Approach for managing rental items across a plurality of distribution locations

• US 20050086127A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Inventors: Hunt, Neil Duncan, Hastings, W. Reed, Dillon, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions

Abstract

An “inventory free” approach for managing rental items across a plurality of distribution locations includes sending at least some rental items that are not needed by two or more distribution locations to a designated distribution location. Rental items sent to the designated distribution location may be permanently stored at the designated distribution location, returned to the distribution location from which they were sent, or sent to other distribution locations, depending upon where the rental items are needed. In situations where particular rental items are not currently needed by customers at a distribution location, but there is a high likelihood that the particular rental items will be needed by the customers within a specified time, the particular rental items may be maintained at the distribution location as “float” and not sent to the designated distribution location. The float is re-processed as returned rental items prior to being again rented to customers. The determination of whether customers need, or do not need, a particular rental item may be made based upon a wide variety of criteria such as time criteria, actual and predicted customer demand for rental items, actual and predicted returns of rental items, Net Ships and predicted loss and breakage of rental items.

Claims

1. A method for managing digital versatile discs (DVDs) carrying movies in distribution locations, the method comprising the machine-implemented steps of:

identifying a first set of one or more DVDs located at a first distribution location, wherein the first set of one or more DVDs carry a first set of movies that has not been requested for rent by rental customers associated with the first distribution location;

causing the first set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location;

identifying a second set of one or more DVDs located at a second distribution location, wherein the second set of DVDs carry a second set of movies that has not been requested for rent by rental customers associated with the second distribution location; and

causing the second set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location, wherein the fist, second and designated distribution locations are distinct distribution locations.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the step of causing the first set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location includes causing the first set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location by mail, and

the step of causing the second set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location includes causing the second set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location by mail.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

DVDs rented by the customers associated with the first distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the first distribution location via mail, and

DVDs rented by the customers associated with the second distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the second distribution location via mail.

4. A method for managing rental items in distribution locations, the method comprising the machine-implemented steps of:

identifying a first set of one or more rental items at a first distribution location that is not needed by customers associated with the first distribution location;

causing the first set of one or more rental items to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location;

identifying a second set of one or more rental items at a second distribution location that is not needed by customers associated with the second distribution location; and

causing the second set of one or more rental items to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location, wherein the first, second and designated distribution locations are distinct distribution locations.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon actual customer demand for rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon predicted demand for rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the predicted requests for rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location are determined by examining one or more rental queues for the customers associated with the first distribution location, wherein the one or more rental queues indicate one or more rental items that the customers associated with the first distribution location desire to rent.

8. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon actual returns of rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

9. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon a comparison of rental items sent from the first distribution location to customers associated with the first distribution location, unfulfilled demand for rental items at the first distribution location and rental items returned to the first distribution location.

10. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon predicted returns of rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

11. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon actual loss or breakage of rental items.

12. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the machine-implemented step of determining the a first set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location based upon a prediction.

13. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the step of identifying a first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location includes identifying a first set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location within a specified time.

14. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the step of identifying a first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location includes identifying a first set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location by a specified time.

15. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the machine-implemented step of in response to determining that a particular rental item from the first set of one or more rental items provided from the designated distribution location to the first distribution location is needed at the first distribution location, then providing the particular rental item from the designated distribution location to the first distribution location.

16. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the machine-implemented step of in response to determining that a particular rental item from the first set of one or more rental items provided from the designated distribution location to the first distribution location is needed at the second distribution location, then providing the particular rental item from the designated distribution location to the second distribution location.

17. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the step of selecting the designated distribution location from a plurality of distribution locations based upon selection criteria that include the geographical proximity of the designated distribution location with respect to the first and second distribution locations.

18. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the step of selecting the designated distribution location from a plurality of distribution locations based upon selection criteria that include a storage capacity of the designated distribution location.

19. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media.

20. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing movies, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing movies.

21. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing games, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing games.

22. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing music, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing music.

23. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing computer software, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing computer software.

24. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of DVDs containing movies, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of DVDs containing movies.

25. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the step of causing the first set of one or more rental items to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location includes causing the first set of one or more rental items to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location by mail, and

the step of causing the second set of one or more rental items to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location includes causing the second set of one or more rental items to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location by mail.

26. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

rental items rented by the customers associated with the first distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the first distribution location via mail, and

rental items rented by the customers associated with the second distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the second distribution location via mail.

27. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of identifying a first set of one or more rental items at a first distribution location that is not needed by customers associated with the first distribution location is made based upon an upper bound that indicates a maximum number of rental items to be maintained at the first distribution location.

28. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the step of changing the upper bound over time based upon a change in demand or a change in rental items returned from the customers associated with the first distribution location.

29. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the step of in response to determining that a number of rental items at the first distribution location is less than a lower bound, then causing one or more additional items to be provided to the first distribution location from the designated distribution location.

30. A method for managing digital media rental items at a distribution location, the method comprising the machine-implemented steps of:

receiving a plurality of digital media rental items returned from customers associated with the distribution location;

performing a first return processing on the plurality of digital media rental items;

identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time; and

prior to the set of one or more digital media rental items being rented to the one or more customers associated with the distribution location, performing a second return processing on set of one or more digital media rental items.

31. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein:

the step of performing a first return processing on the plurality of digital media rental items includes scanning labels on the plurality of digital media rental items, and

the step of performing a second return processing on the set of one or more digital media rental items includes scanning labels on the set of one or more digital media rental items.

32. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the specified time is determined based upon the cost of maintaining the set of one or more digital rental items at the distribution location and the cost of sending the one or more digital rental items to and retrieving the one or more digital rental items from a designated distribution location.

33. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon actual customer demand for rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

34. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon predicted demand for rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

35. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon actual returns of rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

36. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon a comparison of rental items sent from the distribution location to the one or more customers associated with the distribution location, unfulfilled demand for rental items at the distribution location and rental items returned to the distribution location.

37. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon predicted returns of rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

38. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon actual loss or breakage of rental items.

39. A method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the machine-implemented step of determining the a set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the distribution location based upon a prediction.

40. A method as recited in claim 30, further comprising the machine-implemented steps of:

receiving a second plurality of digital media rental items returned from the customers associated with the distribution location;

performing a third return processing on the second plurality of digital media rental items;

identifying, from the second plurality of digital media rental items and the set of one or more digital media rental items, a set of one or more other digital media rental items that are not currently needed by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within the specified time; and

prior to the set of one or more other digital media rental items being rented to the one or more customers associated with the distribution location, performing a fourth return processing on set of one or more other digital media rental items.

41. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein:

the plurality of digital media rental items is a plurality of DVDs containing movies, and

the set of one or more digital media rental items is a set of one or more DVDs.

42. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein:

the plurality of digital media rental items is a plurality of digital rental items containing games,

the set of one or more digital media rental items is a set of one or more digital rental items containing games.

43. A machine-readable medium for managing digital versatile discs (DVDs), the machine-readable medium carrying one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

identifying a first set of one or more DVDs located at a first distribution location, wherein the first set of one or more DVDs carry a first set of movies that has not been requested for rent by rental customers associated with the first distribution location;

causing the first set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location;

identifying a second set of one or more DVDs located at a second distribution location, wherein the second set of DVDs carry a second set of movies that has not been requested for rent by rental customers associated with the second distribution location; and

causing the second set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location, wherein the fist, second and designated distribution locations are distinct distribution locations.

44. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 43, wherein:

the step of causing the first set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location includes causing the first set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location by mail, and

the step of causing the second set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location includes causing the second set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location by mail.

45. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 43, wherein:

DVDs rented by the customers associated with the first distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the first distribution location via mail, and

DVDs rented by the customers associated with the second distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the second distribution location via mail.

46. A machine-readable medium for managing rental items in distribution locations, the machine-readable medium carrying one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

identifying a first set of one or more rental items at a first distribution location that is not needed by customers associated with the first distribution location;

causing the first set of one or more rental items to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location;

identifying a second set of one or more rental items at a second distribution location that is not needed by customers associated with the second distribution location; and

causing the second set of one or more rental items to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location, wherein the first, second and designated distribution locations are distinct distribution locations.

47. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon actual customer demand for rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

48. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon predicted demand for rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

49. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 48, wherein the predicted requests for rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location are determined by examining one or more rental queues for the customers associated with the first distribution location, wherein the one or more rental queues indicate one or more rental items that the customers associated with the first distribution location desire to rent.

50. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon actual returns of rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

51. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon a comparison of rental items sent from the first distribution location to customers associated with the first distribution location, unfulfilled demand for rental items at the first distribution location and rental items returned to the first distribution location.

52. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon predicted returns of rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

53. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon actual loss or breakage of rental items.

54. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of step of determining the a first set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location based upon a prediction.

55. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein:

the step of identifying a first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location includes identifying a first set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location within a specified time.

56. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein:

the step of identifying a first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location includes identifying a first set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location by a specified time.

57. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of in response to determining that a particular rental item from the first set of one or more rental items provided from the designated distribution location to the first distribution location is needed at the first distribution location, then providing the particular rental item from the designated distribution location to the first distribution location.

58. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of in response to determining that a particular rental item from the first set of one or more rental items provided from the designated distribution location to the first distribution location is needed at the second distribution location, then providing the particular rental item from the designated distribution location to the second distribution location.

59. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of selecting the designated distribution location from a plurality of distribution locations based upon selection criteria that include the geographical proximity of the designated distribution location with respect to the first and second distribution locations.

60. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of selecting the designated distribution location from a plurality of distribution locations based upon selection criteria that include a storage capacity of the designated distribution location.

61. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media.

62. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing movies, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing movies.

63. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing games, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing games.

64. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing music, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing music.

65. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing computer software, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing computer software.

66. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of DVDs containing movies, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of DVDs containing movies.

67. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein:

the step of causing the first set of one or more rental items to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location includes causing the first set of one or more rental items to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location by mail, and

the step of causing the second set of one or more rental items to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location includes causing the second set of one or more rental items to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location by mail.

68. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein:

rental items rented by the customers associated with the first distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the first distribution location via mail, and

rental items rented by the customers associated with the second distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the second distribution location via mail.

69. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, wherein the step of identifying a first set of one or more rental items at a first distribution location that is not needed by customers associated with the first distribution location is made based upon an upper bound that indicates a maximum number of rental items to be maintained at the first distribution location.

70. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of changing the upper bound over time based upon a change in demand or a change in rental items returned from the customers associated with the first distribution location.

71. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 46, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of in response to determining that a number of rental items at the first distribution location is less than a lower bound, then causing one or more additional items to be provided to the first distribution location from the designated distribution location.

72. A machine-readable medium for managing digital media rental items at a distribution location, the machine-readable medium carrying one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving a plurality of digital media rental items returned from customers associated with the distribution location;

performing a first return processing on the plurality of digital media rental items;

identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time; and

prior to the set of one or more digital media rental items being rented to the one or more customers associated with the distribution location, performing a second return processing on set of one or more digital media rental items.

73. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, wherein:

the step of performing a first return processing on the plurality of digital media rental items includes scanning labels on the plurality of digital media rental items, and

the step of performing a second return processing on the set of one or more digital media rental items includes scanning labels on the set of one or more digital media rental items.

74. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, wherein the specified time is determined based upon the cost of maintaining the set of one or more digital rental items at the distribution location and the cost of sending the one or more digital rental items to and retrieving the one or more digital rental items from a designated distribution location.

75. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon actual customer demand for rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

76. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon predicted demand for rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

77. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon actual returns of rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

78. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon a comparison of rental items sent from the distribution location to the one or more customers associated with the distribution location, unfulfilled demand for rental items at the distribution location and rental items returned to the distribution location.

79. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon predicted returns of rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

80. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon actual loss or breakage of rental items.

81. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of determining the a set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the distribution location based upon a prediction.

82. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, further comprising one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional steps of:

receiving a second plurality of digital media rental items returned from the customers associated with the distribution location;

performing a third return processing on the second plurality of digital media rental items;

identifying, from the second plurality of digital media rental items and the set of one or more digital media rental items, a set of one or more other digital media rental items that are not currently needed by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within the specified time; and

prior to the set of one or more other digital media rental items being rented to the one or more customers associated with the distribution location, performing a fourth return processing on set of one or more other digital media rental items.

83. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, wherein:

the plurality of digital media rental items is a plurality of DVDs containing movies, and

the set of one or more digital media rental items is a set of one or more DVDs.

84. A machine-readable medium as recited in claim 72, wherein:

the plurality of digital media rental items is a plurality of digital rental items containing games,

the set of one or more digital media rental items is a set of one or more digital rental items containing games.

85. An apparatus for managing digital versatile discs (DVDs), the apparatus comprising a memory carrying one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

identifying a first set of one or more DVDs located at a first distribution location, wherein the first set of one or more DVDs carry a first set of movies that has not been requested for rent by rental customers associated with the first distribution location;

causing the first set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location;

identifying a second set of one or more DVDs located at a second distribution location, wherein the second set of DVDs carry a second set of movies that has not been requested for rent by rental customers associated with the second distribution location; and

causing the second set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location, wherein the fist, second and designated distribution locations are distinct distribution locations.

86. An apparatus as recited in claim 85, wherein:

the step of causing the first set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location includes causing the first set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location by mail, and

the step of causing the second set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location includes causing the second set of one or more DVDs to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location by mail.

87. An apparatus as recited in claim 85, wherein:

DVDs rented by the customers associated with the first distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the first distribution location via mail, and

DVDs rented by the customers associated with the second distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the second distribution location via mail.

88. An apparatus for managing rental items in distribution locations, the apparatus comprising a memory carrying one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

identifying a first set of one or more rental items at a first distribution location that is not needed by customers associated with the first distribution location;

causing the first set of one or more rental items to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location;

identifying a second set of one or more rental items at a second distribution location that is not needed by customers associated with the second distribution location; and

causing the second set of one or more rental items to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location, wherein the first, second and designated distribution locations are distinct distribution locations.

89. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon actual customer demand for rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

90. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon predicted demand for rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

91. An apparatus as recited in claim 90, wherein the predicted requests for rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location are determined by examining one or more rental queues for the customers associated with the first distribution location, wherein the one or more rental queues indicate one or more rental items that the customers associated with the first distribution location desire to rent.

92. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon actual returns of rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

93. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon a comparison of rental items sent from the first distribution location to customers associated with the first distribution location, unfulfilled demand for rental items at the first distribution location and rental items returned to the first distribution location.

94. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon predicted returns of rental items by customers associated with the first distribution location.

95. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the step of identifying the first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not needed at the first distribution location is made based upon actual loss or breakage of rental items.

96. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the memory further comprises one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of step of determining the a first set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location based upon a prediction.

97. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein:

the step of identifying a first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location includes identifying a first set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location within a specified time.

98. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein:

the step of identifying a first set of one or more rental items at the first distribution location that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location includes identifying a first set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the first distribution location by a specified time.

99. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the memory further comprises one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of in response to determining that a particular rental item from the first set of one or more rental items provided from the designated distribution location to the first distribution location is needed at the first distribution location, then providing the particular rental item from the designated distribution location to the first distribution location.

100. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the memory further comprises one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of in response to determining that a particular rental item from the first set of one or more rental items provided from the designated distribution location to the first distribution location is needed at the second distribution location, then providing the particular rental item from the designated distribution location to the second distribution location.

101. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the memory further comprises one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of selecting the designated distribution location from a plurality of distribution locations based upon selection criteria that include the geographical proximity of the designated distribution location with respect to the first and second distribution locations.

102. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the memory further comprises one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of selecting the designated distribution location from a plurality of distribution locations based upon selection criteria that include a storage capacity of the designated distribution location.

103. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media.

104. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing movies, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing movies.

105. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing games, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing games.

106. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing music, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing music.

107. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of digital media containing computer software, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of digital media containing computer software.

108. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein:

the first set of rental items is a first set of DVDs containing movies, and

the second set of rental items is a second set of DVDs containing movies.

109. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein:

the step of causing the first set of one or more rental items to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location includes causing the first set of one or more rental items to be sent from the first distribution location to a designated distribution location by mail, and

the step of causing the second set of one or more rental items to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location includes causing the second set of one or more rental items to be sent from the second distribution location to the designated distribution location by mail.

110. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein:

rental items rented by the customers associated with the first distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the first distribution location via mail, and

rental items rented by the customers associated with the second distribution location are sent to the customers associated with the second distribution location via mail.

111. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the step of identifying a first set of one or more rental items at a first distribution location that is not needed by customers associated with the first distribution location is made based upon an upper bound that indicates a maximum number of rental items to be maintained at the first distribution location.

112. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the memory further comprises one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of changing the upper bound over time based upon a change in demand or a change in rental items returned from the customers associated with the first distribution location.

113. An apparatus as recited in claim 88, wherein the memory further comprises one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of in response to determining that a number of rental items at the first distribution location is less than a lower bound, then causing one or more additional items to be provided to the first distribution location from the designated distribution location.

114. An apparatus for managing digital media rental items at a distribution location, the apparatus comprising a memory carrying one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving a plurality of digital media rental items returned from customers associated with the distribution location;

performing a first return processing on the plurality of digital media rental items;

identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time; and

prior to the set of one or more digital media rental items being rented to the one or more customers associated with the distribution location, performing a second return processing on set of one or more digital media rental items.

115. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein:

the step of performing a first return processing on the plurality of digital media rental items includes scanning labels on the plurality of digital media rental items, and

the step of performing a second return processing on the set of one or more digital media rental items includes scanning labels on the set of one or more digital media rental items.

116. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein the specified time is determined based upon the cost of maintaining the set of one or more digital rental items at the distribution location and the cost of sending the one or more digital rental items to and retrieving the one or more digital rental items from a designated distribution location.

117. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon actual customer demand for rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

118. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon predicted demand for rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

119. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon actual returns of rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

120. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon a comparison of rental items sent from the distribution location to the one or more customers associated with the distribution location, unfulfilled demand for rental items at the distribution location and rental items returned to the distribution location.

121. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon predicted returns of rental items by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location.

122. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein the step of identifying, from the plurality of digital media rental items, a set of one or more digital media rental items that are not currently needed by one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within a specified time is made based upon actual loss or breakage of rental items.

123. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein the memory further comprises one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional step of determining the a set of one or more rental items that are not be needed by customers associated with the distribution location based upon a prediction.

124. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein the memory further comprises one or more additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the additional steps of:

receiving a second plurality of digital media rental items returned from the customers associated with the distribution location;

performing a third return processing on the second plurality of digital media rental items;

identifying, from the second plurality of digital media rental items and the set of one or more digital media rental items, a set of one or more other digital media rental items that are not currently needed by the one or more customers associated with the distribution location but that are expected to be needed by the one or more customers within the specified time; and

prior to the set of one or more other digital media rental items being rented to the one or more customers associated with the distribution location, performing a fourth return processing on set of one or more other digital media rental items.

125. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein:

the plurality of digital media rental items is a plurality of DVDs containing movies, and

the set of one or more digital media rental items is a set of one or more DVDs.

126. An apparatus as recited in claim 114, wherein:

the plurality of digital media rental items is a plurality of digital rental items containing games,

the set of one or more digital media rental items is a set of one or more digital rental items containing games.