Photographic image upload kiosk and method

Abstract

A method for collecting images by an image-processing provider from a plurality of users using an automated station. The method includes receiving a wireless signal comprising image information by a wireless receiver port in the automated station, accepting user-identifier information into a computer in the automated station, wherein the user-identifier information is associated with a user, and accepting order information into the computer, wherein the order information specifies a service to be provided relative to the image information. The method further includes storing into a local storage in the automated station and coupled to the computer, a digital representation of the image information and associated user identifier information and order information for each of a plurality of different users into a data structure, and sending the data structure to the image-processing provider via a communication network.

1 . A method for collecting images by an image-processing provider from a plurality of users using an automated station, the method comprising:
 receiving a wireless signal comprising image information by a wireless receiver port in the automated station;   accepting user-identifier information into a computer in the automated station, wherein the user-identifier information is associated with a user;   accepting order information into the computer, the order information specifying a service to be provided by the image-processing provider relative to the image information;   storing into a local storage in the automated station and coupled to the computer, a digital representation of the image information and associated user identifier information and order information for each of a plurality of different users into a data structure; and   sending the data structure to the image-processing provider via a communication network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 removing the data structure from the local storage after the data structure has been sent to the image-processing provider.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving payment information from the user into the computer; and   storing into the local storage connected to the computer, the payment information associated with the user identifier information.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying to the user at least one image from the image information.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image information includes a modification to be made to at least one image in the image information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data structure is sent to the image-processing provider via a wireless communication network. 
     
     
         7 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving image information in a first wireless signal at a first location;   accepting user-identifier information and order information associated with the image information at the first location, wherein the user-identifier information is associated with a user;   storing a plurality of images in the image information at the first location;   transferring the stored plurality of images in a second wireless signal to a second location via a wireless communications network;   storing the plurality of images at the second location;   producing an image-based product according to at least one of the digital images stored at the second location; and   delivering the image-based product to a recipient specified in the order information.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 7 , wherein the image information in the first wireless signal is received by an automated station at the first location. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 accepting payment from the user at the first location.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 accepting input from the user specifying a modification to be made to one of images.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 sending a data structure comprising the image data, the user-identifier information, and the order information from the first location to the second location via the wireless communications network.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 sending an inquiring signal from the second location to the first location;   replying the inquiring signal with an image use signal before the step of transferring the stored plurality of images.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 removing the image information at the first location after the step of transferring the stored plurality of images.   
     
     
         14 . A digital image transfer system, comprising:
 a computer processor;   a memory connected to the computer processor;   a wireless communication port coupled to the computer processor, wherein the wireless communication port is configured to receive a first wireless signal comprising image data from an imaging device;   a storage device coupled to the computer processor and configured to store the image data;   an event detector coupled to the computer processor; and   a network communication port coupled to the computer processor and configured to transfer the image data to a remote image-processing provider via a computer network in response to an event detected by the event detector.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the event detector includes a timer and wherein the event is a time-based event. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the event detector is configured to respond to a poll message received from the image-processing provider. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the event detector includes a storage space detector, and wherein the event is a predetermined amount of image data being stored in the storage device. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the computer processor is configured to receive user-identification, order information, and payment information from the imaging device. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the computer network includes a wireless communication network. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the network communication port is configured to send user-identification, order information, and payment information to the remote image-processing provider via the computer network.