Abstract:
A system for capturing an image of an instruction provided on a card by a camera. The fixture includes support surface having a cradle for receiving a camera. A support member extending from the support surface for supporting the support surface a fixed distance from a surface on which the fixture is placed. The instruction card is placed in the fixtures. The photofinisher during scanning of the developed film automatically reads a coded instruction and fulfills the order in accordance with the instruction.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fixture and system for automatically providing goods and/or services based on scanning processed film. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to “pre-burn” images on photographic film. A frame or frames have been exposed during manufacture of a One Time Use Camera (OTUC) so that an image which is not captured by the user of the camera is available for printing. A method for creating a latent image on the film in a camera is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,453 issued to Boyd. This method provides the user of the camera with latent imagery that is not captured by that user, but the exposure must be made at the time of manufacture, and the quality of the image is limited to that which the OTUC is capable of obtaining. Since this image is captured at the time of manufacture, the capture of the special image precedes the use of the camera, often by a period of months. Also, due to the economics of the manufacturing and distribution systems, the use of special exposures is limited to large lot sizes. A small number of special image exposures corresponding to an event is not economically feasible. Additionally, the stocking of OTUCs specific to particular special images poses a problem. If the popularity of the particular type of special image wanes, the retailer is left with undesirable OTUCs. 
     Another approach is to use a fixture to capture special images at the point of sale. The OTUC is placed in a fixture to capture an “image of an image.” This method suffers from poor quality due to the capture and illumination system of the OTUC, or if well illuminated, from the expense of that illumination. This capture must be of a special image captured prior to purchase of the OTUC. Additionally, this method is capable of economically capturing only a special image of another image. The logistics of capturing a “real” scene by the retailer are prohibitive. 
     Another method of indicating a desire for special photofinishing or images is that of U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,752 issued to Petruchik. This method uses a special camera to place marks on the film. These marks may make selections from an image set specified by a code placed on the film at the time of film manufacture. This method utilizes a specialized camera and an image set code encoded at the time of manufacture. 
     One of the purposes of the present invention is to overcome these limitations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a fixture for capturing an image of an instruction card by a camera, the fixture comprising, 
     a support member extending from the support surface for supporting the support surface a fixed distance from a surface on which the fixture is placed, said support member defining a retaining area for receiving an instruction card so that said camera placed on said cradle can capture an image of an image of an instruction placed on said instruction card. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for capturing an image of an instruction card by a camera, the system comprising, 
     a fixture having a support surface having a cradle for receiving a camera and a support member extending from the support surface for supporting the support surface at a fixed distance from a surface on which the fixture is placed; and 
     an instruction card having an instruction thereon for placement in the fixture so that the camera placed on the cradle can capture an image of the instruction card. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for obtaining goods and/or services by using a camera and a fixture, said fixture having a support surface having a cradle for receiving the camera fixed distance from a surface on which the fixture is placed, the support member defining a retaining area for receiving an instruction placed on the instruction card comprising the steps of: 
     a. capturing an image of an instruction card placed in the fixture on film in a camera that is positioned on the cradle, the instruction card having at least one machine readable code thereon; 
     b. developing the film; 
     c. scanning the developed film so as read the machine readable code; and 
     d. providing at least one goods and/or services with respect to the machine readable code. 
     In still anther aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for obtaining goods and/or services by using a camera and a fixture, the fixture having a support surface having a cradle for receiving the camera and a support member extending from the support surface for supporting the camera fixed distance from a surface on which the fixture is placed, the support member defining a retaining area for receiving an instruction card so that the camera placed on the cradle can capture an image of an instruction card, comprising the steps of; 
     a. capturing an image of an instruction card placed in the fixture on film in a camera that is positioned on the cradle, the instruction card having at least one machine readable code thereon; 
     b. forwarding the captured image of the instruction card to a photofinisher; and 
     c. providing at least one goods and/or services with respect to the machine readable code. 
     These and other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is front elevation view of a typical prior art one time use camera; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fixture made in accordance with the present invention designed for use with the camera of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is plan view of code card made in accordance with the present invention for use with the fixture of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is system diagram of the components of FIGS. 1-3 made in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the operation of the system of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated typical prior art one time use camera  10 . The camera  10  includes flash  20 , a flash charging button  22  for activating charging of the flash  20  and shutter switch  24  for causing the camera to take a picture and discharge the flash  20  as appropriate. The flash  20  and charging button  22  are provided on the front surface  26  of the camera  10 . The camera  10  also includes a lens  25  for capturing of an image which is also provided on the front surface  26 . 
     The camera  10  of FIG. 1 is designed for placement in a fixture  30  as shown in FIG.  2 . In particular the fixture  30  includes a support surface  32  for engaging the front surface  26  of camera. The fixture  30  also includes support members  34 ,  35 ,  36  and  37  for supporting fixture  30  on a surface, preferably a flat surface such as table. The support members  34 ,  35 ,  36 , and  37  form an inner periphery  39  which defines a retaining area  40  for receiving a instruction card  100 . Preferably the outer perimeter of instruction card  100  is such that it mates with the inner periphery  39  so that the image on the instruction card  100  will be properly aligned with respect to the lens of camera  10 . Fixture  30  is preferably made of an inexpensive material such as cardboard. The support surface  32  is configured so as to provide a cradle  38  for receiving the camera  10  and is configured such that the flash charging switch  24  is actuated by projection  33  provided in fixture  30  upon placement of camera  10  in cradle  38 . The cradle  38  also maintains the camera  10  in a fixed position with respect to a instruction card  100  to be place beneath support surface  32 . By this arrangement, the flash  20  in camera  10  is ready to illuminate the subject when shutter switch  24  is pressed. In certain cameras a flash  20  may not be provided. In such situations a light (not shown) of an appropriate intensity may be provided for properly illuminating the instruction card  100 . The light may be provided with the fixture  30  or placed outside and positioned to illuminate the instruction card  100  through an opening  80  provided in one of support members  34 ,  35 ,  36  and  37 . Fixture  30  also includes a diopter lens  70  which is positioned to be adjacent the lens of camera  10 . The diopter lens  70  designed such that the focus of camera  10  is modified to match the distance from the One Time Use Camera (OTUC) to the retaining area  40  of fixture  30 . A fixture of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,226 issued to Frosig. 
     FIG. 3 shows image instruction card  100  having an identifier indicia  110  thereon. The identifier indicia alerts the photofinisher that this is a special instruction with regard to the providing of goods and/or services. In the embodiment illustrated machine readable codes  120  and  130  are also provided on instruction card  100 . Code  120  is associated with identifying a particular retailer, store, individual, etc., and a code  130  is associated with providing a particular instruction. In the embodiment illustrated code  130  is an event instruction. In particular code  130  represents the providing of a stock image of the Finish Line at Watkins Glen Raceway for the year 2001. Text  140  is provided on instruction card  100  so that the retailer/user will select the appropriate card for the desired goods and/or services. Instruction card  100  is inserted into fixture  30  at retaining area  40 . In the embodiment illustrated, two codes are provided. However, one or any number of codes may be provided. 
     FIG. 4 shows camera  10  and special instruction card  100  that is to be inserted into fixture  30 . When the shutter switch  24  on camera  10  is pressed, flash unit  20  fires, (assuming the camera  10  has a flash) and an image of the special instruction card  100  is captured. camera  10  is delivered to the consumer, who uses the camera in the usual fashion. Upon finishing with the camera  10 , the user has the film processed. 
     The camera  10  may be delivered to a photofinisher  142  of the consumer&#39;s choice or the camera  10  may be sent via mailer to a photofinisher  142 . The photofinisher  142  provides special images and/or products and/or services  144  as indicated by the image code, for example by code  120  or  130 . The photofinisher also creates prints of the images captured by the consumer in step  146 . In step  148 , the special images (good and/or services associated with the codes) and consumer captured prints of the images on the film are returned to the consumer. 
     The steps followed by the digital photofinisher will follow the steps shown in more detail in FIG.  5 . Film in the OTUC is delivered to the photofinisher in step  150  and is processed in step  160  as is common in the art. Thus the image of the instruction card  100  is developed on the film. Then the film is scanned by a film scanner in step  170 . The film scanner is provided with appropriate software for automatically analyzing the images scanned on the film. In particular the scanner is capable of recognizing if a special instruction card  100  has been captured. Thus, in step  180  data obtained from scanning of the film is analyzed to determine if a special instruction card  100  is present. At step  190  if a image code card image is detected, any code number present is determined at step  200 . The code number or number may be checked against a database for validity in step  210 . Provided the code number is valid, the photofinisher will automatically execute the actions dictated by the code in step  220 . These actions may include the inclusion of a special image or images, or processing the images from film in a specific manner, such as cartooning, adding of text, ordering of multiple prints and/or desired size prints. It is of course understood that any desired feature, product and/or service that may be ordered is identified by the code or codes provided on the instruction card  100 . 
     The codes  120  and/or  130  on instruction card  100  may also be incorporated into other useful objects. For example, the codes may be incorporated into the fixture  30 , or into a prepaid mailer bag (envelope) which is well known in the photofinishing industry. In the latter case, the bag is inserted into the fixture in place of instruction card  100 . Using the prepaid bag with codes in place of the instruction card  100  allows a correspondence between the goods or service to be provided and the film carrying the latent image of the codes. The prepaid mailer also ensures that the film is delivered to a photofinisher enabled to read the codes and provide the corresponding goods or services. 
     Another use for the code is to provide payment information. The appropriate codes may be provided to indicate that payment has been made or needs to be made when images are picked up. 
     While the present invention is particular useful with One Time Use camera, which typically have a single fixed focal length, the present invention is not so limited. It may be used with any type film camera. In addition, if so desired, the present invention may be used with electronic cameras where the digital image files are sent on to a photofinisher over a communication network, such as the internet, for providing of goods and/or services. At least one of the digital image files contains an image of a special code as captured by an electronic camera. The associated digital image may also be sent to the photofinisher over the communication network. Alternatively the digital images may be forwarded using a digital storage device, such as a flash card or memory card. 
     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 scope of the invention. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 camera 
               
               
                 20 
                 flash 
               
               
                 22 
                 charging button 
               
               
                 24 
                 shutter switch 
               
               
                 25 
                 lens 
               
               
                 26 
                 front surface 
               
               
                 30 
                 fixture 
               
               
                 32 
                 support surface 
               
               
                 33 
                 projection 
               
               
                 34 
                 support member 
               
               
                 35 
                 support member 
               
               
                 36 
                 support member 
               
               
                 37 
                 support member 
               
               
                 38 
                 cradle 
               
               
                 39 
                 inner periphery 
               
               
                 40 
                 area 
               
               
                 70 
                 diopter lens 
               
               
                 100 
                 instruction card 
               
               
                 110 
                 indicia 
               
               
                 120 
                 machine readable codes 
               
               
                 130 
                 machine readable codes 
               
               
                 140 
                 text 
               
               
                 142 
                 photofinisher 
               
               
                 144 
                 special images/products/services 
               
               
                 146 
                 step 
               
               
                 148 
                 step 
               
               
                 150 
                 step 
               
               
                 160 
                 step 
               
               
                 170 
                 step 
               
               
                 180 
                 step 
               
               
                 190 
                 step 
               
               
                 200 
                 step 
               
               
                 210 
                 step 
               
               
                 220 
                 step