System and method for vending vendible media products
First Claim
1. A method for vending a plurality of different identities of vendible products from a product vending machine having a product storage unit, and a controller, the plurality of different identities of products stored within the product storage unit, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first user input command;
determining whether a discount offer notification is pending for at least one of the identities of products by querying a database comprising vending inventory data including a total number of each of the plurality of different identities of products within the product storage unit;
if the discount offer notification is pending for a first identity of the plurality of identities of products, determining a first total number of products of the first identity within the storage unit and determining whether the first total number exceeds a predetermined threshold which is greater than 1;
if the first total number exceeds the predetermined threshold, designating and exceeded number the first total number to be vended at a discount price, wherein the exceeded number is the first total number reduced by the predetermined threshold;
generating a communication for display on a user interface which is structured to communicate an offer for the first identity of products at the-discount price;
receiving a second user input command to vend the first identity of the plurality of the identities of products at the discount price;
under control of the controller, vending the one product; and
repeating at least the previous three steps until the first total number no longer exceeds the predetermined threshold.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for vending digital video discs is provided. A request is received from a user to complete a rental transaction for a first digital video disc. A database is queried to determine whether a quantity of a set of second digital video discs in a vending inventory exceeds a predetermined threshold. A discount offer notification is presented to the user to rent one of the set of second digital video discs, upon determining that the quantity of the set of second digital video discs exceeds the predetermined threshold. A second request from the user to rent one of the second set of digital video discs is received, and one of the set of second digital video discs is vended to the user.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for vending a plurality of different identities of vendible products from a product vending machine having a product storage unit, and a controller, the plurality of different identities of products stored within the product storage unit, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first user input command; determining whether a discount offer notification is pending for at least one of the identities of products by querying a database comprising vending inventory data including a total number of each of the plurality of different identities of products within the product storage unit; if the discount offer notification is pending for a first identity of the plurality of identities of products, determining a first total number of products of the first identity within the storage unit and determining whether the first total number exceeds a predetermined threshold which is greater than 1; if the first total number exceeds the predetermined threshold, designating and exceeded number the first total number to be vended at a discount price, wherein the exceeded number is the first total number reduced by the predetermined threshold; generating a communication for display on a user interface which is structured to communicate an offer for the first identity of products at the-discount price; receiving a second user input command to vend the first identity of the plurality of the identities of products at the discount price; under control of the controller, vending the one product; and repeating at least the previous three steps until the first total number no longer exceeds the predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for vending a plurality of different identities of vendible products, comprising:
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a product vending machine having a product storage unit, a vending controller, a product selector arm, and a first user interface screen for receiving a first user input command, wherein the plurality of different identities of products are stored within the product storage unit, wherein the vending controller determines whether a discount offer notification is pending for at least one of the identities of products by querying a database comprising vending inventory data including a total number of each of the plurality of different identities of products within the product storage unit, and wherein if the discount offer notification is pending for a first identity of the plurality of identities of products, the vending controller determines a first total number of products of the first identity within the storage unit and determines whether the first total number exceeds a predetermined threshold which is greater than 1; wherein if the first total number exceeds the predetermined threshold, the vending controller designates an exceeded number of the first total number to be vended at a discount price, wherein the exceeded number is the first total number reduced by the predetermined threshold; a second user interface screen for offering a product at a discount price, wherein the vending controller receives via the second user interface screen, a second user input command to vend the first identity of the plurality of identities of vendible products at the discount price; and
,wherein the controller moves the selector arm proximate one product of the first identity of the plurality of identities of products, and directs the selector arm to select the one product and to vend the one product using the selector arm. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification