Abstract:
A method includes receiving a digital photograph from a wireless device associated with a subscriber to a wireless service, printing at least one print of the digital photograph, transferring the at least one print of the digital photograph to the subscriber of the wireless service, and billing the subscriber of the wireless service for the at least one print of the digital photograph on a bill which also bills the subscriber of the wireless service for use of the wireless service.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of a provisional application Ser. No. 61/423,070 filed Dec. 14, 2010, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to wireless telecommunications services. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to apparatus, methods, and systems to tie photofinishing services to wireless services. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Cell phones and cell phones with cameras are ubiquitous. Users of camera-equipped cell phones often take photos which they may then transfer to computers or other devices, transmit over a telecommunications network via email, or transmit over the telecommunications network in the form of messages. Thus, substantial bandwidth of wireless telecommunications services is used for communicating photos over the communications network. 
         [0004]    A seemingly unrelated problem, absent this disclosure, is that users sometimes want actual printed photos and not merely the digital photos. This typically requires a user to upload photos to a photo finisher web site or visit a photo finishing location, transferring the digital photos to a computer and then printing, or otherwise requiring a user to perform activities which are inconvenient to the user. Due to these inconveniences many times a user may not go through the steps necessary to obtain printed photos even in instances where they desire printed photos. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a more convenient method for cell phone users to obtain photo prints in a way which is facilitated by a wireless service provider. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve over the state of the art. 
         [0007]    It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a solution that allows wireless service providers to provide additional services to their subscribers. 
         [0008]    Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a simple and convenient method for cell phone users to receive professionally photo-finished versions of their digital photos. 
         [0009]    Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a simple and convenient payment system for financial transactions associated with photo-prints. 
         [0010]    A further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a cell phone which acts as a platform for photofinishing services without requiring users to acquire separate applications for their phone. 
         [0011]    A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a cell phone which seamlessly integrates functionality associated with photo-finishing services. 
         [0012]    Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a cell phone with a user interface which provides functionality associated with photo-finishing services. 
         [0013]    A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a cell phone which integrates functionality associated with photo-finishing services into the hardware of the phone. 
         [0014]    One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the specification and claims that follow. No single embodiment need achieve all or any of these objects and the present invention is not to be limited by or to these objects, features or advantages. 
         [0015]    According to one aspect of the present invention a method includes providing a wireless device to a user wherein the wireless device includes (a) a housing, (b) a camera, (c) a wireless transceiver disposed within the housing, (d) an intelligent control, and (e) a photo print component wherein the photo print component assists in receiving an indication from a user that a digital photo acquired by the camera is to be printed and communicating the digital photo using the wireless transceiver over a cellular network. The method further includes storing within a database a transaction record associated with photo printing of the digital photo and electronically generating a bill containing the transaction record associated with photo printing of the digital photo and at least one transaction record associated with providing a telecommunications service over the wireless device. The photo print component may include elements integrated into the operating environment of the wireless device. The photo print component may be at least partially implemented in hardware or at least partially implemented within an integrated circuit. The photo print component may assists in displaying on a display of the wireless device an icon associated with photo print services. The method may further provide for printing the bill. Alternatively the bill may be an electronic bill. The transaction record associated with photo printing of the digital photo may be for the purchase and delivery of at least one photo print or for the purchase and pickup of at least one photo print or a periodic charge for a set number of photo prints or a periodic charge for an unlimited number of photo prints. The method further provides for printing the digital photo. The method may further provide for setting parameters for printing the digital photo based on the wireless device used to acquire the digital photo. The wireless device may be a cellular phone. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect a method is provided which includes receiving a digital photograph from a wireless device associated with a subscriber to a wireless service over a telecommunication network, printing at least one print of the digital photograph, transferring the at least one print of the digital photograph to the subscriber of the wireless service, and billing the subscriber of the wireless service for the at least one print of the digital photograph on a bill which also bills the subscriber of the wireless service for use of the wireless service. The transferring step may include mailing the at least one print of the digital photograph to the subscriber of the wireless service. The billing step may include billing for the at least one print of the digital photograph on a per print basis. The method may further include queuing a set of digital photographs including the digital photograph and printing and transferring the digital photograph as a part of the set of digital photographs. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect a method for providing wireless services is provided. The method may include collecting a first transaction record from a database for a wireless service, collecting a second transaction record for a photo printing service, and electronically generating a bill containing the first transaction record and the second transaction record using a computerized billing system. The method may further include providing a wireless device to a user wherein the wireless device includes (a) a housing, (b) a camera, (c) a wireless transceiver disposed within the housing, (d) an intelligent control, and (e) a photo print component wherein the photo print component assists in receiving an indication from a user that a digital photo is to be printed. The method may further include receiving the indication from the user that a digital photo is to be printed. The method may further include printing the digital photo. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect, a cellular phone is provided. The cellular phone includes a housing, a camera, a wireless transceiver disposed within the housing, an intelligent control, and a photo print component integrated into an operating environment of the cellular phone, wherein the photo print component provides for receiving an indication from a user that a digital photo acquired by the cellular phone is to be printed and then communicating the digital photo using the wireless transceiver over a cellular network. The indication from a user may be in the form of a selection of an icon. The step of communicating the digital photo using the wireless transceiver over the cellular network may include communicating the digital photo to a wireless service provider associated with a photofinishing service. 
         [0019]    According to another aspect of the present invention a method includes providing wireless service to a wireless device associated with a wireless service subscriber, providing the wireless device to the wireless service subscriber, providing on the wireless device means to select a digital photograph for photo printing to a photo printing service associated with a provider of the wireless service, and electronically generating a bill containing a first transaction record associated with the photo printing service and a second transaction record associated with the wireless service using a computerized billing system. The wireless device may be a cellular phone. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  provides an overview of one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of a cellular phone configured to provide photo print services. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a representative device. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a system which may be used for billing. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is one example of a screen display. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  provides an overview of one embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , a system  10  is shown. The system includes a wireless device  12  which may be a cellular phone or other type of mobile device. The wireless device  12  is equipped with at least one camera so that the wireless device  12  can take photos. Upon taking or viewing a photo a photo print icon  16  is displayed. The photo print icon  16  may displayed on or proximate the photo  14 . The photo print icon may, but need not, include a trademark associated with a known photofinisher. 
         [0026]    The user may select the photo print icon to indicate that the user wishes to obtain one or more photo prints corresponding with the digital photo  14  displayed on the wireless device  12 . Upon such selection or other indication by the user of a desire to receive prints, the digital photo is communicated to the wireless service provider  20  over the wireless network. It is contemplated that due to bandwidth limitations or other concerns that the photo need not necessarily be immediately transferred. For example, if there is no wireless signal present the transfer could be delayed until one was present. 
         [0027]    Once in receipt of the photo, the wireless service provider  20  communicates the digital photo  14  to a photofinishing service  22 . The photofinishing service  22  may be a part of, related to, or independent of the wireless service provider  20 . The photofinishing service then creates one or more photo prints  24 ,  26  from the digital photo  14 . These prints may then be mailed to an address associated with the user  30  of the wireless device  12  (or other address designated by the user). It is to be understood that the present invention contemplates variations in the manner of delivery. For example, the photos could be picked up instead if that is the preference of the user. 
         [0028]    The wireless service provider  20  maintains an accounting associated with the number of digital photos which are printed. The wireless service provider  20  may then bill the user  30  in their normal billing statement  32 , regardless of whether billing is via paper or electronically. Although it may be preferable for the wireless service to maintain the accounting and providing the billing so as to reduce the number of bills the user receives, the present invention contemplates that a user may pay in a separate transaction instead. It is further contemplated that a separate account may be used, banking information may be separately obtained, or the financial transaction may be otherwise performed. Another type of alternative financial arrangement would be that for a fixed period fee the user  30  receives a set number or possibly an unlimited number of photo prints instead of being charged on a per photo basis. 
         [0029]    It is to be further appreciated that the present invention contemplates that to reduce mailing charges, or possibly to reduce a number of financial transactions, photos may be queued until a particular number of photo print requests have been made. Alternatively, the photos may be mailed periodically (e.g. once a week, or not more than once a day). 
         [0030]    Thus, in this manner, the wireless service provider provides a valuable service to their subscribers. Users are able to easily obtain printed versions of their digital photos in a convenient and seamless way. In addition, a wireless service provider may generate a new stream of income, there by benefiting from the transfer of photos across their network. 
         [0031]    It is to be further appreciated that the present invention contemplates numerous additional options, variations, and alternatives. For example, because the wireless service provider may know the make and model of the particular phone used to take a picture, the wireless service provider may communicate such information or related information to the photofinishing service  22 . Knowledge of such information may be used by the photofinishing service to assist in selecting optimum settings for the photofinishing process to thereby provide the user with as high of quality of photo prints as possible. Thus, subscribers to the wireless service provider may have an additional incentive to use the photofinishing service associated with the wireless service provider as opposed to any alternatives. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of a wireless device  12  having a housing. The wireless device  12 , which may be a cellular phone, includes a display  40 , a camera  42 , an intelligent control  44 , a wireless transceiver  46 , and a memory  50 . A photo print software component  48  may be stored in the memory  50  and executed by the intelligent control  44 . Alternatively a photo print component may be implemented in hardware. The intelligent control  44  may include an application processor or other type of processor. The photo print software component  48  may be a portion of photo or camera software associated with the wireless device  12 . The photo print software component  48  may provide for displaying the icon or otherwise providing a user interface for a user to interact with to indicate whether a digital photo should be printed. The photo print software component  48  may be integrated into an operating environment or operating system of the wireless device  12 . The photo print software component  48  may also provide for initiating transfer of one or more digital photos over a communication network so that the digital photos may be communicated to the photofinishing service. Although a representative device is shown in  FIG. 2 , it should be appreciated that the present invention contemplates numerous variations in the type of and form of the wireless device, its components, and functions. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates another example of a block diagram of a representative device.  FIG. 3  illustrates a wireless device  60 . The wireless device  60  has an application processor  62  and a baseband processor  64  operatively connected to the application processor  62 . An RF transceiver  66  is operatively connected to the baseband processor  64 . An RF power amplifier  68  is operatively connected to the RF transceiver  66 . An antenna  70  is operatively connected to the RF power amplifier  68 . A SIM card  72  is shown which is operatively connected to the baseband processor  64 . Although a SIM card is shown, other types of identifier modules may be used instead as would be appropriate for a particular type of network. 
         [0034]    A memory  80  is operatively connected to the application processor  62 . A power management circuit  82  is also operatively connected to the application processor  62  and to a charging circuit  84 . A keypad  86 , USB port  88 , removable memory storage connection  90 , and display(s)  92  are all operatively connected to the application processor  62 . An audio codec  94  is operatively connected to the application processor  62 . A speaker  96 , microphone  98 , and headset jack  100  are all operatively connected to the audio codec. A Wi-Fi transceiver  102  is operatively connected to the application processor  62 . A power amplifier  104  is operatively connected to the Wi-Fi transceiver  102 . An antenna  106  is operatively connected to the power amplifier  104 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the application processor  62  includes an embedded photo-finishing component  108 . The photo-finishing component  108  as shown includes a hardware component which may be implemented within the application processor  62  or may otherwise be included within an integrated circuit or “chip.” 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a system  120  which may be used for billing. As shown in  FIG. 4 , there is a first transaction database  122  and a second transaction database  124 . The first transaction database  122  contains data describing photo-finishing transactions  126 . The photo-finishing transactions may include a periodic (e.g. monthly charge), a charge for an individual photoprint, a charge for a set of photoprints, and/or other charges associated with photo-prints. The second transaction database  124  contains data describing wireless service transactions  128 . The transactions include charges for phone service, charges for text messaging, charges for data services, or other charges associated with the offering of wireless services. Although shown as two separate databases in  FIG. 4 , it is to be understood that instead of database  122 , the photo-finishing transactions may be contained within transaction database  124 . Or alternatively, wireless services transactions may be contained in the transaction database  122 . 
         [0037]    A billing computer system  130  is shown. The billing computer system  130  may include one or more computers operatively connected to the first transaction database  122  and the second transaction database  124 . The billing computer system  130  collects at least one photo-finishing transaction  126  such as from the first transaction database  122  and at least one wireless service transaction  128  such as from the second transaction database  124 . The billing computer system  130  then generates a billing statement or invoice which includes the at least one photo-finishing transaction and the at least one wireless service transaction. The billing statement may be an electronic billing statement or a paper billing statement or may take other forms. 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  illustrates one example of a screen display from a wireless device. The screen display  150  allows a user to set photofinishing settings. The user can, for example, select a mail option  152  which would allow for mailing photo prints to a physical address  154  of the user&#39;s choice. The physical address may be the billing address used for wireless service, it may be a home address of the user, a business address of the user, or any address the user would like the photo prints to be delivered to. In addition, or alternatively, the user can specify that the photo prints be picked up at a pickup location  158 . The pickup location can be any location chosen by the user. The pickup location thus may be a photo shop, a drugstore, retail store or other location which provides photo finishing services. The pickup location may also be a retail store of a wireless service provider location. 
         [0039]    The user can also specify the number of copies  160  and the size of the photo prints. It is to be further understood that the user may otherwise specify photo print parameters or delivery options. In addition, it is contemplated that the photo finish settings may be used as default setting so that a user of the wireless device only needs to access the photo finishing settings when the user wants to change the settings from their default settings.