Method and apparatus for image distribution using a cellular phone
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for controlling the distribution, including printing, of digital images using a wireless enhanced, digital imaging device, such as a cellular phone equipped with a digital camera. A picture created using the digital camera is uploaded to a remote server. Arrival of the digital image, activates the automatic printing and automatic delivery of that image, according to instructions placed on the server by the creator of the digital image, prior to its creation. Information attached to the digital image may be used to route and process the uploaded image, in accordance with a set of predetermined user preferences. The single action of sending a digital image to a web address from a cellular phone may cause the image to be stored, printed and delivered as a print to an address, with the printing and mail delivery being automatically charged to an account or credit card.
1. A method of automatically printing digital images, comprising the steps of:
creating, by a user, at least one digital image using a digital imaging device;
uploading, by said user, said at least one digital image from said digital imaging device via a wireless link to a server remote to said digital imaging device;
automatically storing at least one digital image in an image store responsive to at least one instruction loaded on said server;
automatically-printing said at least one digital image responsive to at least one instruction stored via a web-site on said server by said user prior to said creating said digital image;
automatically sending said at least one printed image to a destination remote to said server corresponding to at least one address stored via said web-site on said server by said user prior to said creating said digital image; and
wherein said instructions comprise waiting to proceed with said automatically printing and said automatically sending until said image store contains a predetermined plurality of images, said predetermined plurality being selected on said server by said user prior to said creating said digital image.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of automatically charging a cost to an account for said printing and said sending of said printed image, at least one detail of said account having been stored on said server by said user prior to said uploading.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a print-all instruction from said digital imaging device to said server, said instruction causing said automatically printing and said automatically sending of said images currently stored in said image store.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said digital imaging device comprises a cellular phone equipped with a camera, and wherein said automatically sending comprises automatically packaging, automatically labeling with said address and automatically placing at a collection point for collection and conveyance by a mail service operator to said destination.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said printing is performed by a printer linked to said server.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said server transmits said at least one digital image remotely for printing.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said uploading further comprises identifying said user by said remote server.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said identifying comprises recognizing one or more of a password, an e-mail address or a current geographical location of said digital imaging device.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said digital imaging device comprises a cellular phone equipped with a camera, and wherein said automatically sending comprises automatically packaging, automatically labeling with said address and automatically placing at a collection point for collection and conveyance by a mail service operator to said destination.
10. A method of automatically printing digital images, comprising the steps of:
creating, by a user, at least one digital image using a digital imaging device;
uploading, by said user, said at least one digital image from said digital imaging device via a wireless link to a server remote to said digital imaging device; and
automatically storing at least one digital image in an image store responsive to at least one instruction loaded on said server;
automatically printing said at least one digital image responsive to at least one instruction stored via a web-site on said server by said user prior to said creating said digital image;
automatically sending said at least one printed image to a destination remote to said server and corresponding to at least one address stored via said web-site on said server by said user prior to said creating said digital image; and
wherein said instructions comprise waiting to proceed with said automatically printing and said automatically sending until a predetermined time specified on said server by said user prior to said creating said digital image.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said printing is performed by a printer linked to said server.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein said server transmits said at least one digital image remotely for printing.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein said digital imaging device comprises a cellular phone equipped with a camera.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising sending a print-now instruction from said cell phone to said server instructing proceeding with said automatically printing and said automatically sending of said images currently in said image store.
15. A system for automatically printing digital images, comprising:
digital imaging means for creating, by a user, at least one digital image;
uploading means, functionally connected to said digital imaging means, for uploading, by said user, said at least one digital image from said digital imaging device via a wireless link to a server remote to said digital imaging device;
means for automatically storing images in an image store;
means, responsive to at least one instruction stored via a web-site on said server by said user prior to said creating said image, for automatically printing said at least one digital image;
means for automatically sending said at least one printed image to a destination remote to said server and corresponding to at least one address stored via said web-site on said server by said user prior to said creating said image; and
means for waiting to proceed with said automatically printing and said automatically sending until said image store contains a predetermined plurality of images, said predetermined plurality selected on said server by said user prior to said creating said digital image.
16. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for sending a print-all instruction from said digital imaging device to said server, said instruction causing said means for automatically printing to print said images currently stored in said image store; and said means for automatically sending to send said printed images.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein said means for digital imaging device comprises a cellular phone equipped with a camera, and wherein said means for automatically sending comprises means for automatically packaging, means for automatically labeling with said address and means for automatically placing at a collection point for collection and conveyance by a mail service operator to said destination.