System and method for remote image communication and processing using

Abstract

An automated film processing system, comprising: a film having at least one recordable section for storing at least one customer selected electronic address; a film finishing system for reading the electronic addresses recorded on said film, developing said film, digitizing the images developed on said film, and for transmitting the digitized images to the customer selected electronic addresses; and at least one customer station, remotely located from said film finishing system, said station electronically connected to said film finishing system for receiving and displaying the digitized images when addressed by said film finishing system. Photographs taken by a photojournalist are automatically communicated to a remotely located news agency by recording a telecommunication address for the remote location on the film. The data can be prerecorded on the film or recorded by the photographer before dispatching the film to a processor. At the processor, the developed film images are scanned and stored as image files. The address data, and any other data recorded by the photographer on the film is stored in a header appended to the image files. When the order is complete, a control computer at the processor automatically links to the remote image server via a telecommunications link based on address data in the file header. When the link is established, the image data is communicated to the remote server where image processing can be performed prior to making hard copy photoprints for publication. Other data recorded on the film can include such instructions as image scan resolution, color/tone scale calibration data, photolab identification and billing information.