IP Library Granted Patent US 10,652,406
Granted Patent B1
US 10,652,406 · App. 16/280,710 · Granted May 12, 2020

System and method for remotely printing digital images for pickup at a retail store

Inventors: Tim P. McCauley (Evanston, IL); Mathew Alexander (Schaumburg, IL); Joseph M. Rago (Hinsdale, IL)
Assignee: WALGREEN CO.
H04N1/00137G06Q30/0635H04N1/00145H04N1/00164H04N1/00188H04N1/00265H04N1/00307
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,652,406
App. No.
16/280,710
Granted
May 12, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

The method and system allow a user to launch a client application on an web-enabled device and subsequently to navigate to an image source screen within the client application. After receiving an image source selection from the user, the client application retrieves images from the selected image source. The client application displays the retrieved images available for printing to a user, and in response to receiving a selection of an image, the client application transmits the image to a proprietary server. Moreover, upon receiving print order information, the client application additionally executes a location awareness application that determines a current location of the web-enabled device and subsequently, determines a proximal retail store to the current location of the web-enabled device. Thereafter, the remote printing system creates and transmits a print order that includes the selected image to the retail store for pickup.

Claims (48)

1. A computer-implemented method of processing, for a user, an order for at least one image print for retail store pick-up, the method executed by one or more computer processors programmed to perform the method, the method comprising:

connecting to a client device of the user via a network without the user logging onto the network, wherein the client device is configured to display a set of images for selection by the user;

receiving, from the client device via the network, a location of the client device;

identifying at least one retail store based on the location of the client device;

sending, to the client device via the network, an indication of the at least one retail store;

receiving, from the client device via the network, a print order including (i) an identification of at least one image of the set of images, (ii) print order information, and (iii) a selection of one retail store of the at least one retail store; and

causing the at least one image to be printed at the selected one retail store according to the print order information.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the print order including the identification of the at least one image of the set of images comprises:

receiving the print order including at least one uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with the at least one image.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:

retrieving, using the at least one uniform resource identifier (URI), the at least one image from a remote server.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the remote server is associated with at least one of: a website, a social networking website, or a cloud server.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the client device is further configured to display an indication of the remote server.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising:

sending, to the client device, the at least one image retrieved from the remote server for display by the client device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein connecting to the client device of the user via the network without the user logging onto the network comprises:

connecting to the client device via the network without requiring user login information.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, executable by a processor, for processing, for a user, an order for at least one image print for retail store pick-up, the instructions comprising:

instructions for connecting to a client device of the user via a network without the user logging onto the network, wherein the client device is configured to display a set of images for selection by the user;

instructions for receiving, from the client device via the network, a location of the client device;

instructions for identifying at least one retail store based on the location of the client device;

instructions for sending, to the client device via the network, an indication of the at least one retail store;

instructions for receiving, from the client device via the network, a print order including (i) an identification of at least one image of the set of images, (ii) print order information, and (iii) a selection of one retail store of the at least one retail store; and

instructions for causing the at least one image to be printed at the selected one retail store according to the print order information.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions for receiving the print order including the identification of the at least one image of the set of images include instructions for receiving the print order including at least one uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with the at least one image.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for retrieving, using the at least one uniform resource identifier (URI), the at least one image from a remote server.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the remote server is associated with at least one of: a website, a social networking website, or a cloud server.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the client device is further configured to display an indication of the remote server.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for sending, to the client device, the at least one image retrieved from the remote server for display by the client device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions for connecting to the client device of the user via the network without the user logging onto the network include instructions for connecting to the client device via the network without requiring user login information.

15. A system for processing, for a user, an order for at least one image print for retail store pick-up, comprising:

a communication module configured to connect, via a network, to a client device without the user logging onto the network, wherein the client device is configured to display a set of images for selection by the user;

a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and

a processor interfacing with the communication module and the memory, and configured to execute the set of instructions to cause the processor to:

receive, from the client device via the network, a location of the client device,

identify at least one retail store based on the location of the client device,

send, to the client device via the communication module, an indication of the at least one retail store,

receive, from the client device via the communication module, a print order including (i) an identification of at least one image of the set of images, (ii) print order information, and (iii) a selection of one retail store of the at least one retail store, and

cause the at least one image to be printed at the selected one retail store according to the print order information.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the identification of the at least one image of the set of images is at least one uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with the at least one image.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

retrieve, using the at least one uniform resource identifier (URI), the at least one image from a remote server.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the remote server is associated with at least one of: a website, a social networking website, or a cloud server.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

send, to the client device via the communication module, the at least one image retrieved from the remote server for display by the client device.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the communication module connects to the client device via the network without requiring user login information.

Assignments (3)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: WALGREEN CO.
To: SIXTH STREET LENDING PARTNERS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072606/0878 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2025
From: WALGREEN CO.; DUANE READE; WALGREENS SPECIALTY PHARMACY LLC; WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072679/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2019
From: MCCAULEY, TIM P.; ALEXANDER, MATHEW; RAGO, JOSEPH M.
To: WALGREEN CO.
Reel/Frame 048386/0867 →