PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE UPLOAD KIOSK AND METHOD

1 . A method for collecting images by an image-processing provider from a plurality of users using an automated station, the method comprising:

receiving a wireless signal comprising image information by a wireless receiver port in the automated station;

accepting user-identifier information into a computer in the automated station, wherein the user-identifier information is associated with a user;

accepting order information into the computer, the order information specifying a service to be provided by the image-processing provider relative to the image information;

storing into a local storage in the automated station and coupled to the computer, a digital representation of the image information and associated user identifier information and order information for each of a plurality of different users into a data structure; and

sending the data structure to the image-processing provider via a communication network.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

removing the data structure from the local storage after the data structure has been sent to the image-processing provider.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving payment information from the user into the computer; and

storing into the local storage connected to the computer, the payment information associated with the user identifier information.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying to the user at least one image from the image information.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the image information includes a modification to be made to at least one image in the image information.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data structure is sent to the image-processing provider via a wireless communication network.

7 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving image information in a first wireless signal at a first location;

accepting user-identifier information and order information associated with the image information at the first location, wherein the user-identifier information is associated with a user;

storing a plurality of images in the image information at the first location;

transferring the stored plurality of images in a second wireless signal to a second location via a wireless communications network;

storing the plurality of images at the second location;

producing an image-based product according to at least one of the digital images stored at the second location; and

delivering the image-based product to a recipient specified in the order information.

8 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 7 , wherein the image information in the first wireless signal is received by an automated station at the first location.

9 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

accepting payment from the user at the first location.

10 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

accepting input from the user specifying a modification to be made to one of images.

11 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

sending a data structure comprising the image data, the user-identifier information, and the order information from the first location to the second location via the wireless communications network.

12 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

sending an inquiring signal from the second location to the first location;

replying the inquiring signal with an image use signal before the step of transferring the stored plurality of images.

13 . The computer-implemented method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

removing the image information at the first location after the step of transferring the stored plurality of images.

14 . A digital image transfer system, comprising:

a computer processor;

a memory connected to the computer processor;

a wireless communication port coupled to the computer processor, wherein the wireless communication port is configured to receive a first wireless signal comprising image data from an imaging device;

a storage device coupled to the computer processor and configured to store the image data;

an event detector coupled to the computer processor; and

a network communication port coupled to the computer processor and configured to transfer the image data to a remote image-processing provider via a computer network in response to an event detected by the event detector.

15 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the event detector includes a timer and wherein the event is a time-based event.

16 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the event detector is configured to respond to a poll message received from the image-processing provider.

17 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the event detector includes a storage space detector, and wherein the event is a predetermined amount of image data being stored in the storage device.

18 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is configured to receive user-identification, order information, and payment information from the imaging device.

19 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the computer network includes a wireless communication network.

20 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein the network communication port is configured to send user-identification, order information, and payment information to the remote image-processing provider via the computer network.