GB2392516A - Internet-based system for distributing wedding photographs - Google Patents

Abstract

Recorded images of a wedding or similar ceremonial event for which a professional photographer has been engaged are distributed. While taking an order for professional photography, a photographer provides the option of making images available over the World Wide Web. The photographer supplies images of the wedding to an online facility. The facility loads electronic copies of the images along with details of the wedding or similar event. Image data is served to requesting browsing terminals in response to requests. In this way, wedding photographs are placed online with minimal effort on the part of the parties being photographed given that the online process is integrated within the overall ordering process. Photographs may be digitally and a validation check performed involving a colour test to scanned determine whether the scanned photographs have the correct orientation.

Description

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Distributing Recorded Images Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention

5 The present invention relates to distributing recorded images of a wedding or similar ceremonial event for which a professional photographer has been engaged.

2. Description of the Related Art

to The inclusion of pictorial images on websites and other electronic media that may be downloaded to browser terminals has been known for some time. Websites may be created as a collection of static files in which the image content and the formatting or layout of the images remains constant. In addition, technology is also available for constructing websites in response to browser requests as described in United States Patent No 6,295,530.

It is also acknowledged that the provision of websites containing pictorial images could be used as an alternative to conventional photograph albums, such as albums produced for weddings or other ceremonial events.

20 Thus, someone with appropriate equipment and knowledge could construct a website by manually scanning images derived from a wedding or similar event. However, market research has suggested that there are a significant proportion of events where the people concerned do not have access to equipment of this type. Furthermore, there is no other mechanism available whereby selected images could be transferred to a website within realistic commercial constraints.

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Brief Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of distributing recorded images of a wedding or other ceremonial 5 event for which a professional photographer has been engaged, comprising the steps of: facilitating the reception of an order from a customer to a professional; photographer for photographs to be taken of said wedding, including specifications for a physical album and a request for images to be

distributed electronically; receiving images of said wedding from said 10 professional photographer, along with wedding details and payment for web hosting; loading electronic copies of said images; supplying said electronic copies to serving apparatus; receiving requests from browsing terminals; and serving image data derived from said electronic copies to said browsing terminals in response to received requests.

Thus, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides a centraiised automated technical process for transferring images to albumlike downloadable websites. Furthermore, the process of obtaining an order and payment is facilitated in that the availability of images from the website is identified as an option when an original order is taking place. Market research 20 has suggested that, when considered as a stand alone feature, the amount of money a client would be prepared to pay in order to have images hosted is relatively low. However, when included in a much larger order for professional photograph and the provision of physical albums etc. a significantly higher charge for providing web hosting facilities may be 25 considered acceptable, given that the figure is relatively small compared to the totality of the order.

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A further advantage is that once the order has been taken, the initiative is on the part of the photographer to ensure that the web hosting process continues. Furthermore, the photographer is required to make payment to the web hosting provider at the onset of the electronic hosting 5 process, thereby ensuring that a revenue stream is maintained to the web hosting provider before the images are actually hosted.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows discussions of photography requirements; 10 Figure 2 details a form of a type shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates photographs being taken; Figure 4 illustrates the developing and subsequent manipulation of photographs; Figure 5 details an envelope for receiving photographs; Figure 6 details the rear of the envelope identified in Figure 5; Figure 7 details a scanning station; Figure 8 identifies a computer system forming part of the scanning system shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 details an initial graphical user interface; 20 Figure 10 details procedures performed by the processor identified in Figure 8; Figure 11 identifies a database table; Figure 12 details a form displayed on the monitor shown in Figure 7; Figure 13 details a validation procedure; 25 Figure 14 details the format of a meta-data file;

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Figure 15 shows a populated example of a meta-file of the type identified in Figure 14; Figure 16 identifies the nature of scanned files; Figure 17details a service provider; 5 Figure 18 details a directory structure; Figure 19 details a database table; Figure 20 details procedures executed by the processor identified in Figure 17; Figure 21 details procedures for servicing a request as identified in lo Figure 20; Figure 22 shows an example of a format; Figure 23 shows an example of a script; and Figure 24 shows an example of a web page.

5 Written Description of the Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Figure 1 A groom to be 101 and the bride to be 102 are shown in Figure 1 discussing their requirements for wedding photography with a professional so photographer 103. The professional photographer 103 has subscribed to a service whereby it is possible for images to be hosted on a website in addition to being conveyed in a conventional photograph album. The service provider has provided the professional photographer 103 with a collection of printed forms 104 which, in addition to identifying conventional as photography services, also make provision for the web hosting service to be included.

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Figure 2 A portion of form 104 is illustrated in Figure 2. It includes check boxes for particular photographic service features to be selected. It also 5 includes an indication of their associated price. Thus, check box 201 provides for gloss finish to be selected, check box 202 allows for a physical album to be selected and check box 203 provides for additional copies to be selected; each of these selections being associated with a respective price 205, 206 and 207. Thus, these features represent conventional 0 attributes available through professional photographers for weddings or similar ceremonial events.

The services are particularly directed towards weddings in that, in many cultures, it is accepted that charges for photographic services are going to be relatively high. Consequently, additional charges for web hosting are likely to be considered as relatively low such that there is a much greater likelihood of the web hosting service being selected when included within an overall order.

Check box 204 provides for the album online service to be selected.

In addition, check box 208 provides for twelve images to be hosted, check so box 209 provides for twenty-four images to be hosted and check box 210 provides for thirty-six images to be downloaded; each having an appropriate price associated therewith. Check box 211 provides for the pictures to be hosted for a total of six months, whereas check box 212 allows for the pictures to be hosted for a total of twelve months; again each as being provided with an appropriate price.

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Check box 213 allows an indication to be made as to whether high definition images may be downloaded. Such images would be at a definition of three hundred DPI or six hundred DPI and would therefore be considered appropriate for being printed. This in turn may reduce the 5 likelihood of the photographer receiving orders for additional prints therefore the photographer may have placed a relatively high figure on downloadable material being available. Furthermore, high definition material of this type places significant burdens in terms of storage requirements. As an alternative to this provision being included, it would 10 also be possible for requests to be made over the internet for the photographer to provide additional prints to requesting customers.

Figure 3 At the wedding itself, the photographer 103 takes photographs of the bride 102 and the groom 101 along with other photographs of guests etc. The photographer's records should include details of the full names of the couple along with the date of the wedding itself, so that the event may be uniquely identified. The photographer 103 is also allocated with a unique reference either for the photographer personally or for the organization that so he represents.

Figure 4 The photographer 103 may have film developing facilities directly at his disposal but it is more likely that a undeveloped film will be sent to a development lab 401 with prints and negatives being returned to the photographer 103 in accordance with an order placed with the development

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lab derived from instructions identified in the original form 104. From these, the photographer 103 is in a position to produce a physical album 402. A set of prints, inserted within a pre-printed envelope, is sent to a scanning operation 403 which in turn communicates with a service provider 404, 5 thereby allowing the service provider 404 to make electronic images available over the World Wide Web 405. Browsing clients 406, 407 and 408 etc make requests over the World Wide Web for electronic information, in the form of web pages, to be distributed from the service provider 404. In addition, browsing clients such as client 408, may make requests via the JO World Wide Web 405 for additional prints 409 from the photographer 103 by means of a credit card transaction over the Internet. An envelope 400 used for sending prints to this scanning station 403 is detailed in Figure 5.

Figure 5 s A front face of an envelope 501 is shown in Figure 5. A printed graphic 502 illustrates how the photographs are to be placed into the envelope 501. Thus, in this embodiment, the photographs should be facing the front of the envelope and in a normal orientation, that is to say, with the top edge being at the top of the envelope. In a preferred embodiment, the 20 photographer is made aware that all photographs should have a particular format. Thus, for example, all of the photographs could have a square format or, alternatively, all images should be shot in either a landscape format or in a portrait format.

The envelope 501 includes a printed region 503 to facilitate 25 mechanical sorting of the envelopes so as to maintain a constant orientation. The front of the envelope also includes a barcode 504 that is

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unique to the particular photographer.

Figure 6 The rear of envelope 400 is detailed in Figure 6. In this embodiment, 5 the photographer is required to manually enter information onto the back of the envelope, comprising the date of the wedding at 601, the bride's first name at 602, the bride's maiden name at 603, the groom's first name at 604, the groom's surname at 605 and a preferred format at 606. Available formats will have been identified to the clients during the initial consultation 0 as illustrated in Figure 1 from a selection of available formats. It is anticipated that the development of new formats will be an ongoing process. Photographers subscribing to the service will be kept updated with new format types as they become available. Thus, having completed details as illustrated in Figure 6 the photographer 103 posts the envelope to the scanning station 403.

Figure 7 Scanning station 403 is illustrated in Figure 7. The scanning station includes a relatively modest personal computer 701 communicating with a no scanning device 702. The scanning device 702 includes a mechanical hopper 703 thereby allowing all of the photographs of a particular set (comprising twelve, twenty-four or thirty-six photographs in this example) to be loaded in a single operation.

Output images are supplied to a visual display unit 704 and input as data is supplied to the computer 701 by keyboard 705, a mouse 706 and a barcode reader 707.

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Figure 8 Computer system 701 is detailed in Figure 8. Computer system 701 includes a processor 801, such as an Intel Pentium processor, that 5 communicates with random access memory 802, a local disk storage device 803, a local interface card 804 and a network interface card 805 via a system bus 806. Once started, an operating system and application instructions are loaded to random access memory 802 from local disk storage 803. Local disk storage 803 also includes a directory for receiving to scanned image data.

Figure 9 An initial graphical user interface is displayed to a user via monitor 704 presenting two buttons, as shown in Figure 9. Button 901 initiates 5 provisions for a new job to be scanned with a second button 902 allowing a user to shut down the system.

Figure 10 Procedures performed by processor 801 in response to instructions 20 read from random access memory 802 are detailed in Figure 10. At step 1001 an input, in response to a command issued via the interface shown in Figure 9, is captured. At step 1002 a question is asked as to whether a shutdown command has been received and if answered in the negative, the barcode reader 707 is interrogated at step 1003. Thus, before any further 25 operations may take place, it is necessary for an operator to scan barcode 402 using the barcode scanner 707. Having read a barcode at step 1003 a

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database is interrogated to identify the specific photographer from whom the images have been received "hereafter a form is displayed on monitor 704 at step 1004.

The displayed form includes an input button to scan an image and a 5 question is asked at step 1005 as to whether the scan image button has been pressed. Upon pressing this button, data entered into the form is validated at step 1006 and at step 1007 a question is asked as to whether the data is valid. If this question is answered in the negative, to the effect that the data is not considered valid, control is returned to step 1004 0 allowing the operator to enter more data. If a valid form has been completed, resulting in the question asked at step 1007 being answered in the affirmative, pictures are scanned at step 1008.

Thus, the operator is required to open a received envelope and to place the photographs in a particular orientation within hopper 703. The photographer should have ensured that all of the photographs were placed In the envelope in the correct orientation therefore it is not necessary for the operator to check each individual photograph. Thus, an operator opens the envelope, places the photographs in hopper 703, operates scan button 901 and applies the barcode reader to the envelope so as to scan barcode 402.

20 Having scanned pictures at step 1008, a validation procedure is performed at step 1009 as a further check to determine whether the pictures were in the correct orientation.

A question is asked at step 1010 as to whether the pictures are considered to be valid and if this question is answered in the negative 2s control is returned to step 1003. Under these circumstances, further manual intervention will be required in order to ensure that the pictures have been

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placed into hopper 703 in their correct orientation.

If the question asked at step 1010 is answered in the affirmative, to the effect that the pictures are considered to be valid, low resolution copies are produced at step 1011. Thereafter, for each image, a meta-data file is created at step 1012, describing the nature of the images. At step 1013 the data is transferred from the scanning station 403 to the service provider 404. If the question asked at step 1012 is answered in the affirmative, to the effect that a shutdown command has been received, control is directed 10 to step 1014 and the system is shut down.

Figure 11 A database table is shown in Figure 11 that stores information relating to the photographers. The supplying photographer is identified by s reading barcode 402 and each photographer is provided with a unique identification as shown in column 1101.

Column 1102 keeps a record of the number of jobs that have been done for each of the respective photographers identified in column 1101.

Thus, in this example, photographer 1005 has sent twenty-seven jobs, JO photographer 1006 has sent three hundred and sixty-five jobs and photographer 1007 has sent four hundred and eighty-two jobs. Upon receiving a new job, the respective value in column 1102 is incremented and the resulting number is then taken as the unique job identifier. This in combination with the unique reference for the photographer provides a z unique reference for each individual image.

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The final product, a logo or similar device may be displayed for the particular photographer concerned. These logos are stored as image files therefore column 1103 is provided to identify the file name for each of the logo images. Thereafter, at step 1104 names and other personal 5 information of the photographer's such as billing addresses etc are recorded. Figure 12 A form is displayed on monitor 704 at step 1004 as shown in Figure 0 12. From the database shown in Figure 11, photographer details are represented on the form 1201. The operator is now required to enter data into data fields 1202 to 1206 consisting of the date of the wedding, the

bride's first name, the bride's maiden name, the groom's first name and the groom's surname. The operator now uses mouse 706 to operate a scan button 1207; an operation detected at step 1005.

Validation process 1006 consists of checking that all of the fields

1202 to 1206 have been completed. If any fields have been missed the

question asked at step 1007 will be answered in the negative, thereby returning control to step 1004. If data has been entered in all fields 1202 to

20 1206, the question asked at step 1007 is answered in the affirmative and the pictures are scanned at step 1008.

The operator will have already placed the photographs in hopper 7003 therefore the scanning process will be initiated automatically. Each scanned image is written to a local directory with a file name that identifies as its resolution (as being high, medium or low) followed by the unique identifier for the photographer, such as identifier "1006" followed by the job

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number such as number '366". This is then followed by a unique number for the particular image of the set starting at 01 and going up to maximum (in this example) of 36.

In the preferred embodiment, manual intervention on the part of an 5 operator provides for photographs to be loaded into a hopper. However, in an alternative embodiment, a mechanical arrangement is provided which, making reference to printed region 503, first of all places the envelopes in a particular orientation, cuts each envelope, removes photographs from the envelope and places the photographs, in an appropriate orientation, into a 1 o hopper.

Figure 13 After the pictures have been scanned at step 1008 a validation procedure is performed at step 1009 as detailed in Figure 13. A validation procedure consists of performing image-related tests so as to provide some reassurance to the effect that the images have been scanned in the correct orientation. In this particular example, pixels near the top of the image are sampled at step 1201. Thereafter, at step 1302 pixels near the bosom of the image are sampled. At step 1303 a question is asked as to whether the 20 pixels at the bosom are lighter than the pixels at the top. The expectation is that the pixels at the top should be lighter therefore if the question asked at step 1303 is answered in the affirmative, a reject parameter is accrued at step 1304.

At step 1305 a question is asked as to whether there is a higher blue as content in the bottom compared to the top. It is expected that the top should have a higher blue content therefore again if the question asked at step

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1305 is answered in the affirmative, a reject parameter is accrued at step 1306. At step 1307 a question is asked as to whether there is a higher green content in the top of the image compared to the bottom of the image, 5 with the expectation being that the image should have a higher green content at the bottom. Consequently, if the question asked at step 1307 is answered in the affirmative, the reject parameter is accrued at step 1308.

Processors 1304,1306 and 1308 result in the reject parameter being increased in value. If the reject parameter exceeds a pre-determined 0 threshold, this is considered to be a reject condition, resulting in the question asked at step 1010 being answered in the negative. Alternatively, if the reject parameter falls below a pre-determined value, the question asked at step 1010 will be answered in the affirmative and the images will be treated as valid.

In the preferred embodiment, the images are scanned at a definition of six hundred dots per inch (DPI). This is considered to be a high definition image that may be downloaded to requesting browsers after a payment has been made. This assumes that the image download option has been specified in check box 213.

20 Each high resolution image is processed to produce a medium resolution image at seventy-two dots per inch and a low resolution image at twentyfour dots per inch. The lower resolution images are produced by decimation processes, where pixel values are effectively discarded so as to retain pixels of the required definition.

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Figure 14 From the information received, meta-data files are created at step 1012. An example of a format for a meta-data file is shown in Figure 14.

The meta-data file itself adopts a language that facilities searching and 5 database storing. Consequently, the meta-data file may take the form of an XML schema.

Any ordering of information within the meta-file may be selected, provided that the ordering remains consistent and provided that subsequent processing scripts are aware of the particular format chosen. In this 0 example, details of image definition is stored at line 1401, picture number is stored at line 1402 and an identification of the total number of pictures in the set is stored at line 1403. At line 1404 a photographer identification is stored and at line 1405 a unique job identification is stored. At line 1406 the date of the wedding is stored, at line 1407 the first name of the bride is stored, at line 1408 the maiden name of the bride is stored, at line 1409 the name of the groom is stored, at line 1410 the surname of the groom is stored, at line 1411 the download charge is stored and at 1412 an identification of the display format is stored. As an alternative to identifying a specific download charge at line 1411 this may be replaced by a 20 character or character strength that will subsequently be interpreted as meaning that high definition images are not available for download.

Figure 15 An example of the meta-data file is shown in Figure 15. Three 25 definitions are available namely six hundred dots per inch (dpi), seventy two dpi and twenty-four dpi. On the second line, the picture number has

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been identified as twelve and on the third line the total number of pictures available has also been identified as twelve. On the fourth line the photographer ID has been identified as "1006" and on the fifth line the job number has been identified as "366". The date of the wedding has been 5 recorded as "20 July 2002". The bride's name has been identified as "Gill Green" and the groom's name has been identified as "Jack Hill". The download charge of twenty units has been specified and the display format has been identified by unique identifier"03".

o Figure 16 In this example, twelve images have been scanned such that, for each image, there is now a high definition representation, a medium definition representation, a low definition representation and a mete file illustrated in Figure 16. Thus, the first scanned high definition image is stored with a unique file name as shown at 1602. The file name consists of the word "high" identifying the images being high definition. This is followed by an "_" and the numeric string "1006" identifying a specific photographer.

This is followed by "_366" identifying the unique job number. This is followed by "_01" identifying this as the first image of the set. Finally ".GIF" 20 identifies the file as being a graphic.

As shown in Figure 16, a similar format is adopted for the development of image file 1603 and image file 1604 which only differ as being the medium resolution "MED" and the low resolution "LOW" file respectively. Metafile 1605 stores the XML schema as illustrated in Figure 25 15.

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As illustrated in Figure 16, each of the twelve scanned images will have resulted in four individual files being created, each having a unique file name. Consequently at step 1013 the files shown in Figure 16, (stored in local disk storage 803) are transferred via network card 805 to the 5 service provider 404.

Figure 17 Service provider 404 is detailed in Figure 17 and consists of a processor 1701 communicating with random access memory devices 1702, 10 disk storage devices 1703, local interfaces 1704 and a network interface 1705 via a system bus 1706. Network interface 1705 provides communication with network interface 805 of the scanning station 403.

Network interface 1705 also communicates with a data farm 1706 that includes bulk storage devices for storing the high definition images.

Upon receiving data files via network connection 1705, high definition images are supplied to the data farm 1706. Disk storage 1703 includes RAID (redundant array of independent disks) protection to ensure that data cannot be lost.

Each file made available by the service provider 404 has a unique 20 file name therefore it is possible (and considered preferable) to store all of the files in a single directory. Thus, the high definition images are stored in a single directory forming part of the data farm 1706 with the remaining image files and meta-data files being stored in a single directory on the disk storage system 1703.

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Figure 18 A directory structure for the data stored on disk store 1703 is shown in Figure 18. This consists of directories 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805 and 1806. Directory 1801 includes web related HTML pages including the home 5 page from which specific requests may be made.

Directory 1802 includes images relating to specific photographers, including photographer logos. Thus, file names identified in column 1103 of Figure 11 will point to specific files contained within directory 1802.

Directory 1803 includes JAVA scripts (or similar implementation 0 programs) primarily configured to allow image data and format data to be brought together as active content in creation of distributable web pages.

Image data from scanning station 403 is written to image data directory 1804. An operating system is stored in directory 1805 and databases are stored in directory 1806. Databases stored in directory 1806 include the photographer's database as illustrated in Figure 11, along with a database table identifying unique URLs for specific requests.

Figure 19 A database table 1901 is illustrated in Figure 19. Database table 20 1901 relates unique URLs to specific image mete files. Thus, upon receiving a URL from a requesting browser, a process may interrogate indexed column 1902. If the URL exists in the index, an appropriate image mete file is related at column 1903. URL "abc 123" relates specifically to job 366 of photographer 1006. Thus, by identifying this specific job, it is 25 possible for the graphical information to be taken from image directory 1804 and for web pages to be created as and when required almost

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instantaneously. Figure 20 Procedures executed by processor 1701 in order to serve web 5 pages to requesting browsers are identified in Figure 20.

At step 2001 an operating system is loaded and a web serving program isexecuted. At step 2002 a question is asked as to whether a shut down command has been issued which if answered in the affirmative results in control being directed to step 2007 and the program is terminated.

Jo At step 2003 a request from a user is received in the form of a URL.

At step 2004 the URL is validated and at step 2005 a question is asked as to whether the URL is valid. If the question asked at step 2005 is answered in the negative, to the effect that the URL is not considered to be valid, control is returned to step 2002. Aiternatively, if the question asked at step 15 2005 is answered in the affirmative, the request is serviced at step 2006.

Step 2004 for validating URLs consists of examining column 1902 of database table 1901 as shown in Figure 19. Thus, a URL is considered to be valid if an entry exists in table 1901.

20 Figure 21 Procedures 2006 for servicing a request are detailed in Figure 21. At step 2101 file names are located by referring to table 1901. Thus, a received URL of "abc 123" identifies mete file MET_1006_366_01. XML.

At step 2102 the meta-data from the identified file is read and at step 25 2103 the number of pages present in the collection is identified by referring to entry 1403. In this way, it is possible to have different format files

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established depending upon the number of images present. Thus, twelve format types may be available with twelve, twenty-four or thirty-six images thereby providing a total of thirty-six possible formats each having a program script associated therewith in order to create HTML pages 5 spontaneously. At step 2104 the selected format is identified, with reference to entry 1412 such that at step 2105 the relevant script may be identified. Thus, at step 2106 a program script, read from directory 1803 is executed "hereafter at step 2107 the resulting page is served to a requesting 10 browser. Figure 22 An example of a format is illustrated in Figure 22. This represents blank structure and does not contain any actual event related data. It is used in combination with an executing script and stored image data to produce an HTML page spontaneously.

From the format file, a page to be delivered is instantiated, resulting in a new page 2201. At location 2202 the name of the bride is identified and at location 2203 the groom is identified. At location 2204 the date on which so the wedding took place is identified. All of this information is derived from the meta-data file, as described with respect to Figures 14 and 15.

At location 2205 the photographer's logo is included by reading an image file from directory 1802 as identified by the database table shown in Figure 1 1.

z5 At locations 2206 and 2207 etc thumbnails are read for each image in the set. Thus, locations exist for twelve thumbnails in this example.

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At location 2207 a scroll bar is provided such that it is possible to scroll through the thumbnail images.

The format is such that thumbnails are selected resulting in the selected thumbnail being shown in an enlarged form at location 2209. The 5 number of the selected image is then located at position 2210.

Figure 23 An example of an executed script is shown in Figure 23, relating to the specific format shown in Figure 22.

0 At step 2301 the format file is instantiated so as to provide the basis for data that may be transmitted to browsers.

At step 2302 the names of the bride and groom are cognated such that the bride's first name at location 1407 is added to the bride's maiden name at 1409 to give the combination "Jill Green". This is followed by the groom's first name being combined with the groom's surname to provide combination "Jack Hill". These are then written to locations 2202 and 2203 respectively 2303.

At step 2304 the date of the wedding is read from location 1406 and written to position 2204.

20 At step 2305 the photographer ID is located from position 1404 to provide an index into the database shown in Figure 11. Thus, the photographer is identified as 1006 which in turn identifies logo file "LOGO.GIF" which is read from the photographer's directory 1802 and written to position 2204.

25 At step 2306 a first thumbnail is read from file 1604 and written to location 2206. After creating this thumbnail, a question is asked as to

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whether another thumbnail is to be created at step 2307 which on the first iteration will be answered in the affirmative. Consequently, the low definition file is read and written to location 2207. This process continues until the twelfth low definition file has been read and then written to an appropriate 5 location within the scrollable form.

On the first presentation of the web page, the first medium resolution image, file 1603, is read and written to location 2209. Consequently, a further image is read from directory 1801 and written to location 2210 identifying this as the first image.

10 Thumbnails such as the thumbnail at location 2207 include links to other medium resolution images. Thus, if a mouse click operation is performed over low definition image 2207, a further URL is generated resulting in a new web page being served in which the second medium resolution image is positioned at location 2209 with a graphical s representation of its number being entered at location 2210.

Figure 24 An example of a first web page served to a browser is illustrated in Figure 24. Thus, as a result of step 2106, a blank page as defined by the 20 format shown in Figure 22 as being instantiated and then populated with appropriate image data. As previously described, an alternative thumbnail may be selected and its associated medium definition image conveyed to the requesting browser.

A link 2401 is provided to allow prints to be ordered via a credit card s transaction. A link 2402 allows high definition images to be downloaded again in response to an appropriate credit card transaction.

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As a whole, the system provides a technical platform that allows professional photographers to provide a service to their customers at minimal cost while ensuring a revenue stream to the service provider.

Claims (20)

2327-P101 -GB Claims

1. A method of distributing recorded images of a wedding or similar ceremonial event for which a professional photographer has been 5 engaged, comprising the steps of: facilitating the reception of an order from a customer to a professional photographer for photographs to be taken of said wedding, including specifications for a physical album and a request for images to be

distributed electronically; o receiving images of said wedding from said professional photographer, along with wedding details and payment for web hosting; loading electronic copies of said images; supplying said electronic copies to serving apparatus; receiving requests from browsing terminals; and serving image data derived from said electronic copies to said browsing terminals in response to said received requests.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the reception of an order is facilitated by the provision of printed forms that include an invitation 20 to request electronic hosting of a wedding album.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said printed forms include price options and the cost of web hosting is included in the total cost for engaging the professional photographer.

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4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said images are received in physical form and said loading of electronic copies includes a scanning process and a validation process.

55. A method according to claim 4, wherein said validation process includes a checking process to check that said images have been scanned in a correct orientation.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said checking process 10performs colour tests with respect colours at specific portions of the scanned Image.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said loading process includes writing said electronic copies to a directory and writing a meta-data file to said directory.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said meta-data includes data about an electronic copy in a pre-determined data structure.

JO9. A method according to claim 7, wherein each of said images is stored in said directory at a plurality of pre-defined definitions.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said definitions include a low definition for viewing as thumbnails, a medium definition for viewing as a large on-screen image and a high definition to provide a printable image.

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11. A method according to claim 7, wherein a set of files produced for a specific wedding are given file names that identify a photographer and a specific wedding.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein each set of files is supplied to said serving apparatus.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said serving o apparatus includes first storage means for high resolution images and second storage means for other resolution images and said meta-data files.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said serving apparatus includes a plurality of web page templates and a plurality of program scripts, wherein said serving means is configured to assemble pages viewable by a requesting browser by executing a program script after receiving a request.

15. Image distribution apparatus, comprising receiving means for 20 receiving images of a wedding or similar event from a professional photographer; loading means for loading image data derived from said received images; and validating means for validating the orientation of said image data and 25 serving means for serving image data to requesting browsers.

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16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said validating means performs colour tests with respect to colours at specifics portions of said loaded image data.

17. Image distribution apparatus, comprising receiving means for receiving images of a wedding or similar event from a professional photographer; loading means for loading image data derived from said received o images; and processing means for processing said image data to produce a plurality of data files representing difference image definitions and mete data files describing the nature of said images.

5

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each of said image data files has a respective mete data file.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said image data and respective mete data are stored in the same directory.

20. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein all of the data files are stored in the same directory.