Automated digital media vending apparatus
First Claim
1. An automated digital media vending apparatus, comprising:
- a recording mechanism for recording selected media data titles onto blank disks;
a storage unit containing a plurality of stored disks bearing prerecorded media in the form of various data titles, at least some of which disks have been pre-recorded by the apparatus itself, processing means for processing input from a user regarding said user and at least one selected data title;
a disk dispensing mechanism for removing a disk containing the selected data title from among said stored disks in said storage unit and for dispensing the disk containing the selected data title to the user;
a data memory for storing transaction information regarding at least the user, the selected data title, the specific disk containing the selected data title and the date on which the disk containing the selected data title was dispensed;
a disk accepting mechanism for accepting a disk inserted into said apparatus and for reading data from said inserted disk;
said processing means determining an appropriate payment from the user based upon the date on which the disk containing the selected data title was dispensed, whether the disk is inserted and, if the disk is inserted, the date on which the disk is inserted, and processing said appropriate payment from the user; and
if the disk is not inserted, said processing means determining whether said disk containing said selected data title must be replaced and, if so, directing said disk recording mechanism to record another disk containing said selected data title to replace in said storage unit the disk that was dispensed.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and apparatus for legally copying and dispensing music, video games, feature movies and other multimedia onto blank digital media (such as disks, e.g., CDs or DVDs) from a local source inside the apparatus or from a remote source accessible via a data line. The system receives and transmits multimedia updates from a remote information source, and transmits transaction information to a remote server that supports and compiles data for an entire network of apparatuses, while respecting copyright royalty requirements and viewer restrictions based upon age. The system provides for the rental (as well as the physical and electronic return of disks) and sale of disks, and each apparatus may prepare its own inventory by recording media titles onto blank disks. The apparatus verifies the age of the user prior to dispensing certain age-restricted media titles.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. An automated digital media vending apparatus, comprising:
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a recording mechanism for recording selected media data titles onto blank disks;
a storage unit containing a plurality of stored disks bearing prerecorded media in the form of various data titles, at least some of which disks have been pre-recorded by the apparatus itself, processing means for processing input from a user regarding said user and at least one selected data title;
a disk dispensing mechanism for removing a disk containing the selected data title from among said stored disks in said storage unit and for dispensing the disk containing the selected data title to the user;
a data memory for storing transaction information regarding at least the user, the selected data title, the specific disk containing the selected data title and the date on which the disk containing the selected data title was dispensed;
a disk accepting mechanism for accepting a disk inserted into said apparatus and for reading data from said inserted disk;
said processing means determining an appropriate payment from the user based upon the date on which the disk containing the selected data title was dispensed, whether the disk is inserted and, if the disk is inserted, the date on which the disk is inserted, and processing said appropriate payment from the user; and
if the disk is not inserted, said processing means determining whether said disk containing said selected data title must be replaced and, if so, directing said disk recording mechanism to record another disk containing said selected data title to replace in said storage unit the disk that was dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A digital media vending system, comprising:
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at least one automated digital media vending apparatus, comprising a disk recording mechanism for recording selected media data titles onto blank disks;
a storage unit containing a plurality of stored disks bearing prerecorded media in the form of various data titles, at least some of which disks have been pre-recorded by the apparatus itself;
processing means for processing input from a user regarding at least one selected data title;
a disk dispensing mechanism for removing a disk containing the selected data title from among said stored disks in said storage unit and for dispensing the disk containing the selected data title to the user;
a data memory for storing transaction information regarding at least the user, the selected data title, the specific disk containing the selected data title and the date on which the disk containing the selected data title was dispensed;
a disk accepting mechanism for accepting a disk inserted into said apparatus and for reading data from said inserted disk;
said processing means determining an appropriate payment from the user based upon the date on which the disk containing the selected data title was dispensed, whether the disk is inserted and, if the disk is inserted, the date on which the disk is inserted, and processing said appropriate payment from the user; and
if the disk is not inserted, said processing means determining whether said disk containing said selected data title must be replaced and, if so, directing said disk recording mechanism to record another disk containing the selected data title to replace in said storage unit the disk that was dispensed;
a remote processing unit coupled to each of said at least one automated digital media disk vending apparatus such that transaction information can be passed between said remote processing unit and each said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An automated digital media vending apparatus, comprising:
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a storage unit containing a plurality of stored disks bearing prerecorded media data titles, each said media data titles having a user age minimum limit associated therewith, such that it is desired that a user whose age is below said minimum limit not be dispensed a disk containing that selected data title;
processing means for processing input from a user regarding the current age of said user and regarding at least one selected data title;
a disk dispensing mechanism for removing a disk containing the selected data title from among said stored disks in said storage unit and for dispensing the disk containing the selected data title to the user;
a data memory for storing transaction information regarding at least the user, the user'"'"'s current age and the selected data title; and
said processing means, based upon said user age minimum limit associated with said selected data title and said input from the user regarding the age of said user, adapted to determine whether dispensing of a disk containing said selected data title is permitted and either allow a disk containing said selected media title to be dispensed from said apparatus or disallow a disk containing said selected media title from being dispensed from said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification