Controllable kiosk return gate
First Claim
1. Apparatus for reducing access to a rental kiosk by items not belonging to the rental kiosk comprising:
- a delivery and return slot for delivery and return of rental items;
means for sensing an RFID tag on an item proximate the delivery and return slot in an entryway surrounding the delivery and return slot which is external to the rental kiosk, said means for sensing arranged external to the delivery and return slot;
a shutter which controls return of items through the delivery and return slot;
a processor for evaluating whether the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk while the shutter is closed and the item under evaluation is external to the rental kiosk and which drives the shutter open and allows entry only if the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk; and
a display driven by the processor to inform a user to check the item if the processor determines the RFID tag is for an item not belonging to the rental kiosk.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are described to substantially reduce a return of wrong DVD or return of a right DVD in an improperly sized DVD case to a DVD rental kiosk. An RFID tag on the DVD, as well as an RFID tag on the case, are sensed external to the kiosk. A controllable shutter normally closes the return slot and is driven open only upon detecting the correct predetermined condition or conditions. A supplemental camera may be employed to detect if a single DVD in its case is being placed proximate the return slot by the user. Help screens are employed as part of the above described system to reduce potential customer frustration from returning a DVD to the wrong DVD rental kiosk and the like.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for reducing access to a rental kiosk by items not belonging to the rental kiosk comprising:
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a delivery and return slot for delivery and return of rental items; means for sensing an RFID tag on an item proximate the delivery and return slot in an entryway surrounding the delivery and return slot which is external to the rental kiosk, said means for sensing arranged external to the delivery and return slot; a shutter which controls return of items through the delivery and return slot; a processor for evaluating whether the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk while the shutter is closed and the item under evaluation is external to the rental kiosk and which drives the shutter open and allows entry only if the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk; and a display driven by the processor to inform a user to check the item if the processor determines the RFID tag is for an item not belonging to the rental kiosk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10)
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6. Apparatus for reducing access to a rental kiosk by items not belonging to the rental kiosk comprising:
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means for sensing an RFID tag on an item proximate a return slot, but external to the rental kiosk; a processor for evaluating whether the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk; a shutter which controls return of items through the return slot and which is driven by the processor to open and allow entry only if the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk; a display driven by the processor to inform a user to check the item if the processor determines the RFID tag is for an item not belonging to the rental kiosk; and a camera arranged to optically view an entryway surrounding the return slot and external to the rental kiosk. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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11. A method for reducing access to a rental kiosk by items not belonging to the rental kiosk comprising:
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sensing an RFID tag on an item proximate a return slot while the item is external to the rental kiosk utilizing a sensor external to the return slot; evaluating whether the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk utilizing a processor; utilizing a shutter to control return of items through the return slot, the shutter being driven by the processor to open and allow entry only if the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk; and informing a user to check the item if the processor determines the RFID tag is for an item not belonging to the rental kiosk utilizing a display driven by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification