Multistage system for processing photographic film

A method for recording, accessing, and transmitting information during multiple stages of a photographic film processing system comprising the steps of:

• (a) performing a first film processing step wherein photographic film is wound on a first film spool, which first film spool with wound photographic film is used as a supply spool for a subsequent film processing step;
• (b) recording data indicative of film processing information in a memory coupled with a first transponder associated with the first film spool, said first transponder capable of receiving a first electromagnetic field and generating a second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the memory;
• (c) performing a second film processing step wherein film processed in the second film processing step is wound on a second film spool, where the second film spool has a second transponder associated therewith, said second transponder coupled with a second memory capable of having data stored therein indicative of film processing information, said second transponder capable of receiving a third electromagnetic field and generating a fourth electromagnetic field in response to the third electromagnetic field received thereby, the fourth electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the second memory;
• (d) reading data from the memory coupled with the first transponder with a transceiver which transmits said first electromagnetic field and which senses said second electromagnetic field, thereby allowing data to be read;
• and
• (e) writing data received from said first transponder to said second transponder.

A method for recording, accessing, and transmitting information concerning motion picture film processing, whereby said information can be used to alter the operation of a motion picture film processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• (a) performing a first film processing step wherein photographic film is wound on a first film spool, which first film spool with wound photographic film is used as a supply spool for a subsequent film processing step;
• (b) recording data indicative of film processing information in a memory coupled with a first transponder associated with the first film spool, said first transponder capable of receiving a first electromagnetic field and generating a second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the memory;
• (c) performing a second film processing step wherein film processed in the second film processing step is wound on a second film spool, where the second film spool has a second transponder associated therewith, said second transponder coupled with a second memory capable of having data stored therein indicative of film processing information, said second transponder capable of receiving a third electromagnetic field and generating a fourth electromagnetic field in response to the third electromagnetic field received thereby, the fourth electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the second memory;
• (d) reading data from the memory coupled with the first transponder with a transceiver which transmits said first electromagnetic field and which senses said second electromagnetic field, thereby allowing data to be read;
• (e) writing data received from said first transponder to said second transponder;
• and
• (f) performing a subsequent film processing step wherein data written in the second transponder is used to control the subsequent step.