Patent ID: 6069712
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image handling method comprising the steps of:(a) processing an exposed photographic film at a processor-scanner station, which has both a scanner and a processor at the same location, to produce one or more hardcopy images at the processor-scanner location;(b) reading data on the film which indicates a predetermined set of images that is to be communicated to a hub station, which hub station is remote from the processor-scanner station;(c) scanning the predetermined set of images at the same processor-scanner location at which the film was processed, to obtain a corresponding image set signal;(d) communicating the image set signal from the scanner to the hub station, wherein communication is by transmitting the image set signal from the scanner-processor location to the hub station; and(e) storing the communicated image set signal at the hub station wherein the hub station can store associated image set signals according to any of a plurality of identified categories, the data read on the film additionally includes a category identification that indicates in which category the scanned and communicated image set signal is to be stored, the image set signal is communicated with the category identification, and wherein the hub station stores the image set signal according to the category identification communicated and wherein each category includes a plurality of identified user categories and a plurality of identified album categories within each user category, and wherein the category identification read on the film includes both a user identification and an album identification.