Patent US5799219A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5799219A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for remote image communication and processing using data recorded on photographic film
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1996-08-15
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Granted: 1998-08-25
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Expires: 2016-08-15
Abstract
Abstract An automated film processing system, comprising: a film having at least one recordable section for storing at least one customer selected electronic address; a film finishing system for reading the electronic addresses recorded on said film, developing said film, digitizing the images developed on said film, and for transmitting the digitized images to the customer selected electronic addresses; and at least one customer station, remotely located from said film finishing system, said station electronically connected to said film finishing system for receiving and displaying the digitized images when addressed by said film finishing system. Photographs taken by a photojournalist are automatically communicated to a remotely located news agency by recording a telecommunication address for the remote location on the film. The data can be prerecorded on the film or recorded by the photographer before dispatching the film to a processor. At the processor, the developed film images are scanned and stored as image files. The address data, and any other data recorded by the photographer on the film is stored in a header appended to the image files. When the order is complete, a control computer at the processor automatically links to the remote image server via a telecommunications link based on address data in the file header. When the link is established, the image data is communicated to the remote server where image processing can be performed prior to making hard copy photoprints for publication. Other data recorded on the film can include such instructions as image scan resolution, color/tone scale calibration data, photolab identification and billing information.
Inventors
- 👤 Omid A. Moghadam
- 👤 Joseph DiVincenzo
- 👤 Dale F. McIntyre
- 👤 Edward Weissberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00132; H04N1/00135; G; G03; G03D; G03D15/00; G03D15/001; H04N1/00137; H04N1/00148; H04N1/00161; H04N1/00164; H04N1/00185; H04N1/00188; H04N1/00249; H04N1/0027; H04N1/00962; H04N1/32; H04N1/32037; H04N1/32048; H04N1/32101; G03B; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/24; G03B2217/242; G03B2217/244; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3204; H04N2201/3207; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3226; H04N2201/3242; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/3274; H04N2201/3278; H04N2201/333; H04N2201/33307; H04N2201/33314; H04N2201/33328; H04N2201/33342; H04N2201/33357
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An automated film processing system, comprising: a film having at least one recordable section for storing at least one customer selected electronic address; a film finishing system for reading the electronic addresses recorded on said film, developing said film, digitizing the images developed on said film, and for transmitting the digitized images to the customer selected electronic addresses; and at least one customer station, remotely located from said film finishing system, said station electronically connected to said film finishing system for receiving and displaying the digitized images when addressed by said film finishing system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
An automated film processing system, comprising: a film having at least one recordable section for storing at least one customer selected electronic address; a film finishing system for reading the electronic addresses recorded on said film, developing said film, digitizing the images developed on said film, and for transmitting the digitized images to the customer selected electronic addresses; and at least one customer station, remotely located from said film finishing system, said station electronically connected to said film finishing system for receiving and displaying the digitized images when addressed by said film finishing system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The automated film processing system according to claim 1 and further comprising: a plurality of viewing stations, remotely located from said film finishing system, each station connected by a communication link to said film finishing system at a unique electronic address; and means for said customer to direct said film finishing system to transmit the digitized images to customer selected electronic addresses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The automated film processing system according to claim 1 wherein said film finishing system further includes data entry means for receiving customer entered order information and customer selected electronic addresses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The automated film processing systems according to claim 1 and further comprising: means at the customer's remote location for selecting which digitized images are to be further processed by said film finishing systems; and means for communicating the selection to said film finishing systems.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The automated film processing system according to claim 4 wherein said film finishing system further comprises: printer means for printing hard copy of selected digitized images; and means responsive to the communicated selection for activating said printer means to print the selected digitized images.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
An automated film processing system, comprising: a film having at least one recordable section for storing at least one customer selected electronic address; a film finishing system for reading the electronic addresses recorded on said film, developing said film, digitizing the images developed on said film, and forming the digitized images into an index of digitized images, said film finishing system transmitting the index of digitized images to the customer selected electronic addresses; and at least on customer station, remotely located from said film finishing system, said station electronically connected to said film finishing system for receiving and displaying the index of digitized images when addressed by said film finishing system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
An automated film processing system, comprising: a film having at least one recordable section for storing at least one customer selected electronic address; a film finishing system for reading the electronic addresses recorded on said film, developing said film, digitizing the images developed on said film, and forming the digitized images into an index of digitized images, said film finishing system transmitting the index of digitized images to the customer selected electronic addresses; and at least on customer station, remotely located from said film finishing system, said station electronically connected to said film finishing system for receiving and displaying the index of digitized images when addressed by said film finishing system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The automated film processing system according to claim 6 and further comprising: a plurality of viewing stations, remotely located from said film finishing system, each station connected by a communication link to said film finishing system at a unique electronic address; and means for said customer to direct said film finishing system to transmit the index of digitized images to customer selected electronic addresses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The automated film processing system according to claim 6 wherein said film finishing system further includes data entry means for receiving customer entered order information and customer selected electronic addresses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The automated film processing system according to claim 6 and further comprising; means at the customer's remote location for selecting which digitized images are to be further processed by said film finishing systems; and means for communicating the selection to said film finishing system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The automated film processing system according to claim 9 wherein said film finishing system further comprised: printer means for printing hard copy of selected digitized images; and means responsive to the communicated selection for activating said printer means to print the selected digitized images.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for remote image communication using data recorded on photographic film comprising: means for recording data on the film, said data including telecommunication data representing at least a remote destination address to which images on the film are to be transmitted by telecommunication means; means for scanning images on the film after development processing to produce digital image signals and for reading said telecommunication data from the film; means responsive to said read telecommunication data for establishing a telecommunication link and for transmitting said digital image signals to said destination address.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for remote image communication using data recorded on photographic film comprising: means for recording data on the film, said data including telecommunication data representing at least a remote destination address to which images on the film are to be transmitted by telecommunication means; means for scanning images on the film after development processing to produce digital image signals and for reading said telecommunication data from the film; means responsive to said read telecommunication data for establishing a telecommunication link and for transmitting said digital image signals to said destination address.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 11 further including a remote image server for receiving and processing said telecommunicated digital image signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said remote image server includes a printer for reproducing said digital image signals in hard copy form.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said recorded data includes at least one of a photographer identifier, image scanner control information, image resolution to be transmitted, data compression ratio for image transmission and communication protocol information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
Film handling apparatus for sorting out film orders for telecommunication to a remote destination; said apparatus comprising: data reading means for reading data recorded on said film orders including telecommunication data identifying said remote destination; scanner means for converting developed images on said film orders into digital image data signals; and controller means responsive to said telecommunication data on the film for establishing a telecommunication link and for transmitting said digital image signals to said destination address.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
Film handling apparatus for sorting out film orders for telecommunication to a remote destination; said apparatus comprising: data reading means for reading data recorded on said film orders including telecommunication data identifying said remote destination; scanner means for converting developed images on said film orders into digital image data signals; and controller means responsive to said telecommunication data on the film for establishing a telecommunication link and for transmitting said digital image signals to said destination address.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The film handling apparatus of claim 15 wherein said controller means is adapted to perform compression of said digital image data signals prior to transmission to said destination address.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
The film handling apparatus of claim 15 wherein said recorded data includes additional data comprising at least one of a photographer identifier, image scanner control information, image resolution to be transmitted, data compression ratio for image transmission and communication protocol information; and said controller means is adapted to transmit said additional data to said remote destination.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The film handling apparatus of claim 15 wherein said scanner means is adapted to operate in accordance with predetermined operating parameters and said controller means is adapted to transmit at least some of said scanner operating parameters to said remote destination.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The film handling apparatus of claim 15 wherein said recorded data includes scanner control information and said controller means is operative to control operation of said scanner in accordance with recorded scanner control information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The film handling apparatus of claim 19, said controller means further being operative to transit said scanner control information to said remote destination.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The film handling apparatus of claim 15 further including means for determining film type of the film in the order; and said controller means is adapted to transmit information indicating said film type to said remote destination.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The film handling apparatus of claim 15 wherein said recorded data includes image data compression control information and said controller means is operative to perform corresponding image data compression on said digital image data prior to communication to said remote destination.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The film handling apparatus of claim 22 wherein said controller means is adapted to transmit said image data compression control information to said remote destination.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of performing remote image processing and communication using data recorded on film comprising the steps of: recording telecommunication data on a photographic film magnetic layer, said telecommunication data including at least a remote destination address to which images on the film are to be transmitted by telecommunication means; processing said film to develop images exposed on the film; scanning said images to produce digital image data; reading said telecommunication data from the film magnetic layer; establishing a telecommunication link to a remote destination address represented by said telecommunication data; and communicating said digital image data to said remote destination address.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of performing remote image processing and communication using data recorded on film comprising the steps of: recording telecommunication data on a photographic film magnetic layer, said telecommunication data including at least a remote destination address to which images on the film are to be transmitted by telecommunication means; processing said film to develop images exposed on the film; scanning said images to produce digital image data; reading said telecommunication data from the film magnetic layer; establishing a telecommunication link to a remote destination address represented by said telecommunication data; and communicating said digital image data to said remote destination address.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |