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Abstract

According to a computer-implemented approach for renting items to customers, customers specify what items to rent using item selection criteria separate from deciding when to receive the specified items. According to the approach, customers provide item selection criteria to a provider provides the items indicated by the item selection criteria to customer over a delivery channel. The provider may be either centralized or distributed depending upon the requirements of a particular application. A “Max Out” approach allows up to a specified number of items to be rented simultaneously to customers. A “Max Turns” approach allows up to a specified number of item exchanges to occur during a specified period of time. The “Max Out” and “Max Turns” approaches may be used together or separately with a variety of subscription methodologies.

Citations

100 Claims

1. A method for renting items to customers, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent;
  
  providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria; and
  
  in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- - 2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit.
  - 3. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising if the total number of items provided to the customer within the specified period of time is less than the specified limit, then increasing the specified limit for another specified period of time.
  - 4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein
- 5. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising if a particular item from the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria is not available, then providing another item from the one or more items based upon the desired order indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 6. A method as recited in claim 1, whereinthe one or more item selection criteria specifies one or more preferred item attributes, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer up to a specified number of one or more items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria, and the step of providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer one or more other items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 7. A method as recited in claim 1,further comprising:
  - establishing, based upon the one or more item selection criteria, an item rental queue for the customer, wherein the item rental queue contains one or more entries that specify the one or more items that the customer desires to rent; and
    
    in response to receiving back any of the items provided to the customer, selecting the one or more other items from the item rental queue.
- 8. A method as recited in claim 1,further comprising in response to receiving a customer notification, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 9. A method as recited in claim 1,further comprising in response to expiration of a specified amount of time, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 10. A method as recited in claim 1,further comprising in response to a specified date being reached, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 11. A method as recited in claim 1,further comprising in response to a specified fee being received, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein items are provided to the customer by mail.
- 13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein items are provided to the customer by a delivery agent.
- 14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:
  - the one or more items are one or more movies, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more movie selection criteria, the step of receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent includes receiving one or more movie selection criteria that indicates one or more movies that a customer desires to rent, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, and the step of in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number includes in response to receiving any of the movies provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, wherein a total current number of movies provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
- 15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:
  - the one or more items are one or more games, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more game selection criteria, the step of receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent includes receiving one or more game selection criteria that indicates one or more games that a customer desires to rent, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, and the step of in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number includes in response to receiving any of the games provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, wherein a total current number of games provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.

16. A method for renting items to customers, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent;
  
  providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria; and
  
  in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- - 17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
  - 18. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising if the total number of items provided to the customer within the specified period of time is less than the specified limit, then increasing the specified limit for another specified period of time.
  - 19. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein
- 20. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising if a particular item from the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria is not available, then providing another item from the one or more items based upon the desired order indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 21. A method as recited in claim 16, whereinthe one or more item selection criteria specifies one or more preferred item attributes, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer up to a specified number of one or more items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria, and the step of providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer one or more other items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 22. A method as recited in claim 16,further comprising:
  - establishing, based upon the one or more item selection criteria, an item rental queue for the customer, wherein the item rental queue contains one or more entries that specify the one or more items that the customer desires to rent; and
    
    in response to receiving back any of the items provided to the customer, selecting the one or more other items from the item rental queue.
- 23. A method as recited in claim 16,further comprising in response to receiving a customer notification, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 24. A method as recited in claim 16,further comprising in response to expiration of a specified amount of time, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 25. A method as recited in claim 16,further comprising in response to a specified date being reached, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 26. A method as recited in claim 16,further comprising in response to a specified fee being received, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 27. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein items are provided to the customer by mail.
- 28. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein items are provided to the customer by a delivery agent.
- 29. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein:
  - the one or more items are one or more movies, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more movie selection criteria, the step of receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent includes receiving one or more movie selection criteria that indicates one or more movies that a customer desires to rent, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, and the step of in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit includes in response to receiving any of the movies provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, wherein a total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit.
- 30. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein:
  - the one or more items are one or more games, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more game selection criteria, the step of receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent includes receiving one or more game selection criteria that indicates one or more games that a customer desires to rent, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, and the step of in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit includes in response to receiving any of the games provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, wherein a total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit.

31. A method for renting movies to customers, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- receiving one or more movie selection criteria from a customer that indicates one or more movies that the customer desires to rent;
  
  providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria; and
  
  in response to a return of any of the movies provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, wherein a total current number of movies provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
- View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
- - 32. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein
- 33. A method as recited in claim 31, whereinthe one or more movie selection criteria specifies movie attributes preferred by the customer, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies that have the specified movie attributes preferred by the customer, and the step of providing to the customer one or more other movies specified by the one or more movie selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer one or more other movies that have the specified movie attributes preferred by the customer.
- 34. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein movies are provided to the customer by mail.
- 35. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein movies are provided to the customer by a delivery agent.

36. A computer-readable medium for renting items to customers, the computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the computer-implemented steps of:
- receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent;
  
  providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria; and
  
  in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
- View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
- - 37. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36, wherein the total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit.
  - 38. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 37, further comprising one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the step of if the total number of items provided to the customer within the specified period of time is less than the specified limit, then increasing the specified limit for another specified period of time.
  - 39. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36, wherein
- 40. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 39, further comprising one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the step of if a particular item from the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria is not available, then providing another item from the one or more items based upon the desired order indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 41. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36, whereinthe one or more item selection criteria specifies one or more preferred item attributes, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer up to a specified number of one or more items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria, and the step of providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer one or more other items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 42. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36,further comprising:
  - establishing, based upon the one or more item selection criteria, an item rental queue for the customer, wherein the item rental queue contains one or more entries that specify the one or more items that the customer desires to rent; and
    
    in response to receiving back any of the items provided to the customer, selecting the one or more other items from the item rental queue.
- 43. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36,further comprising in response to receiving a customer notification, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 44. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36,further comprising in response to expiration of a specified amount of time, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 45. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36,further comprising in response to a specified date being reached, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 46. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36,further comprising in response to a specified fee being received, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 47. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36, wherein items are provided to the customer by mail.
- 48. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36, wherein items are provided to the customer by a delivery agent.
- 49. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36,wherein:
  - the one or more items are one or more movies, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more movie selection criteria, the step of receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent includes receiving one or more movie selection criteria that indicates one or more movies that a customer desires to rent, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, and the step of in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number includes in response to receiving any of the movies provided to the customer providing to the customer one or more other movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, wherein a total current number of movies provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
- 50. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 36,wherein:
  - the one or more items are one or more games, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more game selection criteria, the step of receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent includes receiving one or more game selection criteria that indicates one or more games that a customer desires to rent, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, and the step of in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number includes in response to receiving any of the games provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, wherein a total current number of games provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.

51. An apparatus for renting items to customers comprising:
- one or more processors; and
  
  a memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, the memory including one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of;
  
  receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent;
  
  providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria; and
  
  in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
- View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
- - 52. An apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein the total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit.
  - 53. An apparatus as recited in claim 52, wherein the memory further includes one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the step of if the total number of items provided to the customer within the specified period of time is less than the specified limit, then increasing the specified limit for another specified period of time.
  - 54. An apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein
- 55. An apparatus as recited in claim 54, wherein the memory further includes one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the step of if a particular item from the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria is not available, then providing another item from the one or more items based upon the desired order indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 56. An apparatus as recited in claim 51, whereinthe one or more item selection criteria specifies one or more preferred item attributes, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer up to a specified number of one or more items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria, and the step of providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer one or more other items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 57. An apparatus as recited in claim 51,further comprising:
  - establishing, based upon the one or more item selection criteria, an item rental queue for the customer, wherein the item rental queue contains one or more entries that specify the one or more items that the customer desires to rent; and
    
    in response to receiving back any of the items provided to the customer, selecting the one or more other items from the item rental queue.
- 58. An apparatus as recited in claim 51,further comprising in response to receiving a customer notification, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 59. An apparatus as recited in claim 51,further comprising in response to expiration of a specified amount of time, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 60. An apparatus as recited in claim 51,further comprising in response to a specified date being reached, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 61. An apparatus as recited in claim 51,further comprising in response to a specified fee being received, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 62. An apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein items are provided to the customer by mail.
- 63. An apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein items are provided to the customer by a delivery agent.
- 64. An apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein:
  - the one or more items are one or more movies, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more movie selection criteria, the step of receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent includes receiving one or more movie selection criteria that indicates one or more movies that a customer desires to rent, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, and the step of in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number includes in response to receiving any of the movies provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, wherein a total current number of movies provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
- 65. An apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein:
  - the one or more items are one or more games, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more game selection criteria, the step of receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent includes receiving one or more game selection criteria that indicates one or more games that a customer desires to rent, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, and the step of in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number includes in response to receiving any of the games provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, wherein a total current number of games provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.

66. An apparatus for renting items to customers comprising an item rental mechanism configured to:
- receive one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent;
  
  provide to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria; and
  
  in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
- View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
- - 67. An apparatus as recited in claim 66, wherein the total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit.
  - 68. An apparatus as recited in claim 67, wherein the item rental mechanism is further configured to if the total number of items provided to the customer within the specified period of time is less than the specified limit, then increase the specified limit for another specified period of time.
  - 69. An apparatus as recited in claim 66, wherein
- 70. An apparatus as recited in claim 69, wherein the item rental mechanism is further configured to if a particular item from the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria is not available, then providing another item from the one or more items based upon the desired order indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 71. An apparatus as recited in claim 66, whereinthe one or more item selection criteria specifies one or more preferred item attributes, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer up to a specified number of one or more items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria, and the step of providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer one or more other items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 72. An apparatus as recited in claim 66,further comprising:
  - establishing, based upon the one or more item selection criteria, an item rental queue for the customer, wherein the item rental queue contains one or more entries that specify the one or more items that the customer desires to rent; and
    
    in response to receiving back any of the items provided to the customer, selecting the one or more other items from the item rental queue.
- 73. An apparatus as recited in claim 66,further comprising in response to receiving a customer notification, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 74. An apparatus as recited in claim 66,further comprising in response to expiration of a specified amount of time, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 75. An apparatus as recited in claim 66,further comprising in response to a specified date being reached, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 76. An apparatus as recited in claim 66,further comprising in response to a specified fee being received, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 77. An apparatus as recited in claim 66, wherein items are provided to the customer by mail.
- 78. An apparatus as recited in claim 66, wherein items are provided to the customer by a delivery agent.
- 79. An apparatus as recited in claim 66, wherein:
  - the item rental mechanism is a movie rental mechanism, the one or more items are one or more movies, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more movie selection criteria, the movie rental mechanism is further configured to receive one or more movie selection criteria that indicates one or more movies that a customer desires to rent, the movie rental mechanism is further configured to provide to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, and the movie rental mechanism is further configured to in response to receiving any of the movies provided to the customer, provide to the customer one or more other movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, wherein a total current number of movies provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
- 80. An apparatus as recited in claim 66, wherein:
  - the one or more items are one or more games, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more game selection criteria, the movie rental mechanism is further configured to receive one or more game selection criteria that indicates one or more games that a customer desires to rent, the movie rental mechanism is further configured to provide to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, and the movie rental mechanism is further configured to in response to receiving any of the games provided to the customer, provide to the customer one or more other games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, wherein a total current number of games provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.

81. A computer-readable medium for renting items to customers, the computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the computer-implemented steps of:
- receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent;
  
  providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria; and
  
  in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, one or more item delivery criteria being satisfied, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit.
- View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
- - 82. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81, wherein the total current number of items provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
  - 83. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81, further comprising if the total number of items provided to the customer within the specified period of time is less than the specified limit, then increasing the specified limit for another specified period of time.
  - 84. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81, wherein
- 85. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 84, further comprising if a particular item from the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria is not available, then providing another item from the one or more items based upon the desired order indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 86. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81, whereinthe one or more item selection criteria specifies one or more preferred item attributes, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer up to a specified number of one or more items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria, and the step of providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer one or more other items that have one or more of the one or more preferred item attributes specified by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 87. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81,further comprising:
  - establishing, based upon the one or more item selection criteria, an item rental queue for the customer, wherein the item rental queue contains one or more entries that specify the one or more items that the customer desires to rent; and
    
    in response to receiving back any of the items provided to the customer, selecting the one or more other items from the item rental queue.
- 88. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81,further comprising in response to receiving a customer notification, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 89. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81,further comprising in response to expiration of a specified amount of time, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 90. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81,further comprising in response to a specified date being reached, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 91. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81,further comprising in response to a specified fee being received, providing to the customer a second set of one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria.
- 92. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81, wherein items are provided to the customer by mail.
- 93. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81, wherein items are provided to the customer by a delivery agent.
- 94. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81,wherein:
  - the one or more items are one or more movies, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more movie selection criteria, the step of receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent includes receiving one or more movie selection criteria that indicates one or more movies that a customer desires to rent, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, and the step of in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit includes in response to receiving any of the movies provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, wherein a total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit.
- 95. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 81,wherein:
  - the one or more items are one or more games, the one or more item selection criteria are one or more game selection criteria, the step of receiving one or more item selection criteria that indicates one or more items that a customer desires to rent includes receiving one or more game selection criteria that indicates one or more games that a customer desires to rent, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria includes providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, and the step of in response to receiving any of the items provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other items indicated by the one or more item selection criteria, wherein a total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit includes in response to receiving any of the games provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other games indicated by the one or more game selection criteria, wherein a total number of items provided to the customer within a specified period of time does not exceed a specified limit.

96. A computer-readable medium for renting movies to customers, the computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the computer-implemented steps of:
- receiving one or more movie selection criteria from a customer that indicates one or more movies that the customer desires to rent;
  
  providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria; and
  
  in response to a return of any of the movies provided to the customer, providing to the customer one or more other movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria, wherein a total current number of movies provided to the customer does not exceed the specified number.
- View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99, 100)
- - 97. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 96, wherein
- 98. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 96, whereinthe one or more movie selection criteria specifies movie attributes preferred by the customer, the step of providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies indicated by the one or more movie selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer up to a specified number of the one or more movies that have the specified movie attributes preferred by the customer, and the step of providing to the customer one or more other movies specified by the one or more movie selection criteria includes automatically selecting and providing to the customer one or more other movies that have the specified movie attributes preferred by the customer.
- 99. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 96, wherein movies are provided to the customer by mail.
- 100. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 96, wherein movies are provided to the customer by a delivery agent.

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Method and apparatus for renting items

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Method and apparatus for renting items

First Claim

2 Assignments

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Litigations

0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

Citations

100 Claims

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Solutions

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