US6809762B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple photograph service method and apparatus
Assignee: BARBARA ROBINSON
•
Filing: 2001-07-31
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Granted: 2004-10-26
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Expires: 2021-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A photograph service method offers a package to a customer containing a selected number of photographs to be taken at a plurality of individual photographic sites within a defined geographic area. Payment for the package is arranged for and accepted in advance. The paid customer is provided with a customer I.D. or uniquely identified at each photographic site where images are captured. The images are then processed and delivered to the customer. Each customer is provided with a digital media storage element for transport to each photographic site. Images are captured at each of the photographic sites using the digital media storage element.
Inventors
- 👤 Brett James Donnelly
- 👤 Barbara Goode Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:29
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/22; G06Q20/28; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/342; G06Q20/346; G07F17/00; G07F17/26; G07F7/02; G07F7/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A photograph service method comprising the steps of: offering a photograph package to a customer containing a selected number of photographs to be taken at a plurality of individual photographic sites within a defined area; arranging for and accepting payment from the customer for the photographic package; identifying a prepaid customer at each photographic site; issuing a portable digital image storage element to the customer for use in a digital camera at each photographic site by the identified customer; transporting the portable digital image storage element by the customer to a plurality of the photographic sites; inserting the portable digital image storage element into a digital camera at each photographic site; taking at least one image at the one of the plurality of photographic sites by the customer using the digital camera at the photographic site; storing the at least one image taken at the at least one of the photographic sites in the digital image storage element; the customer transporting the portable digital image storage element away from the one photographic site after the image is stored in the portable digital image storage element; and transferring the images from the digital image storage element to the customer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A photograph service method comprising the steps of: offering a photograph package to a customer containing a selected number of photographs to be taken at a plurality of individual photographic sites within a defined area; arranging for and accepting payment from the customer for the photographic package; identifying a prepaid customer at each photographic site; issuing a portable digital image storage element to the customer for use in a digital camera at each photographic site by the identified customer; transporting the portable digital image storage element by the customer to a plurality of the photographic sites; inserting the portable digital image storage element into a digital camera at each photographic site; taking at least one image at the one of the plurality of photographic sites by the customer using the digital camera at the photographic site; storing the at least one image taken at the at least one of the photographic sites in the digital image storage element; the customer transporting the portable digital image storage element away from the one photographic site after the image is stored in the portable digital image storage element; and transferring the images from the digital image storage element to the customer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: identifying a prepaid customer by issuing a unique customer I.D. to each prepaid customer; and determining the customer I.D. at each site where a photograph is to be taken.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of: automatically reading the customer I.D. at each site where a photograph is to be taken.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising: validating the customer I.D. at each photographic site.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of offering a photographic package further includes the steps of: providing a central processing unit in data communication with a first data input device to allow a customer to automatically select a one photograph package from a plurality of discrete photograph packages; providing a plurality of data input devices at each of the plurality of photograph sites for input of the customer I.D.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of taking at least one of photographic sites and the step of transporting further comprise the steps of: carrying the digital image storage element between the plurality of photographic sites; and taking at least one photograph at more than one of the plurality of photographic sites using a camera at each of the plurality of photographic sites for receiving the digital image storage element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of issuing the customer I.D. further comprises the step of: storing the customer I.D. on the digital image storage element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the photograph package offered to the customer further includes at least one of the cost of the package, the number of photographs in the package, the location of each photographic site covered by the package, and photograph delivery mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the step of issuing the customer I.D. occurs after payment from the customer has been accepted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: enabling at least one additional photograph beyond the selected number of photographs in the package to be taken at a photographic site; and arranging for and accepting payment for the additional photograph.
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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) | 2007-10-26 | 2008-04-26 | 2008-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-10-26 | 2012-04-26 | 2012-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-10-26 | 2016-04-26 | 2016-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |