IP Library Granted Patent US 12,438,990
Granted Patent B1
US 12,438,990 · App. 18/613,665 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

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

Inventors: Tim P. McCauley (Evanston, IL); Joseph M. Rago (Hinsdale, IL); Mathew Alexander (Schaumburg, IL)
Assignee: WALGREEN CO.
H04N1/00188G06Q30/0635G06Q30/0639H04N1/00137H04N1/00145H04N1/00164H04N1/00244H04N1/00265H04N1/00307H04N23/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,438,990
App. No.
18/613,665
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
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 (44)

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, wherein the client device is configured to (i) execute a client application, and (ii) display a set of images for selection by the user;

sending, to the client device via the network, an indication of a default retail store;

receiving, from the client device via the network when the user is not logged into the client application executing on the client device, a print order including (i) an identification of at least one image of the set of images, and (ii) print order information; and

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

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting the default retail store as the most proximal retail store.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the default retail store is a retail store that either the user most often frequents or is closest to a home or work of the user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the default retail store is determined by the user.

5. 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.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:

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

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein connecting to the client device of the user via the network comprises:

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

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, wherein the client device is configured to (i) execute a client application, and (ii) display a set of images for selection by the user;

instructions for sending, to the client device via the network, an indication of a default retail store;

instructions for receiving, from the client device via the network when the user is not logged into the client application executing on the client device, a print order including (i) an identification of at least one image of the set of images, and (ii) print order information; and

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

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for selecting the default retail store as the most proximal retail store.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the default retail store is a retail store that either the user most often frequents or is closest to a home or work of the user.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the default retail store is determined by the user.

12. 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 comprise:

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

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , 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.

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 comprise:

instructions for connecting to the client device via the network without requiring user login information associated with the client application.

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, wherein the client device is configured to (i) execute a client application, and (ii) 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:

send, to the client device via the communication module, an indication of a default retail store,

receive, from the client device via the communication module when the user is not logged into the client application executing on the client device, a print order including (i) an identification of at least one image of the set of images, and (ii) print order information, and

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

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the set of instructions to further cause the processor to:

select the default retail store as the most proximal retail store.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the default retail store is a retail store that either the user most often frequents or is closest to a home or work of the user.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the default retail store is determined by the user.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor receives the print order including at least one uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with the at least one image.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the set of instructions to further cause the processor to:

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

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 Apr 29, 2024
From: MCCAULEY, TIM; RAGO, JOSEPH; ALEXANDER, MATHEW
To: WALGREEN CO.
Reel/Frame 067256/0193 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 18112497 · Feb 21, 2023
Continuation 17503060 · Oct 15, 2021
Continuation 16872079 · May 11, 2020
Continuation 16280710 · Feb 20, 2019
Continuation 15978427 · May 14, 2018
Continuation 15398523 · Jan 4, 2017
Continuation 14941231 · Nov 13, 2015
Continuation 13596259 · Aug 28, 2012
References Cited (90)
US 6583799B1 · Manolis · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 6646754B1 · Redd · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 6657702B1 · Chui · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 6853461B1 · Shiimori · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 6943866B2 · Redd · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 6950198B1 · Berarducci · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 7146575B2 · Manolis · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 7236258B2 · Wen · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 7328173B2 · Taratino · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 7576752B1 · Benson · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 7644862B2 · Rolf · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 8024658B1 · Fagans · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 8055513B1 · Bleser · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 8208161B2 · LeVier et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8213047B2 · Nakagawa · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 9019535B1 · Hansen · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 9081533B1 · West et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 10204372B1 · Eby et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10438214B1 · Kim · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10467518B1 · Schweinfurth · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20020049794A1 · Hara · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 20020057452A1 · Yoshino · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 20020135794A1 · Rodriguez · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 20030011817A1 · Hara · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 20030025796A1 · Yamagishi · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 20030038882A1 · Chauvin · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 20030093321A1 · Bodmer et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030179406A1 · Seto · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 20030220995A1 · Hitaka · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 20040001219A1 · Wen · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20040004737A1 · Kahn · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20040008226A1 · Manolis · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20040085578A1 · Quek · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20040260614A1 · Taratino · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20050065855A1 · Geller · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050128968A1 · Yang · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20050225799A1 · Berarducci · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20060012828A1 · Ohta · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20060044598A1 · Etelapera · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20060077441A1 · Manzolillo · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20060176502A1 · Brownstein · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20060193004A1 · Wasilewski · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20070005447A1 · Christ, Jr. · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20070038771A1 · Julia · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20070180082A1 · Abraham · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20070201048A1 · DuBois · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20080004075A1 · Horton · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20080024809A1 · Brownstein · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20080144078A1 · Callo · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20080300996A1 · Fei · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20090040554A1 · Burke · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20090150519A1 · McIntyre · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20090257078A1 · Sawada · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20090257091A1 · Shelton · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20090257804A1 · Manico · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20090310181A1 · Manzolillo · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20100091321A1 · LeVier · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20100138763A1 · Kim · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20100150437A1 · Morales · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20100281424A1 · Vaysburg · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20100309510A1 · Hansen · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20110018899A1 · Benson · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110078633A1 · Hara · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110096359A1 · Taniuchi · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110099471A1 · Manijak · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110099501A1 · Mull · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110099517A1 · Mull · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110099523A1 · van Zee · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110169691A1 · Thomson · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110211221A1 · Waesberghe · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120038948A1 · Park · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120110503A1 · Mahoney · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120133782A1 · David · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120200892A1 · Hirayama · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120239528A1 · Nakagawa · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120300974A1 · Rodriguez · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120316995A1 · Davies · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120327265A1 · Arujunan · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20130003126A1 · Van Osdol · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20140040065A1 · DuBois · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20190215408A1 · Repka et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 1311368C · 2007 [cited by examiner]
EP 1298910A2 · 2003 [cited by examiner]
JP 2002041815A · 2002 [cited by examiner]
JP 2002165159A · 2002 [cited by examiner]
JP 2003067478A · 2003 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2005060234A1 · 2005 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2006138313A2 · 2006 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2011039657A1 · 2011 [cited by examiner]
David Kappos, Subject Matter Eligibility of Computer Readable Media. US Patent and Trademark Office, Feb. 23, 2010, 1351 OG 212. [cited by applicant]