Automated business system and method of vending and returning a consumer product
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of dispensing disc-based media, the method comprising:
- selecting the disc-based media;
retrieving the disc-based media;
reading an identification tag on the disc-based media; and
dispensing the disc-based media.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
73 Claims
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1. A method of dispensing disc-based media, the method comprising:
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selecting the disc-based media;
retrieving the disc-based media;
reading an identification tag on the disc-based media; and
dispensing the disc-based media. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of servicing multiple users of a disc-based media system, the method comprising:
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a first user selecting a first disc-based media at the disc-based media system;
a second user selecting a second-disc based media at the disc-based media system at the same time as the first user selected the first disc-based media;
determining an order in which to service the first and second users;
retrieving the first and second disc-based media based on the order; and
dispensing the first disc-based media to the first user and the second disc-based media to the second user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An automated business system comprising:
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a housing;
a user station supported by the housing;
a retrieval system operable to retrieve disc-based media stored in the housing;
a RFID reader operable to read a RFID tag on the disc-based media; and
a port to dispense the disc-based media. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for retrieving disc-based media, the system comprising:
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a plurality of guide rails supported by a frame;
a track supported by the guide rails;
a gripper assembly supported by the track, the carriage including a gripper, and a RFID device; and
a controller operable to transmit instructions to the carriage to retrieve a selected disc-based media. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for retrieving disc-based media, the system comprising:
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a guide rail oriented along a first axis;
a track oriented along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;
a gripper supported by the track, the gripper operable to move along the track, the gripper operable to telescope along a third axis perpendicular to the second axis; and
a plurality of fingers coupled to the gripper, the fingers operable to engage the disc-based media. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A system for retrieving disc based media, the system comprising:
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a plurality of guide rails having a length oriented along a vertical axis; and
a linear positioning table supported by the plurality of guide rails, the linear positioning table having a length oriented along a horizontal axis, the linear positioning table adapted to support a carriage operable to move horizontally along about 90 percent of the linear positioning table.
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30. A gripper for retrieving disc-based media, the assembly comprising:
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a plurality of fingers operable to support the disc-based media;
an actuator operable to move the fingers from a first position to a second position;
a carriage adapted to support the fingers; and
an actuator operable to move the carriage toward and away from the disc-based media.
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31. A storage position for disc-based media comprising:
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a receptacle within the storage position; and
a synthetic material that surrounds an interior of the receptacle.
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32. A method of dispensing disc-based media, the method comprising:
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selecting a plurality of disc-based media;
retrieving the plurality of selections; and
dispensing the plurality of selections at the same time through a port. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of returning disc-based media to a disc-based media system, the method comprising:
inserting the disc-based media in a port of the disc-based media system without regard to orientation of the disc-based media. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of tracking transactional history of a disc-based media, the method comprising:
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selecting a disc-based media; and
recording transaction information associated with the selection of the disc-based media onto the disc-based media. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of returning disc-based media to a disc-based media system, the method comprising:
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placing the disc-based media in a receptacle in the disc-based media system; and
automatically recognizing the disc-based media in the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method of dispensing disc-based media, the method comprising:
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selecting a disc-based media;
selecting a format for the disc-based media; and
generating the disc-based media in the selected format. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. A method of dispensing disc-based media, the method comprising:
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selecting a disc-based media;
determining if the selected disc-based media is available; and
generating the disc-based media if the selected disc-based media is not available.
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60. A method of servicing a disc-based media system, the method comprising:
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accessing the disc-based media system with a remote computer terminal;
communicating with one of a server and a retrieval system within the disc-based media system;
diagnosing performance of the server and the retrieval system; and
correcting problems associated with the disc-based media system.
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61. A method of configuring a disc-based media system, the method comprising:
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determining a number of users that can access the disc-based media system at the same time; and
configuring the size of the disc-based media system according to the predetermined number of users that can access the disc-based media system at the same time.
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62. A method of taking inventory of a disc-based media system, the method comprising:
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accessing the disc-based media system with a remote computer terminal;
initiating an inventory process including instructing a disc-based media retrieval system to begin inventory process, moving the disc-based media retrieval system to each storage position within the disc-based media system, and if a disc-based media is in one of the storage positions, reading a radio frequency tag on the disc-based media; and
outputting results of the inventory process to the remote computer terminal. - View Dependent Claims (63)
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64. A method of adding disc-based media to a disc-based media system, the method comprising:
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inserting the disc-based media in a receptacle in the disc-based media system;
automatically reading a radio frequency tag on the disc-based media; and
positioning the disc-based media in a storage position, the disc-based media available for selection by a user. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66)
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67. A method of interacting with a disc-based media system, the method comprising:
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selecting a first disc-based media of interest to the user; and
recommending additional disc-based media to the user based on certain attributes of the first disc-based media selected by the user.
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68. A controller for a disc-based media retrieval system, the controller comprising:
a software program operable to receive instructions from a point of sale software application, the software program operable to transmit commands to the disc-based media retrieval system to locate specific disc-based media within a disc-based media system.
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69. A method of reviewing items in an automated business system having a plurality of adjacent user stations, the method comprising:
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selecting an item of interest at one of the user stations; and
directing audio waves of a sound file related to the selected item wherein the user does not use an auxiliary listening device and wherein users of the adjacent user stations cannot hear the audio waves of the sound file.
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70. A method of dispensing a product comprising:
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displaying questions to a user;
recommending a product that satisfies a majority of answers to the questions provided by the user;
selecting a product;
reading a radio frequency tag on the product; and
dispensing the product to the user. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73)
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Specification