Controllable Kiosk Return Gate

• US 20120127307A1
• Filed: 11/23/2010
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Hassenzahl, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 9,472,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• 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 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: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader

Abstract

Techniques are described to substantially reduce a return of wrong DVD or return of a right DVD in an improperly sized DVD case to a DVD rental kiosk. An RFID tag on the DVD, as well as an RFID tag on the case, are sensed external to the kiosk. A controllable shutter normally closes the return slot and is driven open only upon detecting the correct predetermined condition or conditions. A supplemental camera may be employed to detect if a single DVD in its case is being placed proximate the return slot by the user. Help screens are employed as part of the above described system to reduce potential customer frustration from returning a DVD to the wrong DVD rental kiosk and the like.

Claims

1. Apparatus for reducing access to a rental kiosk by items not belonging to the rental kiosk comprising:

means for sensing an RFID tag on an item proximate a return slot, but external to the rental kiosk;

a processor for evaluating whether the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk;

a shutter which controls return of items through the return slot and which is driven by the processor to open and allow entry only if the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk; and

a display driven by the processor to inform a user to check the item if the processor determines the RFID tag is for an item not belonging to the rental kiosk.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for sensing comprises antennas arranged above and below the entry slot and an RFID reader.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the items comprise DVDs and wherein each DVD has an RFID tag thereon identifying the DVD as belonging to the rental kiosk.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the DVDs are rented in cases and each case also has an RFID tag.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for sensing is utilized to sense both the RFID tags on the DVDs and on the cases.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a camera arranged to optically view an entryway proximate the return slot.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the processor evaluates an output from the camera to determine if a user is presenting a single DVD in its case for return.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the processor does not drive the shutter open if the processor determines that the user is presenting more than a single DVD in its case for return.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor evaluates whether RFID tags for two items are being sensed by the means for sensing at the same time.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the display is driven by the processor to inform the user to present a single item at a time.

11. A method for reducing access to a rental kiosk by items not belonging to the rental kiosk comprising:

sensing an RFID tag on an item proximate a return slot, but external to the rental kiosk;

evaluating whether the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk utilizing a processor;

utilizing a shutter to control return of items through the return slot, the shutter being driven by the processor to open and allow entry only if the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk; and

informing a user to check the item if the processor determines the RFID tag is for an item not belonging to the rental kiosk utilizing a display driven by the processor.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising arranging antennas above and below the entry slot, and utilizing the antennas and an RFID reader for sensing the RFID tag.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the items comprise DVDs and wherein each DVD has an RFID tag thereon, and the method further comprises:

identifying the DVD as belonging to the rental kiosk.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the DVDs are rented in cases and each case also has an RFID tag, and the method further comprises:

sensing the RFID tags on the cases.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the shutter is driven open only upon sensing both an RFID tag for a DVD and an RFID tag on a case at the same time.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

optically viewing an entryway proximate the return slot utilizing a camera.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

evaluating an output from the camera to determine if a user is presenting a single DVD in its case for return utilizing the processor.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

determining that the user is presenting more than a single DVD in its case for return utilizing the processor and not driving the shutter open.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

evaluating utilizing the processor whether RFID tags for two items are being sensed at the same time.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

driving the display by the processor to inform the user to present a single item at a time.