Photographic processing apparatus and method

Claim 1

A method of processing photographic media carrying a plurality of images, the method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the media to obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) determining image characteristics from the scanned image signals; (c) automatically comparing the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (d) displaying simulated images based on the scanned image signals such that any suspect images are apparent to a user; (e) receiving user input for any suspect images; (f) correcting any suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (g) forwarding the image signals to an output device; wherein in said step (d), both suspect images and passed images are displayed, and wherein suspect images are displayed with an added indicator which distinguishes them to a user from passed images.

Claim 2

A method of processing photographic media carrying a plurality of images, the method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the media to obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) determining image characteristics from the scanned image signals; (c) automatically comparing the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (d) displaying simulated images based on the scanned image signals such that any suspect images are apparent to a user; (e) receiving user input for any suspect images; (f) correcting any suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (g) forwarding the image signals to an output device; wherein in said step (d), both suspect images and passed images are displayed, and wherein suspect images are displayed with an added indicator which distinguishes them to a user from passed images.

Claim 7

A method of processing photographic media carrying a plurality of images, comprising: (a) scanning the media to obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) determining image characteristics from the scanned image signals; (c) automatically comparing the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (d) displaying simulated images based on the scanned image signals such that any suspect images are apparent to a user; (e) receiving user input for any suspect images; (f) correcting any suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (g) forwarding the image signals to an output device; wherein the predetermined characteristic values are values selected from image density, contrast, color balance, quality evaluation for scratches and dust, red eye, scene position and orientation.

Claim 8

A method of processing photographic media carrying a plurality of images, comprising: (a) scanning the media to obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) determining image characteristics from the scanned image signals; (c) automatically comparing the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (d) displaying simulated images based on the scanned image signals such that any suspect images are apparent to a user; (e) receiving user input for any suspect images; (f) correcting any suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (g) forwarding the image signals to an output device; wherein the predetermined characteristic values are values selected from image density, contrast, color balance, quality evaluation for scratches and dust, red eye, scene position and orientation.

Claim 9

A method of processing photographic media carrying a plurality of images, the method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the media to obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) determining image characteristics from the scanned image signals; (c) automatically comparing the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (d) displaying any simulated images based on the scanned image signals such that suspect images are apparent to a user; (e) receiving user inputs for a suspect image; (f) correcting a suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (g) forwarding an image from an image signal corresponding to a passed image scanned subsequent to an earlier scanned suspect image while waiting for the corrected image signal from step (f) which corresponds to that earlier scanned suspect image.

Claim 10

A method of processing photographic media carrying a plurality of images, the method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the media to obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) determining image characteristics from the scanned image signals; (c) automatically comparing the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (d) displaying any simulated images based on the scanned image signals such that suspect images are apparent to a user; (e) receiving user inputs for a suspect image; (f) correcting a suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (g) forwarding an image from an image signal corresponding to a passed image scanned subsequent to an earlier scanned suspect image while waiting for the corrected image signal from step (f) which corresponds to that earlier scanned suspect image.

Claim 15

A method of processing photographic film comprised of a batch of film orders each of one or more filmstrips carrying a series of images, the filmstrips of the batch being attached in series at their ends, the method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the film to obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) determining image characteristics from the scanned image signals; (c) automatically comparing image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (d) displaying simulated images based on the scanned image signals such that suspect images are apparent to a user; (e) receiving user inputs for one or more suspect images; (f) correcting a suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (g) forwarding image signals from passed images of an order to the output device until the corrected image signal from step (f) is available or all passed image signals of an order have been forwarded.

Claim 16

A method of processing photographic film comprised of a batch of film orders each of one or more filmstrips carrying a series of images, the filmstrips of the batch being attached in series at their ends, the method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the film to obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) determining image characteristics from the scanned image signals; (c) automatically comparing image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (d) displaying simulated images based on the scanned image signals such that suspect images are apparent to a user; (e) receiving user inputs for one or more suspect images; (f) correcting a suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (g) forwarding image signals from passed images of an order to the output device until the corrected image signal from step (f) is available or all passed image signals of an order have been forwarded.

Claim 19

A method of processing photographic film comprised of a batch of film orders each of one or more filmstrips carrying a series of images, the filmstrips of the batch being attached in series at their ends, the method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the film to obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) determining image characteristics from the scanned image signals; (c) automatically comparing the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (d) displaying simulated images based on the scanned image signals such that suspect images are apparent to a user; (e) receiving user inputs for one or more suspect images; (f) correcting a suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (g) forwarding image signals from a first order to an output device only when all passed and corrected image signals for the first order have been obtained, and while awaiting corrected image signals for the first order, forwarding image signals for a second order to the output device for which second order all passed and corrected image signals have been obtained.

Claim 20

A method of processing photographic film comprised of a batch of film orders each of one or more filmstrips carrying a series of images, the filmstrips of the batch being attached in series at their ends, the method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the film to obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) determining image characteristics from the scanned image signals; (c) automatically comparing the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (d) displaying simulated images based on the scanned image signals such that suspect images are apparent to a user; (e) receiving user inputs for one or more suspect images; (f) correcting a suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (g) forwarding image signals from a first order to an output device only when all passed and corrected image signals for the first order have been obtained, and while awaiting corrected image signals for the first order, forwarding image signals for a second order to the output device for which second order all passed and corrected image signals have been obtained.

Claim 23

An apparatus for processing photographic media carrying a plurality of images, comprising: (a) a scanner to scan the media and obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) a screen; (c) a user input device; (d) an output device; and (d) a processor communicating with the scanner, display, user input device, and output device, which processor: determines image characteristics from the scanned image signals; automatically compares the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; generates simulated images and causes them to be displayed on the screen based on the scanned image signals such that suspect images are apparent to a user; receives user inputs for one or more suspect images; corrects a suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and forwards the image signals to an output device.

Claim 24

An apparatus for processing photographic media carrying a plurality of images, comprising: (a) a scanner to scan the media and obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) a screen; (c) a user input device; (d) an output device; and (d) a processor communicating with the scanner, display, user input device, and output device, which processor: determines image characteristics from the scanned image signals; automatically compares the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; generates simulated images and causes them to be displayed on the screen based on the scanned image signals such that suspect images are apparent to a user; receives user inputs for one or more suspect images; corrects a suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and forwards the image signals to an output device.

Claim 36

An apparatus for processing photographic film comprised of a batch of film orders each of one or more filmstrips carrying a series of images, the filmstrips of the batch being attached in series at their ends, the apparatus comprising: (a) a scanner to scan the film and obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) a screen; (c) a user input device; (d) an output device; and (d) a processor communicating with the scanner, display, user input device, and output device, which processor: determines image characteristics from the scanned image signals; automatically compares the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; generates simulated images and causes them to be displayed on the screen based on the scanned image signals such that suspect images are apparent to a user; receives user inputs for one or more suspect images; corrects a suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and continues to forward to the output device one or more image signals from passed images of an order until either a corrected image signal is available or all of the images of an order have been scanned.

Claim 37

An apparatus for processing photographic film comprised of a batch of film orders each of one or more filmstrips carrying a series of images, the filmstrips of the batch being attached in series at their ends, the apparatus comprising: (a) a scanner to scan the film and obtain scanned image signals corresponding to the images; (b) a screen; (c) a user input device; (d) an output device; and (d) a processor communicating with the scanner, display, user input device, and output device, which processor: determines image characteristics from the scanned image signals; automatically compares the image characteristics for the scanned images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; generates simulated images and causes them to be displayed on the screen based on the scanned image signals such that suspect images are apparent to a user; receives user inputs for one or more suspect images; corrects a suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and continues to forward to the output device one or more image signals from passed images of an order until either a corrected image signal is available or all of the images of an order have been scanned.

Claim 39

A method of processing captured images comprising the steps of: (a) determining image characteristics from image signals representative of the captured images; (b) automatically comparing the image characteristics for the images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (c) displaying simulated images based on the image signals such that any suspect images from the displayed simulated images are apparent to a user; (d) receiving user input for any suspect images; (e) correcting any suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (f) forwarding the image signals to an output device.

Claim 40

A method of processing captured images comprising the steps of: (a) determining image characteristics from image signals representative of the captured images; (b) automatically comparing the image characteristics for the images with one or more predetermined characteristic values to classify as passed or suspect images those images which do or do not meet one or more of the predetermined characteristics; (c) displaying simulated images based on the image signals such that any suspect images from the displayed simulated images are apparent to a user; (d) receiving user input for any suspect images; (e) correcting any suspect image signal in response to the user input for that image; and (f) forwarding the image signals to an output device.