Abstract: A method of constructing a photo album including the steps of: providing a plurality of digital images; generating an sticker sheet of reduced resolution images from the digital images, the sticker sheet including a machine readable means for selecting one or more of images represented by the thumbnails to be included in the photo album; selecting one or more of the thumbnail images on the sticker sheet; reading the selected thumbnails from the sticker sheet with a scanner; and constructing a photo album from the digital images represented by the selected reduced resolution images.

Abstract: An albuming method includes the automatic adaptation of the page layout of a plurality of images to a boundary condition of an event. The method includes the steps of receiving a plurality of images having event-determining information that relates to one or more events to which the images pertain and the generation of an event boundary based on the on the event-determining information. The images for each event are then laid out into a page format adapted to the event boundary determined for that event. For example, if the page format is determined to have a maximum number of images per page, and if the number of images remaining for the last page are fewer than the maximum number, the page layout of the last or more pages of the event is automatically adapted to the event boundary by, e.g., adjusting the arrangement of the pictures on the last page.

Abstract: A method of constructing a photo album including the steps of: providing a plurality of digital images; generating an index print of thumbnails from the digital images, the index print including a machine readable means for selecting one or more of images represented by the thumbnails to be included in the photo album; selecting one or more of the thumbnail images on the index print; reading the selected thumbnails from the index print with a scanner; and constructing a photo album from the digital images represented by the selected thumbnails.

Abstract: An albuming method includes the automatic adaptation of the page layout of a plurality of images to a boundary condition of an event. The method includes the steps of receiving a plurality of images having event-determining information that relates to one or more events to which the images pertain and the generation of an event boundary based on the on the event-determining information. The images for each event are then laid out into a page format adapted to the event boundary determined for that event. For example, if the page format is determined to have a maximum number of images per page, and if the number of images remaining for the last page are fewer than the maximum number, the page layout of the last or more pages of the event is automatically adapted to the event boundary by, e.g., adjusting the arrangement of the pictures on the last page.

Abstract: A method of constructing a photo album including the steps of: providing a plurality of digital images; generating an sticker sheet of reduced resolution images from the digital images, the sticker sheet including a machine readable means for selecting one or more of images represented by the thumbnails to be included in the photo album; selecting one or more of the thumbnail images on the sticker sheet; reading the selected thumbnails from the sticker sheet with a scanner; and constructing a photo album from the digital images represented by the selected reduced resolution images

Abstract: A method and system for employing image recognition techniques to produce a photocollage from a plurality of images wherein the system obtains a digital record for each of the plurality of images, assigns each of the digital records a unique identifier and stories the digital records in a database; automatically sorts the digital records using at least one date type to categorize each of the digital records according at least one predetermined criteria; and generates a first draft of a photocollage from the digital records. The method and system provides for alterations of the first draft using either a sticker selected from a plurality of stickers which each have a unique identifier within a data base or a digital file format that allows drag and drop features of both the photocollage and alternative images to be placed within the photocollage.

Abstract: A method and system for employing image recognition techniques to produce a photocollage from a plurality of images wherein the system obtains a digital record for each of the plurality of images, assigns each of the digital records a unique identifier and stories the digital records in a database; automatically sorts the digital records using at least one date type to categorize each of the digital records according at least one predetermined criteria; employs means responsive to the sorting step to compose a photocollage from the digital records. The method and system employ data types selected from pixel data; metadata; product order information; processing goal information; or customer profile to automatically sort data typically by culling or grouping to categorize according to either an event, a person, or chronologically.

Abstract: A method of constructing a photo album wherein a plurality of digital images are provided in a low resolution format on sticker sheets that have a unique identifier that cross references the reduced resolution images digital images with a high resolution version that is stored in a data base. A set of decorative stickers is provided that can identify themes that can be represented on individual pages, such as birthdays, theme park visits, cruises, national parks, vacations and the like. A second set of sticker sheets is provided that functions as pages of a photoalbum having positions for the low resolution image stickers. The sticker sheet pages are loaded with low resolution stickers creating the pages for the photoalbum and the sticker sheet pages are then arranged in a desired manner on a page layout form resulting in a miniature version of the photoalbum which can be viewed at that point.

Abstract: A method and system for employing image recognition techniques to produce a photocollage from a plurality of images wherein the system obtains a digital record for each of the plurality of images, assigns each of the digital records a unique identifier and stories the digital records in a database; automatically sorts the digital records using at least one date type to categorize each of the digital records according at least one predetermined criteria; and generates a first draft of a photocollage from the digital records. The method and system provides for alterations of the first draft using either a sticker selected from a plurality of stickers which each have a unique identifier within a data base or a digital file format that allows drag and drop features of both the photocollage and alternative images to be placed within the photocollage.

Abstract: A method and system for employing image recognition techniques to produce a photocollage from a plurality of images wherein the system obtains a digital record for each of the plurality of images, assigns each of the digital records a unique identifier and stories the digital records in a database; automatically sorts the digital records using at least one date type to categorize each of the digital records according at least one predetermined criteria; employs means responsive to the sorting step to compose a photocollage from the digital records. The method and system employ data types selected from pixel data; metadata; product order information; processing goal information; or customer profile to automatically sort data typically by culling or grouping to categorize according to either an event, a person, or chronologically.

Abstract: A method of constructing a photo album wherein a plurality of digital images are provided in a low resolution format on sticker sheets that have a unique identifier that cross references the reduced resolution images digital images with a high resolution version that is stored in a data base, a second set of sticker sheets is provided that functions as pages of a photoalbum having positions for the low resolution image stickers. The sticker sheet pages are loaded with low resolution stickers creating the pages for the photoalbum and the sticker sheet pages are then arranged in a desired manner on a page layout form resulting in a miniature version of the photoalbum which can be viewed at that point. The miniature version of the photo album is then correlated to the high resolution version of the images stored in the database to retrieve a high resolution version of the photo album which is then produced using conventional photofinishing techniques.

Abstract: An index imaging system includes: a scanner for scanning a plurality of photographic images to produce a corresponding plurality of digital images; a computer connected to the scanner for receiving the digital images and generating a corresponding plurality of thumbnail digital images and containing index imaging software for writing an application program for manipulating the digital images; a printer connected to the computer for receiving the thumbnail digital images and producing an index print; and a floppy disc writer connected to the computer for recording the thumbnail digital images and the application program on a floppy disc. Computer program products carrying thumbnail digital images and optionally particular application programs, are also provided.

Abstract: A method of constructing a photo collage wherein a plurality of digital images are provided in a low resolution format on sticker sheets that have a unique identifier that cross references the reduced resolution images digital images with a high resolution version that is stored in a data base. A page layout form is provided such that a plurality of pages each having a plurality of layouts on which to position the low resolution image stickers. The sticker sheet pages are loaded with low resolution stickers for creating the pages of the photoalbum by arranging the stickers in a desired manner on a page layout form resulting in one of the page layouts being used for each of the pages. The images on the page layout form is then correlated to the high resolution version of the images stored in the database to retrieve a high resolution version of the photo collage which is then produced using conventional photofinishing techniques.

Abstract: An interactive video communication system, includes a bi-directional communication channel; a central information facility connected to the communication channel; an interactive information database associated with the central information facility containing video programming material with imbedded references to high resolution digital images selectable by a system user; a data base containing the referenced high resolution digital images; a printer processor for converting a viewer selected high resolution image to control signals for printing the image on a system user's dumb color printer; and a population of system users, each having a transceiver connected to the communication channel, a video display connected to the transceiver for displaying video programming material received from the central information facility, a dumb color printer for printing high resolution color images received by the transceiver from the central information facility, and a controller for selecting high resolution digital imag

Abstract: A secure method for granting customer access to images and image related services at an image fulfillment center, includes the steps of: scanning a customer film image to generating high and low resolution digital versions of the image; appending a unique ID and associated security key to the high resolution version of the image and storing the appended image at the fulfillment center; encrypting the ID with a shared encryption key and appending the encrypted ID and the security key to the low resolution version of the image and sending the appended low resolution image to the customer; using the security key to encrypt a request for services relating to the high resolution version of the image and sending the encrypted ID with the encrypted request to the fulfillment center; decrypting the ID using the shared encryption key at the fulfillment center and using the decrypted ID to retrieve the appended high resolution version of the image; and retrieving the key from the appended high resolution version of the