WO2011150466A1

WO2011150466A1 - Digital kiosk

Info

Publication number: WO2011150466A1
Application number: PCT/AU2011/000694
Authority: WO
Inventors: Deon Rowley
Original assignee: Fujifilm Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-06-02
Filing date: 2011-06-02
Publication date: 2011-12-08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a digital kiosk (100) which includes a display means (102), at least one digital media access interface (104) for accessing digital media, and a processor (202). The processor is programmed to display a representation of at least one three-dimensional image file stored on the digital media on the display means (102), to allow a user to select one or more three-dimensional image files (526) stored on the digital media for printing, and to transmit a print order for creating a print of each of the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing by the user.

Description

Digital Kiosk

Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to systems and devices for providing image processing services to users, Background of the invention

In recent years there have been extensive developments in the storage and communication of digital information. One area that has been substantially transformed is the capture and processing of photographs. It is becoming standard to take digital photographs rather than using the traditional film-based technologies. There have been corresponding changes in methods and systems for printing photographs and other digital images.

One solution^' has been the development of digital kiosks or kiosks for processing clients' photographs (or other images) in public locations such as shops and shopping centres. The kiosks offer the ability to process a customer's digital photographs and to produce high-quality photographic prints and other items that incorporate the photographs. It would be desirable to provide a digital kiosk with extended functionality. Additionally, or in the alternative, it would be desirable to provide consumers with a useful choice.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art.

Summary of the invention

In one aspect the present invention provides a digital kiosk including: a display means; at least one digital media access interface for accessing digital media; a processor programmed to: display representations of one or more tliree-dimensional image files stored on the digital media on the display means; allow a user to select one or more three-dimensional image files stored on the digital media for printing; and transmit a print order for creating a print of each of the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing by the user. The processor may be programmed to transmit the print order to a three-dimensional printer for creating three-dimensional prints of each of the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing by the user.

The three-dimensional printer may be configured to print the one or more three- dimensional image files selected for printing on a lenticular sheet.

Alternatively, the processor may be programmed to transmit the print order to a two- dimensional printer for creating two-dimensional prints of each of the one or more three- dimensional image files selected for printing by the user.

The display means may be a two-dimensional display, and the processor is programmed to display representations of three-dimensional image files in two dimensions.

Alternatively, the display means may be a three-dimensional display, and the processor is programmed to display representations of three-dimensional image files in three dimensions.

Further alternatively, the display means may include a two-dimensional display and a three-dimensional display. The display means may include an autostereoscopic display.

The processor may be further programmed to allow a user to edit one or more three- dimensional image files to generate one or more edited three-dimensional image files.

The processor may be programmed to allow a user to edit one or more three-dimensional image files by one or more edit operations selected from a group including: cropping a selected three-dimensional image file, adjusting the contrast of a selected three-dimensional image file, adjusting the brightness of a selected three-dimensional image file, adjusting one or more colour levels of a selected three-dimensional image file, and adding one or more objects to a three- dimensional image file.

The processor may be further programmed to output the or each edited three-dimensional image file to a data storage device via the digital media access interface.

The three-dimensional image files may include one or more three-dimensional photographs, and/or one or more .mpo format image files. The processor may be programmed to transmit the print order to a shared printer through a network. Alternatively, the processor may be programmed to transmit the print order to a dedicated printer connected directly to the digital kiosk.

The digital media access interface may include one or more interfaces selected from a group including: a USB port; a flash memory port; a CD reader; a DVD reader; and a network access device.

The digital media may be selected from a group including: a hard disc drive; a flash memory device; a CD; a DVD; and a networked digital device.

The may be processor is further programmed to: display representations of one or more three-dimensional video files stored on the digital media on the display means; allow a user to edit one or more three-dimensional video files stored, on the digital media to generate one or more edited three-dimensional video files; and output the or each edited three-dimensional video file.

The one or more three-dimensional video files may include a least one .avi format file. The or each edited video file may be outputted to a data storage device via the digital media access interface.

In a second aspect the present invention provides a method of operating a digital kiosk, the method including: accessing digital media through a digital media access interface, the digital media storing one or more three-dimensional digital image files; displaying representations of one or more three-dimensional digital image files stored on the digital media on a display means; receiving a selection for printing one or more three-dimensional digital image files stored on the digital media; and transmitting a print order for creating a print of each of the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing.

Transmitting a print order may include transmitting the print order to a three-dimensional printer for creating three-dimensional prints of each of the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing.

^' The three-dimensional printer may be configured to print the one or more three- dimensional image files selected for printing on a lenticular sheet. Transmitting a print order may include transmitting the print order to a two-dimensional printer for creating two-dimensional prints of each of the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing.

The display means may be a two-dimensional display for displaying two dimensional representations of three-dimensional image files. Alternatively, the display means may be a three-dimensional display for displaying three dimensional representations of three-dimensional image files.

The method may further include: receiving edit commands to edit one or more three- dimensional digital image files to generate one or more edited three-dimensional image files. The edit commands may include commands to perform one or more edit operations selected from a group including: cropping a selected three-dimensional image file,- adjusting the contrast of a selected three-dimensional image file, adjusting the. brightness of a selected three- dimensional image file, adjusting one or more colour levels of a selected three-dimensional image file, and adding one or more objects to a tliree-dimensional image file. The method may further include outputting the or each edited three-dimensional image file to a data storage device via the digital media access interface.

Transmitting a print order may include transmitting the print order to a shared printer through a network. Alternatively, transmitting a print order may include transmitting the print order to a dedicated printer connected directly to the digital kiosk. The method may further include: displaying a representation of one or more three- dimensional digital video files stored on digital media on the display means; receiving edit commands to edit one or more three-dimensional video files stored on the digital media to generate one or more edited three-dimensional video files; and outputting the or each edited three-dimensional video files. The one or more three-dimensional video files may include one or more .avi format files.

Outputting the or each edited three-dimensional video file may include outputting the or each edited video file to a data storage device via the digital media access interface. In a third aspect the present invention provides a digital kiosk including: a display means; at least one digital media access interface for accessing digital media; a processor programmed to: display representations of one or more three-dimensional image or video files stored on the digital media on the display means; allow a user to edit one or more of the three-dimensional image or video files stored on the digital media, thereby generating one or more edited three- dimensional image or video files; and output the or each edited three-dimensional image or video file. .

In a fourth aspect the present invention provides a method of operating a digital kiosk, the method including: accessing digital media through a digital media access interface, the digital media storing one or more three-dimensional digital image or video files; displaying a representation of one or more of the three-dimensional digital image or video files stored on the digital media on a display means; editing one or more of the three-dimensional digital image or video files stored on the digital media thereby generating one or more edited three-dimensional image or video files; and outputting the or each edited three-dimensional image or video file. In either or both of the third or fourth aspects of the invention:

The display means may be a two-dimensional display, in which case the one or more three-dimensional image or video files are displayed in two dimensions.

Alternatively, the display means may be a three-dimensional image display, in which case the one or more three-dimensional image or video files are displayed in three dimensions. The display means may include a two-dimensional display and a three-dimensional display.

The display means may include an autostereoscopic display.

Available edits may be selected from a group including cropping, balance/level adjustment, and adding an object. The object may a pre-defined object or a user-defined object.

The three-dimensional image files may include one or more .mpo format files.

The three-dimensional video files may include one or more .avi format files. Edited image and/or video files may be outputted via the interface.

Edited three-dimensional image files may be outputted to a two or three-dimensional printer.

Edited three-dimensional image and/or video files may be outputted to a data storage device.

The interface may be selected from a group including: a USB port; one or more flash memory ports; a CD and/or DVD drive; a network access device.

The digital media may be selected from a group including: a USB device; a flash memory device; a CD; a DVD; and a networked digital device. As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps.

Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a digital kiosk in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a functional block diagram illustrating elements of the digital kiosk of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a system in which the digital kiosk of Figure 1 may be used; Figure 4 shows a flow diagram of a workflow sequence for operating the digital kiosk of

Figure 1 ; Figures 5A to 51 show screen layouts depicting a user interface for using the digital kiosk of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a digital kiosk in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description of the embodiments

Throughout this specification reference is made to digital images. Digital images may, for example, be digital photographs produced, at least originally, by a camera - either directly by a digital camera or indirectly by being scanned from physical film or slides. Alternatively, digital images include images generated (either from scratch or using a digital photograph as a starting point) from design and/or drawing software programs.

Reference throughout the specification is also made to three-dimensional printers and three-dimensional displays. It will be appreciated that reference to "three-dimensional" in respect of these devices is a reference to the output^' capabilities of the device rather than the dimensions of the physical device itself. Figure 1 shows a digital kiosk 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. I order to extend the functionality of existing digital kiosks, and as described in detail below, digital kiosk 100 allows users to process three-dimensional digital images and videos.

One specific example of three-dimensional images are .mpo files such as those generated by a FujiFilm™ FinePix Real 3D Wl camera. The Real 3D Wl digital camera uses two lenses to simultaneously capture two digital still photographs of a given scene. The two images/photographs are processed as .jpg images and then stored as distinct frames in a multi picture object (.mpo) file. The .mpo format is proposed as an open standard by the Camera and imaging Products Association as CIPA DC-007-2009. The FujiFilm™ FinePix Real 3D Wl camera is also capable of taking three-dimensional video footage which is stored in a 3D avi file. The 3D avi file is similar to the .mpo file described above, however instead of two still .jpg frames for each scene, two moving image streams are provided for each scene. The digital kiosk 100 is provided with a display means 102. The display means of the present embodiment includes a two-dimensional touch screen display 103 (for displaying images/video in two dimensions and allowing user input) and a three-dimensional display 105 (for displaying three-dimensional images/video in three-dimensions). In the present embodiment display 103 is a touch screen display which enables a user to enter information and input commands to operate the digital kiosk 100. A non-touch screen display could, of course, be used in which case the digital kiosk 100 would be provided with alternative input means such as a keyboard and/or pointer device.

It will be appreciated that a variety of alternative display means 102 are possible. For example, the display means 102 may be a single two-dimensional display with or without touch screen capabilities (in which case any three-dimensional images/videos are displayed on the display in two dimensions). Alternatively, the display means may be a single three-dimensional display with or without touch screen capabilities (with three-dimensional images displayed in three dimensions and two-dimensional images displayed in two dimensions). If the display means includes a three-dimensional display (e.g. display 105), the three- dimensional display 105 may be of the type that requires a user to wear "3D-glasses" or similar in order to view an image or video in three dimensions. Alternatively, the three-dimensional display 105 may be an autostereoscopic display which does not require the use of glasses or other viewing aids to view an image or video in three dimensions. By way of specific example, the display 105 may be an autostereoscopic display using technology used in the FujiFilm™ FinePix Real 3D VI display (using a parallax barrier system), or a display similar to the onboard display of the FujiFilm™ FinePix Real 3D W l camera (using a light direction control system) could be used. These displays allow different image/video pixels to be viewed by each eye of a viewer, thereby creating the three-dimensional effect. A three-dimensional capable touch screen may be provided, for example, by placing a conventional transparent touch screen over the selected three-dimensional display.

The digital kiosk 100 is configured to provide a user with a variety of input/output options which the user can use to connect various digital media and data storage devices (i.e. devices capable of storing digital media such as image and video files). For example, the digital kiosk 100 includes a port bank 104 which, in turn, includes one or more USB ports and ports/slots for various flash memory devices that images/videos can be read from and/or written to. The flash memory devices supported may include, byway of non-limiting example, compact flash cards, SD cards, micro SD cards, Olympus™ XD cards, Sony™ memory sticks etc. The digital kiosk 100 of the present embodiment also includes a CD/DVD device 106 which a user may use to access image/video files from a CD or DVD and/or write image/video files to a CD or DVD. The digital kiosk 100 also includes an audio jack 1 12 to allow headphones to be plugged in. Speakers may also or alternatively be provided for audio output. The digital kiosk may also be connected to the internet (either by wired or wireless connection) to allow a user to access data from (and write data.to) a networked digital media device or location. The digital kiosk 100 also supports wireless communications such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, infrared or other wireless protocols to allow a user to transmit data between a wireless enabled device and the digital kiosk 100. It will be appreciated that there is a wide range of both wired and wireless technologies available for transferring data between digital devices (e.g. cell/mobile phones, PDAs, laptops, net-book computers, digital storage devices etc) and the digital kiosk 100.

The digital kiosk 100 of the presen embodiment also includes a receipt printer 108 and a transaction card reader 1 10. In the present embodiment (and as described further below), images to be printed by a user are printed at a remote printing station. Once^' the user has completed the transaction a receipt is printed which can be used as proof of the transaction allowing, for example, the user to pay for the transaction at a payment station and/or collect their printing from the printing station. Alternatively, the digital kiosk may be configured to accept payment via a transaction card used at the transaction card reader 110.

It will be appreciated that not all components of the digital kiosk 100 described in the above embodiment will be necessary for all implementations of the present invention. For example, the transaction card reader 1 10 may not be necessary if the digital kiosk is configured/intended to be operated such that payment is made at a centralised payment station rather than at the kiosk itself.

Figure 2 is a block diagram 200 of the functional components o the digital kiosk 100. The digital kiosk 100 includes a processing unit 202 (which may include one or more processors) in communication with one or more local memory units 204. The memory units 204 may include non-volatile memory such as one or more hard drives, and volatile memory such as one or more RAM modules.

The digital kiosk 100 also includes a plurality of input/output interfaces 210 in communication with the processors 202 and/or memory 204 and for interfacing with a variety of digital media/storage devices as described above. As will be appreciated, numerous input/output devices exist and the digital kiosk 100 may be configured to interface with additional devices to those explicitly described herein. By way of non-limiting example, the digital kiosk 100 may include one or more of the following input/output interfaces 210: one or more display interfaces 212, e.g. for interfacing with display 102; one or more audio interfaces 213, e.g. for interfacing with the audio jack 1 12; one or more command input interfaces 214, e.g. for interfacing with display 102 (in the event display 102 is a touch screen display), and/or for interfacing with conventional command input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse/trackball/other pointing device etc; one or more media input/output interfaces 216, e.g. for interfacing with USB devices, flash memory devices, CD/DVD drives, etc; one or more printer interfaces 218, e.g. for interfacing with printer 108; one or more payment interfaces 220, e.g. for interfacing with a transaction card reader 1 10; and one or more network access interfaces 222, for allowing wired and/or wireless communication between the digital kiosk 100 and other network enabled digital devices.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a system 300 in which the digital kiosk 100 described above may be used. The system includes one or more retail environments 302 in which a number of digital kiosks 100 and at least one store server 304 are located. The digital kiosks 100 and store server 304 are interconnected via a local area network 306 (which may be implemented with wired or wireless technologies).

In this embodiment the store server 304 monitors and supervises activity on the digital kiosks 100 in the retail environment 302. The store server 304 is in data communication with a control terminal 308 which allows authorised personnel (e.g. staff of the retail centre) to monitor and control operation of the digital kiosks 100. While shown to be in direct communication in this instance, the control terminal 308 may of course be in remote communication via the network 306. In this embodiment each digital kiosk 100 is configured to connect to a shared printer 310 within the retail environment 302 and accessible via the network 306. The printer 310 may be physically located in a printing station where users go to collect any printing ordered. Providing a shared printer 310 is, in some circumstances, advantageous as it allows high quality printing resources to be shared between a number of users. In other circumstances^' (and as described in an alternative embodiment below) however, each digital kiosk 100 may be provided with its own dedicated printer.

The printer 310 is capable of producing high quality prints of digital images/photographs, and may incorporate images on specific items such as clothing or crockery. The printer 310 is capable of printing three-dimensional images, such as the .mpo images described above, For example, the image printer 44 may employ stereoscopic lenticular printing technology in which three-dimensional images are printed onto lenticular lenses/sheets. By way of specific and non- limiting example, the printer 310 may use technology similar to that used in the FujiFilm™ DPR 1 printer. While the retail environment 302 is capable of stand-alone operation, it may (in some embodiments) be in data communication with a wider network 312 such as the Internet. There may be multiple retail environments 302 also connected to the wider network 312. A central hosting service 314 may be provided to monitor and supervise activity across multiple retail environments 302, The geographic spread of the retail environments 302 is potentially unlimited and the display system potentially enables the transfer of digital information around the world. Various retail inputs 316 may also be in data communication with the network 312. Such retail inputs 316 may, for example be music or video stores providing products that may be accessed and purchased by clients at the individual digital kiosks 100.

One or more databases 318 may also be included in the system 300, for example associated with the central hosting service 314. Such databases may, for example, support online storage of consumers' images and other information.

Each digital kiosk 100 is provided with instructions (typically stored in memory 204) to cause the processor 202 to implement the present invention. The instructions and data may be conveyed to the digital kiosk 100 by means of a data signal in a transmission channel. Examples of such transmission channels include network connections, the internet or an intranet and wireless communication channels. The instructions enable the digital kiosk 100 to provide a user interface which allows a user to interact with the digital kiosk 100. The instructions may be provided and/or updated from remote sources (such as the store server 304 or central hosing service 314 described above). Operation of the digital kiosk 100 within a retail environment 302 will now be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5A to 51. Figure 4 provides a flow chart of an exemplary workflow sequence 400 provided for by the instructions which a customer may go through in interacting with the digital kiosk 100. Figures 5 A to 51 provide depictions of user interface screen layouts presented to a user on the touch screen display 103 of the digital kiosk 100 during the workflow sequence 400. It is to be understood that the screen layout depictions of Figures 5 A to 51 are provided by way of non-limiting example only. Numerous alternative layouts and/or functions are of course possible.

At step 402, the user initiates a session with the digital kiosk 100, for example by touching the touch screen 103. Figure 5 A depicts an example touch screen layout in which the user is presented with a touch screen button 502 prompting the user to touch the screen to begin.

After initiating the session with the digital kiosk 100 at step 402, the user is presented with a choice 404 of whether to view instructions for using the digital kiosk 100 or to commence operation of the digital kiosk 100 by selecting one of the applications offered by the digital kiosk 100. Figure 5B depicts an example touch screen layout in which a user is provided with the options of viewing the instructions (via touch screen button 504) or processing images/video (via touch screen button 506). ^' In the present embodiment the only application described is image/video processing, however the digital kiosk 100 could, of course, be configured to provide alternative applications/functionalities (e.g. downloading music). If other applications were offered by the digital kiosk 100 these would be accessed by other touch screen buttons, e.g. the generic "other application" button 508 shown here for illustrative purposes.

If the user elects to view instructions for using the digital kiosk 100, instructions are displayed on the display 102 in step 406. The instructions may, for example, be provided as a video or audio presentation, textual information, or a combination thereof. Once the instructions have been viewed the user is returned to the choice of which application to use. If the user elects to commence processing images/video, the user is then prompted in step 408 to select a digital media source (i.e. the digital media on which the images to be processed reside). Figure 5A depicts an example touch screen layout in which the user is presented with various touch screen buttons 510, 512, 514, 516 which, respectively, allow the user to browse for content on a USB device, a SD card, a CF card, a CD/DVD, or a network location. Information regarding the source selected may be displayed in window 520 (e.g. a list of folders allowing for navigation). The digital kiosk 100 may be configured only to display touch screen buttons for those media sources which are available. For example, if no CD/DVD is inserted then button 516 may be inactive. In alternative embodiments, the digital kiosk may automatically detect the digital media source (e.g. on plugging in a USB device, inserting a flash memory card into a memory card slot, or inserting a CD/DVD into the CD/DVD drive) and automatically select the detected media source as the source of digital images/video to be used.

Once the source of the images has been selected in step 408 the user is then prompted to select those images and/or videos from the digital media that the user wishes to process (step 410). The selection may be made in a number of ways, for example by selecting individual thumbnail type images representative of the users' images/videos and/or by selecting images/videos with metadata corresponding to specific criteria (e.g. date created/modified, specific meta-tags, etc). Figure 5D depicts an example touch screen layout which allows a user to scroll through thumbnail images 526 using a scroll bar 524. The user can select specific images/videos 526 by using a check box 528 associated with the image/video. Alternative preview/selection methods are of course possible.

In step 412 the user is then provided the opportunity to preview the images and/or videos selected for processing. In this step the user can view some or all of the selected images or videos. If the display 102 is capable of three-dimensional display, three-dimensional images/videos will be displayed in three dimensions and two-dimensional images/videos in two dimensions. Conversely, if the display 102 is only capable of two-dimensional display, all selected images/videos will be displayed in two-dimensions regardless of whether the image/video is a three-dimensional image (e.g. by displaying only one of the jpg frames of the .mpo file or only one of the moving image streams of the 3D .avi file) or a two-dimensional image/video. In the context of the described above (which is provided with both a two- dimensional touch screen display 103 and a three-dimensional display 105), two-dimensional renderings of all images and videos (including three-dimensional images and videos) may be provided on the two-dimensional display 103, and three-dimensional renderings of all three- dimensional images/videos are displayed on the three-dimensional display 105. Figure 5E depicts an example touch screen layout in which a user is shown a larger version 530 of one or more of the selected images/videos on the touch screen 103. Information regarding the image/video 530 is provided in window 532, such as the image/video name and other image/video metadata. If a user wishes to edit a particular image/video they can select the edit touch screen button 534. Alternatively, if the user wishes to' navigate between selected images/videos this can be done via the forward and back navigation buttons 536 and 538. .

If desired, the user can elect to edit one or more of the selected images/videos in step 414. Once an image/video has been edited it may be printed (in the case of an image) and/or saved (in the case of an image or video) with any edits made. Editing may be done on a file-by-file basis, or may be done as a batch process (where, for example,^" the same edit such as a contrast adjustment is to be applied to a number of images/videos).

As will be appreciated, a large variety of editing options may be provided to a user. A number of possible editing options are described below by way of non-limiting example.

The digital kiosk 100 may provide users with the ability to rotate images, zoom in/out of images, and crop images. Users may also be provided with the ability to adjust various image levels and/or balances (e.g. brightness, contrast, hue/saturation). A number of tools, techniques and user interfaces exist for rotating, zooming, cropping, and adjusting image balances for two- dimensional images, and can be adapted to deal with three dimensional images. For example, to crop a three-dimensional image, the crop selected by the user is applied to both frames in the three-dimensional image (e.g. in the case of a .mpo file, the adjustment is applied to both .jpg frames). Similarly, to apply a balance or level change to a three-dimensional image, the changes selected by a user (for example by adjusting a slider bar controlling the relevant balance) are also applied to both two-dimensional frames in the image file, thereby consistently adjusting the levels of the three-dimensional image.

The digital kiosk 100 may also provide users with the ability to add objects to images or video. The term object refers to additional information not part of the original image/video. For example, objects may include text, borders/frames, or images/graphics (e.g. pictures or graphics that a user may wish to add to their image). The objects may be pre-defined template type objects (and stored in memory in, for example, an object database which is searchable by the user) or may be user-defined (e.g. by providing a user with drawing/design software that allows a user to create and use their own objects). The kiosk 100 may also allow for users to modify predefined objects, for example to change colours, size or other object features.

By way of example, the kiosk 100 may allow users to add a text or caption object. Predefined text/caption objects may be provided for popular messages (e.g. "Happy Birthday"), or the user may create their own text/caption object. To do this the kiosk 100 provides an object creation tool which allows the user to define the text of the. caption (e.g. by entering the text via a touch screen or physical keyboard) and set various text properties, such as font, font size, font colour etc. The same tools may be used to edit pre-defined objects. Once the text/caption object has been selected and finalised, the user can then place the object in the desired location on the image. To add an object to a three-dimensional image, the object is first selected or created by the user and then positioned at the location in the image that the user wishes the object to appear. For example, a pre- or user-defined object may be a hat or similar, and the user may want to place the hat on the head of a person in the photo. The user does this be positioning the hat (e.g. dragging the hat) to the desired location. The kiosk 100 then edits the image file to include the hat object at the location selected by the user (i.e., and in the case of an .mpo file, edits both jpg frames of the file as required).

The edits described above may also be applied to three-dimensional videos (e.g. 3D avi files). In this instance, the requisite changes are made to the relevant images in each the moving image streams of the 3D .avi files. In the case of three-dimensional video files, the digital kiosk 100 may also allow a user to select one or more individual (still) frames from the video to be printed. These frames may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional as described above.

Figure 5F depicts an example touch screen layout in which the user is shown the image or video 540 they have elected to edit, and is provided with a number of editing options. In the illustrated screen layout (which, it is again noted, is by way of non-limiting example only) the user is provided with touch screen buttons for zooming into/out (button 541 ), cropping (button 542), rotating (button 543), adding a pre-defined object (button 544), and adding a user-defined object (button 545). On selection of these buttons 541 to 545 the kiosk may launch further -user interfaces/tools for achieving the selected edit (e.g. a user operable zoom/crop/rotation tool, a menu allowing the user to search for (and, if desired, edit) pre-defined objects, or a tool allowing a user to^' create their own objects). Slider bars 547 and 548 are also provided to allow a user to easily adjust levels in the image/video, in this case brightness and contrast only are shown but additional balances/levels can also be provided for.

In step 416, once images/videos have been selected, previewed and, if desired, edited, the user enters their details. These may include, for example, their name and contact information. If the user is a frequent user they may have a user account, in which case they will be asked for a username and password for identification and to access previously stored details. Figure 5G depicts an example touch screen layout in which the user is provided with a touch screen keyboard 560 which can be used to enter and submit their name (in field 562) and telephone (iri field 564) details.

In step 418 the user can review and, if satisfied with the images/videos selected, edits made, and output media (e.g. a printer and/or a data storage device), confirm their order. Alternatively, the user can cancel their_, order. Figure 5H depicts an example touch screen layout in which the user is provided with touch screen buttons 566, 568 and 570 which allow the user, respectively, to review, confirm or cancel their order.

If the system is configured to require payment at a payment station the digital kiosk 100 may print the user a docket (via receipt printer 108) which the user can then take to the payment station to arrange for payment and (if necessary) collect printing.

Alternatively, if the system is configured to require payment to be made at the digital kiosk 100, the digital kiosk 100 will prompt the user to arrange for payment^' on confirmation of the order. This may, for example, be via the transaction card reader 110. In this case, and if printing is to be collected, the user will be printed with a receipt to allow the user to collect their printing from the printing station. If the user has elected to simply write edited images/videos to a digital storage device (e.g. a flash memory device, CD, DVD, or networked device) configuring the kiosk 100 to require payment via the kiosk itself may be appropriate as in this instance there is no need for the user to collect printing from a printing station.

Once the user has confirmed their order and (if necessary) arranged for payment, the order is outputted or transmitted according to the user's requirements. For example, if the user has elected to print one or more images, a print order is sent to the printer (step 420). The print order includes data to enable the printer to print images selected by the user (with edits if made). Once the print order has been successfully transmitted, the user is advised that their order has been placed (e.g. figure 51). In the present embodiment the print order is sent to printer 410 via network 406 where, once completed, the printing can be collected. In alternative embodiments however, such as that described below, the digital kiosk may be provided with a dedicated printer in which case the print order is sent directly to the dedicated printer.

Alternatively, if the user has elected to transmit one or more images/videos to a memory device, the kiosk 100 may commence writing the selected images/videos (with edits if any editing has been undertaken) to the selected device.

Once the user's order has been confirmed the user can then elect to terminate the user session, or undertake further operations on the digital kiosk 100.

If a three-dimensional capable printer is provided, the digital kiosk 100 (or, specifically, the instructions run on the digital kiosk 100) may also allow a user to choose whether three- dimensional image files are to be printed in three-dimensions (e.g. on lenticular lenses/sheets) or are to be printed as two-dimensional images (in which case one of the .jpg frames from the .mpo file is printed). The user may elect the latter, for example, to save money. This selection may be made during the preview of the images at step 412, though could be made at an alternative step in the process. If this option is provided, the print order described above includes the necessary information to control the printer to print images according to the user's selections.

If only a two-dimensional capable printer is provided, the user will not (of course) have the option to select three-dimensional printing.

Depending on the capabilities of the target printer (e.g. printer 310) a user may also be able to select the output media for the images they wish to print. The media available will depend capabilities of the target printer but may, for example, include photographic paper, textiles (canvas, t-shirts etc), coffee-mugs, key-chains etc. While the most conventional media for printing a three-dimensional image at the date of this application is a lenticular lens/sheet, alternative media may of course be become possible. Once again this selection may be made during the preview of the images at step 412 or at an alternative step in the process, and the print order includes the information necessary to have images printed on the specified media.

Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a digital kiosk 600 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Digital kiosk 600 includes all components of digital kiosk 100 described above (which have been labelled with the same reference numerals used above for ease of reference), however also includes an onboard/dedicated printer 602. Printer 602 is, as with the shared printer 310 of the previous embodiment, capable of printing three-dimensional images onto (for example) a lenticular sheet.

Digital kiosk 600 can be used in the same manner as digital kiosk 100 of the first embodiment with the obvious exception that print orders are sent to the dedicated printer 602 to be printed immediately. This may be advantageous, for example, where user demand does not warrant providing a shared printer or where portability of the digital kiosk 600 is of importance.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been to integers having known equivalents, those equivalents are hereby incorporated as if individually set forth.

Those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that modifications and additions to the embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A digital kiosk including: a display means; at least one digital media access interface for accessing digital media; a processor programmed to:

• display representations of one or more three-dimensional image files stored on the digital media on the display means; allow a user to select one or more three-dimensional image files stored on the digital media for printing; and transmit a print order for creating a print of each of the one or more three- dimensional image files selected for printing by the user.

2. A digital kiosk according to claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to transmit the print order to a three-dimensional printer for creating three-dimensional prints of each of the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing by the user.

3. A digital kiosk according to claim 2, wherein the three-dimensional printer is configured to print the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing on a lenticular sheet. ^■

4. A digital kiosk according to claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to transmit the print order to a two-dimensional printer for creating two-dimensional prints of each of the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing by the user.

5. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display means is a two-dimensional display, and the processor is programmed to display representations of three-dimensional image files in two dimensions.

6. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display means is a three-dimensional display, and the processor is programmed to display representations of three-dimensional image files in three dimensions.

7. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the display means includes a two-dimensional display and a three-dimensional display.

8. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 4, claim 6, or claim 7, wherein the display means includes an autostereoscopic display.

9. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the processor is further programmed to allow a user to edit one or more three-dimensional image files to generate one or more edited three-dimensional image files.

10. A digital kiosk according to claim 9, wherein the processor is programmed to allow a user to edit one or more three-dimensional image files by one or more edit operations selected from a group including: cropping a selected three-dimensional image file, adjusting the contrast of a selected three-dimensional image file, adjusting the brightness of a selected three- dimensional image file, adjusting one or more colour levels of a selected three-dimensional image file, and adding one or more objects to a three-dimensional image file.

1 1 . A digital kiosk according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the processor is further programmed to output the or each edited three-dimensional image file to a data storage device via the digital media access interface.

12. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein the three- dimensional image files include one or more three-dimensional photographs.

13. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the three- dimensional image files include one or more .mpo format image files.

14. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the processor is programmed to transmit the print order to a shared printer through a network.

15. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the processor is programmed to transmit the print order to a dedicated printer connected directly to the digital kiosk.

16. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the digital media access interface includes one or more interfaces selected from a group including: a USB port; a flash memory port; a CD reader; a DVD reader; and a network access device.

17. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the digital media is selected from a group including: a hard disc drive; a flash memory device; a CD; a DVD; arid a networked digital device.

18. A digital kiosk according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the processor is further programmed to: display representations of one or more three-dimensional video files stored on the digital media on the display means; allow a user to edit one or more three-dimensional video files stored on the digital media to generate one or more edited three-dimensional video files; and , output the or each edited three-dimensional video file.

19. A digital kiosk according to claim 18, wherein the one or more three-dimensional video files includes at least one .avi format file.

20. A digital kiosk according to claim . 18 or claim 19, wherein the or each edited video file is outputted to a data storage device via the digital media access interface.

21. A method of operating a digital kiosk, the method including: accessing digital media through a digital media access interface, the digital media storing one or more three-dimensional digital image files; displaying representations of one or more three-dimensional digital image files stored on the digital media on a display means; receiving a selection for printing one or more three-dimensional digital image files stored on the digital media; and transmitting a print- order for creating a print of each of the one or more three- dimensional image files selected for printing.

22. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to claim 21 , wherein transmitting a print order includes transmitting the print order to a three-dimensional printer for creating three-dimensional prints of each of the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing.

23. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to claim 22, wherein the three- dimensional printer is configured to print the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing on a lenticular sheet.

24. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to claim 21 , wherein transmitting a print order includes transmitting the print order to a two-dimensional printer for creating two-dimensional prints of each of the one or more three-dimensional image files selected for printing.

25. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to, any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the display means is a two-dimensional display for displaying two dimensional representations of three-dimensional image files.

26. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the display means is a three-dimensional display for displaying three dimensional representations of three-dimensional image files.

27. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to any one of claims 21 to 26, the method further including: receiving edit commands to edit one or more three-dimensional digital image files to generate one or more edited three-dimensional image files.

28. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to claim 27, wherein the edit commands include commands to perform one or more edit operations selected from a group including: cropping a selected three-dimensional image file, adjusting the contrast of a selected three-dimensional image file, adjusting the brightness of a selected three-dimensional image file, adj usting one or more colour levels of a selected three-dimensional image file, and adding one or more objects to a three-dimensional image file.

29. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to claim 27 or claim 28, the method further including outputting the or each edited three-dimensional image file to a data storage device via the digital media access interface.

30. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to any one of claims 21 to 29, wherein transmitting a print order includes transmitting the print order to a shared printer through a network.

31 . The method of operating a digital kiosk according to any one of claims 21 to 30, wherein transmitting a print order includes transmitting the print order to a dedicated printer connected directly to the digital kiosk.

32. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to any one of claims 21 to 31 the method further including: displaying a representation of one or more three-dimensional digital video files stored on digital media on the display means; receiving edit commands to edit one or more three-dimensional video files stored on the digital media to generate one or more edited three-dimensional video files; and output the or each edited three-dimensional video files.

33. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to claim 32, wherein the one or more three-dimensional video files includes one or more .avi format files.

34. The method of operating a digital kiosk according to claim 3 1 or claim 32, wherein outputting the or each edited three-dimensional video file includes outputting the or each edited video file to a data storage device via the digital media access interface.

35. A digital kiosk including: a display means; at least one digital media access interface for accessing digital media; a processor programmed to: display representations of one or more three-dimensional image or video files stored on the digital media on the display means; allow a user to edit one or more of the three-dimensional image or video files stored on the digital media, thereby generating one or more edited three-dimensional image or video files; and output the or each edited three-dimensional image or video file.

36. A method of operating a digital kiosk, the method including: accessing digital media through a digital media access interface, the digital media storing one or more three-dimensional digital image or video files; displaying a representation of one or more of the three-dimensional digital image or video files stored on the digital media on a display means; editing one or more of the three-dimensional digital image or video files stored on the digital media thereby generating one or more edited three-dimensional image or video files; and outputting the or each edited three-dimensional image or video file.