EP1320821A1

EP1320821A1 - Method for distributing images via a network

Info

Publication number: EP1320821A1
Application number: EP01972070A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Markus Nigrin
Original assignee: Silverlab Software GmbH
Current assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Priority date: 2000-09-18
Filing date: 2001-09-18
Publication date: 2003-06-25
Also published as: US20040039653A1; DE10046011A1; AU2001291872A1; US7376594B2; WO2002023415A2

Description

Process for distributing images over a network

The present invention relates to a method for distributing images over a network.

As part of the so-called e-commerce, the Internet offers a widespread opportunity to sell products. Here, providers of products create virtual shops, so-called web shops, and offer the products via electronic catalogs in the form of HTML or WML pages, which are stored in storage devices of server computers, for purchase over the Internet. The providers or web shop operators use common techniques, such as servlets, server-side include and CGI scripts to generate dynamic, interactive web pages, which represent the electronic catalog, for example, and by which the functional scope of the corresponding one Web shops is reached.

A potential customer can visualize the electronic catalog of a web shop on a corresponding display device by means of a computer or a WAP-capable mobile phone. To order a product via the Internet, a so-called electronic shopping cart for potential customers is set up in the web shop, into which the products to be ordered are placed.

A disadvantage of the above sales form of products is that, as described above, complex techniques are necessary in order to set up a functional web shop on the part of the provider in order to operate e-commerce. Furthermore, due to the complexity of the techniques, only professional providers are able to set up web shops to sell products.

In the exemplary case that a private Internet user has personal web pages, ie HTML or WML content, in which he When images and photos are referenced and published, these images correspond to data that is stored in a storage device of a computer of the Internet user or a so-called Internet provider. In order not to unnecessarily slow down the transmission speed of the images referenced in the HTML or WML content, not high-resolution digital images, but rather digital images with reduced amounts of data are integrated into the corresponding web pages. In particular, in this exemplary case it is not worth setting up a complex web shop just to sell a few pictures. An interested viewer must therefore contact the Internet user if he is interested in a high-resolution version or a photo print, which is costly for both the viewer and the Internet user.

Starting from the known prior art, the present invention has for its object to provide a method for distributing images over a network, in which a provider of images can easily and efficiently offer images for sale via a network.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of patent claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

In particular, the object of the present invention is achieved by a method for distributing images via a network, a provider computer, a web shop computer and a customer computer being connected to the network, a provider using a plurality of images makes the network accessible and enables purchase through a web shop. For this purpose, digital data that represent the images of the provider are stored in a storage device of the provider computer, at least one hyperlink being assigned to the digital data and the at least one hyperlink serving to initiate an ordering process for ordering at least one image and to information refers or contains information that refers to the web shop computer. In a further step, a connection is established between the customer computer and the provider computer via the network. The data stored in the storage device of the provider computer are read out, and the corresponding images and the at least one assigned hyperlink are displayed on the display device of the customer computer. To order at least one picture, the customer activates the hyperlink, whereupon in response to the activation of the hyperlink, a connection is established between the customer computer and the web shop computer via the network to initiate the ordering process. The ordering process is carried out and a confirmation request is sent from the web shop computer to the customer computer, comprising reference data which represent the at least one picture ordered. The confirmation request is received by the customer computer and a confirmation message is sent from the customer computer to the web shop computer in the event that the corresponding order is to be carried out. In response to a positive confirmation by the customer, a connection is established between the web shop computer and the provider computer via the network, and those digital data representing the at least one picture ordered are transmitted by the web shop computer read from the storage device of the provider computer. The image data read out are processed in accordance with an image format request of the customer.

According to a preferred variant of the present invention, the at least one hyperlink represents an image link, with each offered image of the provider being assigned a separate image link which contains information relating to the assigned image or refers to it. Thus, a customer must activate the image link of the image to be ordered.

According to a further variant of the present invention, the at least one hyperlink represents a form link, so that a large number of images offered by the provider are assigned to a common form link within the framework of an electronic order form, which contains information regarding at least contains or refers to at least one of the ordered pictures. The electronic order form has in particular fields for selecting at least one image and an activatable order field for ordering the at least one selected image. A completed electronic order form is sent from the customer's computer to the web shop computer by clicking on the order field, preferably by clicking on it with a computer mouse, the form link being activated by clicking on the order field.

Furthermore, a large number of images offered by the provider can in turn be assigned to a common form link which contains or refers to information relating to a special software program for generating an electronic order form for ordering at least one image.

An advantage of the method according to the invention is that virtually all existing picture stocks can be ordered on the Internet, individual, in particular also private providers who, for example, showing pictures on their homepages or other personal web pages, make these orderable by attaching a simple hyperlink can and can sell efficiently without the use of complex techniques.

An electronic shopping cart is set up for the customer in the web shop computer. The shopping cart is preferably set up in response to the activation of the at least one hyperlink. In particular, setup is only carried out in the event that an electronic shopping cart has not yet been set up for the corresponding customer. Information representing the at least one ordered image and from which at least one hyperlink is determined is inserted into the electronic shopping cart.

The data stored in the storage device of the provider computer can represent HTML or WML content. The network is preferably the Internet, with the provider computer being managed by an Internet provider can be. Thus, a provider who wants to offer digital images over the Internet does not necessarily have to make this digital data available on a personal computer, but can do so on any computer accessible via the Internet. The customer computer can be designed as a mobile phone that is WAP or UMTS capable.

In particular, the method according to the invention is suitable for the participation of a large number of providers and / or for the participation of a large number of customers.

The processing of the read image data includes sending the image data to a photo laboratory and printing at least one corresponding photo print in accordance with the customer's image format request in paper form. Printing the at least one photo print includes delivering the at least one photo print to the customer. The delivery of the at least one photo print to the customer is preferably carried out by letter or parcel post and can be carried out directly by the photo laboratory.

In particular, in response to a positive confirmation by the customer, a payment process is initiated in which the at least one picture ordered is paid for starting from a customer account created for the customer or, for example, by specifying a corresponding credit card number in the customer's confirmation message. According to a further variant, the payment of the ordered pictures can also be made by the customer by invoice after delivery of the photo prints.

Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. The figures contain:

1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for distributing images over the Internet in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 2 shows a flowchart to illustrate the method steps for providing images;

3 shows a flowchart to illustrate the method steps for viewing and ordering images;

Fig. 4 is a continuation of the flow chart of Fig. 3;

5 shows a flowchart to illustrate the creation of a shopping cart; and

FIG. 6 is a continuation of the flow chart from FIG. 5.

1 shows a system for distributing images in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a so-called web shop 1, a large number of providers 2 and a large number of customers 3, and a photo laboratory 4. The web shop 1 and each provider 2 and each customer 3 preferably each have a computer which is connected to one another via the Internet 4, in particular the web shop 1 being able to be operated fully automatically.

The provider 2 provide photos or images and publish them on the Internet. On the one hand, provider 2 can be professional customers such as broadcasters or photographers who want to publish and distribute recordings of public events, for example. On the other hand, private customers can also publish their photos on the Internet and distribute them in accordance with the present invention. A special feature of the vendors 2 in question is that they have the option of disseminating their images via the Internet, but not the structure of a web shop in the classic sense to sell these images professionally. Thus, for example, a private provider can preferably publish recordings made by him in the context of HTML or WML content on the Internet and the corresponding digital data in a memory device of his computer accessible via the Internet or in a Save the storage device of a so-called Internet provider. The HTML or WML content can represent specific web pages, such as homepages or picture galleries.

In each case, a customer 3 preferably creates a connection between his computer and the computer of a particular provider 2, who publishes images and offers them for sale via the Internet. For example, the customer 3 sends a request 5 over the Internet to the computer of the provider 2 in order to query corresponding HTML or WML content 6. This content can be displayed on a suitable graphic display device of the customer computer. The customer 3 can select one or more images from the large number of images displayed, which he or she would like to order.

To order, data is exchanged between the customer's computer 3 and the computer of the web shop 1 via Internet connections 7, 8, which is explained in more detail below.

First, the customer 3 activates a hyperlink inserted in the HTML or WML page of the provider 2. When the hyperlink is activated, the computer of the customer 3 establishes an Internet connection with the computer of the web shop 1 and sends information to initiate an order process to the web shop 1.

According to a first variant, a separate hyperlink is assigned to each picture offered by provider 2, which can be activated, for example, by clicking on the corresponding picture with a computer mouse. According to a further variant, a so-called form link can be created. When the form link is activated, a connection is again established to the computer of the web shop 1 and the information contained in the hyperlink is sent to the web shop 1. In this case, the information preferably includes the name of a special, web-based script for generating a dynamic order form, by means of which several images of the provider 2 can be ordered at the same time. For this purpose, the computer of the web shop 1 sends data to the via the Internet Customer 3 computers representing the dynamic order form. The data are evaluated in the computer of the customer 3 and the corresponding order form is displayed on the graphic display device, the customer 3 being able to determine, for example using a computer mouse or a keyboard, which pictures he would like to order. In the event that the customer 3 uses a computer mouse for this purpose, a selection list can be shown in the displayed order form, by means of which a selection can be made from all images of the provider 2. The completed order form is sent by the customer 3 back to the web shop 1 via the Internet.

At the end of the ordering process, i.e. When the customer 3 has selected all the images of the provider 2 that he would like to order, he sends a corresponding message to the web shop 1. This is done, for example, by activating an order field on the graphic display device by clicking with the computer mouse.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the provider 2 sets up an order form on his HTML or WML page which contains any number of fields, a defined action and a so-called submit button, which is preferably clicked on by means of a computer Mouse triggers the action. The provider 2 preferably places a so-called checkbox under each image and defines the data where the corresponding image file is located. According to this variant, an image link is not assigned to each image, but rather a form field. Information representing the images selected by the customer 3 are sent from the customer computer to the web shop computer by activating the common submit button as part of the message. The defined action thus represents the sending of the information and the submit button represents the form link.

In particular, the HTML or WML content displayed on the customer's graphic display device can be designed in such a way that the customer "ticks" each image that he wants to order and by clicking the submit button in the As part of the message sends information to the web shop computer that describes what has been checked, i.e. the content of the form. This allows multiple orders.

Thus, a web browser in the provider computer preferably builds a form link from the data of the form, to which all information of the form is attached. As soon as the customer 3 clicks the submit button, the browser calls up the form link, which includes the form data as parameters, whereupon the customer computer is connected to the WebShop computer and sends the form data to the latter as part of the message. A script that processes the parameters then runs on the web shop computer.

The order form that the customer 3 can set up for such multiple orders is standard HTML, i. H. Customer 3 does not have to install scripts or other software programs, but preferably only adheres to a structure specified by web shop 1.

The orders received by the web shop 1 are evaluated by means of the web shop computer and a so-called electronic shopping cart is created for the respective customer 3, in which data are written which represent the images selected by the latter. The web shop computer determines this data based on the information received as part of the activated image or form link.

After receiving the message, the web shop 1 creates an order for the customer 3, in which the images referenced by the shopping cart are identified. Preferably, data representing the created order is sent to the customer 3 to check the completeness and flawlessness of the order, the customer 3 being asked to confirm the order. In response to such a confirmation, the computer of the web shop 1 sends a request 9 to the computer of the provider 2 via the Internet in order to query the digital data corresponding to the images ordered. The computer of the provider 2 processes this request and sends a response 10, including the digital data of the ordered images, over the Internet to the computer of the web shop 1. The information regarding the provider computer in which these digital data are stored is determined by evaluating the image or form link of the provider. Thus, the image data does not necessarily have to be on a computer of the provider 2, but must be available somewhere on the Internet, for example a storage device of an Internet provider computer representing the provider computer. Furthermore, this data can be password-protected, for example, in order to protect the high-resolution images of the provider.

The web shop computer receives this digital data and processes it in order to have 4 corresponding real photos preferably produced in a photo laboratory. The digital data 11 is preferably transmitted again via the Internet.

The photo laboratory 4 produces the desired number of real photo prints and transmits them as part of a delivery 12 to the web shop 1, which in turn delivers the images to the customer 13 as part of a delivery 13. The photo laboratory 4 can be part of the web shop 1 here.

The deliveries 12, 13 are preferably deliveries in the classic sense, for example by letter or parcel post. According to a further variant, the deliveries can be carried out by special delivery companies. In particular, the delivery of the desired real photo prints can take place directly from the photo laboratory 4 to the customer 3.

Furthermore, a payment process is preferably initiated by the web shop computer. Here, the customer 3 can make a payment, for example, by entering a credit card number. Shops 1 the order is only executed in the event that a check of the corresponding credit card delivers a positive result. According to another variant, the customer 3 can open a customer account at the web shop 1, on which, given the appropriate creditworthiness, he is granted a certain credit line, which is offset if necessary by automated monthly payments, which is particularly advantageous for large customers. The provider 2 preferably receives a percentage share in the sale of his images, the amount of which the provider 2 can agree with the web shop 1. According to a further variant, ordered pictures can be paid for by invoice by means of debt collection.

An advantage of the image distribution system according to the invention is that image providers are offered a possibility of publishing and distributing images via the Internet without having to use complex techniques for generating dynamic interactive web pages, such as servlets and servers , Side-include or CGI, through which the functionality of a typical web shop is achieved. In particular, the ordering process is transparent for customer 3, i.e. when an appropriate hyperlink is activated, the customer 3 is directed to the web shop 1, where an electronic shopping cart is set up for him, in which the identifiers or references of the images that the customer 3 wants to order are inserted. The information required for this is taken directly from the hyperlink or the completed order form. In order to order the contents of the shopping cart, customer 3 initiates an order process that is customary in the context of e-commerce.

Another advantage of the system according to the invention is that customers 3 can thereby order pictures that are available anywhere on the Internet and that the corresponding data representing the pictures do not have to be available on the web shop computer, as a result of which the necessary data are available Structures on the part of the web shop 1 can be significantly simplified.

As a rule, connections 5 to 10 are established via the Internet using a fixed network. According to a further embodiment of the present According to the invention, the connections 5 to 10 can be established at least in part via a corresponding mobile radio network, the customer 3, for example using a WAP-capable mobile telephone, querying WML content from the computer of the provider 2 and displaying it on the display of the mobile telephone. In particular, UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications systems) technology can be used here.

2 shows a flowchart to illustrate the method steps for providing images which are preferably published on the Internet by a provider and are offered for sale by means of a web shop suitable for this purpose.

In step 14, a corresponding provider stores digital data, which represent the images offered, in a storage device accessible via the Internet. This can be a storage device of a computer of the provider or a storage device of an Internet provider that manages, for example, the homepage of the provider. In particular, the digital data can be integrated into HTML content, on the provider's homepage or in specially designed web pages.

In step 15, the provider creates one or more hyperlinks. According to a first variant, the hyperlinks created are implemented as image links, ie a certain hyperlink is assigned to each image, this hyperlink referring to the web shop and comprising information which serves to order the assigned image. This information preferably includes a complete Internet address or a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), under which the image can be found, or an internal database identification. According to a further variant, the hyperlink created is executed as a form link, that is to say the hyperlink in turn points to the web shop and, when activated by a customer, causes the web shop to send a digital order form to the customer's computer, which is used for the order a variety of images from the relevant provider can be used. In particular, this digital Formed as a dynamic order form, in which the customer can determine a number, ie the number of prints, and the size of the desired real photos. The form link includes, for example, data that identify the name of a special script and parameters for controlling this script, wherein calling the script causes data that represent the digital order form to be sent to the customer's computer.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the provider sets up an order form on his HTML or WML page that contains any number of fields, a defined action, and a so-called submit button, which is preferably clicked on using a computer Mouse triggers the action. The provider preferably places a so-called checkbox under each image and defines the data where the corresponding image file is located. The defined action represents the sending of the information and the submit button represents the form link.

The images provided in this way can be viewed by potential customers via the Internet and ordered from the corresponding web shop, which is explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

3 shows a flowchart to illustrate the method steps for viewing and ordering images of a provider by a customer, the images of the provider being accessible to the customer in the form of digital images via the Internet.

In step 18, the customer preferably establishes a connection between a suitable computer and a computer from a provider via the Internet. In the event that the provider makes the images available in the form of digital data in the context of HTML content or WML content that is stored in a storage device of an Internet provider, the connection between the computer of the potential customer and a corresponding one Computer of the Internet provider built. In step 19, the potential customer views the images offered by the provider. For this purpose, he can, for example, have the provider's homepage or the corresponding web page displayed on a graphic display of his computer. To initiate an order process, the customer either activates an image link according to step 20, which is assigned to the corresponding image to be ordered and points to a web shop, or activates a form link according to step 21, which preferably refers to a special script on a web shop. Computer for generating a dynamic order form references or for sending form data, which represent a completed order form. The activation of an image link or a form link causes, as is illustrated in step 22, the establishment of a connection between the customer's computer and the web shop computer.

FIG. 4 shows a continuation of the flow diagram according to FIG. 3. After the connection according to step 22 in FIG. 3 has been set up, information is sent in step 23 from the customer's computer to the web shop computer, that in step 20 or 21 activated link is included. This information identifies one or more desired images. In step 24, a shopping cart is created for the customer in the web shop computer, the images which are ordered by the customer from the web shop being inserted into the shopping cart.

In step 25, the images contained in the shopping cart are ordered from the web shop. For this purpose, the corresponding customer confirms the order placed by him at the web shop, for example, data from the web shop is first sent to the customer, which represents the order and identifies all the pictures to be ordered, so that the customer completes and flawlessly the order check and finally confirm the order.

5 shows a flowchart to illustrate the method steps for creating an electronic shopping cart in a web shop computer. a form link, data are sent from a web shop computer to a customer computer that represent a dynamic order form.

In step 26, data is received in the web shop computer that represents the information contained in an activated link with regard to one or more images or images to be ordered.

In the event that no shopping cart has been set up for the customer in the web shop, such a shopping cart is set up in step 27. A check is then carried out to determine whether the activated link is an image link or a form link.

In the event that the activated link is a form link, data are sent from the web shop computer to the customer computer in step 28, which represent an order form for ordering one or more images from a provider and on a graphic display device of the customer -Computers can be displayed.

In step 29, the customer can fill out the displayed dynamic order form and in particular enter information which identifies the desired images, the number of desired prints and the size of the prints. In step 30, data are sent from the customer's computer to the web shop computer, which represent the completed order form.

FIG. 6 shows a continuation of the flow diagram from FIG. 5.

In step 31, the information contained in the image link or in the completed order form is evaluated and the corresponding reference image (s) are inserted into the shopping cart created.

The processing of confirmed orders by the web shop, ie, for example, a transfer of the digital data that represent the images from corresponding the provider computers to the corresponding web shop computer, as well as creating a production-ready order for a suitable photo laboratory and sending the real photos generated by the photo laboratory is preferably carried out in accordance with the prior art.

In particular, the method according to the invention for distributing images can also be used if a provider wants to offer only a single image.

Claims

claims:

1. A method for distributing images via a network, a provider computer, a web shop computer and a customer computer being connected to the network, a provider (2) making a large number of images accessible via the network and enables purchase via a web shop (1), and the method comprises the following steps:

Storing digital data representing the images of the provider (2) in a storage device of the provider computer;

Assigning at least one hyperlink to the digital data, the at least one hyperlink being used to initiate an order process for ordering at least one image and referring to or containing information which refers to the web shop computer;

Establishing a connection (5, 6) between the customer computer and the provider computer via the network;

Reading out the data stored in the storage device of the provider computer and displaying the corresponding images and the at least one assigned hyperlink on a display device of the customer computer;

Activation of the hyperlink by the customer (3) to order at least one picture;

in response to the activation of the hyperlink, establishing a connection (7, 8) between the customer computer and the web shop computer via the network to initiate the ordering process; Executing the ordering process and sending a confirmation request from the web shop computer to the customer computer comprising reference data representing the at least one ordered image;

Receiving the confirmation request by the customer computer and sending a confirmation message from the customer computer to the web shop computer in the event that the corresponding order is to be executed;

in response to a positive confirmation by the customer (3), establishing a connection (9, 10) between the web shop computer and the provider computer via the network;

Reading out the digital data representing the at least one ordered image by the web shop computer from the storage device of the provider computer; and

Preparation of the read image data according to an image format request of the customer (3).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one hyperlink represents an image link and that each image offered by the provider (2) is assigned a separate image link which contains information relating to the assigned image or refers to it.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one hyperlink represents a form link and that a plurality of offered images of the provider (2) is assigned a common form link within the framework of an electronic order form, which contains information relating to at least one ordered image or refers to this.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the electronic order form has fields for selecting at least one image and an activatable order field for ordering the at least one selected image.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the form link is activated by clicking the order field in the electronic order form.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one hyperlink represents a form link and that a plurality of offered images of the provider (2) is assigned a common form link that provides information regarding a special software program for generating an electronic order form Order contains at least one picture or refers to it.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an electronic shopping cart is set up in the web shop computer for the customer (3).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the electronic shopping cart is set up in response to the activation of the at least one hyperlink.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the electronic shopping cart is set up in the event that no electronic shopping cart has been set up for the corresponding customer (3).

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that information is inserted into the electronic shopping cart, which represents the at least one ordered image and is determined from the at least one hyperlink.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the data stored in the storage device of the provider computer represent HTML content.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the data stored in the storage device of the provider computer represent WML content.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the network is the Internet.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the provider computer is managed by an Internet provider.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the customer computer is a mobile phone.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the mobile phone is WAP-capable.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the mobile phone is UMTS-capable.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that a plurality of providers (2) takes part in the method.

19. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that a plurality of customers (3) takes part in the method.

20. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the processing of the read image data comprises sending the image data to a photo laboratory.

21. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the preparation of the read image data comprises printing at least one corresponding photo print in accordance with the desired image format in paper form.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the printing of at least one photo print comprises delivering the at least one photo print to the customer (3).

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that the delivery of the at least one photo print to the customer (3) comprises delivery by letter or parcel post.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the delivery of the at least one photo print is carried out by the photo laboratory (4).

25. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that in response to a positive confirmation by the customer (3), a payment process is further initiated.

26. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the ordered images are paid for by the customer (3) after delivery by means of collection by invoice.