Compact disc recorder/vending machine

• US 5,949,688 A
• Filed: 06/11/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Allan Forkum, Shauna Renee Montoya
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Allan Forkum, Shauna Renee Montoya
• Inventors: Montoya, Shauna Renee, Forkum, Jeffrey Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Terrell, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bower, K W
• Application Number:
  US08/872,670
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 221/45, 221/3, 206/308.1, 364/479.01, 364/479.03, 364/479.08, 364/479.09, 364/479.05
• US Class Current: 700/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/40 Identifying or analogous means applied to or incorporated in the record carrier and not intended for visual display simultaneously with the playing-back of the record carrier, e.g. label, leader, photograph
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

A compact disc ("CD") vending system that allows a purchaser to compile a series of desired tracks, and correctly write these to a compact disc. The invention also enables the customer to customize the jacket or surface of the compact disc with a desired slogan or graphic. Included are an ordering computer, a viewing computer, a keyboard, a payment slot that can take either cash, credit or debit cards, a data source, a CD recording unit, and a printing unit that can print words or graphics on the surface of CDs and their sleeves. The data source unit contains the information to be recorded onto the surface of a CD. The viewing computer will provide access to available titles, so that the user can watch and listen to them before making a selection. The ordering computer enables the user to place his or her order by entering its title or catalog number and any other information that may be required for the production of the CD. The ordering computer has a hard drive or other storage device containing information on available selections. In the first embodiment of the invention, the data source is an internal high capacity data storage system, containing files with all available selections. In the second embodiment of the invention, the data source is a CD jukebox. In the third embodiment of the invention, an outside host system contains the data source which is accessed using a high speed modem.

Claims

1. A digital media vending system, comprising:

a source supply of target media blanks;

a source supply of blank sleeves for said media blanks;

a high capacity data storage device for digitally storing a plurality of data selections;

previewing processor means for accessing said plurality of data selections and displaying said plurality of data selections in an audiovisual format prior to ordering chosen data selections;

encoding means for replicating said chosen data selections from said high capacity storage device on a target media;

printer means for printing selected indicia on a surface of said target media and a sleeve of said target media; and

processing means for ordering said chosen data selections and transferring said chosen data selections from said high capacity storage device to said encoding means.

2. The digital media vending system according to claim 1, said previewing processor means including a touchscreen for selecting and displaying said chosen data selections;

and

said processing means including a touchscreen and a keyboard for selecting and transferring said chosen data selections from said high capacity data storage device to said target media.

3. The digital media vending system according to claim 1, including exchange means for executing financial payment transactions.

4. The digital media vending system according to claim 1, wherein said printer means includes a silk screen printer for printing graphics on labels said target media.

5. The digital media vending system according to claim 1, wherein said printer means includes a sleeve printer for printing selected graphics on said sleeve of the target media.