color and tone correction, in order to produce rendered sRGB image
data. The rendered sRGB image data is then JPEG compressed and
stored as a JPEG image file on the removable memory card 330. The
processor 320 also creates a "thumbnail" size image that is stored
in RAM memory 326 and supplied to the color LCD image display 332,
which displays the captured image for the user to review. The
electronic camera 300 is controlled by user controls 303, such as a
series of user buttons including a shutter release (e.g., capture
button) (not shown) which initiates a picture taking operation. The
graphical user interface displayed on the color LCD image display
332 is controlled by the user interface portion of the firmware
stored in the firmware memory 328. The camera user interface can
also include a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter and miniature
speaker (not shown) which makes audible sounds when a new picture
is taken, or when the user changes modes or advances to review the
next stored image. The electronic camera 300 can also include a
video output driver and connector (not shown) for displaying the
captured images on a TV (not shown).
[0085] After a series of images have been taken and stored on the
removable memory card 330, the removable memory card 330 can be
inserted into a memory card reader (not shown) in the user's host
computer 340, which may be the same as the computer 10 in FIG. 1.
Alternatively, an interface cable 342 can be used to connect
between the host interface 322 in the electronic camera 300 and the
corresponding camera interface in the host computer 340. The
interface cable 342 may conform to, for example, the well-know
universal serial bus (USB) interface specification.
[0086] The electronic camera 300 can alternatively be a motion
video camera that captures a series of image frames from the image
sensor 314 as well as an audio signal from a microphone (not
shown). The image processor 320 then processes and compresses the
image frames and audio information using a suitable compression
method (e.g., MPEG-4 compression) to provide movie files that are
stored on the removable flash memory card 330 or different type of
digital recording media, such as digital video tape.
[0087] As described earlier in connection with FIG. 2, either the
removable memory card 330 or the host interface 322 can be used to
upload the customized firmware from the manufacturing customization
computer 52, when the electronic camera 300 is configured by the
manufacturing customization computer 52 of FIG. 1.
[0088] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an Advanced Photo System (APS)
film camera 350, which is a second type of imaging device 80 that
can be personalized by the product configuration system 50 depicted
in FIG. 1. The APS film camera 350 includes a zoom lens 352
controlled by zoom and focus motors 354 and an adjustable aperture
and shutter (not shown) for focusing light from a scene (not shown)
onto APS film 380. The aperture size and shutter exposure time are
controlled by a control processor 364, which also receives inputs
from autofocus and autoexposure detectors 356 and controls a flash
358 to emit light when the ambient light level is low. A film
transport unit 362 advances the frames of the APS film 380 under
the control of the control processor 364. A magnetic writer unit
360 writes digital data to the film leader, and to each frame, of
the APS film 380, under the control of the control processor 364.
The control processor 364 executes firmware stored in firmware
memory 370, which may be Flash EPROM memory, in response to user
inputs from user controls 372. The control processor 364 also
provides information to an LCD display 374, which can be a data
display with one or more lines of alpha-numeric characters, or a
monochrome or color raster image display. RAM memory 368
temporarily stores the data which is displayed on the LCD display
374. Film camera 350 can also include a digital-to-analog (D/A)
converter and miniature speaker (not shown) which makes audible
sounds when a new picture is taken, or when the user depresses
various user controls 372.
[0089] A host interface 366 is used to upload the configured
firmware from the manufacturing customization computer 52 via an
interface cable 367, which can be, for example, an RS-232 serial
cable, when the APS film camera 350 is configured by the product
configuration system 54 of FIG. 1. The configured firmware stored
in the firmware memory 370 can include personal digital data, for
example, the name, address, and a digital image of the customer's
designee, or a greeting from the customer to the customer's
designee. This personal digital data can be displayed on the LCD
display 374 for a specified period (e.g., five seconds) when the
APS film camera 350 is turned on. Alternatively, it can be
displayed when the appropriate "camera owner information" mode is
selected using the user controls 372 used in conjunction with the
LCD display 374. This personal digital data can be used to
determine the owner, in case the APS film camera 350 is lost or
stolen.
[0090] The configured firmware stored in the firmware memory 370
can include messages appropriate for various images, such as "Happy
Birthday, John", or "Another Picture of the Smith family." These
messages are provided by the customer in block 110 of FIG. 2, and
downloaded to configure the APS film camera 350 in block 120 of
FIG. 2. The message can be selected by the camera user after taking
a picture, and can be then recorded as ASCII text data on the
magnetic tracks of the APS film 380. When the APS film 380 is
developed and printed, the magnetic tracks of the APS film 380 are
read to recover this ASCII text message. The text message can then
be printed on the back of the print if the print is made by
optically printing the APS film 380. Alternatively, the text
message can be printed on a front corner of the print if the print
is made by scanning and digitally printing the APS film 380.
[0091] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a digital printer 400, which is
a third type of imaging device 80 that can be configured by the
manufacturing customization computer 52 depicted in FIG. 1. The
digital printer 400 produces digital prints (not shown) from images
provided on a removable memory card 430 or via a host interface 442
from a host computer 440. The digital printer 400 includes a media
transport mechanism 410, such as a motor-driven roller, for moving
hard copy media (e.g., ink jet paper) past a marking apparatus 412
(e.g., a color ink jet head) under the control of a processor 420.
The processor 420 controls the marking apparatus 412 to provide
controlled amounts of various color inks or dyes in order to
produce a pictorial image on the hardcopy media.
[0092] Digital image files to be printed can be provided on a
memory card 430 that interfaces to the processor 420 via a memory
card interface 424. The memory card 430 can be adapted to the
PCMCIA card interface specification, the CompactFlash
specification, or similar specifications. If the image to be
printed is supplied in a compressed image format (e.g., JPEG
compression), the processor 420 decompresses the image. The
processor 420 can also provide interpolation, color and tone
correction, half-toning, sharpening, or other types of digital
image processing to prepare the image data properly to be used by
the marking apparatus 412.
[0093] The processor 420 is controlled by firmware stored in
firmware memory 428. The digital printer 400 includes a display
432, which can be a simple status display, or which can,
alternatively, be a raster image display. If the display 432 is a
status LCD, the user selects prints by picture number, or
alternatively, by creating a print order file, using, for example,
the "Digital Print Order Format" (DPOF) specification, when the
pictures are stored on the memory card 430.
[0094] If the display 432 is a raster image display, the processor
420 downloads the "thumbnail" size images from the images provided
on the memory card 430, which are stored in RAM memory 426 and
supplied to the display 432, so that the user can select the images
to be printed using user controls 430. The graphical user interface
displayed on the display 432 is controlled by the user interface
portion of the firmware stored in the firmware memory 428.
[0095] The printer 400 can also include a D/A converter and
miniature speaker (not shown) which makes audible sounds when a
print is finished and ready to be viewed, or when various user
controls 430 are depressed. These sound files can be selected by
the user in block 108 of FIG. 1, and stored in firmware memory 428.
Instead of a raster image display, the printer can include a video
output driver and connector (not shown) for displaying the selected
images on a TV receiver (not shown).
[0096] Either the removable memory card 430 or the host interface
422 can be used to upload the customized firmware to the firmware
memory 428 from the manufacturing customization computer 52 (shown
in FIG. 1), as described earlier in connection with FIG. 2, when
the digital printer 400 is configured by the product configuration
system 50 of FIG. 1.
[0097] The configured firmware stored in the firmware memory 428
can include personal digital data, for example, the name, address,
and a digital image of the customer's designee, or a greeting from
the customer to the customer's designee. If the display 432 is a
raster image display, this personal digital data can be displayed
on the display 432 for a specified period (e.g., five seconds) when
the digital printer 400 is turned on. Alternatively, if the display
432 is a status display incapable of displaying images, the
personal digital data can be printed by the marking apparatus 412
onto the hardcopy media (not shown) when the "print camera owner
information" mode is selected using the user controls 432 used in
conjunction with the status display 432. Alternatively, this
personal digital data can be printed as part of a test print mode
included to test the operation of the digital printer 400. This
personal digital data can be used to determine the owner, in case
the digital printer 400, which can be a small portable device, is
lost or stolen.
[0098] The configured firmware stored in the firmware memory 428
can include firmware that provides various other features, selected
by the customer in block 110 of FIG. 2. These features can
include:
[0099] Configuring the digital printer 400 to selectively modify
the color images to produce different types of digital images
before printing, in order to produce monochrome, sepia,
false-color, or super saturated color prints;
[0100] Configuring the digital printer 400 to support various image
file formats, such as JPEG, TIFF, and JPEG2000;
[0101] Configuring the digital printer 400 to provide the ability
to modify captured images as they are processed, such as by digital
zooming and cropping, tone or color adjustments, or sharpness
adjustments;
[0102] Configuring the digital printer 400 to provide red-eye
removal prior to printing images;
[0103] Configuring the digital printer 400 to provide the ability
to select one or more border templates that can be combined with
the images to be printed, as described in commonly-assigned U.S.
Pat. No. 5,477,264 to Sarbadhikari et al.; Configuring the digital
printer 400 to provide support for printing the images defined in a
print ordering file (for example, a DPOF file), as described in
commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/977,382,
filed Nov. 24, 1997 (docket 75,276) to Parulski, the disclosure of
which is herein incorporated by reference; and
[0104] Configuring the digital printer 400 to provide the ability
to stitch multiple images together to produce panoramic images,
such as by using the method described in commonly-assigned U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/224,547, filed Dec. 31,1998 (docket
77,751) to Parulski, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated
by reference.
[0105] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a digital image display device
500, which is a fourth type of imaging device 80 that can be
personalized by the product configuration system 50 depicted in
FIG. 1. The digital image display device 500 produces an image on a
color image display 532, such as a color LCD, from images provided
on a removable memory card 530 or via a host interface 542 from a
host computer 540. If the image to be displayed is supplied in a
compressed image format (e.g., JPEG compression), a processor 520
decompresses the image. The processor 520 can also provide
decimation to produce an appropriately sized digital image for the
color image display 532. The processor 520 can further provide
color and tone correction, sharpening, or other types of digital
image processing prior to displaying the image.
[0106] The processor 520 is controlled by firmware stored in
firmware memory 528. The processor 520 creates appropriately sized
images that are stored in RAM memory 526 and provided to the color
image display 532. The user can select the images to be viewed
using user controls 530. The graphical user interface displayed on
the color image display 532 is controlled by the user interface
portion of the firmware stored in the firmware memory 528. Instead
of including a color image display as part of the digital image
display device 500, the digital image display device 500 can
include a video output driver and connector (not shown) for
displaying the selected images on a TV receiver(not shown). The
digital image display device 500 can also include a modem 544 for
transmitting and receiving images.
[0107] Either the removable memory card 530 or the host interface
522 can be used to upload the customized firmware from the
manufacturing customization computer 52, as described earlier in
relation to FIG. 1, when the digital image display device 500 is
configured by the product configuration system 54 of FIG. 1.
[0108] The configured firmware stored in the firmware memory 528
can include personal digital data, for example, the name, address,
and a digital image of the customer's designee, or a greeting from
the customer to the customer's designee. This personal digital data
can be displayed on the color image display 532 for a specified
period (e.g., five seconds) when the digital image display device
500 is turned on.
[0109] The configured firmware stored in the firmware memory 528
can also include firmware that provides various other features,
selected by the customer in block 110 of FIG. 2. These features can
include:
[0110] Configuring the digital image display device 500 to convert
color images to different types of images before displaying the
images, to provide monochrome, sepia, false-color, or super
saturated color images;
[0111] Configuring the digital image display device 500 to support
various image file formats for the images stored on memory card
530, such as JPEG, TIFF, and JPEG2000;
[0112] Configuring the digital image display device 500 to provide
the ability to modify captured images as they are processed, such
as by digital zooming and cropping, tone or color adjustments, or
sharpness adjustments; and
[0113] Configuring the digital image display device 500 to transmit
or receive images from an electronic network, such as the Internet,
using the modem 540, for example, as described in commonly-assigned
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/004,046, filed Jan. 7, 1998
(docket 75,275) to Ward, the disclosure of which is herein
incorporated by reference.
[0114] FIGS. 7A and 7B depict a photographic film product, which is
a one-time use (OTU) film camera 600 preloaded with film that can
be personalized as part of the purchase transaction. The camera
body is formed of plastic and is encased in an exterior camera
package 610, to which the custom product labels 60 can be attached,
for example, at a position 615. The camera package 610 comprises a
main front cover section 612, a back cover section 614, a top
section 620 and side and bottom sections which surround a
light-tight, box shaped, camera body. The main front cover section
612 is provided with apertures for exposing a taking lens 616 and a
viewfinder window 618 of the enclosed camera body. The top section
620 has a pair of apertures for receiving a shutter release button
622 and for viewing an underlying exposure counter wheel number
624. An aperture for a viewfinder eyepiece 628 is provided in the
back cover section 614 for the camera viewfinder window 618. A
thumb wheel opening 630 permits a thumb wheel 640 to be exposed to
be rotated by the user to advance the filmstrip to the next image
frame to be exposed. A film package of this type is available from
the Eastman Kodak Company as the Fun Saver 35 and in other similar
configurations.
[0115] FIG. 8 depicts a pre-exposed image on the film used in the
OTU film camera 600 depicted in FIGS. 7A and 7B, or sold as a
separate film box. A filmstrip leader 702 and a first image frame
700a of a filmstrip 700 are depicted withdrawn from a film
cartridge door 734 of a film cartridge 730. The film cartridge 730
includes a cartridge shell 736 extending between end plates 738 and
enclosing a hub 732 in a manner well known in the art. The film
cartridge 730 is preferably of the thrust type having a light tight
film cartridge door 734 that can be opened to advance the filmstrip
700 out of or back into the film cartridge 730. In this regard, the
cartridge hub 732 can be engaged by a drive member (not shown) and
rotated in both directions to assist in ejecting or retracting the
filmstrip 700 out of and back into the open film cartridge door
734. The various embodiments of the invention can also be practiced
with the standard film cartridges of the 35 mm type. The filmstrip
leader 702 includes closely spaced perforations 728 for automatic
film advance mechanisms used in cameras. The filmstrip 702 includes
magnetic tracks G01-G0n which, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, are recorded with data identifying specific
services to be provided by a photofinisher. It will be understood
that the track size, number of tracks, and placement on the
filmstrip leader 702 depicted in FIG. 8 are arbitrary and not to
scale. One or more image frames, such as frame 700a, are
pre-exposed with latent images when the OTU film camera 600 is
configured by the product configuration system 50 in FIG. 1. The
latent images are produced from digital images supplied by the
customer as part of block 870 in FIG. 10.
[0116] FIG. 8 also illustrates a further embodiment of the
invention, wherein the filmstrip 700 and the cartridge 730 are
intended to be used in a reloadable film camera, rather than in a
one-time use camera. In this aspect, the filmstrip 700 can be wound
into the cartridge 730 and placed in a film package 750 for
shipping to retail dealers. In this embodiment, the arrangement
including the filmstrip 700 incorporated into the cartridge 730,
and the film package 750, is a photographic film product. The film
package 750 can be, for example, a box, a canister, or any other
suitable container, and can include the graphics, text and colors
typically employed to identify the brand, manufacturer, film speed,
and type of film in a manner well known in the art. It can also
include one or more areas 752 to which the custom product labels 60
can be affixed. The custom product label 60 can include a digitally
printed image supplied by the customer as part of block 110 in FIG.
2. The custom product label 60 can also include text indicating the
specific services to be provided by the photofinisher.
[0117] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a system used to personalize
the OTU film camera 700 depicted in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 includes a
magnetic recording subsystem 810 for recording the data in the
magnetic tracks G01-G0n, and a subsystem 800 for making latent
image exposures on one or more of the image frames 700a, as part of
the process of configuring the filmstrip 700 by the product
configuration system 50 of FIG. 1. The system is controlled by a
system controller 820 which is in turn controlled by the
manufacturing customization computer 52. The filmstrip 700 is
partly withdrawn from the cartridge 730 and advanced past a
perforation sensor 850. Advancement is effected by commands from
the system controller 820 applied to a mechanism for opening the
film cartridge door 734 of the film cartridge 730 and rotating hub
732 to eject the filmstrip leader 702 and drive it between a first
driven roller 822 and an idler roller 824. A drive roller motor
(not shown) rotates the driven roller 822 and the idler motor 824
in a first direction in response to drive signals received from the
system controller 820. The filmstrip leader 702 is then advanced
between a backing support 834 and a magnetic read/write head 836,
and magnetic recording in the tracks G01-G.phi.n is effected by
signals applied to the magnetic recording read/write head 836 from
the system controller 820. The lengths of the tracks G01-G0n are
controlled by signals received from a perforation sensor 850. The
specific data recorded in magnetic recording tracks G01-G4n is
provided by the manufacturing customization computer 52. After the
tracks are recorded, the first drive motor direction is reversed to
drive the filmstrip 700 back into the cartridge 730, and the film
cartridge door 734 is closed.
[0118] The subsystem 800 of FIG. 9 enables the digital images
provided by the product configuration system 50 to be exposed on
one or more image frames 700a. In order to do so, the filmstrip 700
is advanced in a dark enclosure out of the film cartridge door 734.
Then, the filmstrip image frames are advanced an image frame at a
time through a latent image exposure station 838 and between the
second motor driven roller 826 and the idler roller 828 to present
each image frame to be exposed into the exposure gate 848.
[0119] The latent image exposure can be produced using various
methods. Some customers will purchase a large lot of OTU cameras
600 or packaged film rolls 750 that are to be produced having the
same pre-exposed images. For example, several thousand single-use
"Packer football" cameras, having a pre-exposed image of
quarterback Brett Farve, could be ordered for sale at a Packer
football game. In this case, a digital image of Brett Farve would
be provided by the customer as personalized digital data as the lot
of OTU cameras 600 is purchased. The manufacturing customization
computer 52 could connect to a digital hardcopy printer, such as a
Kodak XLS 8650 thermal dye sublimation printer (not shown), in
order to produce a transparency 842 (in FIG. 9) of the Brett Farve
image. The product label printer 58 is used to produce the custom
product labels 60 which can include text, for example, "Packer
Backer Camera," and a low resolution image of Brett Farve. The
custom product labels 60 are affixed to the OTU camera 600 (at
position 615), or the film package (at position 752).
[0120] The transparency 842 containing the transparency image to be
pre-exposed on the film is illuminated by a light source 840, and
the image is projected in focus on the area 700a by an imaging lens
846 when a shutter 844 is opened. The filmstrip 700 is clamped in
an exposure gate 848. The exposure is effected through the opening
and closing of the shutter 844 which is operated by signals from
the system controller 820. Different latent image exposures can be
provided using multiple transparencies and a motorized transparency
transport system (not shown). After one or more of the image frames
700a are exposed in this fashion, the motor driven rollers 822 and
826, and the hub 732, are operated in the second direction to
retract the filmstrip 700 back into the film cartridge 730. The
film cartridge door 734 of the film cartridge 730 is then closed
under control of the system controller 820. To prevent re-exposure
of the pre-exposed frames, the film is then placed in the OTU
camera 600 and the filmstrip 700 is advanced past the pre-exposed
frames. When the film cartridge 730 is separately packaged in the
film package 750, the magnetic tracks recorded with each film frame
indicate which image frames have been pre-exposed, using well-known
mid-roll interrupt methods, to prevent re-exposure of the
pre-exposed frames.
[0121] Some customers will purchase relatively small lots of OTU
cameras 600 or packaged film rolls 750. In this situation, instead
of using the transparency 842 illuminated by the light source 840,
the digital data can be provided directly to a high resolution
digital film writer (not shown), such as a monochrome CRT, which
focuses a high resolution image through a red, green, and blue
color filter wheel and onto the filmstrip 700. Other types of
digital film writers, including writers using LCDs and LEDs, can
alternatively be used.
[0122] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a typical purchase transaction
for providing the personalized OTU cameras 600 depicted in FIG. 7
using the apparatus depicted in FIG. 9. As shown in block 860, the
customer, using a digital communication network, logs onto the
channel 36, which can be the Internet as described earlier in
relation to block 100 of FIG. 2.
[0123] In block 862, the product provider provides the customer
with a menu of cameras and film, such as OTU cameras 600 in FIG. 7
and the packaged film 750 in FIG. 8, that are available for
customization. The menu can also include a list of services, such
as:
[0124] Providing standard optical prints from the film images;
[0125] Providing a CD-R or floppy disk with the digitized film
images;
[0126] Uploading the digitized film images to a web site provided
by the product provider, or alternatively, a web site designated by
the user; and
[0127] E-mailing the images to one or more e-mail addresses
provided by the user.
[0128] In block 864, the customer selects what type of product to
purchase, and the desired quantity. At that point, in block 866, a
menu of customizable features that can be selected, and
corresponding prices, is presented to the customer. In block 868,
the customer selects the desired features of the product they
decide to purchase.
[0129] The features from which the customer can select may
include:
[0130] Providing text, graphics, or digital images to create custom
labels that are affixed to the OTU camera 600 in FIG. 7 or the film
package 750 in FIG. 8;
[0131] Providing one or more digital images to be pre-exposed on
the film contained within the OTU camera 600 in FIG. 7 or the film
package 750 in FIG. 8;
[0132] Identifying, using magnetic tracks G.phi.n in FIG. 8 that
the film images should be chemically developed and then optically
printed, or digitally scanned and digitally printed to produce one
or more service prints for each exposed film frame, having a size
(e.g., 3.5''.times.5'', 4''.times.6'') and finish (e.g., glossy,
matt) selected by the user;
[0133] Identifying, using magnetic tracks G.phi.n in FIG. 8 that
the film images should be digitized and digitally processed to
provide a modified image, such as monochrome, sepia, false-color,
or super saturated color images, rather than normal color
images;
[0134] Identifying, using magnetic tracks G.phi.n in FIG. 8 that
the film images should be digitized and stored on a digital media
selected by the user, such as a floppy disk or PictureCD;
[0135] Identifying, using magnetic tracks G.phi.n in FIG. 8, that
the film images should be digitized and digitally processed to
combine a border template with the film images, as described in
commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,216 to Arnold, the disclosure
of which is herein incorporated by reference;
[0136] Identifying, using magnetic tracks G.phi.n in FIG. 8, that
the film images should be digitized and the digital image files
should be uploaded to the Internet to a prescribed Internet URL
(Universal Resource Locator) provided by the customer, or to a
service account provided by the product provider; Identifying,
using magnetic tracks G.phi.n in FIG. 8, that the film images
should be digitized and the digital image files should be e-mailed
to one or more e-mail addresses provided by the customer; and
[0137] Identifying, using magnetic tracks G.phi.n in FIG. 8,
personal digital data, such as the name, address, or copyright
notice of the camera owner. This information can be printed on the
front or back of prints produced from the exposed film.
[0138] Depending on the features selected, the customer uploads the
necessary digital images, graphics, name, copyright notice, e-mail
addresses, or web URLs (block 870). The personalization information
can also include an identifier for one or more border templates
that can be provided by the product provider. For example, the
customer may be a bride ordering several dozen OTU cameras for a
wedding. The bride can upload a digital image of the wedding
couple, to be used to produce the custom product labels 60 along
with a text message "John and Sue, Jan. 28, 2000". The bride can
select two 4.times.6 digital prints of each image made, and also
select a border template having a wedding motif from a selection of
border templates displayed in block 866. The template can be
further personalized by adding the same text message "John and Sue,
Jan. 28, 2000", or a different message. The bride can also decide
to have a digital image file produced from each film frame and
uploaded to a web site provided by the service provider, which can
later be viewed by all the wedding guests.
[0139] In block 872, the customer enters delivery and billing
information. This information identifies the customer and the
customer's designee, as described earlier in relation to block 112
of FIG. 2. In block 872, the electronic database 44 provides the
product configuration center 50 with the customer's selected
configuration, and the personalization information.
[0140] In block 876, the manufacturing customization computer 52
controls a product label printer 58 in order to produce the custom
product labels 60. These custom product labels 60 are then
attached, for example, by glue or another lamination process, to
the OTU camera 600 in FIG. 7 or the film package 750 in FIG. 8. The
custom product labels 60 are provided in the color scheme selected
by the customer in block 870, and include any special messages,
logos, or images provided by the customer.
[0141] In block 878, the digital images are pre-exposed as latent
images onto the film frames 700, and the magnetic tracks G.phi.n of
the film frames are recorded, as described earlier in relation to
FIG. 9. The information recorded in the magnetic tracks identifies
the services selected in block 868. For example, it identifies what
quantity, size, and finish hard copy prints have been selected. It
further identifies whether a template border file should be used,
and if so, the identification number of the selected border and any
text message that should be included in the border file. It further
identifies whether the film images should be scanned and provided
as digital files on a particular media, or uploaded to a web site
or e-mailed to one or more addresses. In one embodiment of the
present invention, all of this information is stored using the
magnetic recording tracks Gn. In another embodiment, only an
identification number is stored using the magnetic recording tracks
Gn, or alternatively, using a bar code or other identification
number on the OUT camera 600. This identification number is used to
access a corresponding services file stored in the electronic
database 44. When the filmstrip 700 is later developed, this
identification number is read and used to access the appropriate
services file to determine what services and customization options
(e.g., border files) have been purchased by the customer.
[0142] In block 880, the shipping system 70, which communicates
with the manufacturing customization computer 52, controls the
shipping label printer 72 to produce the shipping label 74. The
customized group of OUT cameras 600 or the packaged films 750 is
placed in an appropriately sized shipping container (not shown),
and the shipping label 74 is attached to the shipping container. In
block 882, the shipping container is delivered to the customer or
the customer's designee.
[0143] In block 884, the customers expose the film as in normal
picture-taking, and submit the exposed film, or completely used OTU
cameras 600, for development and services. This can be accomplished
by mailing the film cartridges 730 or the OTU cameras 600 back to
the product provider, or by taking the film cartridges 730 or OTU
cameras 600 to a retail establishment associated with the product
provider.
[0144] In block 886, the film magnetic tracks are read to determine
the services that need to be provided. As described earlier in
relation to block 878, this is done either by directly reading the
services encoded as magnetically recorded information on the
filmstrip 700, or alternatively, by reading the identification
number recorded in the magnetic track or the bard code or ID number
on the OUT camera 600 and using this identification number to
access a corresponding services file stored in electronic database
44, to determine what services and customization options have been
purchased by the customer. In block 888, the appropriate prints,
electronic media, and other services purchased by the customer are
provided from the developed film images.
[0145] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a typical lease transaction for
providing personalized digital imaging products and services. In
this embodiment, a customer leases a digital imaging device, such
as the electronic camera 300. The lease can include, for example, a
monthly fee for the use of both the electronic camera 300 and the
use of services associated with the electronic camera 300.
Alternatively, the lease can include payment for services
associated with the electronic camera 300 on an as-used basis.
[0146] As shown in block 150, the customer, using a digital
communication network, logs onto the channel 36 which can be the
Internet, as described earlier in relation to block 100 of FIG.
2.
[0147] In block 152, the service provider provides the customer
with a menu of imaging devices 80 that are available for lease,
such as the electronic camera 300 depicted in FIG. 3, the APS film
camera 350 depicted in FIG. 4, the digital printer 400 depicted in
FIG. 5, and the digital image display device 500 depicted in FIG.
6. The menu can also include a list of services that can be
provided.
[0148] In block 154, the customer selects a desired type of imaging
device 80 to lease, for example, the electronic camera 300. At that
point, in block 156, a menu of customizable features and services
that can be selected, and corresponding prices, is presented to the
customer. In block 158, the customer selects the personalization
options for both the electronic camera 300, as well as the services
that can be performed on digital images from the electronic camera
300.
[0149] The camera features from which the customer can select
include those described earlier in relation to block 108 of FIG. 2.
The services that can be provided include:
[0150] Digitally printing images produced by the camera to produce
one or more service prints for each exposed film frame, having a
size (e.g., 3.5''.times.5'', 4''.times.6'') and finish (e.g.,
glossy, matt) selected by the customer, as well as an optional
border template file or back printed information selected by the
customer;
[0151] Storing the digital images produced by the camera on a
digital media selected by the customer, such as a PictureCD;
[0152] The service provider storing, and maintaining for a user
selected period of time (e.g., 30 days, 1 year, or 10 years), the
digital images produced by the camera on an Internet accessible
digital storage device, such as on a hard drive connected to an
Internet server; and
[0153] E-mailing the digital images to one or more e-mail addresses
provided by the customer.
[0154] Depending on the features selected, the customer provides
appropriate personalization information that will later be
incorporated into the configured electronic camera 300 (block 160)
as described earlier in relation to block 110 of FIG. 2, as well as
personalization information for the selected services, such as the
ID of the selected template file.
[0155] In block 162, the customer enters delivery and billing
information, as described earlier in relation to block 112 of FIG.
2. In block 164, the electronic database 44 provides the product
configuration center 50 with the customer's selected configuration
and personalization information for the selected imaging device 80
and the selected services.
[0156] In block 168, the manufacturing customization computer 52
shown in FIG. 1 selects the particular software programs required
to provide the features selected by the customer for the customer's
selected imaging device 80, as described earlier in relation to
block 118 of FIG. 2. The manufacturing customization computer 52
also controls the product label printer 58 in order to produce the
custom product labels 60.
[0157] In block 170, the manufacturing customization computer 52
downloads the configured firmware to the imaging device 80 in order
to provide a configured imaging device, such as a configured
electronic camera 300.
[0158] In block 172, the shipping system 70, which communicates
with manufacturing customization computer 52, controls the shipping
label printer 72 to produce the shipping label 74. The configured
electronic camera 300 or other imaging device 80 is placed in a
shipping container (not shown), and the shipping label 74 is
attached to the shipping container. In block 174, the configured
electronic camera 300 or other imaging device 80 is delivered to
the customer or the customer's designee.
[0159] In block 176, a service user account is established for the
customer, which defines the services to be provided to the
customer. This service account information can be provided as part
of electronic database 44, or as a separate digital database. These
services can be provided for digital images uploaded by the
customer to the service provider via the channel 36, such as the
Internet. Alternatively, they could be provided by taking the
removable memory 330 from the electronic camera 300 to a retail
establishment associated with the service provider, and providing
an appropriate service identifier, such as a service identification
number. This service identification number can be stored in the
firmware memory 328 of the electronic camera 300 by the
manufacturing customization computer 52 when the electronic camera
300 is configured. The service identification number can then be
stored onto the removable flash memory 330, either as part of each
image file, or as a separate digital record, so that it can be used
to automatically access the service account for the user to
determine what services should be provided. When desired, the
customer can modify the service user account to add additional
services and to modify the lease agreement to include the
additional services and to provide payment for such services.
[0160] A computer program product, such as a readable storage
medium, can store the programs in accordance with the present
invention for operating the methods set forth above. The readable
storage medium can be a magnetic storage media, such as a magnetic
disk (such as a floppy disk) or magnetic tape; optical storage
media, such as an optical disk, an optical tape, or a machine
readable bar code; solid state electronic storage devices, such as
a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM); or any
other physical device or medium employed to store computer
programs.
[0161] The present invention is not limited to the particular
leasing and/or sales arrangements discussed above. Various other
methods for providing photographic goods and services may be
employed in accordance with the present invention. Referring to
FIG. 12, there is illustrated a schematic diagram of an alternate
method and system 900 in accordance with the present invention,
like numerals indicating like parts and operations as previously
discussed. A consumer or customer desiring to utilize the system
900 would access a service provider 908 via any appropriate
communication network using an appropriate input station. Examples
of suitable input stations are illustrated in FIG. 12. For example,
a personal computer 910, a kiosk 912 at retail location, a cable
set top box 914, cellular phone 915, or a hard wired phone 917.
With respect to the use of computer 910, communication with
photographic service provider 908 is accomplished through the use
of an internet service provider 918 which provides communication
via the internet 919. The user can input selections utilizing
software provided by the service provider 908 or a third party. The
software could include a menu of cameras to be selected and a menu
of photographic product/service plans to be supplied by
photographic product/service provider 908. The service provider 908
could be a photofinishing wholesale lab, a minilab, a retail store,
etc. As illustrated the service provider 908 has a server 920 for
communication to various input stations. The server 920 is in
communication with a computer 922 which includes image data base
924 for storing digital images sent to the service provider 908 and
a customer data base 926 for associating the stored digital images
with particular customer. The service provider 908 is associated
with a fulfillment provider 918 that provides the goods and/or
services being requested by the customer through the service
provider 908. These goods and services may comprise the purchase
and/or lease of any goods and/or services, including but not
limited to prints, mugs, digital image storage and remote access,
photo CD, reprints, image services, etc. The fulfillment provider
918 may be separate or be incorporated as a part of the service
provider 908.
[0162] As previously noted digital images and customer orders for
goods and/or services can be obtained and communicated to service
provider 908 by various means. For example a digital camera 928 may
be used for capturing of digital images which can down loaded to
personal computer 910, phone 917, or kiosk 912. The digital images
and orders can then be forwarded to access service provider 908
through internet service provider (ISP) 932 and internet 919.
[0163] Alternatively, digital images may be forwarded to service
provider 908 from cable box 914 which is communication with a cable
head end server 938 of a local cable service provider 939. The
cable box 914 is hook to an associated television and/or monitor
941. The cable service provider 939 may also have a digital storage
device 940 for storing digital images and associated information
forwarded from the cable box 914. Digital images may be inputted
into cable box 914 using digital camera 928 and appropriate
Universal Serial Bus (USB) port provided on box 914. A touch pad
936 on box 914 or remote cable box control device may be used to
program box 914 for receiving and/or transmitting of images and
associated date to and from server 938. An advantage of using a
local cable provider 939 is that transmissions to and from the
cable box 914 is on a broadband communication network which allows
for the quick transmission of large digital data files such as that
associated with digital image files. Additionally use of a cable
box avoids the necessity of a customer to have a computer in the
house and pay additional communication fees for an ISP and/or extra
communication lines. When an image is uploaded to the cable service
provider 939 it is preferably done at a high resolution. This
allows the cable service provider 939 to be able forward on as a
high resolution digital image or as low resolution image, retaining
the high resolution image at data base 940. This is of additional
advantage in the situation when the customer forwards the image to
another third person, such as a relative, who does not have a
computer, but has a cable box 914. The low resolution image can be
forwarded to the third party and the third party can place an
customer order as previously discussed with the image service
provider 908. The high resolution image would then be sent to the
service provider 908 avoiding the necessity of sending the high
resolution to the third party, and thus, making it more efficient
image transmission system for all involved. An acknowledgement can
be sent to the original customer advising the customer that the
third party has placed an order using one of the forwarded images.
A confirmation message can also be sent to the third party customer
through use of the cable box 914. The original customer can also
place a customer image order with the service provider 908 which is
to be forwarded to a designated third party and confirmation of
this can be forwarded to the designated third party. The customer
image order may comprise, but not limited to print, a product
having an image, for example, a mousepad, puzzle, shirt, album
page, etc.
[0164] At any of the input stations a user can select a camera from
a menu of cameras or other available goods or services. In the
situation where photographic input station is located at a retail
location, the customer could also have the option of trying out
several selected cameras to decide which camera the customer would
prefer. At the same time, the customer can select a photographic
product/service plan from a menu of available plans that is
associated with the selected camera. The photographic
product/service plan will define the photographic products and/or
services that are associated with the selected camera.
[0165] The photographic product/service plan would also be set for
a monthly or yearly fee in which a predetermined amount of
photographic services and/or products, as discussed above, are
provided to the user for the designated fee. Once the user selects
the camera and the photographic product/service plan, this
information is entered into a customer data base to set up a user
product/service account indicative of the selected camera and the
selected photographic product/service plan. The data base stores
the information with respect the selected camera and the selected
photographic product/service plan, and is further adapted to update
the user product/service account as services and/or products are
provided to the customer. In addition more than one plan may be
associated with a single input station. Separate accounts can then
be set up with respect to an individual and/or a particular camera
or other product. An account ID or product serial number could be
used for identification of a particular account.
[0166] In the case where the selected camera is a film camera or
hybrid digital-film camera, the photographic product/service plan
can provide photographic services and/or products such as supplying
a selected amount of photographic prints from rolls of film exposed
by the selected camera 14a, automatically supplying additional
rolls of unexposed film at a predetermined rate. The predetermined
rate may be at a specific cycle rate, for example, five rolls of
film per month, a new roll when an exposed roll is received, or
upon request. Further, the photographic product/service can include
scanning images on the film exposed by the selected camera 928 to
create a digital record of the image. As a further option, the
photographic product/service plan can include scanning the film
exposed by the selected camera and providing a disk or photo CD of
the scanned images. As a yet further option, the digital record of
the scanned images can be returned to a user or designated
recipient electronically via, for example, internet. A further
option can involve scanning and storing the images for a
predetermined amount of time. Other options available under the
photographic product/service plan could include the creation of
image products 14a such as cups, mugs, T-shirts, etc.
[0167] In the case where the selected camera is a digital camera,
the photographic product/service plan could provide photographic
services and/or products in the form of (1) the electronic storage
of images captured by the camera for a predetermined amount of time
as set in the photographic product/service plan; (2) the electronic
forwarding of images captured by the camera to a designated
recipient; (3) the provision of prints of images captured by the
digital camera; (4) the provision of an image product such as a
T-shirt for an image captured by the camera; or (5) a disk having
the images captured by the selected camera.
[0168] Of course, it is noted that under the system and method of
the present invention, the user is not limited to pre-selected
services and/or products under a plan. With the system and method
of the present invention, a user can create personal customized
plans which only includes services and/or products specifically
chosen by him/her.
[0169] Thus, for a periodic fee such as a monthly or yearly fee,
the user would have photographic services and/or products as
described above rendered to images digitally captured and/or film
exposed by the selected camera. The fulfillment center 918
operationally associated with photographic product/service provider
908 would continually update the created user product/service
account as photographic services and/or products are rendered to a
user and/or completed.
[0170] At the end of the account, subscription or contract, the
user may have the option of keeping the selected camera at no cost,
purchasing the selected camera at a reduced rate, or exchanging the
selected camera for a new camera.
[0171] Thus, an advantage of the system and method of the present
invention is that it provides for a convenient way for a consumer
to use a high end digital camera at a low front end cost. It
further permits the consumer to bundle the use of the selected
camera with a variety of customer product/service plans which can
be customized in accordance with the consumer's preference.
[0172] The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modifications can be effected within
the scope of the present invention. The present invention being
limited by the claims that follow.
PARTS LIST
[0173] 10 computer
[0174] 12 CPU motherboard
[0175] 14 display monitor
[0176] 16 keyboard
[0177] 18 mouse
[0178] 20 hard drive
[0179] 22 dial-in modem
[0180] 24 color scanner
[0181] 30 Internet service provider equipment
[0182] 32 modem
[0183] 34 computers/routers
[0184] 36 channel
[0185] 40 product customization center
[0186] 42 Internet server
[0187] 44 electronic database
[0188] 46 billing system
[0189] 50 product configuration system
[0190] 52 manufacturing customization computer
[0191] 54 product firmware database
[0192] 58 product label printer
[0193] 60 custom label
[0194] 70 shipping system
[0195] 72 shipping label printer
[0196] 74 shipping label
[0197] 80 customized imaging device
[0198] 300 electronic camera
[0199] 302 flash
[0200] 303 user controls
[0201] 304 control processor and timing generator circuit
[0202] 306 clock driver
[0203] 308 autofocus and autoexposure detectors
[0204] 310 zoom and focus motor drives
[0205] 312 zoom lens
[0206] 314 image sensor
[0207] 316 analog signal processing and analog-to-digital converter
circuit
[0208] 318 DRAM buffer memory
[0209] 320 image processor
[0210] 322 host interface
[0211] 324 memory card interface
[0212] 326 RAM memory
[0213] 328 firmware memory
[0214] 330 flash memory card
[0215] 332 image display
[0216] 340 host computer
[0217] 342 interface cable
[0218] 350 film camera
[0219] 352 zoom lens
[0220] 354 zoom and focus motors
[0221] 356 autofocus and autoexposure detectors
[0222] 358 flash
[0223] 360 magnetic writer unit
[0224] 362 film transport unit
[0225] 364 control processor
[0226] 366 host interface
[0227] 367 interface cable
[0228] 368 RAM memory
[0229] 370 firmware memory
[0230] 372 user controls
[0231] 374 LCD display
[0232] 380 APS film
[0233] 400 digital printer
[0234] 410 media transport mechanism
[0235] 412 marking apparatus
[0236] 420 processor
[0237] 424 memory card interface
[0238] 426 RAM memory
[0239] 428 firmware memory
[0240] 430 removable memory card
[0241] 432 display
[0242] 440 host computer
[0243] 442 host interface
[0244] 500 digital image display device
[0245] 520 processor
[0246] 526 RAM memory
[0247] 528 firmware memory
[0248] 530 removable memory card
[0249] 532 color image display
[0250] 540 host computer
[0251] 542 host interface
[0252] 544 modem
[0253] 600 one-time use film camera
[0254] 610 exterior camera package
[0255] 612 main front cover section
[0256] 614 back cover section
[0257] 615 position
[0258] 616 taking lens
[0259] 618 viewfinder window
[0260] 620 top section
[0261] 622 shutter release button
[0262] 624 exposure counter wheel number
[0263] 628 viewfinder eyepiece
[0264] 630 thumb wheel opening
[0265] 640 thumb wheel
[0266] 700 filmstrip
[0267] 700a first image frame
[0268] 702 filmstrip leader
[0269] 728 perforation
[0270] 730 film cartridge
[0271] 732 hub
[0272] 734 film cartridge door
[0273] 736 cartridge shell
[0274] 738 end plates
[0275] 750 film package
[0276] 752 area
[0277] 800 subsystem
[0278] 810 magnetic recording subsystem
[0279] 820 system controller
[0280] 822 motor driven roller
[0281] 824 idler roller
[0282] 826 motor driven roller
[0283] 828 idler roller
[0284] 832 hub
[0285] 834 backing support
[0286] 836 magnetic read/write head
[0287] 840 light source
[0288] 842 transparency
[0289] 844 shutter
[0290] 846 imaging lens
[0291] 848 exposure gate
[0292] 850 perforation sensor
[0293] 860 block
[0294] 862 block
[0295] 864 block
[0296] 866 block
[0297] 868 block
[0298] 870 block
[0299] 872 block
[0300] 874 block
[0301] 876 block
[0302] 878 block
[0303] 880 block
[0304] 882 block
[0305] 884 block
[0306] 886 block
[0307] 888 block
[0308] 908 service provider
[0309] 910 personal computer
[0310] 912 kiosk
[0311] 914 cable set top box
[0312] 915 cellular phone
[0313] 917 phone
[0314] 918 fulfillment provider
[0315] 919 Internet
[0316] 920 server
[0317] 922 computer
[0318] 924 image database
[0319] 926 customer database
[0320] 928 digital camera
[0321] 932 Internet Service Provider (ISP)
[0322] 936 touch pad
[0323] 939 cable service provider
[0324] 940 digital storage device
[0325] 941 TV/monitor
* * * * *
References