US5757466A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of customer photoprint annotation
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
•
Filing: 1996-01-30
•
Granted: 1998-05-26
•
Expires: 2016-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for a customer to provide a message, design or other visible information to be printed upon prints during processing of photographic film supplied by the customer. The process involves scanning an annotated surface containing the visible information, creating a reproducible file containing the visible information and printing the visible information from the file onto a photographic print during the photofinishing processing. The customer information may be directly written or otherwise connected with a photofinishing envelope in which the film is forwarded to the photofinisher. The envelopes or messages may be scanned and the envelopes saved for return to the customer with the finished prints and negatives. If the envelopes are scanned at the time of removing the film, the reproducible file may be electronically stored and retrieved during printing of the photographic prints on which the information is to be printed. Various alternative steps in the process are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Kelly Lee
- 👤 Dana Whitney Wolcott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:30
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D15/00; G03D15/001; G03D15/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of annotating a photographic print with customer provided visible information, the method comprising the steps of: providing a film processing envelope adapted to receive a photographic film for processing; associating an annotated surface with said processing envelope; providing the visible information on said annotated surface; scanning said annotated surface containing said visible information; creating a reproducible information file containing said visible information; and printing said visible information from said file into a photographic print during photofinishing processing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of annotating a photographic print with customer provided visible information, the method comprising the steps of: providing a film processing envelope adapted to receive a photographic film for processing; associating an annotated surface with said processing envelope; providing the visible information on said annotated surface; scanning said annotated surface containing said visible information; creating a reproducible information file containing said visible information; and printing said visible information from said file into a photographic print during photofinishing processing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 characterized by: providing said surface on said processing envelope for subsequent annotation with said visible information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 characterized by: temporarily storing said reproducible file; and retrieving said reproducible file for printing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 characterized in that said reproducible file is one of a bitmapped graphics file and a facsimile file.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of annotating a photographic print with customer provided information, the method comprising the steps of: providing a film processing envelope having a designated area in which a customer may record annotated information; providing a plurality of said designated areas corresponding to a number of prints to be processed; scanning the film processing envelope annotated with customer supplied information and adapted to receive a photographic film strip for processing; creating an information containing file from said annotated information; storing said file; retrieving said file; and printing said file onto said photographic print during photofinishing processing.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of annotating a photographic print with customer provided information, the method comprising the steps of: providing a film processing envelope having a designated area in which a customer may record annotated information; providing a plurality of said designated areas corresponding to a number of prints to be processed; scanning the film processing envelope annotated with customer supplied information and adapted to receive a photographic film strip for processing; creating an information containing file from said annotated information; storing said file; retrieving said file; and printing said file onto said photographic print during photofinishing processing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said printing includes printing on one of a front and a back of said print.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said printing includes laser scanning printing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of annotating a photographic print with customer provided information, the method comprising the steps of: scanning a film processing envelope annotated with customer supplied information and adapted to receive a photographic film strip for processing; creating an information containing file from said annotated information; storing said file; retrieving said film; and printing said file onto said photographic print during photofinishing processing; wherein said scanning is conducted in black and white using on and off pixels, and the method comprises the further step of compressing said file and facsimile file by run-length encoding.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of annotating a photographic print with customer provided information, the method comprising the steps of: scanning a film processing envelope annotated with customer supplied information and adapted to receive a photographic film strip for processing; creating an information containing file from said annotated information; storing said file; retrieving said film; and printing said file onto said photographic print during photofinishing processing; wherein said scanning is conducted in black and white using on and off pixels, and the method comprises the further step of compressing said file and facsimile file by run-length encoding.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said printing includes printing on one of a front and a back of said print.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said printing includes laser scanning printing.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of annotating a photographic print with customer provided information, the method comprising the steps of: scanning a film processing envelope annotated with customer supplied information and adapted to receive a photographic film strip from processing; creating an information containing file from said annotated information; storing said file; retrieving said film; and printing said file onto said photographic print during photofinishing processing; wherein said scanning is conducted in color and with full gray scale.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of annotating a photographic print with customer provided information, the method comprising the steps of: scanning a film processing envelope annotated with customer supplied information and adapted to receive a photographic film strip from processing; creating an information containing file from said annotated information; storing said file; retrieving said film; and printing said file onto said photographic print during photofinishing processing; wherein said scanning is conducted in color and with full gray scale.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said printing includes printing on one of a front and a back of said print.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said printing includes laser scanning printing.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of annotating a photographic print with customer provided information, the method comprising the steps of: scanning a film processing envelope annotated with customer supplied information and adapted to receive a photographic film strip for processing; creating an information containing file from said annotated information; storing said file; retrieving said file; and printing said file onto said photographic print during photofinishing processing; wherein said printing includes printing on the back of said print using one of a color and black and white printer.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of annotating a photographic print with customer provided information, the method comprising the steps of: scanning a film processing envelope annotated with customer supplied information and adapted to receive a photographic film strip for processing; creating an information containing file from said annotated information; storing said file; retrieving said file; and printing said file onto said photographic print during photofinishing processing; wherein said printing includes printing on the back of said print using one of a color and black and white printer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-25 | 2001-11-24 | 2002-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-25 | 2005-11-24 | 2006-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-25 | 2009-11-24 | 2010-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |