Method for providing customized photo products over a network using images captured from a digital camera
View Patent ↗A method for providing customized digital printing services over a network to provide a photo product including images including providing an electronic database of information describing a plurality of photo product options that can be selected by a user via a digital communications network and displaying at a location remote from the electronic database the plurality of photo product options. The user provides a first group of digital images and selects at least one photo product from the plurality of digital printing service options and provides a payment identifier specifying a payment account to be debited to pay for the selected photo product, establishing a service account for the user containing an identifier for the selected photo product and storing the service account data which includes information related to the format of the photo product. The user prints the first group of digital images using the selected photo product option(s) and delivers the photo product to one or more designated recipients. The user subsequently provides a second group of digital images and a service account identifier, accessing the user service account data to identify the photo product option selected in step c. The user then prints the second group of digital images using the same photo product option used in step d) and delivers the photo product to one or more designated recipients.
1. A method for providing customized digital printing services over a network using images from a digital camera, comprising the steps of:
a) a service provider providing an electronic database of information describing a plurality of printing options that can be selected by a user operating a first computer at a location remote from the service provider which has logged onto a digital communications network;
b) displaying on a display of the first computer at the remote location the plurality of printing options and the user selecting a printing option;
c) establishing a service account including a service account identifier and data identifying the selected printing option and the service provider storing the service account identifier and data identifying the selected printing option and the user logging off the digital communication network;
d) capturing, using a digital camera, one or more digital images and using a modem in the digital camera to send the one or more captured digital images and the service account identifier to the service provider over the digital communication network without using the first computer;
e) the service provider using the service account identifier to identify the printing option selected in step c); and
f) the service provider using the at least one or more digital images using the selected printing option from the accessed service account to produce prints.
2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of delivering the prints to indicated locations of one or more designated recipients.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein step c) further includes providing addresses of designated recipients.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the printing options provides album pages.
5. The method of claim 4 further including providing the album pages in different sizes.
6. The method of claim 4 further including providing the album pages in different print layout formats.
7. The method of claim 4 further including providing the album pages in different background colors or patterns.
8. The method of claim 4 further including providing the album pages in different template options.
9. The method of claim 4 and the service account data provides the photo product options selected by the user in step c).
10. The method of claim 4 further including providing removable album pages which are incorporated in an album binder.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the album binder has a known capacity and the service account data indicates the number of pages remaining in the album.
12. The method of claim 4 wherein a sequential page number is printed on each album page and the service account data identifies the next available page number in the album.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the printing option includes a plurality of size prints and border formats.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the printing options includes a plurality of print sizes, picture frame styles, or picture frame mattes or combinations thereof.
15. A computer program product having instructions stored thereon for performing the method according to claim 1 .
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the service account includes an address to which the prints are sent.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the service account includes a payment identifier that specified the account to be charged for services.