Automated business system and method of vending and returning a consumer product

• US 8,086,349 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Blust, Donald, Driscoll, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/328,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20090143901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/232, 700/236, 700/237, 700/241, 700/242, 700/243
• US Class Current: 700/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/069 by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

System and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process.

Claims

1. A method of servicing multiple users of a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

a first user selecting a first disc-based media at the disc-based media system;

a second user selecting a second-disc based media at the disc-based media system at the same time as the first user selected the first disc-based media;

determining an order in which to service the first and second users;

retrieving the first and second disc-based media based on the order; and

dispensing the first disc-based media to the first user and the second disc-based media to the second user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first disc-based media and the second disc-based media are DVDs.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first disc-based media and the second disc-based media have the same title.

4. A method of servicing multiple users of a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

receiving a first selection of a first disc-based media from a first user during a first transaction by the disc-based media system;

receiving a second selection of a second disc-based media from a second user during a second transaction and during the first transaction by the disc-based media system;

determining an order in which to service the first and second users;

retrieving the first and second disc-based media based on the order; and

dispensing the first disc-based media to the first user and the second disc-based media to the second user.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first disc-based media and the second disc-based media are DVDs.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first disc-based media and the second disc-based media have the same title.

7. A method of servicing multiple users of a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

performing a first transaction involving a first disc-based media selected by a first user by the disc-based media system;

performing a second transaction involving a second disc-based media selected by a second user by the disc-based media system during the first transaction;

determining an order in which to service the first and second users;

retrieving the first and second disc-based media based on the order; and

dispensing the first disc-based media to the first user and the second disc-based media to the second user.

8. A method of servicing multiple users of a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

receiving a first selection of a first disc-based media from a first user by the disc-based media system;

receiving a second selection of a second disc-based media from a second user at the same time as the first selection by the disc-based media system;

determining an order in which to service the first and second users;

retrieving the first and second disc-based media based on the order; and

dispensing the first disc-based media to the first user and the second disc-based media to the second user.