System and method for optimizing utilization of inventory space for dispensable articles

• US 8,712,872 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail LLC (Chicken Soup For The Soul Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Thomas Franklin, Martinka, William, Polubinski, Jim Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARIKH, HARSHAD R
• Application Number:
  US13/414,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/22, 705/43
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A system and method for optimizing the utilization of inventory space for articles dispensable from an article dispensing machine is provided. A subset of articles in the article dispensing machine may be targeted for removal for various purposes. Based on a list of the subset of articles, the article dispensing machine may move the subset of articles from a storage unit to a predetermined area, such as a merchandising zone of the storage unit or a separate article removal bin. The subset of articles may be removed from the predetermined area, followed by loading of new articles to the predetermined area.

Claims

1. A method of utilization of inventory space for a plurality of articles in an article dispensing machine, the article dispensing machine comprising a user interface, a processor in communication with the user interface, and a non-removable storage unit for holding the plurality of articles in a plurality of slots, the method comprising:

receiving, at the processor, a list identifying a subset of the plurality of articles, the subset targeted for removal from the article dispensing machine, wherein the plurality of articles comprise consumer goods articles;

using the processor, causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the subset of the plurality of articles from a consumer inventory management section of the non-removable storage unit to a predetermined area of the article dispensing machine, wherein the predetermined area is reserved for non-consumer inventory management and the predetermined area is capable of holding the subset of the plurality of articles;

receiving a command signal at the processor through the user interface adapted to be initiated by a field service representative, the command signal for initiating the non-consumer inventory management of the article dispensing machine to manually remove the subset of the plurality of articles from the predetermined area to outside of the article dispensing machine and to manually load at least one article from outside of the article dispensing machine into the predetermined area;

receiving a removal confirmation signal at the processor through the user interface adapted to be initiated by the field service representative, the removal confirmation signal indicating that the subset of the plurality of articles has been removed from the predetermined area;

receiving a load confirmation signal at the processor through the user interface adapted to be initiated by the field service representative, the load confirmation signal indicating that the at least one article has been loaded into the predetermined area; and

subsequent to receiving the load confirmation signal, using the processor, causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the at least one article from the predetermined area to the non-removable storage unit, wherein the predetermined area is capable of holding the at least one article.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined area comprises a subset of the plurality of slots on one or more levels of the non-removable storage unit.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the subset of the plurality of articles targeted for removal comprises one or more of a thinned article, a damaged article, a fraudulent article, a wrong title article, or a do not rent (DNR) article;

the thinned article comprises a first article of the plurality of articles that is targeted for removal based on one or more of an upcoming expiration of a transaction eligibility cutoff date or a business decision; and

the DNR article comprises a second article of the plurality of articles that is targeted for removal based on an expiration of the transaction eligibility cutoff date.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined area further comprises an article removal bin and wherein causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the subset of the plurality of articles comprises:

using the processor, causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the thinned article to the subset of the plurality of slots; and

using the processor, causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move one or more of the damaged article, the fraudulent article, the wrong title article, or the DNR article to the article removal bin.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the subset of the plurality of articles comprises using the processor, causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move one or more of the thinned article, the damaged article, the fraudulent article, the wrong title article, or the DNR article to the subset of the plurality of slots.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined area further comprises an article removal bin and wherein causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the subset of the plurality of articles comprises using the processor, causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move one or more of the thinned article, the damaged article, the fraudulent article, the wrong title article, or the DNR article to the article removal bin.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting, from the processor to the user interface, one or more locations of the subset of the plurality of slots where the subset of the plurality of articles should be removed from, in response to receiving the command signal.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising using the processor, causing the article dispensing machine to automatically indicate, using a picker device, one or more locations of the subset of the plurality of slots where the subset of the plurality of articles should be removed from, in response to receiving the command signal.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting, from the processor to the user interface, one or more locations of the subset of the plurality of slots where the at least one article should be loaded into, in response to receiving the removal confirmation signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of articles comprises a plurality of media articles, the plurality of media articles comprising at least one of a digital video disc, a Blu-Ray disc, or a video game.

11. A computer readable medium for utilization of inventory space for a plurality of articles in an article dispensing machine, the article dispensing machine comprising a user interface, a processor in communication with the user interface, and a non-removable storage unit for holding the plurality of articles in a plurality of slots, the computer readable medium comprising:

a first code segment for receiving a list identifying a subset of the plurality of articles, the subset targeted for removal from the article dispensing machine, wherein the plurality of articles comprise consumer goods articles;

a second code segment for causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the subset of the plurality of articles from a consumer inventory management section of the non-removable storage unit to a predetermined area of the article dispensing machine, wherein the predetermined area is reserved for non-consumer inventory management and the predetermined area is capable of holding the subset of the plurality of articles;

a third code segment for receiving a command signal through the user interface adapted to be initiated by a field service representative, the command signal for initiating the non-consumer inventory management of the article dispensing machine to manually remove the subset of the plurality of articles from the predetermined area to outside of the article dispensing machine and to manually load at least one article from outside of the article dispensing machine into the predetermined area;

a fourth code segment for receiving a removal confirmation signal through the user interface adapted to be initiated by the field service representative, the removal confirmation signal indicating that the subset of the plurality of articles has been removed from the predetermined area;

a fifth code segment for receiving a load confirmation signal through the user interface adapted to be initiated by the field service representative, the load confirmation signal indicating that the at least one article has been loaded into the predetermined area; and

a sixth code segment for subsequent to receiving the load confirmation signal, causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the at least one article from the predetermined area to the non-removable storage unit, wherein the predetermined area is capable of holding the at least one article.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the predetermined area comprises a subset of the plurality of slots on one or more levels of the non-removable storage unit.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein:

the subset of the plurality of articles targeted for removal comprises one or more of a thinned article, a damaged article, a fraudulent article, a wrong title article, or a do not rent (DNR) article;

the thinned article comprises a first article of the plurality of articles that is targeted for removal based on one or more of an upcoming expiration of a transaction eligibility cutoff date or a business decision; and

the DNR article comprises a second article of the plurality of articles that is targeted for removal based on an expiration of the transaction eligibility cutoff date.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the predetermined area further comprises an article removal bin and wherein the second code segment for causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the subset of the plurality of articles comprises:

a seventh code segment for causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the thinned article to the subset of the plurality of slots; and

an eighth code segment for causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move one or more of the damaged article, the fraudulent article, the wrong title article, or the DNR article to the article removal bin.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the second code segment for causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the subset of the plurality of articles comprises an eleventh code segment for causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move one or more of the thinned article, the damaged article, the fraudulent article, the wrong title article, or the DNR article to the subset of the plurality of slots.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the predetermined area further comprises an article removal bin and wherein the second code segment for causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move the subset of the plurality of articles comprises a thirteenth code segment for causing the article dispensing machine to automatically move one or more of the thinned article, the damaged article, the fraudulent article, the wrong title article, or the DNR article to the article removal bin.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising a fourteenth code segment for transmitting, to the user interface, one or more locations of the subset of the plurality of slots where the subset of the plurality of articles should be removed from, in response to the third code segment for receiving the command signal.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising a fifteenth code segment for causing the article dispensing machine to automatically indicate, using a picker device, one or more locations of the subset of the plurality of slots where the subset of the plurality of articles should be removed from, in response to the third code segment for receiving the command signal.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising an eighteenth code segment for transmitting, to the user interface, one or more locations of the subset of the plurality of slots where the at least one article should be loaded into, in response to the fourth code segment for receiving the removal confirmation signal.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of articles comprises a plurality of media articles, the plurality of media articles comprising at least one of a digital video disc, a Blu-Ray disc, or a video game.