Method and system for collecting images from a plurality of customers

A kiosk for accepting image-processing orders from a customer for processing at a remote image-processing provider, the kiosk comprising:

• a controller;
• a storage device operatively coupled to the controller;
• an image input device operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller transfers digital image information from the image input device to the storage device;
• a user input device operatively coupled to the controller to produce user-identifier information and order information based on input from the customer, wherein the order information specifies a service to be provided relative to the image information, and wherein the controller associates the user-identifier information and the order information with the digital image, information;
• and
• a data transmission interface operatively coupled to the controller and to a communication medium, wherein the controller sends the digital image information and its associated user-identifier information and order information to the image-processing provider via a communication medium, wherein in response to receipt of a first poll request at the kiosk and upon detecting the availability of the data structure, the controller sends data structure address information corresponding to the available data structure from the kiosk to the image-processing provider via the communications medium;
• and in response to receipt of the sent data structure address information at the image-processing provider, the controller sends a data-structure-fetch request across the communications medium from the image-processing provider to the kiosk.

A remote film processing system for obtaining digital image data from a customer and remotely processing image prints, the system comprising:

• a network;
• a kiosk coupled to the network;
• and
• means for obtaining the digital image data into the kiosk and locally storing the data, and for transferring the data to a repository system interconnected to the kiosk by the network
• means, in response to receipt of a first poll request at the kiosk and if a data structure is available, for sending data structure address information corresponding to available data structure from the kiosk via the communications medium;
• and
• in response to receipt of the sent data structure address information at the image-processing provider, sending a data-structure-fetch request across the communications medium to the kiosk.

A computer-implemented method of business comprising:

• accepting image information at a first business location;
• accepting user-identifier information and order information associated with the image information at the first business location;
• processing and digitally storing a plurality of images from the image information at the first business location;
• accepting payment at the first business location;
• transferring the digital stored images to a second business location across a communications medium;
• storing the digital images at the second business location;
• processing prints of the stored images at the second business location;
• and
• deliver the processed prints to a customer
• in response to receipt of a first poll request and if data structure is available, sending data structure address information corresponding to the available data structure via the communications medium;
• and
• in response to receipt of the sent data structure address information at the image-processing provider, sending a data-structure-fetch request across the communications medium.

An automated kiosk for accepting image-processing orders from a customer for processing at a remote image-processing provider, the kiosk comprising:

• a controller;
• a storage device operatively coupled to the controller;
• a plurality of image input devices operatively coupled to the controller, each input device accepting a different type of image information, wherein the controller transfers digital image information from the image input devices to the storage device;
• a credit-card reader operatively coupled to the controller, the reader operable to read data of a credit card;
• a user input device operatively coupled to the controller to produce user-identifier information and order information based on input from the customer, wherein the order information specifies a service to be provided relative to the image information, and wherein the controller associates the user-identifier information and the order information with the digital image information;
• a display that displays the digital image information, user-identifier information, and order information;
• and
• a data transmission interface operatively coupled to the controller and to a communication medium, wherein the controller sends the digital image information and its associated user-identifier information and order information to the image-processing provider via a communication medium, wherein in response to receipt of a first poll request at the kiosk and upon detecting the availability of the data structure, the controller sends data structure address information corresponding to the available data structure from the kiosk to the image-processing provider via the communications medium;
• and in response to receipt of the sent data structure address information at the image-processing provider, the controller sends a data-structure-fetch request across the communications medium from the image-processing provider to the kiosk.

A method of collecting images from a plurality of customers into an image-upload kiosk, and transferring images from the kiosk to an image-processing provider, wherein the kiosk includes a data storage device and an input interface for capturing digital images, wherein the data storage device includes computer readable media for storing information representative of the digital images, the method comprising:

• storing image and associated user-identification and order information from each of the plurality of customers into the storage device of the kiosk;
• connecting the kiosk to a telecommunications channel;
• and transferring the information over the telecommunications channel from the kiosk to the image-processing provider, wherein transferring the information over the communications channel includes storing the information to a storage device at the image-processing provider;
• in response to receipt of a first poll request at the kiosk and upon detecting the availability of the data structure, sending data structure address information corresponding to the available data structure from the kiosk to the image-processing provider via the communications medium;
• and
• in response to receipt of the sent data structure address information at the image-processing provider, sending a data-structure-fetch request across the communications medium from the image-processing provider to the kiosk.

A digital image transfer system, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory connected to the processor;
• a digital imaging system interface corrected to the processor, wherein the digital imaging system interface is capable of receiving information representative of digital images from a digital imaging system;
• a user interface connected to the processor, the user interface capable of inputting user-identification, order, and payment information from each one of a plurality of customers;
• a storage device coupled to the processor, that stores the digital images and the associated user-identification and order information;
• an event detector coupled to the processor;
• and
• an image-processing provider interface connected to the processor, wherein the image-processing provider interface is capable of connecting to a communications medium in order to transfer digital images from the digital imaging system interface and the image information and the user-identification and order information from the user interface through the communications medium to an image-processing provider in response to an event detected by the event detector, wherein in response to receipt of a first poll request at the kiosk and upon detecting the availability of the data structure, the processor sends data structure address information corresponding to the available data structure from the kiosk to the image-processing provider via the communications medium;
• and in response to receipt of the sent data structure address information at the image-processing provider, the processor sends a data-structure-fetch request across the communications medium from the image-processing provider to the kiosk.

A digital image upload apparatus comprising:

• a digital data interface for receiving digital image data, and means, coupled to the interface, for storing and later uploading the digital image data across a communications medium;
• means, in response to receipt of a first poll request at the kiosk and if the data structure is available, for sending data structure address information corresponding to the available data structure from the interface via the communications medium;
• and
• means, in response to receipt of the sent data structure address information, for sending a data-structure-fetch request across the communications medium to the interface.

A method of collecting images and order information by an image-processing provider from at least one image kiosk, wherein the image kiosk includes a computer, a data storage device and an interface for capturing digital images, wherein the data storage device includes computer readable media for storing information representative of the digital images, the method comprising:

• accepting image information from a customer into the interface of the kiosk;
• storing the image information into a local storage;
• sending inquiring signal from the image-processing provider to the kiosk;
• replying the inquiring signal with an image use signal;
• transferring the image data to the image-processing provider via a communication medium;
• in response to receipt a first poll request at the kiosk and upon detecting the availability of the data structure, sending data structure address information corresponding to the available data structure from the kiosk to the image-processing provider via the communications medium;
• and
• in response to receipt of the sent data structure address information at the image-processing provider, sending a data-structure-fetch request across the communications medium from the image-processing provider to the kiosk.