System for an automated dispensing and retrieval kiosk for recorded media
First Claim
1. A kiosk for an automatically dispensing and receiving recorded media, the kiosk comprising:
- a plurality of circular stacked shelves, each shelf configured for storing a plurality of recorded media;
at least one customer interface for interacting with a customer to allow selection, delivery and return of one or more of the recorded media;
a media output;
a media input;
a robotic element configured to (a) deliver selected recorded media from the stacked shelves to the media output and (b) deliver returned recorded media from the media input to the stacked shelves; and
a controller including processing circuitry and memory, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the controller to control operation of the robotic element, wherein the controller is further configured to receive maintenance instructions from a remote central administrator that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the controller to test the performance of the robotic element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for an automated dispensing and retrieval kiosk for recorded media includes a kiosk having a plurality of vertical racks arranged in a circular formation, each vertical rack configured for storing a plurality of recorded media. A customer interface allows a customer to select or return a recorded media. A robotic element delivers the selected recorded media from the vertical racks to a media output, at the customer interface. The element also delivers a returned recorded media from a media input at the customer interface to the vertical racks. A computer controls operation of the kiosk, and an internet interface connects the kiosk to the Internet. The kiosk may communicate with a central server and/or other kiosks of a group, to locate a requested recorded media within a kiosk of the group. Once located within the group, the requested media may be reserved for customer pick-up.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A kiosk for an automatically dispensing and receiving recorded media, the kiosk comprising:
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a plurality of circular stacked shelves, each shelf configured for storing a plurality of recorded media; at least one customer interface for interacting with a customer to allow selection, delivery and return of one or more of the recorded media; a media output; a media input; a robotic element configured to (a) deliver selected recorded media from the stacked shelves to the media output and (b) deliver returned recorded media from the media input to the stacked shelves; and a controller including processing circuitry and memory, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the controller to control operation of the robotic element, wherein the controller is further configured to receive maintenance instructions from a remote central administrator that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the controller to test the performance of the robotic element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A kiosk for automatically dispensing and receiving recorded media, the kiosk comprising:
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a plurality of circular, stacked shelves, each shelf configured to store a plurality of recorded media; a customer interface configured to interact with a customer to allow selection, delivery and return of one or more of the recorded media; a media input; a media output; a robotic element configured to (a) deliver selected recorded media from the stacked shelves to the media output and (b) deliver returned recorded media from the media input to the stacked shelves, wherein the robotic element includes a gripping assembly configured to grasp a case containing the recorded media; and a controller in communication with the robotic element, the controller including processing circuitry and memory, the memory having first instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the controller to move the gripping assembly horizontally and vertically relative to the stacked shelves, the memory further having second instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the controller to test the performance of the robotic element. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification