WO2001092030A2

WO2001092030A2 - System and method for ordering and producing photograph albums, and albums made by the same

Info

Publication number: WO2001092030A2
Application number: PCT/IL2001/000386
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erez Paran; Yedidya Shmerler; Tamar Sharon; Gal Binyamini
Original assignee: Printlife.Com Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-05-01
Filing date: 2001-04-30
Publication date: 2001-12-06
Also published as: AU2001252528A1; IL135901A0; WO2001092030A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for ordering a photograph album from an album producer, comprising: - At the client's end: a. A plurality of photograph images stored in a digital storage; b. A plurality of photograph-page patterns and cover-page patterns stored in a digital storage, each pattern having its specific index; c. An order application for defining by the client the structure of each photograph page and cover page of the album; d. Means in said order application for graphically displaying to the client thumbnails of the said photograph images and patterns. Means in said order application for creating an album parameters section, listing for each album page the assigned patterns indexes, and the indexes of the one or more photograph images included in said page; e. Means in said order application for creating and communicating to the producer a package containing said album parameters section, identification section, and said photograph images section; - At the said album producer site: a. Means for receiving said package; b. Means for creating a printing file containing separated images of each album page as defined by the client, the creation involving assigning in each of said album page the corresponding patterns and photographs as indicated in the album parameters section of said package; c. Means for printing and binding the album and cover pages according to the additional information in said album parameters section; and d. Means for delivering the album to its destination.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORDERING AND PRODUCING PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS, AND ALBUMS MADE BY THE SAME

Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to the production of photograph albums. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method for electronically ordering and accordingly producing photograph albums.

Background of the Invention

Photographs are one of the most common means for capturing events and scenes. People tend to accumulate many photographs during their lifetime, which generally have to be organized in order to best serve their purpose. An album is a common means for maintaining photographs in an orderly fashion, and for attaching to them descriptive information. In most cases, photographs are considered personal and private. Because when organizing an album the order of the photographs and the related description for each photograph are important, most people tend to arrange their personal albums by themselves. However, as . the number of pictures increases, the arrangement becomes complicated and tedious, and requires a lengthy expenditure of time, that is not always available. In such cases, photographs are often accumulated . in a disorderly fashion, ultimately becoming misplaced or lost, or their captions and connections are lost. The existing albums for. photographs are generally "on the shelf products, which limits the client to an existing selection, which does not always meet the client's particular requirements and taste.

There have been attempts by album providers to professionally arrange for clients their personal photographs in an album, and to provide them with a fully arranged album. However, these attempts have mostly failed. One reason for this is the complication involved in conveying by the provider to the client the album options, and accordingly receiving from him information relating to the desired album arrangement and format details, including the position, orientation and descriptive information of each photograph, the background and design of the pages and cover, the album and photograph size, the pages and cover material type, the type of binding, etc. The more options given to the client, the greater the complications.

Another aspect which contributes to the above- complication is the fact that all the said options given to the client affect the price of the album, which has to be calculated by the client or provided to him by the album producer, generally before confirming the order..

A second reason pre-arranged albums to clients have not been successful is the complication involved in mass preparation of the albums. The preparation according to the prior art requires, in addition to meeting all ~> -j -

the other options, the manually arrangment of each individual photograph in the album. This requires the investment of significant time and effort.

All the above drawbacks and complications have caused the cost involved in providing fully arranged albums to be generally not worthwhile, either to the provider, to the client or to both. Alternatively, the album producers could provide only "basic" and standard albums at a reasonable price, by reducing to the minimum the client intervention in the album format and parameters. Therefore, in most cases, providing a client with an album at a reasonable price that satisfies his taste, while still being personal and individual, has failed.

EP 975,147 discloses a method and system for conveying album orders and information from the client to the album producer, and accordingly producing the album and supplying it to the client. The method and system of said publication still suffers from all the abovementioned drawbacks.

In recent years,, digital cameras have become more and more widespread. In digital cameras the pictures are saved in a memory storage such as a diskette, ROM, PROM, etc., and can be printed by a digital printer at a relatively low resolution at the user's end. If a high resolution is desired, the photographs have to be conveyed in the form of one or more digital files to a developing site, in which the photographs are prepared, and when ready, sent to the chent by mail. EP 856,972 discloses an Internet network for providing a photograph developing service. The photographs are conveyed via the Internet in digital form to a developing site, printed, cut to size, and mailed back to the client. Some of the existing Internet sites provide the printed pictures in an album. However, these albums suffer from most of the abovementioned drawbacks, as they are mostly "standard" in form and contain individual photographs that have to be manually arranged in the album at the developing site.

WO 99/19811 discloses a system for viewing and ordering prints of photographs that are taken at an event such as a^' wedding. The photographer introduces the photographs in an Internet site, so people can view them and order according to their preferences.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for producing and providing personal photograph albums to clients.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a system and method in which the complication involved in explaining to the client the order options is significantly simplified.

It is still another object of the invention to provide to the client means for easily and efficiently creating an electronic version of his album in which photographs are assigned, that further illustrates to him during the album creation the optional results.

It is still another object of the invention to provide to the client on-line product pricing, during the electronic album creation.

It is still another object of the invention to provide means for efficiently conveying the order and the photographs from the client to the album producer.

It is a further object of the invention to increase the chent product options, therefore resulting in an album that is more attractive, personal and more individually satisfying the client's taste.

It is still an object of the invention to simplify and reduce the costs involved in the mass production of personal photograph albums, while still ' increasing its quality and appearance.

Other advantages and objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. Summary of the Invention

The invention relates to a system for ordering a photograph album, said album comprising photograph pages and cover pages, from an album producer, comprising: (A) At the client's end: A plurality of photograph images to be included in the album, said images being stored in a digital storage, each photograph image having its specific photograph index; A plurality of photograph-page patterns and cover-page patterns stored in a digital storage, each pattern having its specific index; An order application for defining by the client the structure of each photograph page and cover page of the album, by selectively assigning to photograph pages and cover pages patterns and photographs from said patterns and photograph storage, and for assigning additional information concerning the type of paper, cover, and binding of the album; Means in said order application for graphically displaying to the client thumbnails of the said photograph images and patterns for selection and assignment to each album page, and means for displaying to the client each resulting page including said assignments; Means in said order application for creating an album parameters section, listing for each album page the assigned patterns indexes, and the indexes of the one or more photograph images included in said page, the images location within the page, when necessary, and said additional information; Means in said order application for obtaining from the client identification data relevant to the order, and creating an identification section listing said identification data; Means in said order application for creating a package containing said album parameters section, identification section, and said photograph images section; and, Means in said order application for communicating the package to a site of an album producer; and (B) At the said album producer site: A digital storage of a plurality of photograph-page patterns and cover-page patterns, each pattern having its specific index corresponding to the index of a same pattern at the client's end; Means for receiving said package; Means for creating a printing file containing separated images of each album page as defined by the client, the creation involving assigning in each of said album page the corresponding patterns and 'photographs as indicated in the album parameters section of said package; A printer for printing said printing file; Means for binding the album and cover pages according to the additional information in said album parameters section; and, Means for delivering the album to its destination.

Preferably, the photograph pages are pages in which photograph images are embedded. There are a plurality of album patterns which are images that are selectable by the user. The album patterns are generally divided to cover-page patterns and photograph-page patterns. The cover-page and photograph-page patterns comprise style designs and background designs. Each style design comprises one or more photograph frames defining the pre-assigned location and orientation for photograph images, and pre-assigned frames for. adding captions to each photograph. The plurality of photograph-page patterns and cover-page patterns that are stored in a digital storage at the client's end and at the album producer end are images.

Preferably, the resolution of the pattern images stored at the album producer's end is higher than at the client's end.

Preferably, the images of the patterns and the. thumbnails of the photograph images at the client's end are displayed to the client in one or more palettes for selection and assignment in an album page which is displayed simultaneously. The assignment of the pattern and/or photograph images in the album page can be carried out in a drag-and-drop manner.

Preferably, the means at the client's end for sending the package to the album producer comprises means for compressing the package, and the means for receiving the package at the album producer end comprises means for decompressing the package.

Preferably, the system also comprising bilhng means. The means for delivering and the means for billing utilize information which has been provided from the client's end to the album producer's end in the said identification section. Preferably, the digital storage in which the said photograph images and patterns are stored is a common directory in a hard disc at the client's end.

According to one embodiment of the invention the album producer's site is an Internet site, and the communicating of the package is made over the Internet. However, the communication of the package can be made by any other conventional means, as known in the art. When the means of communication is the Internet, one or more of the photograph images can be stored in a remote site on the WEB, and have an Internet address, the address of said images is provided by said order application in said photograph section to the album producer's end, for embedding in the album. The selected options regarding the type of cover are included in the said album parameters section.

The printer is a high-resolution printer, having a resolution of at least 600 DPI. Preferably, the printer is a color digital press.

The invention also relates to a method for ordering a photograph album from an album producer, which comprises; (A) At the client's end: Providing the photograph images to be included in the album in a digital storage, each photograph image having its unique photograph index; Providing a plurality of photograph-page patterns and cover-page patterns in a digital storage, each pattern having its unique photograph index; Providing to the client an application order for defining each album page, for defining general parameters concerning the album, and for adding identification information; Displaying to the client by said order application said patterns and said photograph images from said storage, for defining by the chent parameters of album pages by assigning to each page selected one or more patterns, and one or more photograph images. For each album page, saving the indexes of the patterns and the indexes of the photograph images assigned, in an album parameters section; Defining by the client with said application order the said general parameters and saving the same in said album parameters section; Providing by the client in the said application order the said identification information concerning the order and saving the same in an identification section; Creating a package containing said parameters section, said identification section, and said photograph images, and communicating said package to the album producer's site; (B) At the album producer's end: Providing a plurality of images of photograph-page patterns and images of cover-page patterns in a digital storage, each pattern having its unique photograph index, corresponding to the index of a same pattern at the client's end; Receiving the package sent from the client's end; Creating a printing file comprising a plurality of images, each relating to an album page, the images being created by assigning in each page corresponding pattern images and photograph images according to the pattern indexes in the parameter section, and utilizing the photograph images from the photograph section; Printing the said printing file; Binding -l i¬

the album according to the general parameters in said parameters section; and, Delivering the album according to the information in said ide ntification • section.

Preferably, in the said defining step at the client's end the patterns and thumbnails of the photograph images are displayed to the user in one or more palettes, together with the defined page, enabling the user to view the resulting page during the definition process. Preferably, the chent defines the album pages by dragging-and-dropping a pattern or a thumbnail of a photograph image from a palette to an album page that is simultaneously shown on his computer screen. In the defining step, default parameters are applied to parameters which are not defined by the client. .

According to still another simplified embodiment of the invention, the means at the client's end for communicating with the album producer's end are within the camera of the client. Alternatively, said communicating means may be within an external device that is connected to the client's camera. Said external device may be, for example, a cellular phone or PDA. Furthermore, at least one complete set of album parameters is predefined, each predefined set having its set identification code, and the client's identification data are also pre-registered at the album producer's end, the client is given with a client identification code. The method comprising the steps of (a) communicating by the client with the album producer's end by said means for communicating; (b) selecting one complete predefined set of an album; (c) sending to the album producer's end an order package from the client's camera, by said communication means, said package including the photograph images, the user's identification code, and the identification of code of said selected predefined complete set. The processing of the order is carried out according to the order, and the album is sent to the client.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 shows the basic structure of the system for ordering a photograph album, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figs 2 shows a panel of the order application used for viewing a palette of thumbnails of the photographs and for assigning selected photographs in pages of the album which are shown at the right hand side of the panel;

Fig 3 shows a panel of the order application used for viewing a palette of a plurality of backgrounds for selection. These are subsequently placed on the pages of the album;

Fig 4 shows another panel of the order application showing a page style which is applied to one page of the album;

Fig 5 shows a panel of the order application used for viewing a palette of a plurality of photograph-page styles for selecting and for applying to pages of the album; Fig 6 shows a panel of the order application used for viewing a palette of a plurality of cover-page styles for selecting and for applying to cover pages of the album;

Fig. 7 shows the in block diagram form the client's portion of the system for ordering an album, according to one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 shows a basic example for the structure of the album parameters section of the package, which is subsequently sent to the album producer's site;

Fig. 9 and 10 show two photograph pages of the album;

Fig. 11 shows an example for a cover page of the album;

Fig. 12 shows a basic example for the structure of the identification section of the package, which is subsequently sent to the album producer's site;

Fig. 13 shows in block diagram form how a price components file is ^■transferred from the album producer's site to the order apphcation at the client's end, for displaying to the client the current price of the^' album during the album creation;

Fig. 14 shows a panel of the order application illustrating how the chent vies the price of the album dtiring its creation;

Fig. 15 shows in block diagram form the structure of the system for ordering a photograph album at the album producer's site;

Fig. 16 shows a basic example of how a graphic printable file is prepared from a set of the album parameters section and the images section that are received at the album producer's site in the package sent from the client; and

Fig. 17 illustrates (a) how an order can be sent from a client to a photograph developer for developing separate photographs, and then the order is forwarded to the album producer for producing an album according to the invention; and (b) how an order for a default album can be sent to the album producer directly from a digital camera.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

The present invention relates to all aspects involved in providing a fully prepared photograph album to a client (hereinafter also referred to as "user"). More particularly, the invention relates to at least the following aspects: Creating an electronic version of an album, ordering, processing of the order at the album producer (Hereinafter briefly referred to as AP) site, producing the album, shipping, and bilhng.

Fig. 1 illustrates in a block diagram form the system of the invention. Each client C who wants to make an order for a fully prepared photograph album is provided with an application for album ordering. The order application is preferably obtained by the client by means of downloading it from the album producer's site in the Internet. Alternatively, the order application can be obtained by getting it in any suitable store, or be provided to the client by mail delivery. The system of the invention is a client-server system, wherein the computer of the client functions as the "client" and the computer at the AP site is the "server". As will be shown hereinafter, the order application uses graphic files for a plurality of album patterns, which are images that are selectable by the user. The album patterns are generally divided to cover-page patterns and photograph-page patterns, that in some cases be grouped together allowing the user to select a same pattern to a cover page and a photograph page. The cover-page and photograph-page patterns comprise style designs and background designs. Each style design comprises one or more photograph frames defining the pre-assigned location and orientation for photograph images, and pre-assigned frames for adding captions to each photograph. According to the invention the said graphic files, that are generally separated from the order apphcation itself, may be located all in the storage of the client's computer, all in a computer system at the AP site, or in most preferable cases some in the client's computer and some in the computer system at the AP Internet site. There are two major types of client operations with the order apphcation. In a first type, the user works off-line with the order application and selects only from patterns in his local computer. In a second type of operation, the client works with the order ' application on-line, with a browser or the order application connecting him to the AP site, in a manner enabling him to use patterns located both in the AP site, and in his local computer, or to download patterns from the AP site to the hard disc of his local computer.

The application assumes that the photographs that are intended for placement in the album are images stored in digital form in any suitable storage. Preferably, this digital storage is the hard disk of the chent. Alternatively, the photographs may be stored in any other location that is accessible by any networking means either to the client C, or to the album producer AP, or to both. As will be shown hereinafter, the photograph images for the album may all be stored in the same location, or in different locations, even in one or more Web sites, as long as their address is available.

The order application_. A comprises means for enabling the client to create an electronic order for the album he desires, which order will then be conveyed via networking means, such as the Internet to the AP site for the album production, billing and delivery.

During the creation of the electronic album order, the application A imports and displays the thumbnail images of the photographs for placement in the album. The client views the photographs and places them in frames in the desired location in the album. The order application further enables the client to select many other options for the album he desires, and then, when the selections and placements are completed, the order is sent to the AP site, together with the photograph image files or references (pointers) to them, in one combined file, or separately. The AP accepts the order, produces the personal album according to the information in said order, with the photograph files attached, and, when ready, delivers it, with a bill or a receipt, as is necessary, to the chent.

According to a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the album itself is unique. The photograph pages of the album, including the photographs embedded in them, are printed at the AP site by a high quality color digital printer, or digital press. This is in contrast to the conventional prior art photograph albums that comprise distinct photographs that first have to be prepared (separately from the album), and then manually attached or glued to the pages of the album, in the right location and orientation. More particularly, the album of the invention is essentially a highly individualized photograph book that is prepared in an efficient manner.

As said, the order application is also unique. The application is graphical, thereby enabling the client to create his individual album in an efficient and illustrative manner.

Now, reference is made to Figs. 2 to 6, illustrating the operation of the order application. It should be noted that there is no set order to follow for creating an album according to the invention. The following is a hypothetical example of the order application, with steps that can be taken in another order than shown herein. Moreover, one step can be performed before another is completed. Furthermore, the various displays of the order application are also hypothetical. Furthermore, the client does not have to follow all the steps, as almost all the parameters that are provided to the client for selection have a default value, that if no parameter is selected, the default value for that parameter is applied. Of course, only the photographs (in digital form), and their captions (if exist) do not have a default value and must be provided by the client.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4. According to the example given, the display of the order application is divided into two main . sections, an objective section 8, and a tools section 7. The objective section comprises two selectable folders, a first folder 10 relates to the portion of the photograph pages (album pages), and a second folder 12 relates to the cover pages. Of course, additional folders for defining other portions of the album may be included. In the objective section, two album pages are shown, a left-hand page 4, and a right-hand page 6.

In the initial stage of the album creation, the album comprises a minimum number of pages, as defined, for example, 6 pages. In Fig. 5, two pages are shown, a left-hand page (page 1) 4, and a right-hand page (page 2) 6. Buttons 15 and 16 allow the "flipping" of the left-hand page backward and forward respectively, and buttons and 18 and 19 act similarly, with respect to the right-hand page 6. Clicking on button 20 or 21 adds an additional page to the album before the left-hand page, or after the right-hand page, respectively.

As previously mentioned, the left-hand section 7 of the display is the tools section. It includes folders for applying selections to the active page in the right-hand section 8. In the example of Figs. 2-6, six folders are shown, a Page Styles folder 23, Album Styles folder 24, Photos folder 25, Backgrounds folder 26 a More... folder 27, and Identification folder 28. The "Send to Print" button 29 sends the album order, when completed, to the AP site via a communication link, e.g., the Internet.

Fig. 4 illustrates the step of defining the background in the photograph pages of the album. While the Backgrounds folder 26 is active, the tools section 7 displays a palette 34 of various background design selections 35, from which the user can select the background he wishes for any specific page. The user has to simply "drag-and-drop" the selection he made to any specific page shown in the left-hand section 8. If a desired page is not displayed in the left-hand section, the chent can first flip to the desired page by using one- of buttons 15, 16, 17, or 18, and then carry out the "drag-and-drop" action, as described. Furthermore, by selecting the "Apply to All" 39, the user can apply by one click of the mouse any selected background to all the pages of the album. Another option, although not shown herein, enables the selection of a background color to a specific background design. In that case, a folder "Color" (not shown) opens a palette of colors, from which the user can select a color and apply to any background design in the Backgrounds palette. Then, this background design may be applied to any page.

Next, the user proceeds to the step of setting the page style. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, by selecting the Page Style folder 23, the user is given a palette of style options 36 relating to the number of photographs in the page, their size, location and orientation within the page. Here also, the user has to simply select from the page style selections, and to drag and drop the selection into the desired page 31, or to click "Apply to All" 39, in order to apply one style selection to all the photograph pages of the album. Moreover, the user may switch page styles, for example from a style having two frames in a page to a style having one frame in a page, and still retain the same photograph images as before, however in new positions.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the client proceeds to the step of placing photographs in the pages of the album. By selecting the folder "Photos", the tools section 7 displays a photograph palette 46. In the beginning, the photograph palette 46 is empty, as no connection has been made between the order application and the photographs for placement in the album. By clicking on the "Import" button 40, the client guides the order application to the storage location of the photograph files, which may be, for example, in JPEG, TIFF, or any other conventional graphic standard. As said, the preferred storage location for the photographs is the hard disc of the chent. The user then selects photograph files, and confirms the "importing" of the photograph images to the application. The order apphcation creates thumbnails of the selected photographs, which fill the palette 46 as shown. Each of said thumbnails 49 in the palette are also given a unique index 48, either by the client, but preferably automatically by the application. At this stage, the client has only to select one picture 49 at a time, and to drag and drop it to a photograph frame 50 in a selected page 31. Here also, the user can place all photographs sequentially in all the photograph pages of the album by clicking the "Apply to All" button 39 (shown in Fig. 3). At this stage, the client also has the option to add corresponding captions (text) to photographs in the caption frames 51.

In the Album Styles folder of Fig. 6, the client is provided with a palette 54 for applying styles to the photograph and the cover pages. The styles can be applied selectively to the photograph pages and the cover pages by selecting the photographs folder 10 or the cover folder 12 respectively, in the drag and drop manner as described before. When the cover folder is selected, the client may also add any title or caption text in the frames 60. Next, the user may proceed to the next step, of applying any additional parameters as desired. In this case, the "More..." folder 27 is selected. When selecting the "More..." folder 27, the user is provided with a list of additional options. The user examines the list, and selects the options he desires. As said, all the options have a default value, so this procedure is- only optional. The following list includes options that may be given to the client:

Album orientation - Landscape or Portrait. Default: Portrait. Bonding Orientation - Vertical, Horizontal. Default: Horizontal Bonding - No bonding, Spiral, Stapling, 2-ring/3-ring binder. Default: Spiral.

Browsing Direction - Left-to-Right, Right-to-Left, Top-to-Bottom Default: Left-to-Right.

Album page size - A3, A4, A5, Default: A4. Units - Cm., Inches. Default: Cm.

Language — English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic. Default: English.

Album length - Fixed or Variable. Default: Fixed.

Cover (Y/N) - the user may select to include a cover to the album or not. Default: cover included. Cover mode - Simplex/Duplex. Default: Simplex. • Paper type for the cover - 135 gr., 180 gr., 250 gr., Recycled. Default: 250 gr.

• Paper coating for the cover - None, Varnish with UV, Curing, Thin Lamination, Thick Lamination. Default: Varnish with UV.

Image sizes - Cm: 3x4, 7x11, 9x13, 10x15, 15x21, 18x25. Default: 9X13 Inches: 2.5x3.5, 3.5x5, 4x6, 5x7 , 8x10, 8x12, 8.5x11, 8.5x14, 11x14, 11x17, 12x18,. Default: 5x7

• Layout - the number of images per page, including their size and location.

Default: 3 images per A4.

• Captions - their number, size, and location. Default: one hne per every image.

• ScanTalk™ strips - their number, , size and location. Default. None. ScanTalk™ strips are image strips that can be added to selective caption texts in the album in order to hear a sound message.

• Background(s) - Default: the same background for the entire inner (photograph) pages.

• Inner pages mode - Simplex/Duplex. Default: Duplex.

• Paper type for the inner pages - 135 gr., 180 gr., 250 gr., Recycled. Default: 250 gr.

• Paper coating for inner pages - None, Varnish with UV. Curing, Thin Lamination. Thick Lamination. Default: Varnish with UV. • Index - the user may select to include an "Index" within the album, either as the first inner page of as the last one. An Index is one or more pages containing the thumbnails of all the album pictures, and in the same order. It may serve as a 'table of contents'. Default: Index included, as first.

• Inner pages - Derived from the inner pages layout, the number of photos, simplex/duplex. Default: an inner page is included in the album. Inner pages are pages that are pages that are added in order to separate between the photograph pages and the cover pages.

Finally, when the creation of the album is completed, the chent proceeds to the Identification folder. In this folder, the chent is required to insert identification information regarding the order, including at least some of the following parameters: a. The client's personal address; b. The means of payment and related information; c. The number of album copies in this order; d. The name and address for each delivery; and e. The billing address (if different).

Of course, the client may be required to add other identification parameters, as needed. Such parameters will not be elaborated herein, as they are conventional in the art of electronic commerce via the Internet. It should be noted that the communication does not necessarily have to be conducted between the user and the AP site for ordering the photographs album. As said hereinbefore in the "background of the invention, there are known Photograph Developers (hereinafter, PD) sites to which photograph images files are sent. The photographs are printed and cut to size at the site, and sent as separate photographs to the user. Fig. 17 shows a network of a plurality of clients Cι-C_π, a plurality of Photograph Developers PDι-PD_n, and one or more Album Producers APι-AP_n. As shown, a client Ci can communicate an album order to an album producer APi as described above. In another alternative, a client C2 sends a unified photographs and album order to a Photograph Developer's site PDi. The Photograph Developer in turn develops the photographs and sends separate , photographs to the client, while forwarding the rest of the album order (with the photograph images files) to the Album Producer's APi site. The Album Producer makes the photographs album and sends it to the client.

The new, modern digital cameras are going to be provided with means for accessing the Internet, and with means for the user to interact with Internet sites. Some of them are also provided with means for the user to optionally insert and attach to each photograph image a caption. In some cases, for example when the user travels and is away from his home, he do not have access to his computer. The following minimal procedure provides means for the user to communicate an album order to the AP site directly from his camera. Referring again to Fig. 17, according to still another embodiment of the invention user C3 is provided with such a camera. Furthermore, as said, all the album parameters have default values, and there are several default types of album. The camera is provided with a minimal album ordering program capable of communicating with the AP site, selecting a default album, and then communicating to the AP site only the photograph images (and optionally captions), and some minimal identification information, for example, a subscriber identification code, in case that the full chent information has already been provided beforehand to the AP site. Then, C3 communicates with the AP site, and sends said images, the subscriber identification code, and the code of the selected default album, packed, to the AP site. A default album is then prepared at the AP site from the images and optionally captions provided, and delivered to the client according to the information already in the AP site. This procedure minimizes the requirements from the user, so an order may be sent directly from the user's camera to the AP site. Alternatively, when the camera is not provided with an Internet interface, the camera may be connected to an external device, such as a cellular phone or a PDA having an Internet interface, and then the images can be sent by means of said PDA or cellular telephone, to the AP site, in a same minimal procedure as described. In the latter case, in Fig. 17, the camera of user C3 is connected by means of .said PDA or cellular phone (not shown) with the Internet, for conveying the minimized order to the AP site. Fig. 7 is a block diagram describing the portion of the system of the invention at the client's end. The order application 100 imports photos 104 and album patterns 103 from a digital storage, and provides the same to the user for the album creation. The user communicates with the order application via the display 102 and the keyboard 122. When the user completes the creation of the order, a package 110 is created by the order application 100. The package 110, which may include one or more separate files, comprises essentially three main sections, album parameters section 107 containing the parameters as selected by the user, an images (photos) section 105 containing the images of the photographs, and an identification section 106 containing the identification data as defined by the user in the Identification folder. The package 110 is generally large, due to the photograph images in graphic format. Therefore, the package 110 is preferably compressed and packed by compression program 117, in a manner known in the art, before sending it to the AP site via the Internet. The network interface 111 is a conventional Internet browser, such as Microsoft Explorer or Netscape Navigator, or any other communication interface allowing the conveying of the package 110 from the chent to the AP site. This interface may be embedded in the order application, allowing the order apphcation to communicate the package 110 to the AP site, ^" for example via the Internet in an HTTP protocol. As said, the package 110 comprises three main sections, album-parameters section 107, images section 105, and an identification section 106. In order to reduce the size of package 110 to the minimum necessary, the only section in graphic format is the images section 105. The identification and album parameters sections 106 and 107 respectively contain meta data, that is translated at the AP site for the album production, delivery, and billing. The following description exemplifies the structure of the package 110. The description indicates "only the main parameters that are included in the sections of package 110, and other parameters, as necessary, may be included in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, most of the parameters in the album are given unique indexes, so if an index is provided to the AP, it could easily determine its assignment. For example, each specific photograph image in the album is given a unique index I#. Each specific background design in the background palette is given a background index B#. The following table provides some other parameters that are predefined, and are given an index that is known at both the user apphcation and the AP site. Therefore, in the parameters section, only the indexes should be provided, in order for the AP to determine their corresponding assignment.

Figs. 9 and 10 show two photograph pages, 121 and 122 respectively, from an album according to one embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 11 shows a cover 120 of said album. Fig. 8 shows a parameters section 106 of an album comprising said cover 120 and photograph pages 121 and 122. The parameters section 106 comprises three main segments: a header segment 131 containing general information relating to the structure of the album, a cover segment 132 containing information on the cover 120 of the album, and a photograph pages segment 133 containing information on each photograph page of the album. Turning now to Fig. 8, cell 140 of section 106 contains an identification number or symbol for the album, and indicates that the order relates to five same album copies in this order. Cell 141 indicates that the album contains 12 pages. Cell 142 indicates that the cover is the 8^th type of album cover (for example, 250 gr., varnish), and cell 143 indicates that the binding is the 4^th type of binding.

Segment 132 describes the printing on the cover of the album. Cell 144 indicates that the style of the cover is the fourth cover style, a style having two frame captions. The first frame contains the caption "AMERICA". Cell .145 indicates that the second frame of the cover contains the caption "SPRING 1999".

Segment 133 describes two of the photograph pages of the album, 121 and 122 respectively, shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Cell 146 indicates that the following cells relate to the photograph page 1. Cell 147 indicates that the background of the page is the second background design for photograph pages. Cell 148 indicates that the page style is the 7^th style design (two landscape photographs in a page), the first frame of which includes image no. 8 and the caption "101 Mill Creek Rd.". Cell 149 indicates again that the page style is the 7^th design style (two landscape photographs), and the second frame of which includes the image no. 16 and the caption "GREEN TOMATO EYES". Cell 110 indicates that the following cells define photograph page 2, as indicated by pagination index 157, appearing at the top right hand side of the page. Cell 151 indicates that the background of the page is the third defined background design (flowers) for photograph pages. Cell 152 indicates that the page style is the 8^th style design (two photographs in the page, a top portrait photograph, and a bottom landscape photograph), the top frame of which includes the image no. 21 and the caption "Egg hunting". Cell 153 indicates again that the page style is the 8^th style, and the second frame of the page includes the image no. 14, and the caption, "I'm so excited". Of course, the photograph pages section 106 contains also parameters for all the rest of the photograph pages, however, these will not be elaborated more herein for the sake of brevity.

A basic structure of the identification section 106 of the package 110 is shown in Fig. 12. The identification section 106 contains identification information concerning the client and the shipping address for each copy of the album. Cell 180 contains the title (e.g., Mr. Ms.) of the person who ordered the album, cells 181 to 183 respectively containing the person's first, middle and last name, cells 184 to 189 containing respectively the client's street, city, state, country, zip, and phone number. Cell 190 describes the mode of payment (cheque, credit card, etc.), and cell 191 the payment identification number. Cells 191 to 200 optionally contain the name and address^' to which the album should be shipped, if this address differs from the address in cells 189. The photograph images of section 105 are also sent in the package 110 via the Internet to the AP site, together with a unique index given to each image.

The price of the album depends on many factors, and generally cannot be determined beforehand. For example, the album price depends on the type of the cover, the type of the pages, on the number of pages and photographs, the type of bindings, the shipping options and shipping address, etc. This may be a drawback to the client, as he may wish to know the price while creating the order. The invention also provides a solution to this drawback. Preferably, before creating the order, the chent is provided with the option of downloading to the order application a file, containing the price of each specific album component. During the creation of the album, whenever the client performs any operation that affects the album price, the price calculation is updated, therefore providing the chent with an on-line price of the order. In this way, the client knows the price at any time during the order creation.

Figs. 13 and 14 show how the system provides an on-line pricing of the album. Before beginning the album creation, the client presses on the "PRICE DOWNLOAD" button 298. The apphcation then communicates with the AP site via the network interface for downloading a components n n -33-

price file 299. The file is used by the order application in order to provide on-hne pricing. In one embodiment of the invention, the AP may wish to give a different price to preferred clients. In that case, during the download of the components price file, the client may be asked to provide his name. Then, according to the chent's name, the AP may decide which of several component, files to send to the client. During- the creation of the album order the price is continuously calculated and ^'updated, and is displayed to the chent in the price display 297.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, the order application is not provided with means for calculating the cost of the order. In this case, when the order is completed, only sections 106 and 107 of the package, excluding the photograph images in section 105, are first sent to the AP site. The AP site is provided with means for calculating the cost of the order from the order details in said partial package. When the cost is available, it is sent to the client for confirming the price. When such a confirmation from the client is received at the AP, the order is forwarded to production at the AP site.

The structure of the AP site is shown in Fig. 15. As said, the AP site has to deal with several different functions. Preferably, the AP site comprises five separate servers, as follows: The WEB server, 301 stores in its storage 311 copies of the order application and patterns. The client communicates with the WEB server by means of an Internet browser or another communication interface that may be embedded in the order application, for downloading into his computer an updated copy of an order application 320, and possibly graphic patterns 321 for any part of the album, as detailed hereinbefore. In this case, the client may work with the downloaded order application 320, either off line using patterns that are stored in his own computer (preferably all in one "patterns" directory), or on hne using patterns that are stored in database 311 of the WEB server. The patterns 321 do not have to be of high resolution, as they are used by the client for display purposes and reference only. As will be shown hereinafter, the patterns at the AP site that are used for printing the album pages must be of high resolution, as they determine the album quality.

The^' UPDATE server 302 contains in its storage- 340 a multiple-users copy 341 of the order application, and patterns 342 as detailed hereinbefore. Plurality of clients can simultaneously access the UPDATE server 302 via the Internet, activate an order application 341, and create their order for an album.

The LOG-IN server 303 is responsible for the log-in procedure of the user to the AP site. This server is also responsible for providing to the chent the components price file 299. If it is desired to apply a different components-price file 299 to different groups of users, several of such files 299 may be stored in database 290. The LOG-IN server further retrieves the clients' data, mode of payment and payment information, generally referred to herein as 294, from the order packages 110 that are received at the AP site from the clients, and saves this data in storage 294. The LOG-IN server 303 further reviews this information to decide whether this information is sufficient for proceeding to the album production.

The UPLOAD server 304 is responsible for the uploading of the album packages from the clients. The packages 110 are first stored in portion 401 of storage 450 of the UPLOAD server 304. The storage further contains a decompressing program 402, for decompressing each package 110, when needed. Then, the identification section of each package 110 is sent to the LOG-IN server 303, while the parameters section 107 and images section 105 of each package- 110 are stored in portion 403 of database 450. When a confirmation is received from the LOG-IN server that the identification information of the client, as provided in section 106 of the package are acceptable, the upload server continues to the album production. The database 450 further comprises a reassembling program 404 for creating from each set of parameters, section 107 and images section 105 that relate to a same album a graphic printing file 520. For each album set that is stored in portion 403, and for which a confirmation for production is received from the login server, the reassembling program 404 uses the codes and data given in the parameters section 107, together with the images in section 105 (both stored now in portion 403) and all high-resolution patterns that are stored in section 405, to connect for each album page the selected patterns with the selected photograph image/s and caption/s, thereby creating a printable file 520 for that album. All printable files are transferred from the UPLOAD server 304 to the PRINT server 305, and stored in its database 500. In some cases, such as when a digital press is used, each printing sheets contains several album pages, that have later to cut to separated pages. In that case, the reassembling program also arranges the pages in each sheet, so that the arrangement of the pages in each sheet considers the efficiency aspect for the later album production.

Fig. 16 shows a basic example of how a graphic printable file is prepared from a set of album parameters section 107 and images section 105 that are received from the client in a package 110, and are stored in section 403 of database 450. Assuming now that the parameters section relating to one album received and stored in portion 403 is the file of Fig. 8, the following procedure takes place by the reassembling program: 1. In a first stage, the reassembling program relates to segment 132 for the cover page. It first picks up the style no. 4 for the cover from the styles 515 stored in portion 404. It then adds to frame 1 of the style the caption AMERICA. Next, to the second frame of the selected style no. 4, the program adds the caption SPRING 1999. Then, the reassembling of the cover page is completed, and when it is to be printed, it will be prepared according to the selected cover type no. 8 (cell 142). The cover page is as seen in Fig. 11.

2. In the next stage, the reassembling program refers to the album pages segment 133 of section 107. First, the program selects for page 1 of the album from the segment 519 of graphic backgrounds the background pattern no. 2, and page style no. 7 from the segment 517 of page style patterns. To the first frame, it embeds the photograph image no. 8 from the images in section 105 of package 110 that relate to this specific album and stored in segment 518. It should be noted that the stored pattern images are preferably high resolution images, but no higher resolution is necessary than that of printer 560. Next, the assembling program adds the caption "101 Mill Creek Rd." below the image embedded in the first frame. Next, in a similar manner, the program embeds in the second frame image no. 16 from storage 518, and a caption "Green Tomato Eyes", according to cell 149 of section 107 of the package. The program also adds numbering to the top of the page, "1", as shown in Fig. 9.

3. The assembling program then repeats the procedure for all the rest of the photograph pages, as defined in section 107. The graphic printing file which is created by the assembling program therefore sequentially contains all the cover and photograph pages of the album in graphic form, ready to be printed. Each page may be printed separately, or a plurahty of pages be included in one big sheet, depending on the type of printer used.

As is clear to those skilled in the art, the term "server", as used hereinabove, relates to a processing unit for handling one or more specific tasks. Each server is not necessarily a separate computer. It should be further noted that the above is only a basic example given herein for the purpose of illustration. As is clear to those skilled in the art there may be variation to the above structure and procedure.

The print server 305 is responsible for sequentially forwarding each printing file 520 from database 500 to the printer 560. The printer 560 is a color, high-quality high-resolution printer. For this purpose, for example, a digital press having a resolution of 600DPI - 12000DPI can be used. These types of printers are well known in the art.

When the printing of all the cover and photograph pages of the album is completed, the pages are forwarded to cutting, laminating, and binding, as is necessary. The binding process and its type are conventional and are . carried out according to the instructions given by the client in his order package. When the binding is completed, all copies of the album are sent to their destination, together with the billing form, as provided from the LOG-IN server.

As said, the photograph album of the invention is not conventional. In a conventional photograph album, the photographs are prepared separately from the album, and have to be manually and individually attached or glued to the album pages. In the album of the invention, the photographs are^' embedded in the pages of the album, thereby eliminating said gluing or attaching operations. This elimination significantly reduces the manual work involved in the album preparation. Therefore, the album of the invention may also be referred to as a personal book. The system for ordering and producing photograph albums according to the invention is almost totally automated, therefore significantly reducing the cost involved in preparing the album. Moreover, it allows the client to create his personal album in an easy and creative manner. The album itself is also more unique and beautiful than the albums of the prior art.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A system for ordering a photograph album, said album comprising photograph pages and cover pages, from an album producer, comprising: - At the client's end: a. A plurality of photograph images to be included in the album, said images being stored in a digital storage, each photograph image having its specific photograph index; b. . A plurality of photograph-page patterns -and cover-page patterns stored in a digital storage, each pattern having its specific index; c. An order application for defining by the chent the structure of each photograph page and cover page of the album, by selectively assigning to photograph pages and cover pages patterns and photographs from said patterns and photograph storage, and for assigning additional information concerning the type of paper, cover, and binding of the album; d. Means in said order application for graphically displaying to the client thumbnails of the said photograph images and patterns for selection and assignment to each album page, and means for displaying to the chent each resulting page including said assignments; e. Means in said order application for creating an album parameters section, listing for each album page the assigned patterns indexes, and the indexes of the one or more photograph image^'s included in said page, the images location within the page, when necessary, and said additional information; f. Means in said order application for obtaining from the client identification data relevant to the order, and creating an identification section listing said identification data; g. Means in said order apphcation for creating a package containing said album parameters section, identification section, and said photograph images section; h. Means in said order apphcation for communicating the package to a site of an album producer;

At the said album producer site: a. A digital storage of a plurality of photograph-page patterns and cover-page patterns, each pattern having its specific index corresponding to the index of a same pattern at the client's end; b. Means for receiving said package; c. Means for creating a printing file containing separated images of each album page as defined by the client, the creation involving assigning in each of said album page the corresponding patterns and photographs as indicated in the album parameters section of said package; d. A printer for printing said printing file; e. Means for binding the album and cover pages according to the additional information in said album parameters section; and f. Means for delivering the album to its destination.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the photograph pages are pages in which photograph images are embedded.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the photograph-pages patterns comprise images of style designs and background designs.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein each style design comprises one or more photograph frames defining the preassigned location and orientation for photograph images, and preassigned frames for adding captions to each photograph.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the said additional information also comprises specific captions added by the user in the. caption frames corresponding to photographs.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of photograph-page patterns and cover-page patterns stored in digital storage at the client's end and at the album producer end are images.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the resolution of the pattern images stored at the album producer's end is higher than at the client's end.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein images of the patterns and the thumbnails of the photograph images at the client's end are displayed to the client in one or more palettes for selection and assignment in an album page which is displayed simultaneously.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the assignment of the pattern and/or photograph image in the album page is carried out in. a drag-and-drop manner.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the means at the client's end for sending the package to the album producer comprises means for compressing the package, and the means for receiving the package at the album producer end comprises means for decompressing the package.

11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising billing means.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the means for delivering and the means for billing utilize information which has been provided from the client's end to the album producer's end in the said identification section.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the digital storage in which the said photograph images and patterns are stored is a common directory in a hard disc at the client's end.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the album producer's site is an Internet site, and the communicating of the package is made over the Internet.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the photograph images are stored in a remote site on the . WEB, and have an Internet address, the address of said images being provided by said order application, in said photograph section to the album producer's end, for embedding in the album.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the selected options regarding the type of cover are included in the said album parameters section.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein the printer is a high resolution _ printer having a resolution of at least 600 DPI.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein the printer is a color digital press.

19. A method for ordering a photograph album from an album producer, comprising:

At the client's end: a. Providing the photograph images to be included in the album in a digital storage, each photograph image having its unique photograph index; b. Providing a plurality of photograph-page patterns and cover-page patterns in a digital storage, each pattern having its unique photograph index; c. Providing to the client an order application for defining each album page, for defining general parameters concerning the album, and for adding identification information; d. Displaying to the client by said application order said patterns and said photograph images from said storage, for defining by the client parameters of album pages by assigning to each page selected one or more patterns, and one or more photograph images. For each album page, saving the indexes of the patterns and the indexes of the photograph images assigned, in an album parameters section; e. Defining by the client with said application order the said general parameters and saving the same in said album parameters section; f. Providing by the client in the said application order the said identification information concerning the order and saving the same in an identification section; g. Creating a package containing said parameters section, said identification section, and said photograph images, and communicating said package to the album producer's site; At the album producer's end: a. Providing a plurality of images of photograph-page patterns and images of cover-page patterns in a digital storage, each pattern having its unique photograph index, corresponding to the index of a same pattern at the chent's end; b. Receiving the package sent from the client's end; c. Creating a printing file comprising a plurality of images, each relating to an album page, the images being created by assigning in each page corresponding pattern images and photograph images according to the pattern indexes in the parameter section, and utilizing the photograph images from the photograph section; d. Printing the said printing file; e. Binding the album according to the general parameters in said parameters section; and f. Delivering the album . according to the information in said identification section.

20. A method for ordering a photograph album according to claim 19, wherein in the said defining step at the client's end, the patterns and thumbnails of the photograph images are displayed to the user^' in one or more palettes, together with the defined page, enabling the user to view the resulting page- during the definition process.

21. A method for ordering a photograph album according to claim 20, wherein the chent defines the album pages by dragging- and- dropping a pattern or a thumbnail of a photograph image from a palette to an album page that is simultaneously shown on his computer screen.

22. A method for ordering a photograph album according to claim 19, wherein in the defining step, default parameters are applied to parameters which are not defined by the chent.

23. A method for ordering a photograph album according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of downloading by the order apphcation an album component's price file from the album producer's site prior to the creation of the album by the client, said album component's price file comprising the price of all components of the album, and utilizing the said album component's price file by the ordering application to calculate and display to the chent the price of the album any time during the album creation.

24. A method for ordering a photograph album according to claim 23, wherein the album producer's site stores plurality of album component's price files, and the selected album component's price file being sent to the order application depends on the identity of the client which is provided to said site before the downloading of said file.

25. A method for ordering a photograph album according to claim 19, further comprising enabling the client to download into his computer from the album producer's site a copy of the order apphcation.

26. A method for ordering a photograph album according to claim 19, further comprising enabhng the client to download into his computer from the album producer's site patterns for use by the order application for the album creation.

27. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one Photograph Developer site.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein the package of the order is conveyed from the chent to the Photograph Developer's site for producing separate photographs, and from the Photograph Developer's site to the Album Producer's site for album production.

29. A method according to claim 19 wherein the client is provided with means for communicating with the album producer's end.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein said means for communicating with with the Album producer's end are within the camera of the client.

31. A method according to claim 29 wherein said means for communicating with for communicating with the Album producer's end are within an external device that is connected to the client's camera.

32. A method according to claim 29 wherein said external device is a cellular phone or PDA.

33. A method according to claim 30 or 31 wherein at least one complete set of album parameters is predefined, each predefined set having a set identification code, and the client identification data are pre -registered at the album producer's end, the client is given with a chent identification code.

34. A method according to claim 33 wherein a photograph album is ordered by the client by: a. communicating with the album producer's end by said means for communicating; b. selecting one complete predefined set of an album; c. sending to the album producer's end an order package from the client's camera, by said communication means, said package including the photograph images, the user's identification code, and the identification of code of said selected predefined complete set.

35. A method according to claim 34 wherein the package further includes captions of said images.