United States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,926,288
`
`Dellert et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Jul. 20, 1999
`
`USOOS926288A
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
`
`IMAGE HANDLING SYSTEM AND METHOD
`USING MUTUALLY REMOTE PROCESSOR-
`SCANNER STATIONS
`
`Inventors: David William Dellert, Fairport; Carl
`Joseph Tesavis, Spencerport, both of
`NY.
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,
`N .Y.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/710,274
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Sep. 16, 1996
`
`[51]
`[53]
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`H04N U04
`int. c1.°
`358/487; 358/408
`
`358/400, 401,
`Field of Search
`358/405, 406, 434, 435, 438, 440, 444,
`408, 407, 436; 379710006, 100.09,
`468, 487,
`102.02; 395114, 115
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,179,651
`5,235,680
`5,272,549
`5,293,208
`5,321,816
`5,327,265
`5,383,027
`5,428,747
`5,469,353
`5,477,353
`5,493,408
`5,502,576
`5,528,492
`
`121993
`8/1993
`12/1993
`3/1994
`6/1994
`7/1994
`111995
`6/1995
`11/1995
`12/1995
`2/1996
`3/1996
`6/1996
`
`.
`.
`
`395/154
`'l'aatie etal.
`395/161
`Bijnagtc
`
`358/527
`McDonald
`355/55
`Okano ct al.
`395/201.)
`Rogan et al.
`358/444
`McDonald
`
`.. 358/296
`Harvey
`395/275
`Kitamoto
`.. 364/41301
`l’inskyet al.
`
`358/487
`Yamasaki
`358/290
`Kurogane etal.
`
`Ramsay et al. ............. 358/444
`304/41919
`Fukushima
`
`.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5-35 802
`5-158956
`5-242105
`
`2/1993
`6/1993
`9/1993
`
`Japan .
`Japan .
`Japan .
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Advertisement of Centillion Data System, 1nc., from Editor
`& Publisher Magazine, May 27, 1995.
`Article Entitled “images on (.‘ompuserve: The “Best of
`Bettmann" Online" to O'Leary, vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 70—72,
`ISSN 0146—5422, May/ Jun., 1995.
`Article Entitled “Getting the Picture” to Henson, vol. 10, No.
`10, pp. 130—134, MacWorld, Oct., 1993.
`Article Entitled “Moving Image Without Tears“, vol. 12, No.
`12, pp. 121—122, MacWorld, Dec. 1995.
`Article Entitled “Imaging Technology in Libraries: Photo
`CD Olfers New Possibilities" to Beiser, vol. 17, No. 6, pp.
`16—29, Online, Nov. 1993.
`“Picture Web Preview" Aug. 28, 1996 16 pages from http://
`mvaicturewebcom/ and http:f/wwwpictureplace.com/.
`
`Primary Examiner—Jerome Grant, ll
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—James D. [eimbach
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An image handling system, and a method which can be
`executed on such a system comprising a plurality of
`processor-scanner stations remote from one another, inter-
`faced with a hub station that
`is in turn interfaced with a
`
`plurality of terminal. Each processor-scanner station having
`at the same location: a processor which can process exposed
`photographic film to produce a hardcopy image set;
`a
`scanner system which can scan the hardcopy image set to
`obtain a corresponding image set signal; and a first com—
`munication interface for communicating the image set signal
`to a remote hub station. The hub station, which can be
`remote from each of the scanner stations, comprises: a
`second communication interface to receive image set signals
`from each of the plurality of scanner systems; a first storage
`to store the image set signals; a third communication inter-
`face for transmitting the image set signals to any of a
`plurality of terminals remote from the hub and each of the
`processor-scanner stations. A plurality of terminals that are
`remote from the hub station and each of the scanner-
`
`processor stations, and connected to communicate with the
`hub station.
`
`8 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`DICTTAL IMAGE DATA FROM
`PROCESSING LOCATIONS TO
`CENTRAL STORAGE
`100
`
`J
`
`SYSTEM
`
`
`CENTRALIZED
`DIGITAL IMAGE
`
`SERVER 8!
`
`
`1°”
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`
`”PE
`
`12
`
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`DISTRIBUTED
`
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`USEQS
`ID DELIVERED '10 CUSTOMER
`
`PROCESSOR- SCANNER STATIONS
`
`NEGATIVES
`T0 DIGITAL
`
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`
`CUT NEGATIVES. PRINTS 6r
`
`Page 1 of 12
`
`FIS Exhibit 1026
`
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`IMAGE DATA —>
`
`IMAGE DATA + SYSTEM QUERIES «4—»
`
`FIGURE KEY
`
`Page 2 of 12
`
`FIG.
`
`I
`
`

`

`
`
`
`DIGITAL IMAGE DATA FROM
`
`PROCESSING LOCATIONS TO
`
`CENTRAL STORAGE
`
`
` PROCESSOR- SCANNER STATIONS
`
`20
`
`
`4
`6
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`USERS
`
`
`
`
`Page 3 of 12
`
`mamaST]
`
`
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`
`882‘926‘5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 20, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`5,926,288
`
`IDENTIFICATION
`
`(ENCRYPTED USING DES)
`
`1:IE;UMT [S SS 88 SSl
`
`SCAONZN—ER ID
`'DFERS'ON
`
`DD DD
`
`Q 00 OD
`
`SEQUENCE NUM
`DATEJIODEO
`
`102
`
`106
`
`Page 4 of 12
`
`

`

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`
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`
`Page 5 of 12
`
`

`

`5,926,288
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`IMAGE HANDLING SYSTEM AND METHOD
`
`
`
`
`USING MUTUALLY REMOTE PROCESSOR-
`
`
`
`SCANNER STATIONS
`
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`
`This invention relates generally to the field of photogra-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`phy and image signals obtained from photographs. More
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`particularly, the present invention relates to a system and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`method by which image signals corresponding to hardcopy
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`photographs, can be readily retrieved and distributed as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`desired by a user.
`
`
`
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`
`In conventional photography, a user exposes a photo-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`graphic film in a camera and conveys (either personally, by
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mail, or some other delivery service) the exposed film to any
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`convenient processing center. The processing center then
`
`
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`
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`processes the film to form the hardcopy images (typically in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the form of photographic negatives on the original film
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and/or photographic prints, or photographic positives in the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`case of reversal processed film). The hardcopy images are
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`then conveyed back to the user (often by the user personally
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`picking them up at the processing center). If a user desires
`
`
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`
`
`to share the images with others without giving up their own
`
`
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`
`
`hardcopies, they typically go through the highly tedious and
`
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`
`
`time consuming effort of designating which hardcopy
`
`
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`
`
`
`images are desired to be shared, returning the designated
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`
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`
`
`hardcopy images to the processor to produce further
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`hardcopies, and conveying the further hardcopies to the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`person(s) with whom they wish to share. If later it is desired
`
`
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`
`
`to share the images with other persons, the same process
`
`
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`
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`must typically be repeated.
`
`
`
`
`In fact, so much effort and time is required that most users
`
`
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`
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`will simply not bother with multiple image sharing.
`
`
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`It has been appreciated that users can conveniently dis-
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`
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`
`
`
`tribute multiple image copies in little time, by scanning the
`
`
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`
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`hardcopy image on a home scanner to generate correspond-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing digital image signals, and then forwarding one or more
`
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`
`
`copies of the digital image signal to others by means of
`
`
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`
`
`
`electronic mail (such as over the Internet). Furthermore, the
`
`
`
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`
`
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`
`
`recent advent of services such as KODAK PICTURE DISK
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`available from Eastman Kodak Company and many
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`processors, which allows a user to obtain a digital image
`
`
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`signal of images of processed film on a disk for a modest
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`price, even eliminates the need for the user to own a scanner.
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`The availability of a digital image signal additionally allows
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`a user to conveniently store, manipulate, and display or print
`
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`copies of the images as desired at the user’s location using
`
`
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`conventional computer equipment.
`
`
`
`US. Pat. No. 5,272,549 discloses a system in which a
`
`
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`
`
`customer can connect his computer to a remote print or copy
`
`
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`center to retrieve digital image signals of the customer’s
`
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`
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`images. Those digital image signals are described as having
`
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`been obtained on a scanner at the customer’s location with
`
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`the storage media then being shipped to the print or copy
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`center, or obtained on a scanner at the remote print or copy
`
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`center. Similarly, subsequent US. Pat. No. 5,477,353
`
`
`
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`
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`describes a system in which one or more photographer units
`
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`can connect to a centralized laboratory unit (containing a
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`film processor, scanner, and printer). The ”353 patent system
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`is constructed with the purpose that a given user’s films are
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`processed and scanned at one central processing center, each
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`assigned a unique identification code, and retrieved by that
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`user at his remote terminal using the identification code.
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`The retrieved images can then be manipulated by the user
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`and printed at the central processing center.
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`2
`The systems of the ’549 or ”353 patents require that all
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`digital image storage media (in the ’549 patent) or hardcopy
`
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`film (in the case of the ”353 patent) carrying images from
`
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`multiple users, must be conveyed to only one central pro-
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`cessing center. This is inconvenient and may cause delays in
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`such a system implemented on a country wide basis. Even
`
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`if the either patent contemplated multiple processing centers
`
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`(which they do not), a user would still be required to
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`remember which processing center his film was conveyed
`
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`to, then use his remote terminal to communicate with that
`
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`specific processing center to merely retrieve the user’s
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`digital images.
`
`
`It would be desirable to provide a system which allows a
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`user to simply have an exposed film delivered to any
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`convenient one of a number of locations, at which locations
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`the film is processed and scanned, and which allows a user
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`to access the resulting image signals from a remote terminal
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`without having to keep track of which films were delivered
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`to which location. It would further be desirable that, in the
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`event of failures in the system, a means is provided for
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`assisting in determining the source of the failure. It would
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`further be desirable that such a system allows a user to
`
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`consistently obtain further desired services, such as forward-
`
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`ing copies of the images to others or obtaining products
`
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`incorporating the images, without regard to the location at
`
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`which the images were scanned and without having to make
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`contact with further service providers offering such further
`
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`services.
`
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`
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`
`The present invention then, provides an image handling
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`system comprising:
`
`
`(a) a plurality of processor-scanner stations remote from
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`one another, each scanner station having at the same
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`location:
`
`a processor which can process exposed photographic film
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to produce a hardcopy image set;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a scanner system which can scan the hardcopy image set
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to obtain a corresponding image set signal;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a first communication means for communicating the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`image set signal to a remote hub station;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(b) a hub station remote from each of the scanner stations,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`comprising:
`
`a second communication means to receive image set
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`signals from each of the plurality of scanner systems;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a first storage to store the image set signals;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a third communication means for
`transmitting the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`image set signals to any of a plurality of terminals
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`remote from the hub and each of the processor-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`scanner stations; and
`
`
`
`(c) a plurality of terminals remote from the hub station
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and each of the scanner-processor stations, connected
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to communicate with the hub station.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The present invention further provides an image handling
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`method comprising:
`
`
`processing exposed photographic film at each of a plu-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`rality of processor-scanner stations, each station having
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`both a scanner and a processor at the same location and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`the processor-scanner stations being remote from one
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`another,
`to produce a hardcopy image set at
`the
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`processor-scanner locations;
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`scanning each hardcopy image set at the same processor-
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`scanner location at which it was processed, to obtain a
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`corresponding image set signal;
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`communicating each of the image set signals from the
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`scanner to a hub station remote from each of the
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`processor-scanner stations;
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`5,926,288
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`3
`storing the communicated image set signals at the hub
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`station; and
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`transmitting the image set signals to any of a plurality of
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`terminals remote from the hub station and each of the
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`processor-scanner stations.
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`Additionally, the present invention provides a hub station
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`with suitable means for executing each step required by a
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`hub station of the present invention or as described below.
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`Such means is preferably in the form of a digital computer
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`suitably programmed to execute the required steps, or in the
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`form of equivalent hardware, or a combination of both.
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`The present invention realizes that a system with multiple
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`remote processor-scanner stations and a remote hub station,
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`can conveniently allow a user to deliver an exposed film to
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`any convenient one of multiple locations, while allowing
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`ready retrieval of scanned images at any remote user termi-
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`nal without the user tracking the location to which each
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`exposed film was delivered. Further, the additional use of a
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`unique identification signal associated with each scanner
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`location facilitates a determination of the source of any
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`failure in the system. In particular,
`the scanner location
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`which was to communicate the images can be contacted to
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`determine if the scanned images were in fact completely
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`communicated to the hub station and if so, the particulars of
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`such transmission, and to request a re-transmission if nec-
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`essary. Additionally, the presence of a hub station allows a
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`user to forward copies of the images or have other services
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`for the images, consistently obtained from the same location
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`without having to communicate with other vendors and
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`without regard to the locations to which different films may
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`have been delivered.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating a system of the
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`present invention;
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`FIG. 2 is a data flow diagram illustrating the operation of
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`some aspects of the system of FIG. 1;
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`FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the components of an
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`identification generated for an associated image set signal;
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`and
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`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a system of FIG. 1
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`with a further connection of the hub to another hub.
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`To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals
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`have been used, where possible,
`to designate identical
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`elements that are common to the figures.
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`EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
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`In the present invention it will be understood that with
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`reference to components being “remote” from one another,
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`is meant that they will be at least in another building, and
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`often a mile or more (such as 10, 100 or even 1000 miles)
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`apart. A reference to “communication” refers, unless a
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`contrary indication is given, to transfer of a signal. Such
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`transfer can occur, for example, as a transmission of a signal
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`between the sender and receiver, such as may be obtained
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`over a computer network such as the Internet, dedicated
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`communication line, or over a direct dial-up connection such
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`as provided by a telephone line (any of which may include
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`satellite or other non-wired links, in addition to wired and
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`fiber optic links). Thus, “transmission” implies a signal
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`transfer without a physical transfer of a storage means, such
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`as by suitable “connection” (that is, an actual electronic
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`communication link including a direct connection, such as
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`over a telephone or an indirect connection as may occur over
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`the Inernet). In any event, due to the distances typically
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`Page 7 of 12
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`4
`encountered between processor-scanner stations, hub station
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`and terminals, there will typically be one or more signal
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`repeaters between the originator of the communication and
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`the receiver. Alternatively,
`the transfer can occur by the
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`signal being saved on a suitable storage medium (such as
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`magnetic or optical tape or disks) and the storage medium
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`being physically transferred followed by the reading of the
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`signal from the hardcopy at the receiver. A reference to
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`“forwarded” refers, unless a contrary indication is given, to
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`a transfer of both a signal (that is, a “communication”) as
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`well as to other means of transfer, such as the physical
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`transfer of a hardcopy (for example, a suitable medium upon
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`which data, such as alphanumeric characters, corresponding
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`to a signal has been printed).
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`In the present invention reference is made to scanning of
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`a hardcopy image to obtain a corresponding digital image.
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`Such procedures and equipment for performing scanning,
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`are well known. Typically, a film frame is scanned with a
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`light beam, and the light transmitted through the film is
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`detected,
`typically as three primary color light intensity
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`signals, and digitized. The digitized values may be formatted
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`to a standard for video display and stored on compact disc.
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`magnetic media, or other suitable storage. Such image
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`digitizers take a variety of forms and the various common
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`aspects of film digitizing, particularly line illumination and
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`linear CCD-based digitizers, are described in greater detail
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`in US. Pat. No. 5,012,346. Also photographic prints can be
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`digitized using reflection scanners.
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`Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, the
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`illustrated embodiment of the image handling system of the
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`present invention includes a plurality of processor-scanner
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`stations 2A, 2B, 2C to 2N which are remote from one
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`another, as best seen in FIG. 1. Each processor-scanner
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`station includes a film processor 4 which can process
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`exposed photographic film and produce hardcopy images in
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`the form of both print sets 50 and corresponding negative
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`sets 52 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 2). Negative
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`image set 52 will typically be the developed negative film
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`obtained from exposed film roll 48, while each print set 50
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`will typically be reflective prints of the negative set 52.
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`However each set 50 and 52 can consist of one or more
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`images.
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`Each processor-scanner station 2A to 2N further includes
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`a high volume scanner system 6 which includes a suitable
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`scanner for scanning the hardcopy images on each image set
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`52 to obtain a corresponding digital image set signal. High
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`volume scanner system 6 may be a digital computer in the
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`form of a workstation or desktop computer equipped with a
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`suitable digital scanner for scanning negative set 52.
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`Additionally, each scanner system 6 can assign an associated
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`identification signal to each image set signal so obtained.
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`This assignment may be accomplished by suitable software
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`running on scanner system 6, and is described further below.
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`However, it will be noted at this point that each identification
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`is unique in that
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`includes a scanner location
`signal
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`identification which is unique for each processor-scanner
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`station 2A to 2N.
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`As to the details of the identification assigned to each
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`associated image set signal, this is shown more fully in FIG.
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`3. The components of the assigned identification are as
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`follows:
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`Bit Sum 100: the unsigned sum of the binary identifica-
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`tion (“ID”) data including ID version, Scanner ID, Date
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`Code and Sequence Number (8 bits binary). The bit
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`sum will be calculated after encryption but prior to
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`conversion to the ASCII representation. The purpose of
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`5
`this Bit Sum is to identify data entry errors without
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`querying the data base of hub station 20 for an asso-
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`ciated image set signal.
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`ID Version 102: revision number of this ID number (8 bits
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`binary). This maps to the encryption key, a new version
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`should accompany any change in the key.
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`Scanner ID 104, unique identifier for each processor-
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`scanner station 2A to 2N (28 bits binary), which
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`therefore serves as the scanner location identification.
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`Date Code 106, date a scan of a hardcopy image set began
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`on (16 bits binary—9 bits for day of year and 7 bits for
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`year). Year 0 will be any year in which the system of
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`FIGS. 1 and 2 is first activated.
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`Sequence Number 108, incremented for each roll scanned
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`within a day (20 bits binary).
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`The actual ID signal will be created from the binary
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`representation of the Bit Sum 100, ID Version 102, Scanner
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`ID 104, Date Code 106 and Sequence Number 108 as shown
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`below in FIG. 3 (note that the ID Version 102 and Bit Sum
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`100 must not be encrypted):
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`The ID, minus the Bit Sum 100 and ID Version 102, will
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`be encrypted prior to conversion to its ASCII form by using
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`DES (Data Encryption Standard) functions with a 56 bit key.
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`DES is described in “Applied Cryptography; Protocols,
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`Algorithms, and Source in C”, by Bruce Schneier, 1994,
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`John Wiley & Sons, Inc. The key will be non-obvious and
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`known to the hub station 20 (that is, saved in a storage at hub
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`station 20). The key will be provided to valid scanner sites
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`when the key is changed allowing them to begin producing
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`ID signals encrypted with the new key. This change may be
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`required if an old key has been recognized by someone
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`attempting to claim images which are not theirs. A change to
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`the key will map to a new ID version and this association
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`will be kept at hub station 20. The ID Version 102 facilitates
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`the decryption process by associating the key used to
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`encrypt a given ID Version with a non-encrypted portion of
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`that ID. This will allow the ID to be decrypted and its
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`component parts associated with a roll when it is loaded (that
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`is, saved) by the hub station 20. The ID will result in an audit
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`trail for all digital image sets loaded by the central hub
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`station 20. This audit trail can be used by hub station 20 to
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`respond to end user queries about the status of the digital
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`image sets, as described below.
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`The ID will be presented to the user (such as by printing
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`a hardcopy) as 16 case insensitive alphanumeric ASCII
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`typeable characters (i.e. 10 byte binary ID represented in
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`base 32 using 0—9 and Aa—Vv where 0:0,
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`1=1, .
`, Aa=10, .
`, Vv=31).
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`As can be seen from the above, the non-encrypted ID is
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`incremented for each film roll received at a given scanner
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`station. If nothing further was done to the ID, a malicious
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`user at a remote terminal could simply increment a received
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`ID and thereby access another’s digital image set. However,
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`due to the encryption of the ID as described above, the
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`resulting encrypted identifications for a series of different
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`film rolls sequentially scanned at
`the same location, no
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`longer bear the same sequential relationship as the non-
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`encrypted identifications. In fact, the encrypted indentifica-
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`tion for one film roll in such a series cannot be determined
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`from the encrypted identification of another roll, without
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`knowledge of the encryption or decryption algorithm. The
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`presence of the non-encrypted bit sum 100 (sometimes
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`referenced as a “checksum”) makes it even more difficult to
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`falsify an ID.
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`Each processor-scanner station 2A to 2N further includes
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`a first communication means to communicate each image set
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`signal and its associated identification signal to a remote hub
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`6
`station 20, which is part of the image handling system. This
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`communication is illustrated as communication link 10 in
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`FIG. 1. The first communication means may be in the form
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`of a modem (not shown)
`in scanner system 6, which
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`communicates each image set signal and associated identi-
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`fication over a link in the form of a connection to the hub
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`station 20, such as telephone circuit connection 10a shown
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`in FIG. 2. However, the first communication means could be
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`a modem or communication card which communicates with
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`hub station 20 over a different type of connection, such as a
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`dedicated line connection or a network (such as the Internet).
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`Of course, the various processor-scanner stations 2A to 2N
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`in FIG. 1 may use different first communication means, and
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`therefore the various links 10 shown in FIG. 1 may be the
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`same, or a combination of connections or physical transfer
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`links, one or more of which may be active at any given time
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`(depending upon how many processor-scanner stations are
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`communicating image set signals and associated identifica-
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`tions to hub station 20 at any given time).
`It will be
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`appreciated that more than one processor-scanner station 2A
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`to 2N may typically be in communication (such as by
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`connection) with hub station 20 at any given time.
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`Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, the first communication
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`means can be in the form of a tape storage in scanner system
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`6, which stores the digital image signal sets and associated
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`identification signals on a data tape 54 which is physically
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`transferred (as illustrated by physical transfer link 10b in
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`FIG. 2) to hub station 20. In this case the link 10 is a
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`corresponding physical transfer link 10b as shown in FIG. 2.
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`It will be appreciated, of course,
`that tape 54 could be
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`replaced by any other suitable data storage means, such as
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`optical or magnetic disks.
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`The scanner system 6 at each processor-scanner station
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`2A to 2N, further includes a printer 8. Printer 8 is connected
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`to scanner 6 so as to print out a hardcopy series of characters
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`(shown as hardcopy identification 60 in FIG. 2) correspond-
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`ing to each identification signal.
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`The single hub station 20 may particularly be a digital
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`computer, such as a workstation, minicomputer or main-
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`frame computer, suitably programmed to execute the steps
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`of the method of the present
`invention required of hub
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`station 20. Hub station 20 includes a second communication
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`means to receive image set signals and their associated
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`identification signals from each of the processor-scanner
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`stations 2A to 2N. The second communication means may
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`be a modem or suitable communication card (not shown) in
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`the hub station for the case where any of processor-scanner
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`stations 2A to 2N will connect by a link such as the
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`telephone circuit connection 10a of FIG. 2, or may be a
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`reading device (not shown) which can read a storage
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`medium physically conveyed to hub station 20 when such a
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`communication means is used by any of processor-scanner
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`stations 2A to 2N. Of course, hub station 20 may have both
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`such types of second communication mea