System and method for communicating vending information

• US 20060265101A1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Kaplan, Gregg, Waring, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/004 Restocking arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/007 wherein the storage and dispensing mechanism are configurable in relation to the physical or geometrical properties of the articles to be stored or dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/04 in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/26 Endless bands
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/48 the storage containers or supports, e.g. magazine, being pivotally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/50 the storage containers or supports being rotatably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 : for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/005 : for the hiring of content carriers, e.g. of DVDs or CDs reverse vending for box-like objects such as videocassettes G07F7/069
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 : for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 : for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/069 : by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 : Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 : Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 : Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 : for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 : Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

A system and method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein is provided. The system comprises a transaction network, and a database in communication with the transaction network, wherein the database stores a plurality of digital video disc titles and a plurality of locations corresponding to the digital video disc titles. A first vending controller at a first location receives a user request signal for a digital video disc, and determines whether the digital video disc is in a vending inventory at the first vending location. A central controller receives a first signal from the first vending controller, wherein the first signal comprises a request for a location of the digital video disc. The central controller transmits a second signal to the first vending controller, wherein the second signal comprises the location of the digital video disc. A second vending controller at a second vending location receives a third signal from the central controller, wherein the third signal is an instruction to deliver the digital video disc to a specific user upon receipt of a specific user identification signal for the specific user.

Claims

1. A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:

receiving a vending request for the vendible media product at a first location;

determining whether the vendible media product is in a first vending inventory within a first vending apparatus at the first location;

determining whether the vendible media product is in a second vending inventory within a second vending apparatus at a second location, upon a determination that the vendible media product is not in the first vending inventory within the first vending apparatus at the first location; and

,

transmitting inventory data indicating whether the vendible media product is in the second vending inventory within the second vending apparatus at the second location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating an interface for a vending transaction at the first location; and

,

vending the vending product at the second location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second locations are determined based on a location identifier received from a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second location is determined based on a proximity between the first and second locations.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting an electronic mail message to a user-specified electronic mail address upon determining that the vendible media product is in a vending inventory.

6. A system for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising:

a transaction network;

a control center in communication with the transaction network; and

,

a vending controller in communication with the transaction network, wherein the vending controller receives a request from a user interface for the vendible media product, and receives from the control center data indicating a location of a vending inventory of a vending apparatus where the vendible media product is present.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the vending controller generates an interface for a vending transaction, and wherein the system further comprises a second vending controller for receiving a signal from the control center to only deliver the vendible media product to a specific user.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the vending controller receives a location identifier from the user interface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the location of the vending inventory is based on the location identifier.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the location of the vending inventory is based on the location of the vending controller.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the control center transmits an electronic mail message to a user-specified electronic mail address upon determining that the vendible media product is in the vending inventory.

12. A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:

receiving user information, wherein the user information comprises a requested vendible media product and a location identifier;

selecting a vending inventory based on the location identifier;

transmitting vending data to a first user interface, wherein the vending data comprises a vending location of the vending inventory;

receiving transaction data from a second user interface, wherein the transaction data comprises financial information; and

,

transmitting a vending signal to a vending controller at the vending location, wherein the signal instructs the vending controller to vend the vendible media product to a specific user.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the vendible media product is in the vending inventory;

receiving an electronic mail address from the user interface for a specific user; and

,

transmitting an electronic mail message to the electronic mail address upon a determination that the vendible media product is in the vending inventory.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the location of the vending inventory is selected based on the location identifier.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the steps of transmitting vending data to the user interface and receiving transaction data from the user interface are performed at least in part by an Internet browser application.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

identifying the vendible media product as being in a rented state.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the user information is magnetically or optically read from a credit card.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the vendible media product is a digital video disc.

16. A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal from a central controller, wherein the first signal comprises a vendible media product identifier and a user identifier;

receiving user identification information; and

,

transmitting a second signal, wherein the second signal instructs a vending controller to vend the vendible media product from a vending apparatus.

20. A system for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising:

a transaction network;

a database in communication with the transaction network, wherein the database stores a plurality of digital video disc titles and a plurality of locations corresponding to the digital video disc titles;

a first vending controller at a first vending location for receiving a user request signal for a digital video disc and for determining whether the digital video disc is in a vending inventory at the first vending location;

a central controller for receiving a first signal from the first vending controller, wherein the first signal comprises a request for a location of the digital video disc, and for transmitting a second signal to the first vending controller, wherein the second signal comprises the location of the digital video disc; and

,

a second vending controller at a second vending location for receiving a third signal from the central controller, wherein the third signal is an instruction to deliver the digital video disc to a specific user upon receipt of a specific user identification signal for the specific user.