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`EXHIBIT B
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`EXHIBIT B
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`United States Patent (19)
`Cok
`
`54) IMAGE PRINTING
`
`75 Inventor: Ronald S. Cok, Rochester, N.Y.
`73 Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,
`N.Y.
`
`Appl. No.: 09/143,842
`21
`22 Filed:
`Aug. 31, 1998
`(51) Int. Cl. ............................................... G03B 27/52
`52) U.S. Cl. ................................. 355/40; 355/77;
`
`/
`58 Field of Search ..................................... 396/564, 612;
`355/40, 41, 54, 77; 399/83, 84; 345/435
`References Cited
`
`56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,791,456 12/1988 Hope et al. ............................... 355/28
`4,970,554 11/1990 Rourke .................................... 399/84
`5,459,819 10/1995 Watkins et al. ......................... 345/435
`5,559,933 9/1996 Boswell ................................. 358/1.15
`5,761,558 6/1998 Patton et al. .............................. 355/77
`5,859,711
`1/1999 Barry et al. ............................... soo's
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`O 628 874 12/1994 European Pat. Off..
`
`
`
`USOO6157436A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`6,157,436
`Dec. 5, 2000
`
`0 793 142 9/1997 European Pat. Off..
`0933 679 8/1999 European Pat. Off..
`4-289840 10/1992 Japan.
`4-314047 11/1992 Japan.
`
`Primary Examiner D. Ruthledge
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gordon M. Stewart; David A.
`Novai
`OWS
`ABSTRACT
`57
`An image printing System for generating multiple printed
`image copies in response to an order. A processor can divide
`the order into multiple Sub-orders for respective image
`printers, each Sub-order having a Sub-order header which
`includes a unique order identification and an indication of
`the number of copies of the image to be printed by the
`corresponding printer. A plurality of image printers are
`connected to the processor, to each receive a corresponding
`Sub-order and print the corresponding Sub-order header, and
`the numbers of image copies indicated in that header. A
`method which can be executed by Such a System and a
`computer program product which can execute the method on
`a programmable computer, are also provided.
`
`31 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 5, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`6,157,436
`
`
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 5, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`6,157,436
`
`
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`2O6
`
`220a
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`22Ob
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`22OC
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`22Od
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`Case 6:20-cv-06263-FPG Document 1-2 Filed 04/23/20 Page 4 of 13
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`2O2
`ORDER NUMBER 1234
`204
`TIME:XXXX Exxxxxx/
`PRODUCT: B
`
`-208
`OUTPUT DEVICE: CRT PRINTER
`QUANTITY: S \ 21 O
`REFERENCE:
`
`PRODUCT: A
`
`OUTPUT DEVICE: LF PRINTER
`QUANTITY: 1
`226a
`EST. TIME: 15:40 N-228a
`PRODUCT: B
`/ 224b
`OUTPUT DEVICE: CRT PRINTER
`QUANTITY: 5-N-226b
`EST TIME: DONE
`a
`PRODUCT: C
`
`? 224C
`OUTPUT DEVICE: EP PRINTER
`QUANTITY: 1 N. 226c
`EST TIME; 15:42\
`a
`PRODUCT: D
`-224d
`OUTPUT DEVICE: CRT PRINTER
`QUANTITY: 3 N226d
`EST. TIME: 15:56 \-228d
`|-240
`
`FIG 2
`
`200b
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 5, 2000
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
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`6,157,436
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`© , , ,
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`0/ |
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`1
`IMAGE PRINTING
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`6,157,436
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to images, and in particular to the
`printing of images in a photographic laboratory.
`
`2
`Smaller sized prints desired by customers. This means that to
`complete Such a customer's order will require assembly of
`prints from a number of different physically Separated
`printers. Furthermore, each printer will not likely print every
`image, and different printers may operate at different Speeds,
`and the product composition of each order will likely be
`different (Some requiring the use of only one printer, while
`others require the use of one or more other printers). Thus,
`it is very likely that a customer's image products will be
`printed on different printers at different times, and will be
`intermingled with products intended for other consumers.
`This requires a photofinishing operator to visually monitor
`the Status of printers to determine when a printer has finished
`producing image prints which may belong to a given order.
`The foregoing situation leads to the problem of assem
`bling all image prints requested in a given customer order at
`a single location So that the completed customer order can be
`packaged, ready for delivery to the customer. One existing
`approach is the use of a Single printing device for Serial
`outputs of general content, where each page in a print
`request is different, is demonstrated by the common office
`laser printer. Such printers are under computer control and
`can be configured to print a "banner page between each
`print request. The print “files' may have any number of
`pages. The banner print Serves to identify the printout. A
`very similar approach is taken in the use of a conventional
`facsimile machine. The user typically fills out a form iden
`tifying the recipient and number of pages in the fax and
`places the form at the beginning of the pages to be trans
`mitted. At the receiving end, the fax machine may print
`Several transmissions in a row before the output is picked up
`by the recipient. Each form at the beginning of each trans
`mission serves to identify the pages of that transmission. In
`neither case, however, is it necessary to collate multiple
`different outputs from multiple devices.
`In conventional photofinishing operations, an identifica
`tion of an image order may be placed on each output of a
`given order. For example, the different prints, computer or
`computer disks may carry a common identifier for each
`order. Those products may then be collated for delivery to
`the customer by combining all of the products with a
`common identifier. However, Such a method requires mark
`ing the image products themselves with the identification,
`which Some customers find undesirable. In addition, typical
`commercial photofinishing operations may process images
`at the rate of 200 per minute or much higher. Matching prints
`from multiple printers using Such a technique can be
`demanding, Since each product must be identified.
`It would be desirable then, to have Some method to
`facilitate collating image prints from different printers,
`which prints are of images from the same customer order,
`and which method does not require matching printed iden
`tifications on all image prints from all Sub-orders. It would
`also be desirable if a photofinishing operator knew when to
`look at a given printer to locate an image print of a given
`customer order, So that maintaining a visual watch on
`multiple printers would be unnecessary.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides in one aspect, an image
`reproduction System for generating one or more image
`copies in response to an order. The apparatus includes a
`processor which can divide the order into multiple Sub
`orders for respective image output Systems, each Sub-order
`having a Sub-order header which includes a unique order
`identification and an indication of the number of copies of
`
`25
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`In typical photofinishing operations a user (sometimes
`referenced as a customer), delivers one or more film rolls
`carrying corresponding exposed films, to a processing labo
`ratory to have them chemically developed and hardcopies of
`the images (Such as paper prints or slides) prepared. The user
`can include an individual or a retail Store. Individual films
`are often spliced together end to end to form a larger roll
`which is easily handled by automated equipment. Following
`chemical processing of the roll to yield permanent images
`from the latent images on the films, each image is Scanned
`at high Speed to obtain image characteristics, Such as color
`and density. These characteristics are passed to an optical
`printer which uses the characteristic data to adjust exposure
`conditions (such as exposure time, color balance, and the
`like) of an image frame on the developed film which is
`optically projected onto a photosensitive paper. The exposed
`photoSensitive paper is then chemically developed to yield
`the final hardcopy prints. In modern photofinishing
`operations, images may optionally also be Scanned to pro
`vide an image Signal corresponding to each image on the
`film. These image Signals are usually Stored on a medium
`Such as a magnetic or optical disk and provided to the
`customer, or made available to the customer over the
`Internet, and may be used then or at a later time to provide
`a hardcopy output. Recently it has been described that the
`optical printer can be replaced with a digital printer which
`will print the images directly from the Scanned data, fol
`lowing enhancements or other manipulations to the Scanned
`images. When the customer order is completed, each film is
`cut into strips (for 35 mm film) or reattached to a film
`cassette (for Advanced Photo System films), the exposed
`paper (when prints are made) is cut into individual prints,
`and the film, completed prints and any other media (Such as
`a disk bearing Scanned images, or mounted Slides) are
`packaged at a finishing Station and the order is then com
`plete.
`It is known to provide a Service whereby a photographer
`can provide a particular image to a Service operator, who
`will Scan the image and print it on T-shirts, cups, calendars,
`or Similar items. Such products can also be ordered remotely
`from a personal computer using digitized images and a
`Service Such as Eastman Kodak's KODAKIMAGE MAGIC
`50
`PRINT SERVICE. It has been known that when a single
`product is ordered from a printer of a photofinishing System,
`a separate Sheet can be printed at the printer which sheet has
`a thumbnail of a print to follow, an indication of the number
`of copies of the print, and a customer address. However,
`there is a high degree of interest among photographers, in
`obtaining multiple image products from a photofinisher,
`which incorporate their imageS. Various customer image
`products are, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,
`819. Digital photofinishing operations in particular, lend
`themselves to readily providing a multitude of image incor
`porating products in accordance with customer instructions.
`However, different image products desired by customers
`may require different image printers. For example, a cus
`tomer request for a poster or a T-shirt incorporating an image
`may require the use of different special large format printers,
`in addition to the use of a printer to provide the typical
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`3
`the image to be provided by the corresponding output
`device. The apparatus optionally includes a plurality of
`output Systems connected to the processor, each of which
`receives a corresponding Sub-order, generates one or more
`image copies in response to that Sub-order, and generates a
`corresponding Sub-order header in association with the
`generated image copy. In this aspect, each output System
`may, for example, generate image copies Such as image
`copies on a magnetic or optical disk, or on other media. In
`cases where the generated image copies are prints, the same
`printer can be used for printing both the image copies and for
`creating a printed Sub-order header. Even in cases where the
`generated image copies are not image prints (for example,
`magnetic disks), the same image writing device (for
`example, a magnetic disk drive) can still be used to provide
`the Sub-order header on the same type of media (for
`example, a magnetic disk) provided the Sub-order headers
`are only to be used in a Suitable machine reading System.
`When the Sub-order headers will be used in a manual
`collating System, they should be printed by a printer So as to
`be human readable. Thus, each output System can include
`both an image writer and a separate printer to print the
`Sub-order header, each printer being associated with its
`corresponding image writer although when the image writer
`is a printer an output System can, if desired, just be that one
`printer which prints both the image prints and Sub-order
`header.
`In a further aspect, the present invention provides an
`image printing System for generating multiple printed image
`copies in response to an order. The System includes an
`processor which can divide the order into multiple Sub
`orders for respective image printers. Each Sub-order has a
`Sub-order header which includes a unique order identifica
`tion and an indication of the number of copies of the image
`to be printed by the corresponding printer. The System also
`includes a plurality of image printers connected to the
`processor, each of which receives a corresponding Sub-order
`and prints the corresponding Sub-order header, and the
`numbers of image copies indicated in that header.
`The processor may provide at least one Sub-order header
`with an identification of another printer at which another
`Sub-order is to be printed, or may provide a Sub-order header
`for each corresponding image printer which additionally
`includes an identification of each other image printer to
`which sub-orders of the order are to be printed. The pro
`cessor may further provide at least one Sub-order header (or
`each of plural Sub-order headers) which includes an identi
`fication of at least one characteristic of image prints which
`will be generated by the printer to which that sub-order will
`be sent for printing. Furthermore, the processor may alter
`natively or additionally provide at least one Sub-order header
`with an identification of at least one characteristic of image
`prints which will be generated by another printer at which
`the another sub-order of the order is printed. Any of the
`foregoing identifications in a Sub-order header may take on
`different forms, for example, a description of the sizes of
`prints of that Sub-order. Another particular form of an
`identification is a reduced resolution version of an image of
`the corresponding Sub-order (for example, a “thumbnail”
`Size copy of the actual image or images to be printed in that
`sub-order).
`A Sub-order itself may typically, but not necessarily,
`include the actual image Signal from which images are to be
`printed. In one aspect of the invention, the processor also
`forwards an index of Sub-orders to a printer, which indeX
`includes an identification of all printers to which Sub-orders
`of the order are forwarded.
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`6,157,436
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`4
`In another aspect, an image printing System of the present
`invention may also include a print Status monitor. The print
`Status monitor determines, for an image printer, a print Status
`of the corresponding Sub-order and forwards print Status
`information to another image printer. The other image
`printer prints the received Sub-order Status information. The
`print Status information may, for example, include estimated
`time for printing the Sub-order at the corresponding printer
`(including, for example, time required to print the complete
`Sub-order or time to complete printing of a partially printed
`Sub-order. In a particular aspect, the print Status monitor
`determines for one or more image printers, a print Status of
`the corresponding Sub-order, and forwards print Status infor
`mation to image printers which have not printed their
`corresponding Sub-order header. In this particular aspect,
`image printers which have not printed their corresponding
`Sub-order header, print received Sub-order Status informa
`tion for other image printerS along with their Sub-order
`header.
`In a further aspect of the present invention, a print Status
`monitor determines for image printers, a print Status of the
`corresponding Sub-order, and forwards print Status informa
`tion to image printers which have not printed their corre
`sponding Sub-order header. The determined print Status
`information includes estimated time for printing the Sub
`order at each corresponding printer. Such estimated times
`for respective printers are printed along with the above
`described indeX. Image printers which have not printed their
`corresponding Sub-order header, print received Sub-order
`Status information for other image printerS along with their
`Sub-order header.
`The image printers may print images of a Sub-order in a
`number of ways. For example, at least one of the image
`printers (and preferably all of them) may print the images of
`the Sub-order allocated to that printer, Sequentially as a Series
`or with a common printed identification.
`The present invention further provides a method which
`can be executed by an apparatus of any aspects of the
`invention.
`Optionally, Some additional association of the printed
`Sub-order header with the printed images of that Sub-order is
`provided. This association can be provided in a number of
`forms, for example at least one (or each) of the image
`printerS may print the images of the Sub-order allocated to
`that printer Sequentially as a Series, or with a common
`printed identification (Such as a Sub-order or order identifi
`cation printed on a back Side of each printed image, that is
`the side opposite the side on which the image is printed).
`The invention further provides a computer program prod
`uct for use with a programmable processor communicating
`with an image order input Source and a plurality of image
`printers. The computer program product includes: a com
`puter readable Storage medium having a computer program
`stored thereon for which can perform the steps of any of the
`methods of the present invention.
`The present invention is primarily related to the printing
`of images. However, the apparatus and method of the
`present invention can include any of those described in the
`present application, but in which any type of unique product
`customer orders are provided. Unique product customer
`orders are those which request multiple different items
`which may be unique in Some way to each customer
`(including customer image copies), and which different
`items will be produced on multiple different output devices
`(including different format image printers). In Such an aspect
`of the present invention, where the item output devices are
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`

`

`S
`not printers and a printed Sub-order header is still required
`(Such as for reading by an operator), each output device can
`be associated with a corresponding Sub-order header printer.
`A photofinishing laboratory is provided in a further aspect
`of the present invention. The photofinishing laboratory
`includes: (a) a chemical developer to develop latent images
`on a film; (b) a Scanner to Scan the developed images and
`generate corresponding image signals; (c) a memory to Store
`the image Signals; (d) an order receiver to receive an order
`for generating multiple prints of the images; and (c) an
`image printing System of the present invention.
`The present invention can provide one or more of the
`following advantages, or alternatively or additionally one or
`more other advantages which can be discerned from the
`remainder of the application. Namely, the present invention
`can facilitate collation of prints from different printers,
`which prints are made from images of the same customer
`order. The method does not require printing an identification
`on each image print and matching all prints with the same
`code. The method can also provide a photofinishing operator
`with a convenient indication as to the Status of image
`printing by printers which print image prints from the same
`customer order. Consequently, the need to maintain a visual
`watch on multiple printers can be reduced.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image printing System
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a sub-order header as produced by a method or
`apparatus of the present invention; and
`FIG. 3 illustrates a method of the present invention.
`Where practical, like reference numbers have been used to
`indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`In the present application, it will be understood that a
`photographic laboratory includes a wholesale or retail
`photofinishing environment where many images from mul
`tiple customers are processed at a cost to the customers.
`While most photofinishing laboratories will include a chemi
`cal developer in which latent images on eXposed photo
`graphic film or paper are developed, Such is not essential in
`order to have a photographic laboratory. For example, it may
`be that the many images from the different customers are
`provided to the laboratory as digital images (for example,
`from digital cameras, on optical or magnetic disks, or from
`uploads from a remote terminal through a network Such as
`the Internet), and that any image printing is done by non
`photographic means (for example, with thermal or ink-jet
`printers).
`Turning to FIG. 1, a photographic laboratory incorporat
`ing an image printing apparatus of the present invention, will
`now be described. In FIG. 1, broken lines have been used to
`reference data communications (including image Signals),
`while solid lines reference movement of physical items (for
`example, image prints, developed film, or magnetic or
`optical disks). In one embodiment, the apparatus of FIG. 1
`includes a known type of splicer 100. Splicer 100 splices
`exposed light Sensitive filmstrips which have been removed
`from their respective light tight cassettes, together in a Series
`by attaching them end to end. Each filmstrip is normally
`regarded as a single customer order (although it is possible
`for a single customer order to include more than one
`filmstrip), and carries a plurality of exposed latent images
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`6,157,436
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`6
`(typically on light sensitive Silver halide emulsion). The
`resulting attached Series of filmstrips is referenced as a film
`which is placed on a reel 18. The film on reel 18 is then
`chemically developed through a Series of Steps in a chemical
`developer 20 to yield permanent visible physical images.
`Each filmstrip will typically be a negative type filmstrip
`yielding negative type images on a transparent base after
`developing by a multi-stage chemical developer 20
`(indicated schematically in FIG. 1), although the filmstrips
`and developer 20 could be of a kind which produce positive
`transparencies (that is, Slides) also in a known manner. In
`particular, chemical developer 20, in the case of a color film
`or color paper, will typically include a color developer, a
`bleach, and fixers, while in the case of a color reversal film
`will typically include a black and white developer, a fogging
`agent (chemical or illuminant), a color developer, bleach and
`fixer.
`A developed film 19 exiting developer 20 is then passed
`to a high Speed Scanner 102 which operates at 200 imageS/
`minute or greater. Scanner 102 includes a film gate at which
`each image of the film can be Successively positioned to
`receive light from a light Source, which then passes through
`each image and a Subsequent lens System to fall upon an
`image Sensor. The image Sensor can be a line Sensor or area
`array Sensor. Appropriate electronics (including an analog to
`digital converter) in the Scanner 102 convert the Sensor
`Signals to digital signals. The output of Scanner 102 then, is
`a Series of digital image Signals corresponding to each image
`on the film. Scanner 102 acts as a first capture device which
`provides the images in the form of digital image Signals.
`Scanner 102 should be capable of Scanning images with a
`reasonably high resolution, such as at least 400x200 pixels
`over the area of images (such as at least 600x400 pixels) and
`preferably at least 1000x1500 pixels (and most preferably at
`least 2000x3000 pixels). Scanners of the foregoing type are
`well known in the art and need not be described further.
`Scanner 102 includes intermediate storage 105 for the digital
`images, in the form of magnetic disk drives or any other
`Suitable read/write Storage device.
`Scanner 102 is also fitted with a film code reader 103,
`which may either be an optical or a magnetic code reader, or
`both, capable of reading optical or magnetic codes on a
`filmstrip or a splice interconnecting filmstrips on film 19.
`Such codes may, for example, be provided by a customer on
`a filmstrip to indicate Specific types of image processing he
`would like to have performed on all of the images or Specific
`ones of the images (as indicated by the code) of his order.
`For example, Such codes could indicate that the customer
`wants a panoramic print of a particular part of a Specified
`image, or wants a particular image product incorporating the
`Specified image (for example, or T-shirt or cup), or wants
`Specified color modifications to a particular image (for
`example, indicating an order for a black and white print from
`a specified image), or could indicate that the customer wants
`a particular type of image output (for example, a portable
`optical or magnetic disk) with specified images at one or
`more indicated resolutions. The film codes may also indicate
`the number and type of prints (for example, poster or other
`size, or T-shirt or calendar type prints) of one or more (or all)
`of the images of the customer order, which the customer
`wishes to receive. The filmstrips or the Splice can also carry
`a unique identification code, which is read by code reader
`103, which uniquely identifies that filmstrip.
`In an alternative embodiment, Scanner 102 can receive
`developed filmstrips directly from a customer. Further, Scan
`ner 102 may alternatively or additionally, receive image
`prints on a reflective backing (usually paper) or image
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`transparencies (Such as Slides) directly from the customer for
`Scanning. In this case, Scanner 102 will be Suitably equipped
`to handle Scanning of Such formats and provide the corre
`Sponding digital image Signals. Image Signals and associated
`customer requests for products or Services incorporating
`Such images, can additionally or alternatively be received by
`a media Station 111 from magnetic diskS 114, optical disks
`112, or over a communication channel 113 (see below).
`Media station 111 includes a monitor 108. When it is not
`contemplated that undeveloped filmstrips will be received
`from customers, developer 20 and optionally also splicer
`100, could be dispensed with.
`Image Signals from Scanned physical images on the film
`19 or from magnetic disks 114, optical disks 112 or from
`remote terminals, as may be obtained through media Station
`111 (see below), and other information obtained by code
`reader 103 (including customer instructions and unique film
`identification) or received by media station 111, are passed
`over a two-way communication network 104 from scanner
`102 to a processor in the form of an Image Data Manager
`(“IDM”) 170. Network 104 may, for example, be optical or
`electrical, or have include two or more Separate channels any
`or all of which may be optical or electrical. IDM 170 may
`include, for example, one or more general purpose digital
`microprocessors operating in parallel and Suitably pro
`grammed to execute the functions required by each, or may
`be equivalent hard wired circuits in whole or in part. If
`parallel plural microprocessors are used, they may be pro
`grammed to execute the same or different image processing
`instructions, Such as image enhancement or correction,
`and/or formatting for any particular one or more output
`devices. IDM 170 includes a read/write memory in the form
`of a magnetic disk drive. IDM 170 is also connected through
`network 116, 127, 128 with an operator or preview station
`120 and a number of output devices in the form of printers
`130, 132, 134. IDM 170 is further connected through
`network 104 to other output devices in the form of a media
`Station 111, which provides image Signal outputs on mag
`netic diskS 114, optical diskS 112, or over a communication
`channel 113 (which may be wire, fiber optic cable, or
`wireless) to the Internet.
`IDM 170 may be programmed to execute the required
`Steps of the present invention in any Suitable manner, Such
`as from a remote Source over a communication channel, or
`from a computer program product carrying computer pro
`gram code which will execute the Steps of the methods of the
`present invention. The computer program product includes a
`computer readable Storage medium which may, for example,
`include: magnetic storage media Such as magnetic disc (Such
`as a floppy disc) or magnetic tape; optical Storage media
`Such as optical disc, optical tape, or machine readable bar
`code; Solid State electronic Storage devices Such as random
`access memory (RAM), or read only memory (ROM); or
`any other physical device or medium which might be
`employed to Store a computer program.
`It will be appreciated that in the present invention, image
`Signals may be obtained from additional or other devices
`than Scanner 102. For example, image Signals might be
`provided to IDM 170 by being read from floppy magnetic
`disks 114, optical disks 112 or received from remote termi
`nals over a over communication channel 113 connected to
`the Internet or Some other network. Such image Signals can
`be handled by IDM 170 and operator, or preview station 120
`in the same manner as image signals received from Scanned
`photographic media. It will be appreciated in this case that
`media Station 111 is a media input and output Station capable
`of both reading and writing to disks 112, 114 and transmit
`ting or receiving over communication channel 113.
`
`8
`Operator station 120 includes a processor 122 and a
`connected monitor 124 (Sometimes referenced as a screen)
`and operator input device 126 in the form of a keyboard
`and/or mouse or other Suitable operator input device. Moni
`tor 124 may, for example, be a CRT or LCD screen. Operator
`Station 120 allows an operator to manually enter customer
`order information for any or all of the filmstrips, as might be
`read by the operator from a film bag carrying each filmstrip
`when it arrives at the photofinisher. This information is
`asSociated with a given filmstrip by being identified with the
`unique identification used to identify that filmstrip to the
`IDM 170. This association can be accomplished in a number
`of ways, Such as by the operator manually entering the
`unique filmstrip identification into the input device 126
`along with the instructions, or by IDM 170 displaying a
`unique filmstrip identification and the operator then entering
`the instructions corresponding to that unique filmstrip iden
`tification in response to Such display. Operator Station 120
`exchanges information, as required, with IDM 170 through
`two-way network 104.
`IDM 170 receives orders for generating prints from
`customer images on a given filmstrip, by receiving the actual
`image data from Scanner 102 and receiving the customer
`instructions from code reader 103 or operator station 120.
`IDM 170 is capable of dividing the order into multiple
`sub-orders for respective image printers 130, 132, 134. For
`example, if printer 130 prints index prints, while printer 132
`prints 7.5 by 12.5 cm paper prints (“service prints”), and
`printer 134 prints poster sized prints (for example, about 0.5
`by 1 meter in size), IDM 170 will divide the customer order
`into customer Sub-orders for indeX prints, Service prints, and
`poster prints. Each of these sub-orders generated by IDM
`170 includes a sub-order header which includes a unique
`order identification (which may be the same or a different
`identification as that described above), and an indication of
`the number of copies of an image of the order which will be
`printed by the corresponding printer (that is, the printer to
`which that sub-order is sent). IDM 170 is also capable of
`interrogating each printer 130, 132, 134 to obtain status
`information. Such information includes the print Status of a
`particular Sub-order which has been sent to that printer (for
`example, whether printing of that Sub-order has started yet
`and/or estimated time to complete printing of a Sub-order),
`as well as other information including the Size of the print
`queue remaining for any printer. The result