System and method for communicating vending information
First Claim
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;
transmitting inventory data indicating whether the vendible media product is in the second vending inventory within the second vending apparatus at the second location; and
,wherein the second location is determined based on a proximity between the first and second locations.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:
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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; transmitting inventory data indicating whether the vendible media product is in the second vending inventory within the second vending apparatus at the second location; and
,wherein the second location is determined based on a proximity between the first and second locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising:
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a transaction network; a control center in communication with the transaction network; 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; and
,wherein the vending controller receives a location identifier from the user interface. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising:
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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.
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16. A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:
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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; transmitting inventory data indicating whether the vendible media product is in the second vending inventory within the second vending apparatus at the second location; and
,wherein the first and the second locations are determined based on a location identifier received from a user.
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17. A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:
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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; transmitting inventory data indicating whether the vendible media product is in the second vending inventory within the second vending apparatus at the second location; and
,transmitting an electronic mail message to a user-specified electronic mail address upon determining that the vendible media product is in a vending inventory.
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18. A system for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising:
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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 and wherein the location of the vending inventory is based on the location of the vending controller.
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19. A system for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising:
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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 and 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.
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Specification