SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORDERING A PRINT OF A DIGITALLY REPRESENTED STILL IMAGE

Abstract

A method for ordering a print of at least one digitally represented still image using a remote computer is provided, wherein each still image is a separate data file. The method may include the steps of selecting a data file representative of a digitally represented still image using the remote computer; selecting a print format for the digitally represented still image; establishing a print order data file which includes the selected print format for the digitally memory using the remote computer thereby allowing the saved print order data file to be subsequently communicated to a photofinisher or a Kiosk to produce and deliver the print. Further, a method of splitting a print order is provided so that different delivery criteria may be established on an item-by-item basis within the same print order data file.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be better understood by reference to the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 generally illustrates a networking environment in which the present invention may be used;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram generally illustrating a computer environment in which the invention may be used;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram generally illustrating a photofinisher that may be used in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 generally illustrates another type of networking environment in which the present invention may be used;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram generally illustrating a Kiosk that may be used in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7-18 generally illustrate views displayed on the remote computer produced during implementation of a system and method for ordering digitally represented images in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating a method in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 20 and 21 generally illustrate views displayed on the remote computer produced during implementation of a system and method for ordering digitally represented images in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. In a system including a remote computer, a method for ordering a print of at least one digitally represented still image using the remote computer, wherein each still image is a separate data file, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a data file representative of a digitally represented still image using the remote computer;selecting a print format for the digitally represented still image;establishing a print order data file which includes the selected print format for the digitally represented still image; andsubsequent to establishing the print order data file, establishing communication with at least one of a photofinisher and a Kiosk; anddownloading the print order data file to the at least one of the photofinisher and Kiosk, wherein the at least one of the photofinisher and the Kiosk produces the print of the digitally represented still image in the selected print format.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein communication with the at least one of the photofinisher and the Kiosk is established using a networked connection.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote computer includes a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, the method further comprises the step of: displaying the digitally represented still image on the display after the data file representative of the digitally represented still image is selected.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of editing the digitally represented still image after the digitally represented still image is displayed.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the print format is a characteristic of the print of the digitally represented still image including size, shape, and type of print medium.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the print medium includes at least one of a poster, mug, calendar, mouse pad, magnet, ornament, plate, puzzle, or T-shirt.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of: selecting a delivery criteria after selecting a print format for the digitally represented still image, wherein the print order data file includes the selected print format and delivery criteria for the digitally represented still image.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the delivery criteria includes one of a delivery location for the print, a delivery time for the print, or a delivery method for the print.

9. In a system including a remote computer, a method for ordering a print of at least one digitally represented still image using the remote computer, wherein each still image is a separate data file, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a data file representative of a digitally represented still image using the remote computer;selecting a print format for the digitally represented still image;establishing a print order data file which includes the selected print format for the digitally represented still image; andsaving the print order data file in a memory using the remote computer thereby allowing the saved print order data file to be subsequently communicated to a photofinisher to produce the print.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, further including the steps of: subsequent to saving the print order data file in the memory, establishing communication with the photofinisher; anddownloading the print order data file to the photofinisher, wherein the photofinisher produces the print of the digitally represented still image in the selected print format.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the photofinisher includes a kiosk.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein communication with the photofinisher is established using a networked connection.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein communication with the photofinisher is established by the user going to the physical location of the photofinisher.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the data file representative of the digitally represented still image is stored in a memory of the remote computer.

15. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the remote computer includes a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, the method further comprises the step of: displaying the digitally represented still image on the display after the data file representative of the digitally represented still image is selected.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of editing the digitally represented still image after the digitally represented still image is displayed.

17. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the print format is a characteristic of the print of the digitally represented still image including size, shape, and type of print medium.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the print medium includes at least one of a poster, mug, calendar, mouse pad, magnet, ornament, plate, puzzle, or T-shirt.

19. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the print order data file is saved in a memory in the remote computer.

20. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the print order data file is saved in a removable memory.

21. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of: selecting a delivery criteria after selecting a print format for the digitally represented still image, wherein the print order data file includes the selected print format and delivery criteria for the digitally represented still image.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the delivery criteria includes one of a delivery location for the print, a delivery time for the print, or a delivery method for the print.

23. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for ordering a print of at least one digitally represented still image using the remote computer, wherein each still image is a separate data file, comprising: selecting a data file representative of a digitally represented still image using a remote computer;selecting a print format for the digitally represented still image;establishing a print order data file which includes the selected print format for the digitally represented still image; andsaving the print order data file in a memory using the remote computer thereby allowing the saved print order data file to be subsequently communicated to a photofinisher to produce the print.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising: subsequent to saving the print order data file in the memory, establishing communication with the photofinisher; anddownloading the print order data file to the photofinisher, wherein the photofinisher produces the print of the digitally represented still image in the selected print format.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the photofinisher includes a kiosk.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein communication with the photofinisher is established using a networked connection.

27. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein communication with the photofinisher is established by the user going to the physical location of the photofinisher.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the data file representative of the digitally represented still image is stored in a memory of the remote computer.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the remote computer includes a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, the method further comprises the step of: displaying the digitally represented still image on the display after the data file representative of the digitally represented still image is selected.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29, further comprising editing the digitally represented still image after the digitally represented still image is displayed.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the print format is a characteristic of the print of the digitally represented still image including size, shape, and type of print medium.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the print medium includes at least one of a poster, mug, calendar, mouse pad, magnet, ornament, plate, puzzle, or T-shirt.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the print order data file is saved in a memory in the remote computer.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the print order data file is saved in a removable memory.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising the step of: selecting a delivery criteria after selecting a print format for the digitally represented still image, wherein the print order data file includes the selected print format and delivery criteria for the digitally represented still image.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the delivery criteria includes one of a delivery location for the print, a delivery time for the print, or a delivery method for the print.

37. In a system including a remote computer, the remote computer including a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method for ordering a print of at least one digitally represented still image using the remote computer, wherein each still image is a separate data file, the method comprising the steps of: opening a data file representative of a digitally represented still image;in response to an image selection execution command from the user interface selection device, displaying the digitally represented still image and one or more print format options in a picture pane on the display;receiving a print format execution command from the user selection device indicative of the user selecting a print format for the digitally represented still image;in response to the print format execution command, establishing a print order data file which includes the selected print format for the digitally represented still image; andreceiving a save execution command from the user interface selection device indicative of the user selecting to save the print order data file to a memory using the remote computer; andin response to the save execution command, saving the print order data file in the memory using the remote computer thereby allowing the saved print order data file to be subsequently communicated to a photofinisher to produce the print.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, further including the steps of: subsequent to saving the print order data file in the memory, receiving an order signal indicative of the user establishing communication with the photofinisher;in response to the order signal, establishing communication with the photofinisher and downloading the print order data file to the photofinisher, wherein the photofinisher produces the print of the digitally represented still image in the selected print format.

39. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the step of: selecting a delivery criteria after selecting a print format for the digitally represented still image, wherein the print order data file includes the selected print format and delivery criteria for the digitally represented still image.

40. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein the delivery criteria includes one of a delivery location for the print, a delivery time for the print, or a delivery method for the print.

41. In a system including a remote computer, a method of ordering a print of at least one digitally represented still image using the remote computer, wherein each still image is a separate data file, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a first data file representative of a first digitally represented still image using the remote computer;selecting a second data file representative of a second digitally represented still image using the remote computer;selecting a first print format for the first digitally represented still image;establishing a print order data file which includes the first print format for the first digitally represented still image;splitting the print order data file into a first sub-order and a second sub-order, the first sub-order including the established print format for the first digitally represented still image;selecting a second print format for the second digitally represented still image and placing second print format in the second sub-order;selecting a first delivery criteria for the first digitally represented still image;selecting a second delivery criteria for the second digitally represented still image, wherein the first and second delivery criteria are different; andsaving the print order data file including the first and second sub-orders in a memory using the remote computer thereby allowing the saved print order data file to be subsequently communicated to a photofinisher to produce the print.

42. A method as recited in claim 41, wherein the first and second delivery criteria includes one of the location that the print will be delivered, the time the print will be delivered, or the method by which the print will be delivered.

43. A method as recited in claim 41, further comprising the steps of: subsequent to saving the print order data file in the memory, establishing communication with the photofinisher;downloading the print order data file to the photofinisher, wherein the photofinisher produces the prints of the first and second digitally represented still images in the selected print format; anddelivering the prints of the first and second digitally represented still images in accordance with the first and second delivery criteria.

44. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein communication with the photofinisher is established using a networked connection.

45. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein communication with the photofinisher is established by the user going to the physical location of the photofinisher.

46. A method as recited in claim 41, wherein the photofinisher includes a kiosk.