Patent Application
20060146137
N/A
N/A
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rights whatsoever.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of electronic color imaging, and more particularly, to an apparatus for electronically producing printed picture postcards incorporating images provided by the user in digital format, or images of the user obtained by an integrated camera so as to produce a unique postcard product.
2. Description of Related Art
Travelers often desire to communicate with family and friends while traveling. Travelers also further wish to send a photograph or image of a place of interest encountered during the trip. One method of providing friends and family with such images involves taking pictures with standard roll-type film, having the film developed, the pictures printed, and mailing the pictures in an envelope having the proper postage affixed thereto. With advances in technology, travelers with digital cameras now have the ability to capture and store digital images. Digital cameras have proven effective in providing people with a simple, inexpensive, and convenient means of capturing and digitally storing images, but are relatively ineffective in transferring images while the user is traveling and does not have access to a computer. Often times, however, the traveler desires nothing more than to place a small message on the back of a postcard. Heretofore, there have been no devices available that allow travelers to create customized postcards that include images of the traveler or images provided by the traveler for instant printout.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an apparatus that is capable of accepting and/or producing a digital image, producing a personalized postcard using said digital image, affixing proper postage to the personalized postcard and printing the postcard.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages in the art by providing an automated personal postcard dispensing apparatus capable of obtaining an image from a user and incorporating the image on a postcard along with a personalized text message to produce a customized postcard complete with proper postage affixed. An automated postcard dispensing apparatus according to the present invention is a computer device capable of capturing a digital image using an incorporated digital camera, scanner, CD/DVD reader, diskette drive, or memory card reader, and integrating the image into a personalized postcard along with a text message. In addition, the apparatus is configured to allow the user to determine proper postage, and print a personalized postcard complete with proper postage affixed.
The apparatus produces the postcard containing the an image provided by or selected by the user while allowing a clearly defined area on the postcard for a text message, the address of the intended recipient, and postage for immediate mailing. The apparatus further includes a device for receiving payment, either by coin, cash, or credit/debit card.
The apparatus includes a cash-receiving device, a computer, a video camera, a video monitor, a printer, a CD reader, a card reader, means to receive, store and, on command, present a pictorial background and instructions to the user flashed onto the monitor for quick and simple utilization by the user. The apparatus is preferably housed in a booth for location near heavily traveled tourist routes to facilitate use by many persons. The user is therefore easily able to send a fun, colorful record of their trip to friends and relatives showing them or an image selected by them, and further to save on postage costs by using postcard postage in lieu of letter postage. In addition, the postcards are electronically printed and may be kept by the user as a memento or souvenir of their trip or mailed to friends and relatives.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automated postcard dispensing apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated postcard dispensing apparatus adapted for creating personalized postcards from images obtained by the user.
In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
With reference now to the drawings,
As best seen in
A digital camera 22 is provided for obtaining a digital image or self-portrait of one or more persons present during the transaction. Digital camera 22 is preferably substantially contained within housing 12 with the lens thereof projecting through an opening in front panel 14 as best seen in
In addition, Images may also be input via any one of a variety of input devices. More particularly, apparatus 10 includes a scanner 24 for allowing the user to scan in a previously printed photograph or other image. Furthermore, apparatus 10 is adapted to receive digitally stored images from various magnetic and optical media via a 3.5″ disk drive 26 and a CD/DVD reader 28. A card reader 30 is also provided to allow the apparatus to obtain digitally stored images from a memory stick or card. Card reader 30 is preferably a universal-type card reader having the capability to obtain data stored on any of the commonly available memory sticks and cards. Finally, a keyboard 32, equipped with a ball-type cursor controller 34, is provided to allow the user to input text by typing. Accordingly, the user may type personalized text messages and mailing addresses appearing on the postcard.
To allow the user to preview the postcard design, a display 36 is provided to allow the user to preview his or her postcard during the creation process to allow for editing and final approval prior to printing. Display 32 preferably comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD), however any suitable display, such as a CRT or flat panel monitor, is considered within the scope of the present invention. Once the user is satisfied with his/her personalized postcard as viewed on display 32, the user authorizes the printing, and dispensing of the card. Accordingly, apparatus 10 is further equipped with an internal color printer 40 having the capability of producing high quality, high resolution, color photograph quality prints. A supply of “blank” postcard sheets 42 are stored internally within housing 12 in a postcard sheet bin 44 to feed sheets into printer 40 as best seen in
Once the desired image is obtained, the apparatus positions the image on an image print portion of the post card as seen in step 118. In a preferred embodiment, the postcard is partitioned in half with one half functioning to receive an image and the other half functioning to receive text. Accordingly, as seen in step 120, upon proper receipt and positioning of the image the computer prompts the user to type in a text message using keyboard 32. In accordance with step 122, the computer then prompts the user to enter location of the desired recipient, e.g. country, state, zip code, etc. As seen in step 124 the postage is then calculated based on the information provided by the user. The user then completes the transaction by providing additional payment to cover the postage as depicted in step 126. In the event that the payment is insufficient, the computer prompts the user for an additional sum 128. Once the correct amount is paid, the postcard is printed with proper postage affixed as seen in step 130.
As noted above, an image may be chosen from a plurality of stored images that may be indigenous to the area wherein the apparatus is located (i.e. Washington Monument, Golden Gate Bridge, etc.) thereby eliminating the need of the user to physically be at that background when the self-portrait is integrated therein or pictorially represent other backgrounds. The apparatus produces the postcard containing the image supplied by the user integrated therein while allowing a clearly defined area on the postcard for a text message, the address of the intended recipient, and postage for immediate mailing.
The apparatus is preferably placed in a public location near heavily traveled tourist routes to facilitate use by many persons. The user is therefore easily able to send a fun, colorful record of their trip to friends and relatives showing them in front of a choice of backgrounds without bothering others to take their picture, be photographed in backgrounds showing locations they may not, for one reason or another, be able to visit or photograph and further to save on postage costs by using postcard postage in lieu of letter postage. In addition, the postcards are electronically printed and may be kept by the user as a memento or souvenir of their trip or mailed to friends and relatives.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
