Automated business system and method of vending and returning a consumer product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9646451-B2
Application number	US-86638704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2004
Priority date	Jun 11, 2003
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

System and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of dispensing disc-based media from an automated machine for rent or purchase by a customer:
selecting the disc-based media;
retrieving the disc-based media utilizing a retrieval mechanism;
reading an identification tag on the disc-based media;
verifying that the retrieved disc-based media is the disc-based media that was selected prior to dispensing the disc-based media;
dispensing the disc-based media to a port for retrieval by the customer; and
upon dispensing, making an entry for tracking inventory in a digital memory, the entry utilizing identification information for the disc-based media read from the identification tag.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a user that selected the disc-based media by reading a magnetic stripe on one of a credit card, a stored value card, a debit card, a smart card, an affinity card, a membership card, and an identification card.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising automatically charging a rental or purchase fee to one of the credit card, the stored value card, the debit card, and the smart card.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a rental option to rent the selected disc-based media for a predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a purchase option to purchase the selected disc-based media.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the disc-based media is a DVD.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification tag is a radio frequency tag.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
return of the disc-based media through the port.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
adding new stock to the kiosk by inserting a new item through the port.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
reading a radio frequency identification tag on the new item upon insertion through the access port.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
updating inventory data to include the new item.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
reading the identification tag on the disc-based media upon return of the disc-based media.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein reading the identification tag occurs at the port where dispensing occurs, and further comprising:
utilizing information read during reading the identification tag to verify the dispensed disc-based media is the selected disc-based media.

14. A method of dispensing disc-based media from an automated machine for rent or purchase by a customer, the method comprising:
reading a RFID tag on each of the disc-based media;
selecting a plurality of disc-based media;
retrieving the plurality of selections utilizing a retrieval mechanism;
dispensing the plurality of selections at same time through a port for retrieval by the customer;
identifying the customer that selected the plurality of disc-based media by reading a magnetic strip on one of a credit card, a stored value card, a debit card, an affinity card, a membership card, and an identification card utilizing a card reader; and
verifying that the retrieved disc-based media is the disc-based media that was selected prior to dispensing the disc-based media by analyzing information identifying the disc-based media read from the RFID tag.

Assignees

• Blust Donald
• Driscoll Thomas
• Ncr Corp

Inventors

• Blust Donald
• Driscoll Thomas

Classifications

• G06Q30/0641

  utilising user interfaces specially adapted for shopping · CPC title

• G06Q10/087

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G07F17/16 Primary

  for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like · CPC title

• G07F7/069

  by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books · CPC title

• G07F17/305

  for record players · CPC title