System And Method For Providing Image Products And/Or Services
A system and method for obtaining photographic products and/or services comprises bundling image capture and printing technologies into products and/or services that are paid for by a consumer with monthly or yearly subscription fees. The system and method involves selecting a camera and selecting a photographic products/service plan which designates photographic products and/or services which are to be associated with the selected camera. The system and method gives the consumer the option of selecting a specific camera from a menu of cameras, and a specific photographic product/service plan which is to be associated with the selected camera from a product/service menu. As a further option, the consumer can customize his/her product/service plan in accordance with his/her preference. The plan can provide for products and/or services for images captured and/or film exposed by the camera for a predetermined amount of time at a predetermined fee. At the end of the plan, the consumer could have the option of returning the camera, exchanging the camera for a different camera, or keeping the camera at no cost or for a reduced price. The photographic products and/or services provided by the plan could be products and/or services such as film developing, printing, image products, scanning, photo CDs, image storage, etc.
1 . A method of providing photographic products and services by a service provider, comprising:
said service provider offering a selection of digital cameras;
said service provider offering a selection of photographic service plans;
said service provider associating a selected digital camera with a selected service plan, including creating a service plan account indicative thereof;
said service provider maintaining said service plan account with respect to said customer in a computer database to record photographic services provided with respect to images captured by said selected digital camera in accordance with the selected photographic service plan; and
said service provider automatically accessing said computer database when images are received from said selected digital camera and providing the associated photographic service according to the photographic service plan associated with the selected digital camera.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein said photographic services comprise electronically storing images captured by said selected digital camera for a predetermined period of time.
3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein said photographic services comprise providing a predetermined number of prints of images captured by said selected digital camera.
4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein said photographic services comprise providing an image product associated with an image captured by said selected digital camera.
5 . A method according to claim 1 , further comprising updating the photographic service plan account in the computer database as said photographic services are provided to a user to reflect photographic services rendered to the user.
6 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein said digital cameras are cell phone digital cameras.
7 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein said images are received from said selected digital camera sent over a wireless network.
8 . A method of providing photographic product and service plans by a service provider, comprising:
said service provider offering for use a plurality of digital cameras to customers at a predetermined fee in association with a photographic service plan to be provided with respect to images captured by a corresponding selected one of the plurality of digital cameras;
said service provider maintaining a computer database of selected photographic service plans each associated with the corresponding selected one of the plurality of digital cameras; and
said service provider automatically accessing said computer database with respect to the images captured by, and received from, a corresponding selected one of the plurality of digital cameras and providing a photographic service according to the photographic service plan associated with the corresponding selected one of the plurality of digital cameras.
9 . A method according to claim 8 , wherein said photographic service comprises creating a predetermined number of prints from said captured images.
10 . A method according to claim 8 , wherein said photographic service comprises storing said captured images on a disk and forwarding said disk to a customer.
11 . A system for providing photographic services by a service provider comprising:
a network connected server operated by said service provider for receiving information identifying a selected digital camera, a photographic service plan associated with the selected camera, the photographic service plan including information identifying a fee associated with the selected camera, said server creating a service account indicative of the selected camera and the associated photographic service plan; and
a database operationally associated with the server, the database receiving and storing the information identifying the selected digital camera and its associated photographic service plan, said database automatically updating said service account as photographic services in accordance with said photographic service plan are provided.
12 . A system according to claim 11 , wherein said photographic services comprise electronically storing images captured by said selected digital camera for a predetermined period of time.
13 . A system according to claim 11 , wherein said photographic services comprise providing a predetermined number of prints of images captured by said selected digital camera
14 . A system according to claim 11 , wherein said photographic services comprise providing an image product associated with an image captured by said selected digital camera.