Patent Publication Number: US-2003229538-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for ordering photofinishing goods and/or services

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/492,063, filed Jan. 27, 2000, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ORDERING PHOTOFINISHING GOODS AND/OR SERVICES”. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention is directed to providing of photofinishing goods and/or services. In particular, providing an apparatus, method, and system for monitoring, and ordering of photofinishing goods and/or services at a retail establishment to be provided by a remote photofinishing lab.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The most common method of placing a photofinishing order is for a consumer to place their exposed film in an envelope marking the appropriate boxes to indicate the products that they desire and dropping the envelope at a retail store. The envelopes are picked up from the retail store and taken to a wholesale photofinisher where the orders are sorted by product or service ordered. This is done manually or by using a machine vision system, reading the checked boxes to determine the product ordered by the consumer. When the envelope contains unprocessed film, additional information about the order is entered at the film splicer. Today photofinishing orders are not limited to processing of photographic film. For example, customers may order reprints, photo CDs, picture disks (computer disks containing customer images), T-shirts with images and mugs having images, and placing images on an internet photo service provider&#39;s data base. In addition, the images may be provided to the photofinisher for processing in formats other than on film. For example, images may be provided digitally in the form of a computer disk or a memory device used with digital cameras.  
       [0004] A problem associated with the foregoing system is that the customer typically hand-writes the order on the order envelope. In some instances, the writing of the order is illegible which may result in the order being filled improperly or not fulfilled. This of course results in the customer being dissatisfied upon going back to the retailer to pickup the order and finding out that the order was incorrectly filled or could not be fulfilled.  
       [0005] The relative positioning of marketing information of products and/or services relative to other information to a customer is known to affect the purchasing habits of the customer. Generally product and/or service offerings are simply displayed using display devices which are cumbersome to change. This leaves the retailer to verbally advise a customer of recent changes or new offerings. Currently there is no easy or economical way of displaying modified and/or new offering for goods and/or services to a customer.  
       [0006] Another problem with the prior art systems, is that there is no easy way for tracking the likes and dislikes of customers at a particular retail establishment or in a regional location. Further there is little opportunity for a particular retail establishment which has one or multiple retail outlets for customizing or providing promotional services that can vary according to the desires of the retailer, local or regional trends, or in response to the customer.  
       [0007] The general volume of orders arriving at wholesale photofinishers is tracked and known by the hour of the day, day of the week and day of the year. Occasionally, a significant event occurs that changes the normal consumer buying patterns for a wholesale lab. Currently, the lab recognizes that this has occurred when the work arrives at the start of a shift, leaving little time to make alternate arrangements to handle an increased workload or off load another lab. The wholesale photofinishing lab typically receives orders from hundreds of different retail establishments, often from a chain of similar type establishments. For example, there are drug stores, grocery stores that will have a plurality of different stores which send their photofinishing order to a single photofinishing lab for a local regional area. Sometimes the retail establishment is a national concern having hundreds of different retail establishments which send the photofinishing orders to more than one central photofinishing lab.  
       [0008] Another problem with the current system is that there is little opportunity to provide up-sales to the customer or advise the customer of additional goods and/or services that may be provided. While some advertisement may be done at the order drop-off center, typically there is no interaction with a retail agent and even if there is, it is not possible for the retail establishment to allow the retail agents to spend very much time with the customer. Thus, there is a need to have the ability to offer additional goods and/or services to the customer with as little disruption to the retail establishment and in a friendly and kind manner to the customer.  
       [0009] Applicants have invented an apparatus, method, and system directed to overcoming the problems of the prior art.  
       [0010] The present invention provides a relatively inexpensive system and method to track and analyze the buying patterns of consumers relative to the number and selection of products offered on a screen; the relative position of the individual products displayed; and the screens presented prior to and subsequent to an individual screen.  
       [0011] The present invention also provides an inexpensive method of modifying offerings of goods and/or services to customers.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for displaying photofinishing goods and/or services that are being offered for sale, comprising: a display device for displaying photofinishing goods and/or services that are being offered for sale; a computer for controlling what is displayed on the display device; and a computer software program for programming the computer so that a plurality of the photofinishing goods and/or services will be displayed on the display device, the computer software program monitoring the sales of the photofinishing goods and/or services with respect to their position on the display device and re-arranging the position of the photofinishing goods and/or services on the display device based on the monitoring.  
       [0013] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for displaying photofinishing goods and/or services on a display device, comprising: a computer for controlling what is being displayed on the display device; a computer software program such that when loaded on the computer will control what is being displayed on the display device; the software segmenting the display device into a plurality of smaller visual segments in which graphical and/or text information may be provided; and a navigation section for building and/or rebuilding what is being displayed on the display device by controlling what is displayed in each of plurality of smaller segments. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014] In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0015]FIG. 1 illustrates an elevational view of an apparatus made in accordance with the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a system for ordering and fulfilling customer orders at a central photofinishing lab, with respect to orders received from a plurality of retail establishments.  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is an elevational view of an order envelope and image retaining device for use in the apparatus of FIG. 1 and system of FIG. 2.  
     [0018]FIG. 4 a  is an elevational view of a label made by the apparatus of FIG. 1 for use on the package of FIG. 3.  
     [0019]FIG. 4 b  is an elevational view of a combination label and receipt made by the apparatus of FIG. 1 and system of FIG. 2.  
     [0020]FIG. 5A is an elevational view of a screen display of the display device of the apparatus of FIG. 1 used by the customer when initially approaching the device of FIG. 1.  
     [0021]FIG. 5B is an elevational view of another display screen on the display device of the apparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating a first product offering screen that may be displayed to the customer.  
     [0022]FIG. 5C is a view similar to FIG. 5B illustrating a second different display screen used to offer additional goods and/or services to the customer.  
     [0023]FIG. 5D is a view similar to FIG. 5B illustrating a display screen where the customer provides any required information for placing of a photofinishing order.  
     [0024]FIG. 5E is a view similar to FIG. 5B illustrating a final confirmation screen of the customer&#39;s order that has been placed.  
     [0025]FIG. 5F is a view similar to FIG. 5B illustrating an up-sell of at least one item.  
     [0026]FIG. 5G is a view similar to FIG. 5B illustrating how the screen display is divided into different visual segments. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0027] Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated an ordering apparatus (kiosk)  10  made in accordance with the present invention. In the particular embodiment illustrated the apparatus  10  is a stand alone kiosk designed for use by a consumer. The apparatus  10  includes a display device  12  for displaying offerings for photofinishing goods and/or services as discussed later herein. The display device  12  also serves as an input device for entering of data into the device by the customer. In particular, the display device is a CRT having a touch screen whereby simply touching of the display screen at the appropriate location information can be entered into the apparatus  10 . The customer data entering means may comprise any other appropriate device. For example, but not limited to, a key board or pad, or computer mouse. The apparatus  10  further includes a computer  14  which is appropriately programmed for controlling operation of apparatus  10 , the various display screens on display device  12 , or any other appropriate operation of apparatus  10  as may be accomplished. The apparatus  10  includes a printer  16  for producing labels and/or receipts such as illustrated by label  18  in FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b . The label  18  of FIG. 4 a  is designed to be placed on an order envelope  20  in which an image retaining device  21  is provided for the obtainment of photofinishing goods and/or services. A tear off strip  23  is provided on envelope  20  which is kept by the customer as a receipt. Strip  23  includes a copy of the order envelope number. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the image retaining device  21  is a film cartridge containing a roll of undeveloped exposed photographic film which is being placed in the order envelope for processing of the film and producing of photographic prints. However, the present invention is not so limited. In particular, the image retaining product may be of any type. For example, but not by way of limitation, the items placed within the order envelope  20 , may comprise photographic prints, film negatives and digital memory devices which have been used by a digital camera for capturing of images. Additionally, the goods and/or services being ordered may comprise, but are not limited to, the providing of reprints, Photo CDs, Photo Discs, enlargements, clothing apparel such as T-shirts with images or other goods such as mugs having images imprinted thereon, and ordering of services such as placement of the images on an Internet Service Provider database for further manipulation or use by the customer.  
     [0028] Referring back to FIG. 1, the apparatus  10  also includes a speaker  22  which is appropriately controlled by computer  14  for providing of audio sound. This may take the form of providing of voice communication or other sound communication appropriate as may be programmed into apparatus  10 . The apparatus  10  further includes an opening  24  in which a credit card may be inserted for being read by a credit card reader  26  disposed within the apparatus  10 . The reader  26  may read magnetic bar code or any other appropriate code provided on the credit card.  
     [0029] The apparatus  10  may further include a second opening  28  designed to read a barcode. This may be used to read a loyalty card, barcodes printed on envelopes or a barcode encoded on a film canister. When used to receive a loyalty card (not shown) for a retail establishment, the card will identify the customer such that the computer may readily access either internally or through appropriate electronic communication information regarding the customer. An appropriate card reader  31  is disposed in apparatus  10  for reading of information recorded on the loyalty card in the same manner as reader  26  does for credit cards. For example, but not by way of limitation, the name and address of the customer. Additionally the retail establishment may already have on file, either in computer  14  or in another computer that is accessible by computer  14 , information regarding the customer preferences and/or purchase order history etc. This information may be used in determining what display screens are displayed on display device  12 .  
     [0030] The apparatus  10  includes a communication connection  30  for connecting to a memory card or other memory device for downloading of the digital files containing digital information regarding captured images to apparatus  10 . For example, a memory card from a digital camera or by the images being downloaded to the computer  14  whereby the customer may later provide appropriate instructions with regard to the images downloaded to the apparatus  10 . This can include, but is not limited to, the displaying of the downloaded images whereby the customer may further manipulate the images prior to the ordering of goods and/or services.  
     [0031] The apparatus  10  is supported by a support stand  32  which may or may not be an integral part of apparatus  10 . In the embodiment illustrated, stand  32  is a separate support structure. An opening  34  is provided in stand  32  for holding a plurality of order envelopes  20  for use by customers with apparatus  10  for ordering of photofinishing goods and/or services. The support stand  32  further includes an opening  36  which empties into a receiving container  37 . Completed order envelopes  20  are deposited by the customer into container  37  through opening  36  that are later picked up and forwarded to a photofinishing lab  38  for fulfilling of the order.  
     [0032] Referring to FIG. 2 there is illustrated photofinishing lab  38  that will ultimately receive the orders deposited in container  37 . The photofinishing lab  38  is set up to process film and produce prints as is customarily done at such labs. The completed order is typically packaged and then returned to the retail establishment from where it was received to be picked-up by the customer. The photofinishing lab  38  may also provide a variety of other goods and/or services for example, but not by way of limitation, providing of digital images on other types of formats such as CDs or computer disks, provide copies or enlargements of an existing prints, provide images on clothing and other articles (for example, T-shirts and mugs), or digitally scan images on the developed film and place them on an Internet Service Provider&#39;s database which can be accessed by the customer over the internet.  
     [0033] As illustrated by FIG. 2, the photofinishing lab  38  includes a computer  39  which is in electronic communication to a plurality of different kiosks  10  located at a variety of remote locations. For example, but not by way of limitation, computer  39  may be connected to computer  14  of the various kiosks  10  via the internet. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the photofinishing lab  38  is illustrated as being connected to five different kiosks  10  identified by numerals  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  and  50 . It is of course to be understood that the photofinishing lab  38  may be connected to a multitude of such devices. In a particular photofinishing lab  38 , there may be, for example, several hundred kiosks  10  provided at a variety of different retail establishments. For example, the kiosks  42  and  44  may be located at two different locations for a common retailer such as a chain of drugstores having a retail establishment at location RA1 and at RA2. These locations may be in the same city, state or region of the country. In the particular embodiment illustrated, a pair of kiosks  46  and  48  are provided at a second retail establishment having two different locations represented by RB1 and RB2. A fifth kiosk  50  is provided at yet another retail establishment RC1. It is of course to be understood that any desired number of retailers, kiosks and locations may be provided. FIG. 2 has only illustrated connection to five (5) different kiosks  10  for the purpose of clarity of describing the present invention.  
     [0034] Referring to FIG. 5A there is illustrated an initial display screen  40  illustrated on display device  12  of a single apparatus  10  located at a retail establishment. Typically, the initial display screen  40  is designed to entice the interest of a customer and provide some information regarding the goods and/or services being offered. If the customer has a customer loyalty card or has used a credit card with the apparatus  10 , an instruction would be provided for the customer to insert the loyalty or credit card in the appropriate opening  24  or  28 . Upon the entry of a loyalty card or credit card, appropriate information can be read from the respective cards and used by the apparatus, or used to look up information in the memory of computer  14  or a remote computer at the retail establishment, lab  38  or other computer which maintain relevant information regarding the customer. The customer information may have also been either pre-programmed by the customer at an earlier time or by the retailer if so desired. Thus, the use of the card in apparatus  10  will automatically provide customer information and minimize or avoid the customer from entering personal information. This also allows for the automatic customizing of the screen for that customer, based on the past buying history or personal information of the customer as discussed later herein. Once a customer engages the apparatus  10 , a second data display screen  43  (as shown by FIG. 5B) is illustrated. As illustrated by display screen  43 , a customer is given the option of some quick choices  45 ,  47  and  49  or the option of going through all of the additional selections. If either of the selections  45 ,  47  and  49  are selected, the order will immediately be identified and the customer will no longer need to do any further work. After which a label  18  such as illustrated in FIG. 4 a  will be produced with the appropriate information including sufficient information to identify the user and the order selected. This information will be written both in human readable form and machine readable form.  
     [0035] Referring in particular to FIG. 4 a , the label  18  includes various indicia  52 - 70  for providing a multitude of information that will be used by the photofinisher  38 . Indicia  52  identifies the retailer and the location of the apparatus  10 . Indicia  54  identifies the time when the order was placed. Indicia  56  identifies the consumer for example, the name, postal address and E-mail address. Indicia  58  identifies the due date when the requested goods and/or services will be provided. Indicia  60  identifies the particular type of film being processed. For example, as illustrated, indicia  60  identifies the illustrated order as an APS roll of photographic film and additionally provides the cartridge ID. Indicia  62  identifies the photofinishing lab which the order is to be sent for completion. Indicia  64  is a two dimensional code which can contain all of the information relating to the customer order. Indicia  66  represents the product sort code that is being ordered. This helps the photofinishing lab in fulfilling of the order. Indicia  68  provides the retail store number, which is the number given to the retail establishment which the apparatus  10  is located. Indicia  70  is a sort bar code which would be used by the photofinishing lab for separating different types of orders based on the service being requested. It is, of course, understood that any desired information may be printed on label.  
     [0036] The use of a two-dimensional code represented by indicia  64  in the present invention, provides a low cost alternative to manual or machine vision sorting. Using the kiosk, the consumer is presented with the products offered through the wholesale photofinisher. As the consumer places an order at the kiosk, the kiosk records the purchases including the name of the consumer; the name, location and identifier of the retail store; the products ordered; the date of purchase; and other relevant information. At completion of an order, the kiosk prints label  18  which includes indicia  64 , a two-dimensional (referred to as Aztec) bar-code. This two-dimensional bar-code contains the information necessary for the wholesale photofinisher to complete the consumer&#39;s order. The advantage of the bar-code is that it is relatively easy to retrieve the order information with low cost equipment replacing the hand sorting and expensive machine vision systems. The indicia  64  includes a self aligning feature which makes it easy to be able to read the complex information printed thereon.  
     [0037] The large amount of information stored in a two-dimensional bar-code allows the information to be stored in what is referred to as a delimited format. This uses commas or other special characters to separate fields within the bar-code. Parameters are defined by the field that they are located in i.e. 1, 2, . . . n. New parameters can be added over time by defining additional fields (adding delimiters). Since older (different) systems use parameters from specific fields, the format is compatible across a variety of devices that write the bar-code and a variety of devices that read the bar-code.  
     [0038] As previously discussed, once the label  18  is provided by the apparatus  10  it is placed on an order envelope  20 , typically by the customer. One of the order envelopes  20  placed in opening  34  may be used for this purpose. The order envelope  20  is then filled with the appropriate item to be processed, for example, a photographic film cartridge. The label  18  is preferably provided with an adhesive layer on the back side of the label  18 . Use of the two dimensional code avoids the necessity of precisely placing the label on the envelope  20 . The envelope  20  is sealed and then placed into opening  28  and then drops into container  37 . At some point in time, the completed order envelopes  20  in container  37  are gathered and forwarded on to the photofinishing lab  38  for fulfilling of the orders.  
     [0039] The present invention preferably prints the order information on a separate label so as to avoid the use of an expensive printer for printing on the envelope  20 . However, the information printed on the label may be printed on the envelope  20  if so desired. In which case appropriate information is written on the tear off strip  23 .  
     [0040]FIG. 4 b  illustrates a modified combination label and receipt  19  that can be printed by printer  16 . Combination label and receipt  19  comprises a label section  25  and a receipt section  27 . A separation line  29  is provided between section  25  and section  27 . In the embodiment, illustrated separation line  25  comprises a line of perforation which allows section  25  to be easily separated from section  27  by the customer. Section  25  is substantially identical to label  18  and is used in the same manner. Whereas section  27  is a receipt to be kept by the customer. Section  27  would contain all pertinent information regarding the order placed by the customer. Section  25  would comprise the label  18  to be placed on the order envelope  20 . Only section  25  would be provided with adhesive on the back side so that it can be secured to envelope  20 . The receipt section  27  may be shaped so as to conform to fit on the tear off strip  23  of envelope  20 . The printing device may be configured to allow for a self pealing of the label/receipt as it travels through the printer.  
     [0041] Referring to FIG. 5C there is illustrated display screen  80  wherein additional good or services can be provided. For example, as illustrated by screen  80 , the following offerings are provided: Picture Disk (images provided on a computer disk); Picture CD (images provided on a computer CD); the availability of receiving images on the internet. By the appropriate selection of the desired services an order label may be generated or additional selection screens are displayed by display device  12 .  
     [0042] A customer data entry screen  81  is then displayed as shown by FIG. 5D after the customer selections have been completed. If no loyalty or credit card was initially used, the customer will now be prompted to enter the appropriate customer data as required. Screen  81  may be passed if the credit card and/or loyalty card used by customer allows access to the appropriate information. A final confirmation screen  83  as illustrated in FIG. 5E is displayed on completion of the order process by the customer. Upon approval of confirmation screen, label  18  is printed by printer  16  for placement on an order envelope  20 .  
     [0043] If digital goods and/or services are desired, the appropriate selection is made in one of the earlier screens whereby additional screens would be displayed on display device  12  to the customer for selection. For example, if more choices were selected on screen  43  shown by FIG. 5B the screens on FIG. 5C could be illustrated for ordering picture CDs, picture disks, pictures provided on the internet. Appropriate other indicia could be provided for navigating the customer through the various screen options. The customer may select to start over or simply say that they don&#39;t need digital services.  
     [0044] A feature of the present invention is that if a customer has previously used the device  10  or one of the other devices in contact with computer  39 , information regarding previous orders of that customer can be retrieved and analyzed either locally or at a remote computer so as to customize the display screen specifically for that particular customer. For example, if in past situations the customer has only obtained photoprocessing for a particular type of film such as APS or 35 mm film, screens can be made especially for that customer and narrowing the selection to the relevant selections for that customer. In addition, new product offerings relating to previously selected goods or services which the consumer may have not thought of ordering may be displayed. Referring to FIG. 5F there is illustrated a screen  86  to be displayed on device  12  which is similar to screen  78  of FIG. 5B, except that there is illustrated a special offering that is either being promoted by the retail establishment and/or the photofinishing lab which will ultimately fulfill the order. In the particular embodiment illustrated, indicia  88  on screen  86  illustrates that the order may be selected in an album format whereby the images are placed together on an 8×10 leaf having images on both sides. A discount coupon (not shown) can be advertised along with the product offering. The screen  86  may also illustrate an example of the product. It is to be understood that various other type goods and/or services may be promoted as desired. For example, a particular retailer could have a particular promotion provided on a weekly basis or some other periodic time frame or specials may be tailored to particular habits of that particular customer. In particular, if the customer does not typically order digital goods and/or services, a promotional display could be provided to encourage the customer to try these new digital type goods and/or services. It is to be understood that any desired promotion may be provided and selected as required.  
     [0045] The initial designs of kiosks to determine the arrangement of user interface screens may include business research studies in test markets. However, this is an expensive, time-consuming process that provides insight to a limited number of aspects of the kiosk design.  
     [0046] The present invention also allows the ability to monitor the buying patterns of goods and/or services for a particular type customer, retail establishment in a given locality or region. For example, a nationwide retailer that offers goods and/or services throughout the nation may find that a particular region or area of the country prefers a particular type of goods and/or services. In which case these particular retail establishments could offer those particular goods and/or services to that particular region as opposed to offering these similar goods and/or services in areas that have other likes.  
     [0047] Another problem is the cost and time associated with modifying the user interface screens as more effective presentations are developed. Referring to FIG. 5G there is illustrated visual segments (illustrated by the box lines) used in the production of screen  43  of FIG. 5B. As can be seen, the screen  43  of FIG. 5G has nine visual segments. Segments  90 ,  91 ,  92 ,  93 ,  94 ,  95   96 ,  97  and  98 . Any one of the segments  90 ,  91 ,  92 ,  93   94 ,  95 ,  96 ,  97  and  98  may be changed independent of the other segments. Segment  93  includes three smaller segments. Thus when updating or modifying screens for particular customers, retail establishments, either locally or regionally, only the visual segments of screens that require modification are changed. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the apparatus  10  is provided with memory directories. One directory which maintains the screens that are currently being used and at least one other directory for screens that may be replaced or used at some later time based on a predetermined criteria. For example, upon a given date new promotional screens may be provided and updated. A third directory would maintain all of the image segments which are used to construct the various display screens. This third directory can be used to provide new visual sections as required or desired by the retailer or photofinishing lab.  
     [0048] The foregoing allows easy re-positioning of the various offerings on the various display screens. As previously mentioned, the particular location of an offering can have an affect on the purchasing habits of customers. The present invention allows easy repositioning of the offerings and by tracking and analyzing the sales of the various offerings, it can be determined the best positioning for any particular offering. Since all of the ordering information is being gathered by computer  39  of the photofinishing lab  38  from the numerous connected kiosks  10 , the lab  38  is in the best position to analyze the purchasing habits of particular customers, at particular retail establishments, and local and regional trends, the photofinishing lab  38  is in the best position to analyze the data. The lab  38  can then send appropriate software programming down to the individual computers  14  of the various kiosks  10  to reprogram the respective computers to modify the display screens to improve selling of goods and/or services at each kiosk  10  which is tailored for each respective kiosk.  
     [0049] The present invention, as previously discussed, provides a method to record every consumer order as it is placed through the kiosk  10 . By transmitting the order information to computer  39  at the photofinishing lab  38  either periodically or when a criteria is met, the lab  38  can have several hours of advanced warning of a change in demand to prepare for the change in workload. As previously discussed, the photofinishing lab  38  is in communication with the apparatus  10 . The photofinishing lab  38  includes a computer, which periodically communicates with the various apparatus  10  at the various retail establishments which they are located. For example, during the day at various times, mid-morning, noon and late afternoon, the computer  39  at the photofinishing lab can poll all of the computers  14  to determine what orders have been placed that day. Thus, it can then know what orders will be arriving to the photofinishing lab before they actually arrive. Additionally, most preferably, at the time of pick-up of the orders from each of the apparatus  10  at the various locations, the apparatus  10  would automatically identify that the orders have been picked up and provide all of the information immediately through the communication link to the photofinishing lab  38  such that the service provider will know in advance what orders are on their way to being processed. Quite often the time period can be several hours or more before the orders are actually received by the photofinishing lab. Thus, at an early time period the photofinishing lab  38  will know exact type and amount of work that is being forwarded. This allows the lab  38  to make adjustments in personnel and/or equipment at the photofinishing lab  38  to adjust for the workload for a given night. This will help make the photofinishing lab  38  much more efficient.  
     [0050] The consumer&#39;s purchase of a product or services requires that they respond to several screens on apparatus  10 . The offer of alternate products is dispersed between these screens to inform and entice the consumer to purchase these products. The ability to remotely refresh the kiosk provides the capability to test new marketing messages and products, quickly developing an understanding of their effectiveness and tuning the presentation.  
     [0051] The computer  39  also maintains a record of what is being sold at the various retail establishments. Thus, consumer purchases and trends can be monitored in detail. In addition, should the retailer wish to have a particular special promotion at one or more of its&#39; stores, this promotional information can be automatically set into the various apparatus  10  at the various locations and tailored to a specific store or chain of stores. This can be done in advance, prior to the actual start of the promotion. For example, if a promotion is to start on a Monday of a given week, the promotional information can be forwarded from the computer  39  to the computer  14  and placed in a second storage directory, such that upon reaching of a particular date, the special promotional will be automatically employed into the various screens displayed to the customer. This can be programmed into computer  39  which in turn can be sent to kiosk  10  via electronic communication for programming of the computer  14 . This also allows the photofinishing lab  38  to provide its own special promotional as appropriate. Additionally, the segmenting of the screens into different visual segments allows reorientation of the particular offerings. Applicants have found that the particular position of certain product offerings can have an influence on the up-sell of a particular goods and/or services. Thus, periodically, various screens can be automatically re-oriented such that the product and good offerings are placed at different locations on the display screen of display device  12 . This is easily employed by the fact that various visual segments have already been provided for the screen. Thus, only the appropriate segments needed to be changed or moved around without disturbing the rest of the screen. Furthermore, since the visual segments are broken down into smaller segments than the entire display screen, this can be done in a much more efficient and easy manner than providing to the apparatus. FIG. 5G illustrates a re-arrangement of the offerings of screen  40  of FIG. 5B. This is particularly important when certain goods and/or services are being promoted to the customer. Quite often these special promotions are called up-sells which are trying to interest the customer in the ordering of additional goods and/or services which are an up-scale sell of the current goods and/or services being ordered. The computer  14  by it self or at the direction of computer  39  can periodically re-arrange the position of the offerings. By monitoring and analyzing the sales record of the offerings at the various locations, the offerings can be positioned for each kiosk  10  for the best sales for those goods and/or services.  
     [0052] It is known that remote kiosks may be programmed. Software products such as Tivoli and PCAnywhere are used to remotely refresh computers. The problem with remote refreshing of a kiosk is the expense of transmitting the computer program to a kiosk. The refreshing of a kiosk may require  10  or more hours to accomplish using a high-speed modem.  
     [0053] The current invention provides a software architecture that allows the kiosk to be refreshed using a small subset of the kiosk software. The software is segmented into a navigation file, screen sub-images and software applets. The application software is divided into a large number of Java and C++ applets that perform individual functions. The screens are likewise divided into a large number of small visual segments. The navigation file links the small visual segments and the applets together to create the user interface and navigate the consumer through a variety of sequences. Other software within the kiosk is likewise divided into small functions for the convenience of refreshing the kiosk. When the same small images for visual segments can be used in multiple places in the kiosk software, the efficiency of refresh is improved. The kiosk is refreshed with only the few relevant files that need to be transmitted to the kiosk. This has resulted in refreshing a 365 megabyte kiosk application with 2.5 megabytes of information.  
     [0054] It is desired to use the same software application in kiosks for a large number of retailers with different product offerings, promotions, trademarks, etc. The ability to refresh the kiosks with a limited amount of information during the process of installing the kiosk improves the manufacturing and reliability of the kiosk.  
     [0055] Using a modem as a low cost method of refreshing a kiosk is problematic due to the availability of the kiosk at the time a refresh is desired. The kiosk is occasionally busy taking a consumer order, powered off or disconnected from the telephone service.  
     [0056] The current invention addresses this problem by pre-staging a refresh at the kiosk prior to the desired date (date/time). The kiosk application is constructed with a redundant file structure. The simplest form of the structure is a “current” and “next” directory path. In this form, the kiosk operates using files stored in the “current” directory. Prior to the date when a refresh is desired, the files to be refreshed are downloaded to the “next” directory. The desired date or other criteria are also transmitted to the kiosk. At the first convenient time after the desired date or other criteria is met, the kiosk copies the files from the “next” directory to the “current” directory.  
     [0057] This invention may take several forms. Replicate directories or a list of files to be refreshed have advantages for different types of software within the kiosk. Image files can be updated with most methods. C++ objects and .dlls that require registration within a library or system registry are easier to manage using file lists.  
     [0058] Installing a remotely managed kiosk is often problematic due to the information required during the installation. The installer usually needs to know a number of parameters to complete an installation. At some universities, this results in a document containing dozens of pages. The problem is providing only the necessary information to the installer at the time of installation. The preferred form of the present invention provides a method to reduce the information required by the installer and reduce the likelihood of an incorrect installation. The installation process takes advantage of the fact that this is a photofinishing kiosk. As part of the traditional photofinishing business, the consumer places an order into a photofinishing envelope and expects that the ordered products are returned to them in the same store. This is done by printing a dealer number (or identifier) on the envelope to be used by the out bound sorters of the photofinisher. Since these envelopes are available near the kiosk, the installer is asked to enter the dealer number, the telephone number of the modem (or IP address) and the local access number to make outbound telephone calls. The kiosk then connects to the server using an 800 number or other standard telephone number. The kiosk uses the dealer number to determine the dealer configuration information from a database. The telephone number of the modem is used to determine the least expensive telephone number for future connections. The server transmits the configuration information to the kiosk. The kiosk presents the name of the retail store and address to the installer for confirmation. After confirmation, the connection between the kiosk and the server is terminated. The kiosk then connects to the server using the configuration information to have the dealer specific software downloaded to the kiosk.  
     [0059] It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be provided as desired. For example, the particular goods and/or services being offered may be modified as desired by the retail establishment and/or photofinishing lab. Additionally, the apparatus is not limited to the particular manner as set forth and may be a single integrated kiosk or broken down into individual separate components wherein the label printer is a separate individual device from that of the display screen and computer.  
     [0060] It is to be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The present invention being limited by the following claims.  
                               PARTS LIST                                                10.   apparatus/kiosk           12.   display device           14.   computer           16.   printer           18.   label           19.   combination label &amp; receipt           20.   order envelope           21.   image retaining device           22.   speaker           23.   tear off strip/receipt           24.   opening           25.   label section           26.   credit card reader           27.   receipt section           28.   second opening           29.   separation line           30.   communication connection           31.   card reader           32.   support stand           34.   opening           36.   opening           37.   receiving container           38.   photofinishing lab           39.   computer           40.   display screen           42.   kiosks           43.   display screen           44.   kiosks           45.   choices/selections           46.   kiosks           47.   choices/selections           48.   kiosks           49.   choices/selections           50.   kiosks           52.   indicia           54.   indicia           56.   indicia           58.   indicia           60.   indicia           62.   indicia           64.   indicia           66.   indicia           68.   indicia           70.   indicia           80.   display screen           81.   data entry screen           83.   confirmation screen           86.   screen           88.   indicia           90.   segment           91.   segment           92.   segment           93.   segment           94.   segment           95.   segment           96.   segment           97.   segment           98.   segment