Abstract:
A method of authorizing the making of images on a receiver such as postage stamps by a receiving agency includes electronically transmitting a digital image file over a channel to the receiving agency and the digital image file includes at least one digital image and authorization information for making images on a receiver. The method further includes receiving the digital image file at the receiving agency, displaying at least one received digital image and examining the displayed digital image to determine whether its contents are acceptable for making images and examining the authorization information and printing at a designated location accepted digital images on a receiver corresponding to the transmitted digital image when the authorization information is approved.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to electronically transmitting a digital image over a channel to the receiving agency and authorizing such image to be printed such as on a postage stamp. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Photographic images have been viewed at a consumer&#39;s location or a personal computer and images have been selected for initial printing, reprinting and ordering related image services. 
     Photographic negatives are provided to a scanner to obtain image data. The image data is manipulated to provide a positive image in the case of the photographic negatives and sent to the consumer&#39;s personal computer. The desired images are then selected and order information is provided, based on the positive image as displayed on the display of the personal computer. The order information is recorded to permit the desired prints and services to be created and the resulting order is sent to the addressee. The following can also be used as sources of images to be selected for prints and other services; image files stored in digital format on floppy disks, Picture CDs, Photo CDs, CD-ROMs, down loaded from the Internet, and negatives and prints scanned using the consumer&#39;s own scanner and displayed on their personal computer&#39;s display. 
     Services selected using the chosen images are used in a number of different applications. In one of those applications, so-called “sticker prints” are made on a print media having an adhesive base and arranged so that they can be peeled off and individually pasted onto another surface. However, these stickers are not used in situations, which require that they be “authentic” such as postage stamps. By use of the term “authentic” is meant that the image can indicate to a viewer or a reader with a high degree of certainty that the image has not been counterfeited. 
     Currently the postage stamps are printed using a Gravure process. The Gravure process is capable of creating images of very high resolution, we beyond the capabilities of most common printers. The Gravure process is an intaglio process. It uses a depressed or sunken surface etched into a copper cylinder to create the image and the unetched surface of the cylinder represent non-printing areas. The cylinder rotates in a bath of ink and the etched area p up the ink and transfers it to the media creating the image. Gravure printing is considered excellent for printing highly detailed marks or pictures. High cylinder making expense usually limits Gravure to long runs. 
     The process described above for printing stamps does not lend itself to printing small batches of stamps in the quantities of 10 to 1000. This prohibits a consumer from choosing and image and having a postage stamp created using that image. A second problem is that not every personal image is suitable for use as a postage stamp. That is to say some personal images might be offensive in nature. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,605, discloses creating a postage stamp using an electronic camera to capture an image of oneself via a vending machine. Likewise in European Patent Application EP 0 893 787, Basington et. al., disclose producing a postage stamp using an electronic camera and a vending machine. There are several problems that are not addressed using these methods. The first problem is the user must go to the vending machine to produce the stamp. The second is that there is no method described for checking the content of the image to insure that the image captured is not offensive in nature making it unsuitable for use as a stamp. The third problem is it does not permit for creating a stamp from an image from other digital sources such as a file, print, negative, Photo CD, CD-ROM, or DVD. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of authorizing the making of images on a receiver such as postage stamps by a receiving agency comprising the steps of:
         (a) electronically transmitting a digital image file over a channel to the receiving agency;   (b) the digital image file includes at least one digital image and authorization information for making images on a receiver; and   (c) receiving the digital image file at the receiving agency, displaying at least one received digital image and examining the displayed digital image to determine whether its contents are acceptable for making images and examining the authorization information and printing at a designated location accepted digital images on a receiver corresponding to the transmitted digital image when the authorization information is approved.       

     By electronically transmitting a digital image and authorization information for making images on a receiver over a channel to the receiving agency, where the receiving agency examines the transmitted digital image and authorization information to determine whether it is acceptable for making images. When the receiving agency determines the digital image is acceptable and the authorization information is approved, the receiving agency prints the image on a receiver. 
     It is a feature of the present invention wherein the transmitted digital image is converted by a display to a visual image, which is viewed to determine if the image is acceptable. 
     It is another feature of the present invention wherein the authorization information is examined by logic and control means to determine that whether or not the authorization information is approved. 
     It is another feature of the present invention wherein a thermal printer, electrophotographic printer, ink jet or digital photographic printer prints the images. 
     It is a further feature of the present invention wherein the image and the authorization information is transmitted over the Internet. 
     It is an additional feature of the present invention wherein the image and the authorization information is delivered to the receiving agency via a courier service such as the U.S. Postal Service or Federal Express in a hardcopy form. 
     Still another feature of the present invention wherein the printed image in the form of a stamp is returned to the requesting consumer via the U.S. Postal Service or courier service such as Federal Express. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system for remotely selecting images and transmitting a digital file of the selected image to a receiving agency such as for the production of postage stamps; 
         FIG. 1A  is an enlarged view of the selected image of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 1B  is an enlarged view of the authenticated image of  FIG. 2   
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a system for remotely selecting images for transmitting to, receiving at a location different than the receiving agency of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing how images are selected and a digital file of the selected image is transmitted to the receiving agency; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart continuing the flow chart of  FIG. 3  showing how selected images are authorized and produced from the digital file and sent to the requesting consumer; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a system for sending an image via a courier to receiving agency such as for the production of postage stamps; and 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a system for sending an image via a courier to, receiving at a location different than the receiving agency of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a system for remotely selecting an image and ordering postage stamps according to the present invention. Reference is made to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,215 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A set of personal images  30  is viewed at a consumer&#39;s location  10  on their personal computer  20  or interactive TV. The source of the set  30  of the personal images can be image files stored in digital format on floppy and hard disks, Picture CDs, Photo CDs, and CD-ROMs. The image files can be down loaded from the Internet using a system such as Kodak&#39;s PhotoNet, or negatives and prints can be scanned using the consumer&#39;s own film scanner  45  or print scanner  55  and displayed on their personal computer&#39;s display  60 . The desired image  40  is then selected and authorizing information such as order information is provided. The authorizing information is comprised of but not limited to the consumer&#39;s address, credit card number, consumer authorization and number of postage stamps desired. A digital file of the selected image  40  ( FIG. 1A ) and the authorizing information are sent via a modem  70  to the receiving agency  80  such as the U.S. Postal Service over communication links  90  such as the Internet. The receiving agency  80  receives the image file and authorizing information via a modem  1115 , records the image file and authorizing information using a computer  95 , and stores the image file and authorizing information in a mass storage unit  105  such as an IOMEGA Jaz Drive. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the consumer sends a hardcopy  400  of the image  40  and authorizing information such as order information to the receiving agency  80  via a carrier such as the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express, or DHL. The authoring agency receives the hardcopy image  400 , scans the hard copy image  400  and the authoring information using a scanner  410  such as an Epson ES-1200C, records an image file including authorizing information using a computer  95 , and stores the digital file in a mass storage unit  105  such as an IOMEGA Jaz Drive. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the receiving agency  80  checks the received image file by viewing the received image  100  and the authorizing information on a monitor  110  and authorizes the requested number of personalized stamps  120  to be produced and sent to the addressee. The personalized stamps  120  are produced using a thermal printer  130  such as a KODAK PS 8650 Color Printer or a KODAK Photo Printer 4700. Other types of digital printers such as a KODAK CRT Digital Color Printer, a Hewlett Packard Deskjet 870Cix Inkjet Printer, or a digital electrophotographic printer such as an Indigo-E-1000 can be used to produce the personalized stamps  120 . Methods for producing authenticated images are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/103,019, filed Jun. 23, 1998, entitled “Forming Authenticated Images In A Receiver”; Paz-Pujalt et, al. and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/165,066, filed Oct. 2, 1998, entitled “Receiver Having Authenticated Marks”; Paz-Pujalt et, al, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a system for remotely selecting images for transmitting to, receiving at a location different than the receiving agency for the production of such items as personalized postage stamps  120 . The receiving location  140  can be a photofinisher, or any place capable of receiving, authorizing and printing an authentic digital image  150  ( FIG. 1B ) such as a postage stamp. A digital file of the desired image  40  and authorizing information are sent via a modem  70  (See  FIG. 1 ) to the receiving location  140  over communication links  90  such as the Internet. The receiving location  140  receives the image file and authorizing information via a modem  155 , records the image file and authorizing information using a computer  295 , and stores the image file and authorizing information in a mass storage unit  165  such as an IOMEGA Jaz Drive. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the consumer can send a hardcopy  400  of the image  40  and authorizing information  230  to the receiving location  140  via a carrier such as the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express, or DHL. The receiving location receives the hardcopy image  400  and authorizing information  230 , scans the hard copy image  400  and authorizing information  230  using a scanner  420  such as an Epson ES-1200C, records the image file and authorizing information  230  using a computer  295 , and stores the image file and authorizing information in a mass storage unit  165  such as an IOMEGA Jaz Drive. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the receiving location  140  checks the received image file by viewing the received image  170  and the authorizing information on a monitor  180  and authorizes the requested number of personalized stamps  120  to be produced and sent to the addressee. The personalized stamps  120  are produced using a thermal printer  190  or on a digital minilab  195  such as a Gretag Imaging Masterlab 740 Digital with Kodak Digital Printer. The postage stamps may also be printed using a digital color printer such as Xeikon D CP-1. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is provided a flow chart showing how the consumer selects an image and sends a digital file of the selected image and authorizing information over the communication links  90  to the receiving agency  250 . The consumer chooses the images from the image files to be displayed  200 . The consumer selects 210 a desired image  40  from the display  60 . The consumer then completes  220  the authorizing form  230 . The authorizing form  230  contains an authorization code  235 . Both the consumer and the receiving agency  250  can use the authorization code  235  to insure the image received by the receiving agency  250  did come from and belong to the consumer requesting the postage stamps. The authorization code  235  can be linked to the consumer&#39;s credit card number similarly to the way a pin number is linked to a credit card and is well known in the art. The linking of the authorization code  235  to the consumer&#39;s credit card number can be done for added security but is not necessary. The authorization code  235  can also be used by receiving agency  250  as a customer order number for identifying and track an order. The receiving agency  250  can also use the authorization code  235  to inform the consumer the image selected is suitable for use as a postage stamp and the postage stamps will be produced and sent to the consumer. The consumer electronically attaches the image file of the selected image to the authorizing form file,  240 , chooses a receiving agency  250  either  80  ( FIG. 1 ) or  140  ( FIG. 2 ) and e-mails both files to the selected receiving agency  260 . 
     Now referring  FIG. 4 , which continues the flow chart of  FIG. 3  and shows how selected images are authorized and produced from the digital and returned to the requesting consumer. The receiving agency  250  receives the file of the selected image and authorizing form file  300 . The files are added to the receiving agency&#39;s mass storage unit  310 . The selected image is displayed, determined for suitability of image content, the authorizing information is entered, the consumer&#39;s credit card is verified, and authorization is given to produce the postage stamps and complete the order  320  when the image content is acceptable and the authorization is approved. The postage stamps are printed  330 . After the image has been viewed and authorization to produce the postage stamps given, the receiving agency can choose to notify the consumer that the order is being fulfilled  340 . The receiving agency charges the consumer&#39;s credit card  350  and the completed order are sent to the consumer&#39;s address  360  or to any other consumer designated location for retrieval. If the receiving agency is not the post office, but an agent, the postage stamp transaction  370  is recorded to that the collect revenues can be distributed. 
     It will be understood the present invention is not limited to the printing of postage stamps but in equally applicable to the printing of traveler&#39;s checks, money orders. Gift certificates, or the like. 
     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     PARTS LIST 
     
         
           10  consumer location 
           20  personal computer 
           30  personal images 
           40  desired images 
           55  scanner 
           60  display 
           70  modem 
           80  receiving agency 
           90  communication link 
           100  received image 
           105  mass storage unit 
           110  monitor 
           115  modem 
           120  personalized images 
           130  printer 
           140  receiving locations 
           150  authentic digital images 
           155  modem 
           165  mass storage unit 
           170  received image 
           180  monitor 
           190  printer 
           200  developed images 
           230  order form 
           235  authorization code 
           240  order form file 
           250  receiving agency 
           260  selected receiving agency 
           300  order form 
           310  mass storage unit 
           320  order 
           330  printed postage stamps 
           340  fulfilled order 
           350  credit card charge 
           360  customer address 
           370  stamp transaction