System and method for providing customized product configuration and service plan options for a camera device

Abstract

A system and method for obtaining photographic products and/or services comprises bundling image capture and printing technologies into products and/or services that are paid for by a consumer with monthly or yearly subscription fees. The system and method involves selecting a camera and selecting a photographic products/service plan which designates photographic products and/or services which are to be associated with the selected camera. The system and method gives the consumer the option of selecting a specific camera from a menu of cameras, and a specific photographic product/service plan which is to be associated with the selected camera from a product/service menu. As a further option, the consumer can customize his/her product/service plan in accordance with his/her preference. The plan can provide for products and/or services for images captured and/or film exposed by the camera for a predetermined amount of time at a predetermined fee. At the end of the plan, the consumer could have the option of returning the camera, exchanging the camera for a different camera, or keeping the camera at no cost or for a reduced price. The photographic products and/or services provided by the plan could be products and/or services such as film developing, printing, image products, scanning, photo CDs, image storage, etc.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method performed at a digital device having image data, the method comprising:
 receiving at the digital device, a selection of a forwarding option for a selected image captured at a high resolution;   creating, at the digital device, a low resolution version of the selected image in response to the selection of the forwarding option;   communicating, by the digital device, the low resolution version of the selected image to a designated third party;   receiving at the digital device, an instruction to send the selected image at the high resolution to a service provider, wherein the instruction is in response to an order selection from the designated third party; and   communicating, by the digital device, the selected image at the high resolution to the service provider, wherein the service provider receives selected image at the high resolution to fulfill the order selection from the designated third party.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein communicating the selected image at the high resolution to the service provider comprises communicating via a cable box. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising storing a plurality of images captured by an image capture device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of images is stored at a memory external to the image capture device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the stored plurality of images includes images at high resolution and images at low resolution. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the low resolution version of the selected image is created at an image capture device in response to the selection of the forwarding option. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the selection of the forwarding option is done at an image capture device. 
     
     
         28 . A system comprising:
 an image capture apparatus configured to capture images at a full resolution;   memory that stores images captured by the image capture apparatus;   a communication interface configured to communicate images to a third party and to a service provider;   a user interface coupled to the image capture apparatus configured to receive a selection of an image and an image forwarding option;   a processor configured to:
 create a low resolution version of the selected image in response to the selection of the forwarding option; 
 communicate the low resolution version of the selected image to a third party via the communication interface; 
 receive an instruction to send the selected image at the full resolution to the service provider, wherein the instruction is in response to an order selection from the third party; and 
 communicate the selected image at the full resolution to the service provider, wherein the service provider receives selected image at the full resolution to fulfill the order selection from the third party. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein communicating the selected image at the high resolution to the service provider comprises communicating via a cable box. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the memory is external to the image capture device. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the stored images include images at high resolution and images at low resolution. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the low resolution version of the selected image is created at an image capture device in response to the selection of the forwarding option. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the selection of the forwarding option is done at an image capture device. 
     
     
         34 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to receive a selection of a forwarding option at an image capture device for a selected image captured at a full resolution;   instructions to create, at the image capture device, a low resolution version of the selected image in response to the selection of the forwarding option;   instructions to communicate the low resolution version of the selected image to a designated third party;   instructions to send the selected image at the full resolution to a service provider, wherein sending the selected image is in response to an order selection from the designated third party; and   instructions to communicate the selected image at the full resolution to the service provider, wherein the service provider receives selected image at the full resolution to fulfill the order selection from the designated third party.   
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein communicating the selected image at the high resolution to the service provider comprises communicating via a cable box. 
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 34 , further comprising instructions to store a plurality of images captured by an image capture device. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of images is stored at a memory external to the image capture device. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the stored plurality of images includes images at high resolution and images at low resolution. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the low resolution version of the selected image is created at an image capture device in response to the selection of the forwarding option. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the digital device is a mobile phone with a camera, a personal computer, or a digital camera