Secondary media return system and method

• US 9,569,911 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2010
• 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: Kuehnrich, Franz, Palmer, Jonathan, Leiwe, Dan, Martinka, William, Polubinski, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US12/861,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20120046786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,367 Days
• Field of Search: 700/232, 700/236
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/005 for the hiring of content carriers, e.g. of DVDs or CDs reverse vending for box-like objects such as videocassettes G07F7/069
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/069 by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books

Abstract

A method for facilitating a rapid return of a article to an article dispensing machine is provided. The article dispensing machine comprises a first user interface portion having the first user interface, a second user interface portion having a second user interface, and an article transfer portion for vending and returning articles. The method includes receiving from a first user interface a first request to return the article, determining whether the article transfer portion is available to enable the return of the article, and based on the availability determination, displaying through a first user interface screen associated with the first user interface portion information indicating whether to proceed with the return of the article or to wait for a notification to proceed with the return.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a return of an article by a user to an article dispensing machine, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a first user interface a signal indicative of a first request to return the article to the article dispensing machine, wherein the article dispensing machine comprises a first user interface portion having the first user interface, a second user interface portion having a second user interface, and at least one article transfer portion configured to enable distribution of vended articles and receipt of returned articles through an port opening of the article dispensing machine wherein the article dispensing machine includes fewer article transfer portions port openings than user interfaces;

determining whether the article transfer portion is available to enable the return of the article through the opening; and

based on the availability determination of the article transfer portion, displaying through a first user interface screen associated with the first user interface portion information indicating to the user whether to proceed with the return of the vendible article or to wait for a notification to proceed with the return, wherein the displayed information to wait for the notification is generated upon determination that the article transfer portion is processing a second request to vend or return another article through the port opening received from the second user interface portion prior to the receipt of the first request wherein the article is unidentified before it is received into the dispensing machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface is an actuable button.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface portion is controlled by

first controller and the second user interface portion is controlled by a second controller.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first controller and the second controller monitor the return of media articles initiated by the first and second user interface portions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving another signal indicative of a detection of a light lasting longer than a predetermined period of time.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

triggering an unblocking of the opening to permit insertion of the article.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the returned article once received through the opening.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

updating a data record indicating that the identified article has been returned.

9. A system for facilitating a rapid return of an article to an article dispensing machine, comprising:

a first user interface for receiving a first user input command to return the article;

a first controller for determining whether an article return assembly is available for processing the first user input command;

a first user interface screen for informing the first user whether to proceed with the article return or to wait for a notification before proceeding with the return wherein the article is unidentified before it is received into the dispensing machine;

a second user interface screen presenting the notification to the user upon determination by the first controller that the article return assembly is available;

a second user interface for receiving a second user input command to vend or return another article;

a second controller for processing a signal indicative of the second user input command received by the second user interface prior to the receipt of the first user input command by the first user interface; and

at least one article transfer portion configured to enable distribution of vended articles and receipt of returned articles through an port opening of the article dispensing machine wherein the system includes fewer article transfer portions port openings than user interfaces.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first user input command is an actuation of a button associated with a first user interface portion.