Film drop-off apparatus and method

Claim 2

A film processing method comprising: displaying instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction by a film drop-off kiosk; recording a customer choice for a photo delivery time by the film drop-off kiosk; sending an alert message to the film laboratory if the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough by the film drop-off kiosk; receiving the alert message by the film laboratory; and assigning a film development priority to the transaction based upon the alert by the film laboratory.

Claim 3

A film processing method comprising: displaying instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction by a film drop-off kiosk; recording a customer choice for a photo delivery time by the film drop-off kiosk; determining whether the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough to require an alert to be sent to a film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; if the alert is required, sending an alert message to the film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; receiving the alert message by the film laboratory; notifying film processing personnel at the film laboratory that an alert has been received; and assigning a film development priority to the transaction based upon the alert by the film processing personnel.

Claim 4

A film processing method comprising: displaying instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction by a film drop-off kiosk; recording a customer choice for a photo delivery time by the film drop-off kiosk; determining whether the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough to require an alert to be sent to a film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; if the alert is required, sending an alert message to the film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; receiving the alert message by the film laboratory; notifying film processing personnel at the film laboratory that an alert has been received; and assigning a film development priority to the transaction based upon the alert by the film processing personnel.

Claim 5

A film processing method comprising: displaying instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options and prices during a film processing transaction by a film drop-off kiosk; recording a customer choice for a photo delivery time by the film drop-off kiosk; accepting payment from the customer based upon the customer choice by the film drop-off kiosk; determining whether the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough to require an alert to be sent to a film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; if the alert is required, sending an alert message to the film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; receiving the alert message by the film laboratory; notifying film processing personnel at the film laboratory that an alert has been received; assigning a film development priority to the transaction based upon the alert by the film processing personnel.

Claim 6

A film processing method comprising: displaying instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options and prices during a film processing transaction by a film drop-off kiosk; recording a customer choice for a photo delivery time by the film drop-off kiosk; accepting payment from the customer based upon the customer choice by the film drop-off kiosk; determining whether the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough to require an alert to be sent to a film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; if the alert is required, sending an alert message to the film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; receiving the alert message by the film laboratory; notifying film processing personnel at the film laboratory that an alert has been received; assigning a film development priority to the transaction based upon the alert by the film processing personnel.

Claim 7

A film processing method comprising: displaying instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options and a special promotion during a film processing transaction by a film drop-off kiosk; recording a first customer choice for a photo delivery time and a second customer choice for the special promotion by the film drop-off kiosk; determining a price based upon the first and second choices by the film drop-off kiosk; determining whether the photo delivery time associated with the first customer choice is short enough to require an alert to be sent to a film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; if the alert is required, sending an alert message to the film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; receiving the alert message by the film laboratory; notifying film processing personnel at the film laboratory that an alert has been received; assigning a film development priority to the transaction based upon the alert by the film processing personnel.

Claim 8

A film processing method comprising: displaying instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options and a special promotion during a film processing transaction by a film drop-off kiosk; recording a first customer choice for a photo delivery time and a second customer choice for the special promotion by the film drop-off kiosk; determining a price based upon the first and second choices by the film drop-off kiosk; determining whether the photo delivery time associated with the first customer choice is short enough to require an alert to be sent to a film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; if the alert is required, sending an alert message to the film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; receiving the alert message by the film laboratory; notifying film processing personnel at the film laboratory that an alert has been received; assigning a film development priority to the transaction based upon the alert by the film processing personnel.

Claim 9

A film processing method comprising: displaying instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options and prices during a film processing transaction by a film drop-off kiosk; recording a customer choice for a photo delivery time by the film drop-off kiosk; delivering a bar code label identifying the transaction to the customer; determining whether the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough to require an alert to be sent to a film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; if the alert is required, sending an alert message to the film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; receiving the alert message by the film laboratory; assigning a film development priority to the transaction based upon the alert by the film processing personnel; reading the bar code label by a bar code reader coupled to the film drop-off kiosk during a subsequent use of the kiosk by the customer; and displaying a status of the transaction by the film drop-off kiosk.

Claim 10

A film processing method comprising: displaying instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options and prices during a film processing transaction by a film drop-off kiosk; recording a customer choice for a photo delivery time by the film drop-off kiosk; delivering a bar code label identifying the transaction to the customer; determining whether the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough to require an alert to be sent to a film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; if the alert is required, sending an alert message to the film laboratory by the film drop-off kiosk; receiving the alert message by the film laboratory; assigning a film development priority to the transaction based upon the alert by the film processing personnel; reading the bar code label by a bar code reader coupled to the film drop-off kiosk during a subsequent use of the kiosk by the customer; and displaying a status of the transaction by the film drop-off kiosk.

Claim 11

A film drop-off apparatus comprising: a computer; a display controlled by the computer which displays instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction; an input device controlled by the computer which records a customer choice for a photo delivery time; and communication circuitry which sends an alert message to the film laboratory based upon the customer choice; wherein the computer causes the communication circuitry to send the alert message if the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough.

Claim 12

A film drop-off apparatus comprising: a computer; a display controlled by the computer which displays instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction; an input device controlled by the computer which records a customer choice for a photo delivery time; and communication circuitry which sends an alert message to the film laboratory based upon the customer choice; wherein the computer causes the communication circuitry to send the alert message if the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough.

Claim 13

A film drop-off apparatus comprising: a computer; a display controlled by the computer which displays instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction; an input device controlled by the computer which records a customer choice for a photo delivery time; a printer controlled by the computer which prints a bar code identifying the transaction for the customer; communication circuitry controlled by the computer which sends an alert message to the film laboratory based upon the customer choice; a bar code reader controlled by the computer which reads the bar code; wherein the display also displays status information to the customer following reading of the bar code by the bar code reader during a subsequent use of the computer by the customer; and wherein the computer causes the communication circuitry to send the alert message if the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough.

Claim 14

A film drop-off apparatus comprising: a computer; a display controlled by the computer which displays instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction; an input device controlled by the computer which records a customer choice for a photo delivery time; a printer controlled by the computer which prints a bar code identifying the transaction for the customer; communication circuitry controlled by the computer which sends an alert message to the film laboratory based upon the customer choice; a bar code reader controlled by the computer which reads the bar code; wherein the display also displays status information to the customer following reading of the bar code by the bar code reader during a subsequent use of the computer by the customer; and wherein the computer causes the communication circuitry to send the alert message if the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough.

Claim 15

A film drop-off apparatus comprising: a computer; a display controlled by the computer which displays instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction and promotional messages; an input device controlled by the computer which records a first customer choice for a photo delivery time and a second choice for promotional messages; wherein the computer applies special discounts in response to the second choice; a number of payment modules controlled by the computer which allow a customer to pay for the transaction; and communication circuitry controlled by the computer which sends an alert message to the film laboratory based upon the first customer choice; wherein the computer causes the communication circuitry to send the alert message if the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough.

Claim 16

A film drop-off apparatus comprising: a computer; a display controlled by the computer which displays instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction and promotional messages; an input device controlled by the computer which records a first customer choice for a photo delivery time and a second choice for promotional messages; wherein the computer applies special discounts in response to the second choice; a number of payment modules controlled by the computer which allow a customer to pay for the transaction; and communication circuitry controlled by the computer which sends an alert message to the film laboratory based upon the first customer choice; wherein the computer causes the communication circuitry to send the alert message if the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough.

Claim 17

A film drop-off apparatus comprising: a self-service banking terminal, including a display which displays instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction; an input device controlled by the computer which records a customer choice for a photo delivery time; communication circuitry which sends an alert message to the film laboratory based upon the customer choice; wherein the computer causes the communication circuitry to send the alert message if the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough; a number of payment modules which allow a customer to pay for the transaction, as well as complete a banking transaction; and a film-drop counter containing a storage bin for film envelopes deposited by the customer.

Claim 18

A film drop-off apparatus comprising: a self-service banking terminal, including a display which displays instructions to a customer, including photo delivery options during a film processing transaction; an input device controlled by the computer which records a customer choice for a photo delivery time; communication circuitry which sends an alert message to the film laboratory based upon the customer choice; wherein the computer causes the communication circuitry to send the alert message if the photo delivery time associated with the customer choice is short enough; a number of payment modules which allow a customer to pay for the transaction, as well as complete a banking transaction; and a film-drop counter containing a storage bin for film envelopes deposited by the customer.