Patent Application
20060061804
The present invention relates to a modular digital imaging assembly that includes a digital photofinishing system, such as a kiosk, and a portable imaging device that are adapted to communicate with each other through a physical docking arrangement between the portable imaging device and the digital photofinishing system or through a wireless interface.
Photo kiosks are well known and accept images from a variety of digital and analog sources including; camera cards, digital image files, Picture CDs, film negatives, un-processed film, prints, video cameras, video tape, images downloaded from the Internet, connected digital cameras, cell phone cameras, etc. It is also known to network kiosks and to provide connection between a kiosk and a further type of digital photofinishing system such as a digital minilab, CD/DVD player/recorder, remote Internet site, alternative format printers, such as a “poster printer”, and lenticular motion card printers. Problems with this situation include, providing a wired infrastructure in a retail venue, user queuing, privacy, and comfort. Many retail establishments have concrete floors, such that providing overhead wiring is unsightly and rewiring an existing store would be costly.
Kiosks also provide a single point of contact limiting access to output devices to one user at a time. In addition, users are usually required to stand in front of the kiosk in order to view and manipulate the images and order image products. Since the kiosk is in an upright configuration in a public location there is no contingency for privacy. In this situation, the personal images of a user may be in open view to any passerby in the retail environment. Users are also required to stand for extended periods of time, cannot engage in other activities while using the kiosk, and may feel pressure to hurry if other users are waiting to use the kiosk.
To overcome these limitations what is required is a digital photofinishing assembly that includes a portable or modular digital imaging device that can be provided to users at retail venues. The imaging device can be adapted to communicate either through a wireless interface or a physical interface (such as a docking area that removably holds the imaging device) with a digital photofinishing system such as a stand-alone kiosk. The modular or portable imaging device has a display and a user interface, such as a touch screen, and can be further networked to output, storage, and transmission devices via a docking arrangement with a kiosk or a wireless connection. The device has the ability to read various digital image storage means such as camera cards and Picture CD's directly. It also has the ability to acquire images from other devices such as film scanners, print scanners, cell phone cameras, film processors, online storage such as Ofoto, and local image storage. In the case of online storage, such as Ofoto, it is well known that these services allow users to upload and download image content, make this content available broadly or to select users, and to order image products and services directly from the online storage provider.
Due to the lack of wires for network access and the use of batteries to power the modular imaging device, with the arrangement of the present invention, a user can practice digital imaging tasks and order image output products from anywhere within a retail venue. Retail venues that were once thought of as being incompatible with imaging kiosks and photofinishing due to floor space and aesthetic concerns can be enhanced to include wireless networks and a digital photofinishing infrastructure. The digital photofinishing system could be isolated from the retail environment in a backroom or in an adjacent facility. This would allow users to sit and relax while accessing images with a small portable device without being exposed to the sounds produced by photofinishing equipment or the smells produced by chemical processing agents.
Venues such as bookstores, coffee houses, bars, restaurants, museums, galleries, etc. where users spend leisure and social time would now be ideally suited for sharing images with friends and family. In those retail venues seating is arranged to provide personal spaces. Since the modular imaging device of the present invention could be hand held and/or placed on a table, the user would be afforded a degree of privacy. The portable unit could also be installed in a table or seat back in the case of a large vehicle such as a bus, train, cruise ship, ferry, or airplane. The user would also be relieved of the pressure and discomfort of standing in front of an imaging kiosk while others are waiting for their turns. If the user has his/her images stored on a camera card, he/she would simply insert the card into the modular imaging device to access his/her images. If the image bearing media included prints or unprocessed film that would not be convenient or possible to process on a portable modular hand-held imaging device, the user would give these items to an employee who would perform the appropriate operation in the “backroom” or other alternative location and send the resulting digital images to the imaging device loaned to the user. Order billing can be arranged by the products or services obtained, the time the unit was in use, or a combination of both. In addition loss prevention can be maintained by use of a wireless network to alert the venue staff that the device has left the area intended for use, or has lost contact with the network or by use of a deposit or credit card imprint if the user fails to return the unit or damages it. In addition, loss prevention can be enhanced by enabling the dock to lock the modular hand-held imaging device in place until a valid credit card or ID is provided.
In addition the entire system can be packaged as a portable system suitable for events such as festivals, air shows, sporting events, and the like. The portable hand held imaging devices can be further configured with an image capture element to convert them to wireless digital cameras.
Also, the assembly of the present invention can be configured so that input devices such as film scanners, print scanners, DigiPix rapid film converters, online and local image storage devices, camera card reader/writers, video tape recorder/players, CD/DVD reader/writers, etc. are not directly accessible by the user. This relieves the user of the burden of operating equipment that may be confusing or intimidating. If the input devices were accessible by the user, queues could form if several users required the same input device or multiple devices would be required. Most of these input devices can also serve as output devices enabling the user to view and if desired modify image content such as still images and video segments and re-record to the same or different media via the modular hand-held device.
The system can also create user profiles and preferences if user ID's are provided. This can be used to customize the interface, user experience, image access, image product offerings, and billing such as “frequent user” premiums. It can also be used to collect demographic information to determine buying patterns for promotions, inventory control etc. This ID information can be provided in many forms such as a credit or debit card, biometric data such as a retinal scan or thumb print, or seat assignment information in the case with a vehicle or stadium event.
The present invention therefore relates to a digital imaging assembly that comprises a digital photofinishing system located at a first location and adapted to receive digital images and route the digital images to an output device; and at least one portable digital image receiving and display device. The at least one portable digital image receiving and display device being removably held on a docking area of the digital photofinishing system and being adapted to be physically removed from the docking area to a second location. The at least one portable digital image receiving and display device comprising a digital image insert section to permit an insertion of digital images into the at least one portable digital image receiving and display device, a display to view the inserted images and an interface to order imaging services and provide order information for the inserted images, such that the insertion, viewing, displaying and ordering relative to the digital images inserted into the portable digital image receiving and display device occur at the second location.
The present invention further relates to a method of offering imaging services that comprises the steps of: removably storing at least one portable digital image receiving and display device on a docking area of a digital photofinishing system; permitting a removal of the at least one portable digital image receiving and display device from the docking area to a location remote from said digital photofinishing system; permitting, from the remote location, an ordering session which includes at least a submission of a request for imaging services for customer images loaded into the portable digital image receiving and display device; and transferring the customer images and the request for imaging services from the portable digital image receiving and display device to the photofinishing system.
The present invention further relates to a wireless digital imaging assembly that comprises: a digital photofinishing system located in a retail location and adapted to receive digital data representative of digital images from a plurality of input sources; and a digital image display device located within a predetermined region of the retail location, with the digital image display device having a display for displaying at least one of the digital images and being adapted to communicate with the digital photofinishing system over at least a wireless network. The digital photofinishing system is further adapted to store the digital data and transmit the digital data over the wireless network to the digital image display device; and the digital image display device is adapted to access the digital images solely from the digital photofinishing system and transmit the digital images solely to the digital photofinishing system.
The present invention further relates to a digital imaging assembly which comprises a digital photofinishing system located at a first location and adapted to receive digital images and route the digital images to an output device; and at least one portable digital image receiving and display device, with the at least one portable digital image receiving and display device being removably held on a docking area of the digital photofinishing device and being adapted to be physically removed from the docking area to a second location, and the at least one portable digital image receiving and display device comprising a digital image insert section to permit an insertion of digital images into the at least one portable digital image receiving and display device which is only active when in the docking area. The at least one portable digital image receiving and display device further including a display to view the inserted images and a interface to order imaging services and provide order information for the inserted images. The viewing, displaying and ordering relative to the digital images inserted into the portable digital image receiving and display device occur at the second location.
The present invention further relates to a digital imaging assembly which comprises a digital photofinishing system located at a first location and adapted to receive digital images and route the digital images to an output device; and a stand adapted to removably hold at least one portable digital image receiving and display device thereon, the at least one portable digital image and display device being adapted to be physically removed from the stand to a second location. The at least one portable digital image receiving and display device comprising a digital image insert section to permit an insertion of digital images into the at least one portable digital image receiving and display device, a display to view the inserted images and an interface to order imaging services and provide order information for the inserted images; wherein the insertion, viewing, displaying and ordering relative to the digital images inserted into the portable digital image receiving and display device occur at the second location, and a placement of the portable digital image and display device on the stand enables a communication between the portable digital image and display device and the digital photofinishing system.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,
Digital photofinishing system 20 can optionally include a delivery section 30 controlling the delivery of a medium having the selected image as well as a credit, debit, prepaid or loyalty card payment mechanism 70 that is adapted to permit a user to swipe their card to pay for imaging services.
A digital file comprising a digital image can be transmitted to/from system 20 from/to another display device, a server, digital minilab, wholesale lab, remote computer or other digital device over a communication network.
Referring to
With the arrangement of the present invention, assembly 100 is designed and sized to be located at a retail venue such as, for example, a coffee shop. In this case, assembly 100 permits a user to obtain imaging services in the convenience of a private setting such as the booth in which they are sitting. More specifically, in the arrangement as illustrated in
After the user completes his/her image ordering session, the user can return device 202 to system 20 and dock or place device 202 on holding section 200. In one embodiment, the physical docking can enable the transfer of images and information/instructions from device 202 to system 20 so as to enable the fulfillment of the imaging order. In the example of
In one embodiment, system 20 does not transfer images as received from input media to device 202. The images are first modified before being transferred to device 202. An example of such a modification is reducing resolution. The images as received are stored in system 20. After the user inputs information/instructions to device 202, the information/instructions are transferred from device 202 to system 20 so as to enable the fulfillment of the imaging order. In this embodiment, it is unnecessary to transfer images back to system 20 from device 202. Instructions are implemented with images as received and stored on system 20. This may also be the case even if the images are not modified.
In a further embodiment, the insertion of images into device 202 only occurs when device 202 is docked on system 20. In this scenario there are no user accessible image inputs when device 202 is not docked onto system 20. With this embodiment, images are inserted into system 20 via an insert section on system 20 or on device 202 while device 202 is docked to system 20. When image insertion is complete, a user can remove device 202 from the dock and take device 202 to a private setting for an image ordering session. Once complete, device 202 can be returned to system 20 so as to enable the fulfillment of the order.
Of course, the present invention is not limited to the physical docking communication orientation shown in
As an option, in the embodiment of
As a further option, as shown in
In addition, loss prevention can be maintained by use of the wireless network to determine when to initiate a notification to alert the venue staff that the device 202 has left the area intended for use, or has lost contact with the network connecting it with system 20. An alarm can sound or other notification means can be used. For example, instead of or in addition to an alarm, the device can be enabled to automatically shut down when the device has left the area of intended use. Also, if the user desires that he/she does not want to order products after using device 202, the system is enabled to erase the memory within device 202 that includes the user's images to ensure that there is no unauthorized use of his/her images.
With reference to
With device 202 of the present invention, a user can utilize certain types of image bearing mediums that can easily be used with such a modular type unit, such as picture cards. Other types of image bearing mediums, such as film may not be convenient for use with device 202, since a film scanner is required. In that case, the film scanner can be localized on system 20, and thus, the user would enter the images via the scanner at system 20. In this scenario, the user can still practice the present invention, since once the images are downloaded by the scanner, the user can thereafter remove a portable or modular device 202 and manipulate images in privacy at a second location such as at a booth in a coffee shop.
The system of the present invention has been described with reference to a user walking up to a kiosk (for example, system 20), and through the presentation of a loyalty card or some other type of payment mechanism (i.e. credit card), obtaining the release of a device 202 from system 20. Thereafter, the user can take device 202 to a private location where they can proceed with an image ordering/manipulation session as previously described.
In a further feature of the present invention, rather than approaching system 20 to obtain a release of device 202 and inserting the images into the system themselves, a user can walk up to an operator to submit their image storage medium, and thereafter, the operator can upload the images to a server which are then transferred to device 202. At that point, the user can manipulate the images in a private location through device 202. More specifically, in this embodiment and with reference to the flow chart of
Therefore, unlike the previous embodiment where a user can control the insertion of images, in the embodiment of
If the answer to step 610 with respect to inquiring whether the images require manipulation or adjustment is yes, the procedure moves to step 634 where the image manipulation and adjustment tools are presented to the user on the display device 202. Thereafter, the user performs the required manipulations and adjustments using the tools and touch screen or a similar pointing of device on device 202 (steps 636), and the procedure goes back to step 612 where the user can then select the image products and services required. At that point, the process goes to steps 614 and 616 as described above.
At step 620, the display device instructs the user to return the display device to the operator if the user has agreed to pay for the selected services or if the order is canceled (step 618). At that point, the device 202 is returned to the operator (step 622) and there is an inquiry as to whether an image product or service order is present (step 624). If the answer is no, the memory within display device 202 is erased to ensure that their will be no unauthorized usage of the user's images, and the image storage media is returned to the user (step 626). If the answer is yes, the digital image files and products and service order information are transferred to the server 700 (step 628,
As shown in
Thereafter, display device 202 instructs the user to return the display device to the operator (step 822). It is further noted that if the answer is no to step 818, and the order is canceled (step 820), the procedure goes to step 822, where the display device instructs the user to return the display device to the operator (step 822). After step 822, the device 202 is returned to the operator (step 824), and then there is a check to see whether an order has been placed (step 826). If the answer is no, the memory within display device 202 is erased to assure that no unauthorized use of the images occur, and the image storage media is returned to the user (step 828). If the answer is yes, the procedure goes on to step 830 where the order information is used to transfer the digital image files to the appropriate storage, output and/or transmission device. Thereafter, the required image products and services are provided to the user, payment is collected and the image storage media is returned to the user (step 832). At this point, the procedure can go to step 828 where the memory within the display device 202 is erased and the image storage media is returned to the user.
As described, the arrangement and method of the present invention is applicable in a retail environment or location such as a department store, a restaurant or a coffee shop. Other types of retail environments or locations to which the arrangement and method of the present invention is applicable would be on a cruise ship, an amusement park, a national park, a zoo etc., or an airline arrangement that includes at least the departure airport, the destination airport and the airplane.
On a cruise ship, park, zoo etc., the kiosk (digital photofinishing system) can be placed at the park, zoo or ship, and the device 202 can be distributed to the customer for use while in the park, zoo or on the ship in a manner analogous to the description provided above with regard to a retail establishment. In this way, a user can continuously obtain photofinishing services and print and/or upload images while they are at the park, zoo etc or on the ship.
In an airport environment, a kiosk can be provided at a departure airport where a user can access the kiosk and/or upload images to the service. Thereafter, while on the plane a user can use the device 202 in a manner as described above, wherein seats 7000 include an interface locking member 7002 that permits a customer to unlock and use device 202 with a payment card 7004 as shown in
As a still further embodiment, in the case where the user is traveling and submits his/her image file at the departure site such as an airport, a bus depot, a seaport or train station, the service provider at the departure site can be enabled to transfer the images to an intermediary device such as a camera card or disk with the transferred images thereon such as a DVD or CD. Thereafter, the service provider can provide the user with the card or disk with the transferred images thereon at the departure site, can arrange for the physical delivery of the card or disk to an enabled system on board the mode of transportation, or can deliver the card disk or directly to the user either before they arrive at the mode of transportation or while they are on the mode of transportation. In this embodiment, the user's seating location or some other designation on the mode of transportation would include a device 202 that would be enabled to read the images from the card or disk, and would permit the user to perform an image ordering session as described above. The user's images in accordance with the image ordering session can be fulfilled on the mode of transportation or at a remote location such as the final destination of the user. The user may also designate to have the final output sent to their home or any other location designated by the user.
In a further feature of the invention, the device 202 can include an interface 5000 (
In a still further feature of the invention, the digital photofinishing system of the present invention can be enabled to accept and create video images to permit a customer to create, edit and view video images while using the system.
In a still further feature of the invention, the system of the present invention can be enabled to generate enticement coupons on the device 202 which could be general in nature or could have a connection to the retail environment, cruise ship, park or zoo where the customer is using the device. In this manner, the customer can receive enticements on the display while using the device 202, or can receive enticements with their prints.
It is further noted that with respect to inputting digital images and/or outputting digital images with regard to the disclosed embodiments, such images can be transferred via wireless means, traditional telephone lines or cell phones.
Further, in the case of multiple users sending images simultaneously to system 20, queuing of the images can be established by a first-in-first-out process (FIFO), a frequent user priority, output size requirements or any other level of priority established by the provider.
Also, for rapid access to images, the system of the present invention can be adapted to provide low-resolution versions of the user's images to enable a quick review and/or preview of the images.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments there, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention.
