Article vending machine and method for authenticating received articles

• US 9,582,954 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/028,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20140018956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 700/232, 700/231, 700/236, 700/237, 700/244, 700/225
• 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

An article dispensing machine, system and method for authenticating an article returned to the article dispensing machine and an article for use in such a machine and system are disclosed herein. The returned article comprises an authentication code disposed on the surface of the returned article and a layer that is substantially opaque in visible light and at least partially overlays the authentication code. The article dispensing machine comprises a light source for illuminating the surface of the returned article so that the authentication code is visible through the layer, an image capture device for capturing an image of the authentication code when the surface is illuminated, and a processor for comparing the captured image to a master authentication code.

Claims

1. An article dispensing machine for authenticating a returned article, the article dispensing machine comprising:

a receptacle for receiving the returned article, the returned article comprising an authentication code disposed on a surface of the returned article and a layer substantially opaque in visible light and at least partially overlaying the authentication code;

an article sensor configured to detect a presence of the returned article;

a light source in communication with the article sensor and configured to illuminate the surface of the returned article with electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined range in response to the article sensor detecting the presence of the returned article, wherein when the surface is illuminated, the authentication code is visible through the layer;

an image capture device configured to capture an image of the authentication code when the surface is illuminated; and

a processor in communication with the image capture device, wherein the processor is configured to identify the authentication code from the image and compare the authentication code that was identified to a master authentication code.

2. The article dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein the authentication code is multiplicatively disposed on the surface of the returned article, and wherein the image capture device is configured to capture multiple images of one or more of the multiplicatively disposed authentication codes.

3. The article dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein if the processor cannot identify the authentication code from the image, the processor is configured to:

access an additional image of the authentication code captured by the image capture device;

identify the authentication code from the additional image; and

compare the authentication code that was identified from the additional image to the master authentication code.

4. The article dispensing machine of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to repeat the identification and the comparison for a predetermined number of images.

5. The article dispensing machine of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to repeat the identification and the comparison until a predetermined time period is reached.

6. The article dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein when the surface is illuminated, an article identifier disposed on the surface of the returned article is also visible through the layer.

7. The article dispensing machine of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify the article identifier from the image; and

update an inventory database according to the article identifier.

8. The article dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is in an infrared spectrum, the authentication code is comprised of a carbon-containing ink visible in the infrared spectrum, and the layer is comprised of a substantially carbon-free ink.

9. A method of authenticating a returned article, the method comprising:

detecting, by an article sensor, a presence of the returned article via a receptacle, the returned article comprising an authentication code disposed on a surface of the returned article, and a layer substantially opaque in visible light and at least partially overlaying the authentication code;

illuminating, by a light source in response to the detecting by the article sensor, the surface of the returned article with electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined range, wherein when the surface is illuminated, the authentication code is visible through the layer;

capturing, by an image capture device, an image of the authentication code when the surface is illuminated;

identifying, by a processor, the authentication code from the image; and

comparing the authentication code that was identified to a master authentication code.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the authentication code is multiplicatively disposed on the surface of the returned article, and wherein capturing the image comprises capturing multiple images of one or more of the multiplicatively disposed authentication codes.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein if the processor cannot identify the authentication code from the image, the method further comprises:

accessing an additional image of the authentication code captured by the image capture device;

identifying the authentication code from the additional image; and

comparing the authentication code that was identified from the additional image to the master authentication code.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

repeating the identifying and the comparing for a predetermined number of images.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

repeating the identifying and the comparing until a predetermined time period is reached.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein when the surface is illuminated, an article identifier disposed on the surface of the returned article is also visible through the layer.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying, by the processor, the article identifier from the image; and

updating an inventory database according to the article identifier.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined range is in an infrared spectrum, and wherein the authentication code is comprised of a carbon-containing ink visible in the infrared spectrum, and the layer is comprised of a substantially carbon-free ink.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the authentication code is multiplicatively disposed on the surface of the returned article, and wherein the image capture device captures multiple images of one or more of the multiplicatively disposed authentication codes.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, for execution on a computer processor and for performing steps for authenticating a returned article, the steps comprising:

detecting, by an article sensor, a receipt of the returned article via a receptacle, the returned article comprising an authentication code disposed on a surface of the returned article, and a layer substantially opaque in visible light and at least partially overlaying the authentication code;

configuring a light source to illuminate, in response to the article sensor detecting the receipt of the returned article, the surface of the returned article with electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined range, wherein when the surface is illuminated, the authentication code is visible through the layer;

configuring an image capture device to capture an image of the authentication code when the surface is illuminated;

identifying the authentication code from the image; and

comparing the authentication code that was identified to a master authentication code.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein if the authentication code cannot be identified from the image, the steps further comprise:

accessing an additional image of the authentication code captured by the image capture device;

identifying the authentication code from the additional image; and

comparing the authentication code that was identified from the additional image to the master authentication code.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the steps further comprise:

repeating the identifying and the comparing for a predetermined number of images.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the steps further comprise:

repeating the identifying and the comparing until a predetermined time period is reached.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the predetermined range is in an infrared spectrum, and wherein the authentication code is comprised of a carbon-containing ink visible in the infrared spectrum and the layer is comprised of a substantially carbon-free ink.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the captured image is at least one of digital data representing the captured image or a digital file.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the steps further comprise:

sending a signal from the article sensor to the light source and the image capture device to respectively activate the light source and the image capture device.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the steps further comprise:

turning off the light source and the image capture device after a predetermined time interval.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the steps further comprise:

sending a first signal from the article sensor to the processor indicating the presence of the returned article; and

sending a second signal from the processor to the light source and the image capture device to respectively activate the light source and the image capture device.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the steps further comprise:

turning off the light source and the image capture device after a predetermined time interval.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the steps further comprise:

turning off the light source and the image capture device after a predetermined number of images have been captured.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the steps further comprise:

turning off the light source and the image capture device after authenticating the authentication code.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the authentication code is a data matrix.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein when the surface is illuminated, an article identifier disposed on the surface of the returned article is also visible through the layer, and the image captured by the image capture device further includes the article identifier.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the steps further comprise:

identifying the article identifier from the image; and

updating an inventory database according to the article identifier.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the article identifier is a serial number that identifies the returned article.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the authentication code and the article identifier are included in a data matrix.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the authentication code and the article identifier are printed in a carbon-containing ink that is visible in the predetermined range.