Abstract:
A management system and method of assigning credit for unprintable images provided by a customer. When unprintable frames are submitted for processing, such as scanning, printing or storage, the method allows the photofinisher to keep track of the number of image submitted for processing and assigns credit for to the customer&#39;s account for unprintable images. As an example of redeeming such credit, when the number of unprintable images equals a pre-set criterion, such as the number of frames in a roll, a free roll of film could be issued to the customer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is in the field of photographic processing services and, more particularly, is in the field of methods of accumulating credits to a customer&#39;s photofinishing loyalty account. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well known in commerce in general, and in the photofinishing service business in particular as well, to provide incentives to customers to continue use of a particular product or service. These incentives may include, for example, discount coupons or volume discounts. A well-known example of an incentive specific to the photofinishing service business is the practice by some service providers of providing a replacement “free roll of film” to the customer for every roll submitted for processing. 
     There is another practice, perhaps unique to the photofinishing business, which also serves to create customer satisfaction and loyalty. In a traditional photofinishing service operation, customers are ordinarily assessed a flat rate charge for processing a roll of film (the charge will, however, often depend upon the length of the roll submitted) and then an additional charge for each print made from that roll is added on to the charges for the order. Most photofinishers today can detect if a frame of the film submitted for processing is blank (e.g., the frame either has no exposure on it all, or an overall uniform maximum exposure) and not make a print from blank frames. In some operations, more sophisticated automatic detection means may be applied to detect frames which, while not blank or uniformly fogged, are otherwise unprintable or judged unlikely to make a print the customer would want to have. Thus prints will be made only from those prints judged likely to give good results and the total resulting charges for the photofinishing order then will reflect only the prints actually made. This policy of not making prints from unprintable frames undoubtedly leads to greater customer satisfaction with the photofinishing service received. 
     A problem not fully addressed by this practice is one which arises from the fact that rolls of film are ordinarily supplied in specific roll lengths, containing fixed numbers of exposures. For example, rolls of  12 ,  24  or  36  exposures are fairly typical. Often, a user of the film may find there are exposures remaining even though all the photographs desired of a particular event have been made. Confronted by this situation and not wishing to “waste” what is perceived by the user as a valuable resource (in this case unexposed film), the user may resort to a practice of shooting photographs, which may also not be of particular interest at the time. Multiple photographs of the same subject such as a family pet, shot hastily, is a familiar example of this practice. While the customer perhaps realizes she would not have to pay for prints made from blank frames, she nevertheless still views submitting the unexposed frames for processing as wasteful. 
     More recently cameras have been introduced such as the Kodak Preview™ camera, part of the Advantix™ line of cameras, which while employing film as the capture medium, also captures the image photographed electronically and displays a preview image on an LCD screen on the back of the camera. The photographer is then given a choice to select from the options at photofinishing to order one print from the frame, multiple prints from the frame, or no print at all. In the Kodak Preview™ camera, the instructions to the photofinisher are written to the magnetic recording tracks present on the film. In the instance of a frame where no print is selected, this frame is of course wasted and may not be reused. 
     With the advent of loyalty accounts and computer-stored databases of customer past purchases and preferences, it is now possible for a photofinishing service provider to set up a photofinishing account for each customer and track total actual usage of photofinishing products and services over time. This capability opens the possibility to provide a method to better address the particular problems described above and thereby to engender even greater satisfaction and loyalty to the provider. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a solution to the problem outlined above by providing a method of assigning credit for unprintable or unused frames of film to a customer&#39;s photofinishing loyalty account. When unexposed or otherwise unprintable frames are submitted for processing, the method allows the photofinisher to keep track of the number of frames submitted but not printed and assigns credit for them to the account. As an example of redeeming such credit, when the number of unprinted frames equals a pre-set criterion, such as the number of frames in a roll, a free roll of film could be issued to the customer. Other forms of credit such as reduction of the photofinishing service charge may also be used. 
     In practice, the photofinishing service provider sets up a loyalty account for a particular customer and assigns a unique ID number to that account. When the customer submits a new photofinishing order, the ID number is associated with the order for example, either by entry on a photofinishing service request bag, or by swiping a card programmed with the ID number at a kiosk. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a photoprocessing management system for managing photoprocessing services of a service provide for filling image orders with resect to rolls of photographic film submitted by a customer, comprising:
         a) a computer for processing data by a service provider with respect to the customer, the customer maintaining a customer account with respect to image orders submitted by the customer with respect to the rolls of photographic film;   b) means for filling the image orders for the customer and associating a charge to the customer for filling of the image order with respect to each of the rolls of photographic film submitted by the customer; and   c) means on the computer for automatically assigning cedit to the customer account for unused or unusable images on the rolls of photographic film submitted by the customer wherein a number of accrued unused or unusable images compared to a threshold value.       

     In accordance with, another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for processing images on a plurality of image retaining devices submitted by a customer, comprising the steps of:
         a. providing the image retaining devices by the customer, each of the image retaining devices capable of retaining a predetermined number of images;   b. processing the image retaining devices by a processing lab;   c. automatically determining the number of unused or usable images on each of the processed image retaining devices;   d. maintaining a customer account on a computer database with respect to the plurality of image retaining devices; and   e. automatically crediting the customer account for the unused or unusable images in accordance with a predetermined criteria wherein the predetermined criteria comprises comparing the number of images of the image retaining device that said image retaining device was designed to capture with the number of unused or unusable images on each of the processed image retaining devices.       

     In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer software product for use in filling, image orders with respect to images on an image retaining device, the computer software product being stored on a computer readable medium having stored instructions which when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:
         a processing data for a service provider with respect to a customer;   b. tracking and storing the customer orders having an image retaining device capable of retaining a predetermined number of images;   c. automatically determining the number of unused or unusable images on each of the processed image retaining devices; and   d. automatically crediting the customer account for the unused or unusable images in accordance with a predetermined criteria wherein the predetermined criteria comprises comparing the number of images of the image retaining device that said image retaining device was designed to capture with the number of unused or unusable images on each of the processed image retaining devices.       

     The above, and other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying detailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the following 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 a schematic diagram of a image management system made in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart of operation of the image management system of system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or in cooperation more directly with, the apparatus in accordance with the present invention. It is understood that elements not specifically shown or described may take various forms well known to those skilled in the art. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a schematic diagram of a system  10  made in accordance with the present invention. The system  10  includes a personal computer  12  having a display device  14  and a keyboard  16  for entering data into computer  12 . The display device  14  may be of any particular type. In the particular embodiment illustrated the display device is a CRT. Personal computer  12  is provided with appropriate communication hardware and software so as to enable the personal computer  12  to be connected to an internet service provider (ISP)  18 . The ISP  18  provides access to the Internet  20 . 
     The system  10  may also include a kiosk  22  or other retail computer located a retailer  23 . The kiosk  22  will include a display device  24  and data entry means  26 . In the particular embodiment illustrated, data entry means  26  is a keyboard. It is, of course, understood that the data entry means may be of any appropriate type device, for example, but not by limitation may be a touch display screen or a mouse for controlling a selection icon on the display device  24 . In addition a card reader  25  may be provided for reading information from a credit card or loyalty card, for example, information on a magnetic strip provided on the card. Other type reading devices such as a bar-code reader may also be provided for reading of information. 
     The system  10  includes means for filling an image order, which in the embodiment illustrated comprises a photofinishing lab  30  (photofinishing provider) which provides various photofinishing goods and services. For example, the photofinishing lab  30  typically will receive exposed unprocessed photographic film for processing and printing of photographic prints. The photofinishing lab  30  may provide various other image related products such as photo albums, t-shits and mugs having personalized images thereon. There is virtually no limit as to the number and different type of image goods or services that may be provided by the photofinishing lab  30 . 
     A typical photofinishing lab  30  will include various different sections. In the particular embodiment illustrated the photofinishing lab  30  includes an order entry station  31 . As is typical in such photofinishing labs, the order entry station  31  includes a splice apparatus for splicing together a plurality of individual rolls of film, each one being associated with a single photofinishing order for a particular customer. Between adjacent rolls and connecting the individual rolls there is provided a splice tape which subsequently allows the forming of a single long roll of film that will processed and printed. The splice tape has a unique machine readable identification number associated with the customer order. Typically this ID number is also printed on the order envelope in which the order was provided. The unique splice number is capable of being tracked through out the photofinishing process and read by various pieces of equipment in the photofinishing process such as a scanner and/or printer. The splice apparatus is also capable of identifying the number of exposures (frames) the roll of film was designed to capture. 
     The photofinishing lab  30  also included a film processing section  32  wherein exposed undeveloped film is processed. A film scanning section  34  is also provided for scanning the processed film so as to obtain a digital record of the images thereon. The scanning section  34  includes a CCD or other scanning device for electronically capturing the images on the film. Appropriate computer algorithms analyze the digitally captured images to determine which are suitable for printing. The images suitable for printing obtained from the film are forwarded to a computer server  36  or memory storage device  38 . A computer  40  is also provided at the photofinishing lab  30  for controlling and monitoring of the photofinishing processes being conducted. The digitally captured images are then sent on to a printer and processing section  42  where the images may be digitally printed and developed. Optionally the images may be forwarded on to an optical printer for optically printing of the images. In such a case, the film may be scanned by a CCD, which is typically used to determine the appropriate printing conditions, to determine what images are suitable for printing. Here again, the CCD can be used to determine the number of images developed on the film that are suitable for printing. The completed order is then packaged at an order packaging station  44  and returned to the retailer  23  that forwarded the order. 
     In the particular embodiment illustrated, the exposed photographic film is provided to photofinishing lab  30  in a cassette  35  which is placed into an order envelope  37  typically provided at a retailer  23 . The order envelope  37  is appropriately filled out by the customer, submitted by the retailer  23 , and forwarded by the retailer  23  to the photofinishing lab  30  for obtaining the appropriate service which in the particular embodiment illustrated is for the obtainment of photographic prints. A tear off strip  39  is taken off the order envelope  37  by the customer as a receipt for the order. The tear off strip  39  includes a copy of the envelope ID provided on the envelope that is forwarded to the photofinishing lab  30 . 
     The system  10  further includes a network photo service provider  54  wherein digital images obtained from the scanner section  34  at a photofinishing lab  30  may be stored. In a similar fashion, the network photo service provider  54  receives digital images over the internet  20  via personal computer  12  connected to ISP  18 . 
     The network photo service provider  54  includes a server  56  which is used to communicate with the Internet  20 . In the embodiment illustrated, the network photo service provider  54  is ia communication with photofinishing lab  30  through Internet  20 . The internet  20  also allows communication between any of the various parties connected thereto, for example, the customer at home, the retailer  23 , the photofinishing lab  30 , and network photo service provider  54 . A computer  58  is also provided at the network photo service provider  54 . Computer  58  is in communication with server  56  and includes an image database  60  which stores digital images, and a customer database  61  for identifying the digital images stored in the image database  60 . Appropriate computer software on computer  58  provides means for automatically assigning credit to the customer account for unused or unusable images on the rolls of photographic film submitted by the customer wherein a number of accrued unused or unuasable images are compared to a threshold value. In the system  10  illustrated, the network photo service provider  54  is shown separate from the photofinishing lab  30 . However, the network photo service provider  54  and photofinishing lab  30  may be at a single operation at the same location. In such case, server  56  may be in direct communication with server  36  or may even be the same server. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated a process flow diagram for the system  10  of the present invention. The first step  62  occurs when a customer fills out an order envelope  37  for ordering a photofinishing service. The customer provides the appropriate information, for example, name, address and e-mail address. In a typical order, the customer would place the item to be processed within the order envelope  37  and placed in a drop box or is handed over to the retailer for forwarding to the photofinishing lab  30  for processing. In the embodiment illustrated the item to be processed is a roll of photographic film contained in a film cartridge  35 . However, the item being forward for processing may comprise film negatives, prints, digital memory devices containing digital images, or other items that can be used for obtaining a variety of goods or services. 
     Optionally, a customer order kiosk  22  may be provided for placing of the customer order. In such case at step  64 , a customer loyalty card may be swiped into card reader  25  on the kiosk  22  for identifying the customer with the order envelope being used. The customer can provide all of the order information into the kiosk  22 . At step  66 , the roll ID may be scanned for identifying source of image. When the customer finishes entry of the order a label is printed for placement on the enveloped and is placed on the order envelope by the customer at step  68 . Such a kiosk  22  is described in two co-pending applications Ser. No. 09/492,062 entitled Method and Apparatus for Ordering Photofinishing Goods and/or services filed on Jan. 27, 2000, by Neil A Ramquist et al., now abandoned, and Method and Apparatus for Ordering Photofinishing Goods and/or services application Ser. No. 09/492,063 filed on Jan. 27, 2000, by Frank Nardozzi et al. now U.S. Pat. No. 6,686,837. 
     The completed order envelope  37  with the item to be processed enclosed at step  70  is forwarded on to the photofinishing lab  30 . During initial processing, the photofinishing lab  30  enters the appropriate information at order station  31  regarding the order received into computer  40 , for example, name, address, e-mail address, customer ID, order envelope, etc. Additionally other order information can be automatically obtained from information on the film and/or film cartridge such as the type of film that is to be developed and the number of images the roll of film was designed to capture. The information regarding the film type may used for enhancing the captured image at a later stage in the processing. The number of images that the roll of film was designed to capture will be used as later described herein. Appropriate information is then sent from the photofinishing lab  30  to the network photo service provider  54  such as the customer identification data. The network photo service provider  54  takes the information received from the photofinishing lab  30  and stores the digital images in the image database  60  and customer information in the customer database  61 . The order is processed by the photofinishing lab  30  at step  72 . For example, if a roll of photographic film is being sent for processing, the film is processed as is customarily done and in accordance with the customer order instructions. In the photofinishing lab  30  after the images on the film have been developed, they are digitally scanned, for example by a CCD linear array, whereby the images developed thereon can be captured. In addition to capturing the images, the images can be analyzed by appropriate algorithms for obtaining various information. In the particular embodiment illustrated the photofinishing lab  30  at step  74  analyzes the images to determine which images are suitable for printing. If thee are no unprintable images, the film is sent on to the printer where the images are printed and returned to the customer at step  76 . In the particular embodiment illustrated the images on the film are analyzed to determined if sufficient light is present in the image so as to produce a reasonable quality print. It is to be understood the images can analyzed for any desired predetermined criteria. In determining if an image is suitable for printing various appropriate algorithms may be used. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,384 by H. Treiber, published Dec. 16, 1980 and herein incorporated by reference, discloses a method useful in a scanning printer to automatically detect and reject from printing frames unprintable by virtue of under- or over-exposure. Also, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,199 by J. Alkofer discloses a method to detect and reject from printing blank frames, either of the “no exposure” or “maximum exposure” type. Both of these patents are hereby incorporated by reference. Additionally, appropriate algorithms may be provided for adjusting the image so that the images forwarded to the customer are illustrated in their best possible form. Once the number of unprintable frames for the roll of film being developed is determined, the number of unprintable frames is credited to the customer&#39;s account at step  78 . For example, this information is passed on to the customer database  61 . The total number of unprintable images that result from a particular customer is kept track of at database  61 . This crediting of the customer account is updated for each roll of film forwarded to the photofinishing lab  30  over time. When the number of credited unprintable frames reaches a predetermined criteria, a token is provided for that customer. For example, at step  80  when the number of unprintable frames reaches the number of frames on a roll of film that would hold  24  images, a complimentary roll of film or equivalent coupon would authorized for sending to the customer by the network photo service provider  54 . It is, of course, understood that the token may comprise any appropriate premium that the photofinishing lab  30  may select and is not limited to providing a roll of film or coupon. At step  82 , the token would be sent to the customer. The credit account at the photo service provider  54  for that customer is reset by removing the credit equivalent to the number of frames in the roll of film sent to the customer at step  84 . This could result in the credit account returning to zero or near zero depending upon the number of unprintable frames in the customers most recently processed order. The completed order is sent to the customer which would preferably have the token enclosed there with. 
     While the embodiment described above is particularly well suited to processing, scanning and printing of film, the present invention is not so limited. For example, but not by way of limitation, the present invention can be applied to the digital scanning of images and/or storing of digital images. A charge could be assessed to a customer for the digital scanning of hard copy images and/or the storage of digital images to a specific customer account. This storage may be for a short period of time or for an extended long period of time in a digital memory storage device. If it is determined that the scanned image or the digital image received from a customer for storage is not suitable (unused or unusable) for printing, credit could be credited to the customer account. For example, for free addition scanning of hard copy images and/or the free storage of additional digital images for a predetermined period of time. It is of course understood that any type credit may provided to the customer and any desired criteria may be used in determining when a credit will be given to the customer. 
     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.