Configuring image storage devices to enable imaging services

1. A method for configuring a removable memory device for a customer, the device being connected to a memory interface within a digital camera, and utilizing such configured removable memory device in the performance of digital imaging services for the customer by a digital imaging service provider, comprising:

(a) providing a customization center, separate and distinct from the digital imaging service provider, where at least one digital imaging service is pre-selected by the customer through the customization center before the customer captures image files with the digital camera;

(b) establishing a service account with the customization center, wherein the service account defines the at least one digital imaging service to be provided for the customer using at least one digital image file captured by the digital camera, the service account having an associated service account identifier that is used to access the service account and thereby identify the at least one digital imaging service to be provided for the customer;

(c) storing service account information in a database that is associated with the customization center, the database being remotely accessible using a communications network;

(d) configuring the removable memory device by storing the service account identifier associated with the service account onto the removable memory device, the removable memory device further being placed into the digital camera and storing a plurality of digital image files captured by the digital camera;

(e) accessing the removable memory device to retrieve the service account identifier and at least one stored digital image file captured by the digital camera;

(f) communicating the service account identifier over the communications network to the database that is associated with the customization center and providing the stored digital image file to the digital imaging service provider;

(g) accessing the database and using the service account identifier to retrieve the service account information; and

(h) communicating the service account information to the digital imaging service provider over the communications network, whereby the digital imaging service provider provides the at least one digital imaging service specified in the service account using the at least one stored digital image file.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the removable memory device is a memory card.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the memory card uses Flash EPROM memory.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital imaging service comprises printing the at least one stored digital image file.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the service account identifies a print size to be used for the printing.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the service account identifies a print finish to be used for the printing.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital imaging service comprises storing the at least one stored digital image file on an Internet accessible digital storage device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the Internet accessible digital storage device is a hard drive connected to an Internet Server.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital imaging service comprises emailing the at least one stored digital image file.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital imaging service is provided by a network-based digital imaging service provider, and the at least one stored digital image file is uploaded to the service provider.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the digital imaging service is provided by a digital imaging service provider comprising a retail establishment, and the at least one stored digital image file is transferred to the retail establishment.

12. The method of claim 1 further including modifying the service account information to provide additional services.

13. A method for configuring a removable memory device for a customer, the device being connected to a memory interface within a digital camera, and utilizing such configured removable memory device in the performance of digital imaging services for the customer by a digital imaging service provider, comprising:

(a) providing a customization center, separate and distinct from the digital imaging service provider, where at least one digital imaging service is pre-selected by the customer through the customization center before the customer captures image files with the digital camera;

(b) establishing a service account, and an associated service account identifier that is used to access the service account and thereby identify the at least one digital imaging service to be provided for the customer, with the product customization center, wherein the service account defines the at least one digital imaging service to be provided for the customer using at least one digital image file captured by the digital camera, and wherein the digital imaging service is performed by the digital imaging service provider that remotely communicates with the product customization center to determine the digital imaging service to be provided;

(c) storing service account information, defining the digital imaging services to be provided for the customer, in a database that is associated with the product customization center, the database also being remotely accessible using a communications network;

(d) transferring the service account identifier associated with the service account to memory in the removable memory device, whereby the removable memory device is thereby configured to identify the at least one digital imaging service to be provided for the customer by the service provider, the removable memory device further being placed into the digital camera and storing a plurality of digital image files captured by the digital camera;

(e) accessing the removable memory device to retrieve the service account identifier and at least one stored digital image file captured by the digital camera;

(f) communicating the service account identifier over the communications network to the database that is associated with the product customization center and separately providing the stored digital image file to the digital imaging service provider;

(g) accessing the database and using the service account identifier to retrieve the service account information; and

(h) communicating the service account information to the digital imaging service provider over the communications network, thereby enabling the digital imaging service provider to provide the at least one digital imaging service specified in the service account using the at least one stored digital image file.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step (d) of transferring the service account identifier associated with the service account to the removable memory device comprises the steps of;

(d1) transferring the service account identifier to memory in the digital camera; and

(d2) transferring the service account identifier associated with the service account from the memory in the digital camera to the memory in the removable memory device.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the removable memory device is a memory card.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the memory card uses Flash EPROM memory.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the digital imaging service comprises printing the at least one stored digital image file.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the service account identifies a print size to be used for the printing.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the service account identifies a print finish to be used for the printing.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the digital imaging service comprises storing the at least one stored digital image file on an Internet accessible digital storage device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the Internet accessible digital storage device is a hard drive connected to an Internet Server.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the digital imaging service comprises emailing the at least one stored digital image file.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the digital imaging service is provided by a network-based service provider, and the at least one stored digital image file is uploaded to the service provider.

24. The method of claim 13 wherein the digital imaging service is provided by a digital imaging service provider comprising a retail establishment, and the at least one stored digital image file is transferred to the retail establishment.

25. The method of claim 13 further including modifying the service account information to provide additional services.

26. A method for configuring a removable memory device for a customer in a product customization center, the device being connected to a memory interface within a digital camera, and utilizing such configured removable memory device in the performance of digital imaging services for the customer by a digital imaging service provider, the removable memory device storing a plurality of images captured by a camera, wherein the method for configuring the removable memory device in the product customization center comprises:

(a) providing the customization center, separate and distinct from the digital imaging service provider, where at least one digital imaging service is pre-selected by the customer through the customization center before the customer captures image files with the digital camera;

(b) establishing a service account, and an associated service account identifier that is used to access the service account and thereby identify the at least one digital imaging service to be provided for the customer, with the product customization center, wherein the service account defines the at least one digital imaging service to be provided for the customer using at least one image captured by the camera, and wherein the digital imaging service is performed by the digital imaging service provider that remotely communicates with the product customization center to determine the digital imaging service to be provided;

(c) storing service account information, defining the digital imaging services to be provided for the customer, in a database that is associated with the product customization center, the database also being remotely accessible using a communications network; and

(d) transferring the service account identifier associated with the service account to memory in the removable memory device before the removable memory device is placed into the digital camera and used to store images captured by the camera, whereby the removable memory device is thereby configured in the product customization center to identify the at least one digital imaging service to be provided for the customer by the service provider.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the method for utilizing such configured removable memory device to enable digital imaging services to be performed for the customer further includes the steps of:

(e) accessing the removable memory device to retrieve the service account identifier and at least one stored image captured by the camera;

(f) communicating the service account identifier over the communications network to the database that is associated with the product customization center and separately providing the stored image to the service provider;

(g) accessing the database and using the service account identifier to retrieve the service account information; and

(h) communicating the service account information to the service provider over the communications network, thereby enabling the service provider to provide the at least one digital imaging service specified in the service account using the at least one stored image.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the camera is a digital camera and the removable memory device is a memory card.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the memory card uses Flash EPROM memory.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the camera is a film camera and the removable memory device comprises magnetic tracks on a removable film.