Apparatus and method for manipulating images

Abstract

An apparatus and method for manipulating images is disclosed. In one embodiment according to the invention, a method for manipulating images comprises: displaying for manipulation at a browser-based user interface a graphical representation of at least a portion of an image held at a remote image store; providing an internet communications link coupling the user interface to a remote image processor; transferring information about manipulations applied to the graphical representation between the user interface and the remote image processor; and causing the remote image processor to access the remote image store and apply, to at least a portion of the image held in the store, manipulations emulating those applied to the graphical representation. In another embodiment according to the invention, there is disclosed a method for applying a personalized image to a financial account access means corresponding to a financial account of a customer. The method comprises: associating financial data, corresponding to the financial account of the customer, with a customer image identifier in a financial account association table maintained securely from a user interface; associating the customer image identifier with user image selection data based on user selections made on the user interface in relation to a graphical representation of at least a portion of an original image held in an image store; and applying the personalized image to the financial account access means, the personalized image being based on the user image selection data associated with the customer image identifier.

1 . A computer system for manipulation of remote images, the computer system comprising: 
 a browser-based user interface for displaying for manipulation a graphical representation of at least a portion of an image held at a remote image store;    an internet communications link coupling the user interface to a remote image processor, said link being operable to transfer information about manipulations applied to the graphical representation between the user interface and the remote image processor; and    means for the remote image processor to access the remote image store in order to apply to the image held in the store manipulations emulating those applied to the graphical representation.    
   
   
       2 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the image held at the remote image store is of a relatively higher resolution than the graphical representation of at least a portion of the image.  
   
   
       3 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote image processor further comprises means for communicating a version of the image, comprising the applied manipulations, to an image printing means maintained securely from the user interface.  
   
   
       4 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for associating a unique identifier with a user applying the manipulations to the graphical representation; wherein the internet communications link is operable to transfer the unique identifier between the user interface and the remote image processor.  
   
   
       5 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote image processor comprises means for receiving a hash value, which relates to a user who applied the manipulations to the graphical representation.  
   
   
       6 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , wherein the browser-based user interface is presented on a kiosk accessible to a consumer.  
   
   
       7 . A computer system according to  claim 4 , wherein the kiosk comprises a printer for printing an image, produced by applying the manipulations that emulate those applied to the graphical representation, onto a consumer item.  
   
   
       8 . A computer system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a database capable of storing the information about the manipulations applied to the graphical representation; such that a manipulation can be applied to the image held in the remote image store, other than in real time, or alternatively, allowing printing tasks to different articles to be batched.  
   
   
       9 . A computer system according to  claim 4 ,  5 , or  8 , further comprising a printer for printing an image, produced by applying the manipulations that emulate those applied to the graphical representation, onto a consumer item.  
   
   
       10 . A computer system according to  claim 7  or  9 , wherein the consumer item comprises a financial account access means.  
   
   
       11 . A method of operating a computer system for manipulation of remote images, the method comprising: 
 displaying for manipulation at a browser-based user interface a graphical representation of at least a portion of an image held at a remote image store;    providing an internet communications link coupling the user interface to a remote image processor;    transferring information about manipulations applied to the graphical representation between the user interface and the remote image processor; and    causing the remote image processor to access the remote image store and to apply, to at least a portion of the image held in the store, manipulations emulating those applied to the graphical representation.    
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 transferring a unique identifier between the user interface and the remote image processor, the unique identifier being associated with a user applying the manipulations to the graphical representation.    
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 receiving a hash value at the remote image processor, the hash value relating to a user applying the manipulations to the graphical representation.    
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 presenting the browser-based user interface on a kiosk accessible to a consumer.    
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 using a printer at the kiosk to print an image, produced by applying the manipulations that emulate those applied to the graphical representation, onto a consumer item.    
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 storing information about the manipulations applied to the graphical representation in a database, such that the manipulations can be applied to the image held in the remote image store, other than in real time, or alternatively, allowing printing tasks to different articles to be batched.    
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 12 ,  13 , or  16 , further comprising: 
 printing an image, produced by applying the manipulations that emulate those applied to the graphical representation, onto a consumer item.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 15  or  17 , wherein the consumer item comprises a financial account access means.  
   
   
       19 . A computer program product comprising program code means, said program code means including: 
 first code means for displaying for manipulation at a browser-based user interface one or more graphical representations of at least a portion of an image held at a remote image store;    second code means for establishing an internet communications link coupling the user interface to a remote image processor; third code means for transferring information about manipulations applied to the graphical representation between the user interface and the remote image processor; and    fourth code means for causing the remote image processor to access the remote image store and to apply to at least a portion of the image held in the store manipulations emulating those applied to the graphical representation.    
   
   
       20 . A computer system for manipulation of remote images, the computer system comprising: 
 a front end server system for operating computer program means for providing a user interface for displaying a graphical representation of at least a portion of an image held at a remote image store for user selection from amongst a plurality of similar such graphical representations of at least a portion of each of a plurality of images held at the remote image store; and    an internet communications link coupling the front end server system to a remote image processor capable of accessing the remote image store in order to select the original image held in the store, from amongst the plurality of similar such images held in the store, in a corresponding fashion to the user selection made on the user interface.    
   
   
       21 . A computer system according to  claim 20 , wherein the computer program means further comprises means for enabling user manipulation of the graphical representation on the user interface; and wherein the remote image processor comprises means for accessing the remote image store in order to apply to the image held in the store manipulations emulating the user manipulations of the graphical representation on the user interface.  
   
   
       22 . A system for applying a personalized image to a financial account access means corresponding to a financial account of a customer, the system comprising: 
 a financial account association table associating financial data, corresponding to the financial account of the customer, with a customer identifier;    an image manipulation emulator for associating the customer identifier with user image selection data based on user selections made on a user interface in relation to a graphical representation of at least a portion of an original image held in an image store; and    an image application means for applying the personalized image to the financial account access means, the personalized image being based on the user image selection data associated with the customer identifier by the image manipulation emulator;    wherein the system maintains at least the financial account association table securely from the user interface.    
   
   
       23 . A system according to  claim 1  or  22 , further comprising: 
 a front end server for presenting the user interface; and    a back end server, comprising the image manipulation emulator, for communicating with the front end server and with the image store.    
   
   
       24 . A system according to  claim 23 , wherein the front end server further comprises means for communicating a user manipulation data string to the back end server.  
   
   
       25 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the financial account access means comprises a credit card, debit card, or other transaction card means.  
   
   
       26 . A system according to  claim 1  or  22 , wherein the graphical representation of the original image comprises a re-sized version of the original image.  
   
   
       27 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the original image is uploaded from the customer's own computer.  
   
   
       28 . A system according to  claim 1  or  22 , wherein the user selections comprise operations selected from rotating, re-sizing, positioning, flipping, controlling brightness, performing red-eye reduction, and adjusting opacity levels.  
   
   
       29 . A system according to  claim 1  or  22 , wherein user selection data further comprises data relating to at least one image for overlaying onto the original image.  
   
   
       30 . A system according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one image for overlaying comprises at least one transparent portion.  
   
   
       31 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the user selections comprise operations for positioning at least a portion of the original image within a window region of the financial account access means.  
   
   
       32 . A system according to  claim 31 , wherein the window region excludes regions of the financial account access means that display functional features of the financial account access means.  
   
   
       33 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the user selections comprise operations for positioning at least a portion of the original image in relation to a template of features of the financial account access means.  
   
   
       34 . A system according to  claim 32  or  33 , wherein the financial account access means comprises one of a credit card, debit card, or other transaction card means; and wherein the features of the financial account access means comprise one or more of a bank logo, a transaction card hologram, and a transaction card type indicator.  
   
   
       35 . A method for applying a personalized image to a financial account access means corresponding to a financial account of a customer, the method comprising: 
 associating financial data, corresponding to the financial account of the customer, with a customer identifier in a financial account association table maintained securely from a user interface;    associating the customer identifier with user image selection data based on user selections made on the user interface in relation to a graphical representation of at least a portion of an original image held in an image store; and    applying the personalized image to the financial account access means, the personalized image being based on the user image selection data associated with the customer identifier.    
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 35 , further comprising: 
 presenting the user interface using a front end server; and    using a back end server, in communication with the front end server and the image store, to re-create the user selections made on the user interface.    
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 36 , further comprising communicating a user manipulation data string from the front end server to the back end server.  
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the financial account access means comprises a credit card, debit card, or other transaction card means.  
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the graphical representation of the original image comprises a re-sized version of the original image.  
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 35 , further comprising uploading the original image from the customer's own computer.  
   
   
       41 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the user selections comprise operations selected from rotating, re-sizing, positioning, flipping, controlling brightness, performing red-eye reduction, and adjusting opacity levels.  
   
   
       42 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the user image selection data further comprises data relating to at least one image for overlaying onto the original image.  
   
   
       43 . A method according to  claim 42 , wherein the at least one image for overlaying comprises at least one transparent portion.  
   
   
       44 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the user selections comprise operations for positioning at least a portion of the original image within a window region of the financial account access means.  
   
   
       45 . A method according to  claim 44 , wherein the window region excludes regions of the financial account access means that display functional features of the financial account access means.  
   
   
       46 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the user selections comprise operations for positioning at least a portion of the original image relative to a template relating to features of the financial account access means.  
   
   
       47 . A method according to  claim 45  or  46 , wherein the financial account access means comprises a credit card, debit card, or other transaction card means; and wherein the features of the financial account access means comprise one or more of a bank logo, a transaction card hologram, and a transaction card type indicator.  
   
   
       48 . A method of operating a computer system to apply a personalized image to a financial transaction card, the method comprising: 
 providing a financial account association table associating financial data of a customer with a customer identifier;    receiving at an image processor a set of manipulations applied to a representation of an image at a remote user terminal, to generate a personalized design;    processing the represented image by applying the received set of manipulations to produce a personalized image; and    sending the personalized image for application to a financial transaction card, provided with banking features based on at least the customer identifier.    
   
   
       49 . A computer system for controlling production of a personalized financial transaction card, the computer system comprising: 
 a financial account association table associating financial data of a customer with a customer identifier;    a communication interface arranged to receive a set of manipulations applied to a representation of an image at a remote user terminal to generate a personalized design;    an image processor to process the represented image by applying said set of manipulations to produce a personalized image; and    financial card production equipment capable of receiving the personalized image and relevant financial data based on the customer identifier to produce a personalized financial transaction card.    
   
   
       50 . A method of operating a computer system to produce a personalized financial transaction card, the method comprising: 
 receiving a unique one-way code generated within a secure environment from information relating to a customer account;    receiving at an image processor an image, and manipulating the image in accordance with instructions from a remote terminal operated by said customer;    storing the manipulated image in association with the one-way code; and    providing said manipulated image for application to a financial transaction card, responsive to a request comprising an identical one-way code generated independently from said customer account information.    
   
   
       51 . A computer system for producing a personalized financial transaction card, the system comprises: 
 an interface for receiving from a secure environment a unique one-way code generated from customer account information;    an image processor operable to manipulate an image in accordance with instructions from a remote terminal operated by said customer;    a data store for storing the manipulated image in association with the one-way code; and    an interface operable to supply said manipulated image for application to a financial transaction card responsive to a request comprising an identical one-way code generated independently from said customer account information.    
   
   
       52 . A computer system as in  claim 51 , wherein said customer account information comprises at least a portion of an embossing record.  
   
   
       53 . A computer system according to any preceding claim, wherein a kiosk accessible to consumers is provided for performing manipulations to the graphical representation and/or for producing financial transaction cards applied with a personalized image.  
   
   
       54 . A computer system for producing personalized financial transaction cards, the computer system comprising: 
 means for generating a browser-based user interface for displaying on a remote terminal a graphical representation of at least a portion of an image, said interface being capable of effecting a plurality of manipulations to the graphical representation;    an internet communications link coupling the remote user interface to an image processor, said link being operable to receive instructions defining said plurality of manipulations applied to the graphical representation from the remote terminal;    an image processor operable to access the image to apply manipulations emulating those applied to the graphical representation according to the instructions; and    financial transaction card production equipment operable to apply the resulting image to a financial transaction card.    
   
   
       55 . A method of operating a computer system to produce a personalized financial transaction card, the method comprising: 
 receiving encrypted customer information generated within a secure environment from information relating to an account of the customer;    receiving at an image processor an image, and manipulating the image in accordance with instructions from a remote terminal operated by said customer;    storing the manipulated image in association with the encrypted customer information; and    providing said manipulated image for application to a financial transaction card, in association with the encrypted customer information, to an entity having an encryption key capable of decrypting the encrypted customer information.    
   
   
       56 . A method of operating a computer to facilitate production of a personalized financial transaction card, the method comprising: 
 providing means for presenting to a remote customer a user interface;    receiving instructions for manipulation of an image file, the instructions being based on manipulations performed by the remote customer with regard to a representative version, on the user interface, of the image that is contained in the file; and    providing an image, produced based on said instructions for manipulation, for application to the financial transaction card, the image being associated with a customer identifier corresponding to the remote customer.    
   
   
       57 . A method according to  claim 56 , wherein the customer identifier comprises one of: a one-way code, a unique customer identifier, and encrypted customer information.  
   
   
       58 . A method according to  claim 57 , wherein a one-way code is created by a card issuer applying a one-way code function to financial account information of the remote customer.  
   
   
       59 . A method according to  claim 57 , wherein the encrypted customer information is encrypted by a card issuer encrypting financial account information of the remote customer.  
   
   
       60 . A method according to  claim 56 , wherein providing the means for presenting the user interface comprises operating a website server.  
   
   
       61 . A method according to  claim 56 , wherein the provided image for application to the financial transaction card is provided to a card bureau.  
   
   
       62 . A method according to  claim 56 , wherein the customer identifier is embedded in the image produced based on said instructions for manipulation.  
   
   
       63 . A method according to  claim 62 , wherein the customer identifier is embedded as a machine-readable code.  
   
   
       64 . A method according to  claim 63 , wherein the customer identifier is embedded as a bar code.  
   
   
       65 . A method according to  claim 62 , wherein the customer identifier is embedded in file metadata.  
   
   
       66 . A method according to  claim 56 , wherein the image file is not transferred to the user interface.  
   
   
       67 . A system for operating a computer to facilitate production of a personalized financial transaction card, the system comprising: 
 computer program means for presenting to a remote customer a user interface;    image instruction means for receiving instructions for manipulation of an image file, the instructions being based on manipulations performed by the remote customer with regard to a representative version, on the user interface, of the image that is contained in the file; and    image processing means for providing an image, produced based on said instructions for manipulation, for application to the financial transaction card, the image being associated with a customer identifier corresponding to the remote customer.    
   
   
       68 . A system according to  claim 67 , wherein the customer identifier comprises one of: a one-way code, a unique customer identifier, and encrypted customer information.  
   
   
       69 . A system according to  claim 68 , wherein the customer identifier comprises a one-way code created by a one-way code function applied to financial account information of the remote customer.  
   
   
       70 . A system according to  claim 68 , wherein the customer identifier comprises encrypted customer information created from encrypted financial account information of the remote customer.  
   
   
       71 . A system according to  claim 67 , wherein the computer program means comprises a web server application of a website server.  
   
   
       72 . A system according to  claim 67 , wherein the image processing means comprises means for providing the image for application to the financial transaction card, to a card bureau.  
   
   
       73 . A system according to  claim 67 , wherein the image processing means comprises means for embedding the customer identifier in the image produced based on said instructions for manipulation.  
   
   
       74 . A system according to  claim 73 , wherein the image processing means comprises means for embedding the customer identifier as a machine-readable code.  
   
   
       75 . A system according to  claim 74 , wherein the image processing means comprises means for embedding the customer identifier as a bar code.  
   
   
       76 . A system according to  claim 73 , wherein the image processing means comprises means for embedding the customer identifier in file metadata.