Media life cycle management system

• US 10,430,767 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arch Holdings, LP
• Original Assignee: Arch Holdings, LP
• Inventors: Curtis, James R., Laspia, III, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Obaid, Fateh M
• Application Number:
  US15/604,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20180341929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

A system and method for media destruction utilizing a kiosk. The system and method comprises a kiosk that allows a user to submit a plurality of media items to the kiosk for verification and destruction and then the destruction of the item is reported to the appropriate entity. The accounting subsystem generates reports and tracks the royalty reimbursement received from entities based on the media destroyed. The destroyed media is then recycled.

Claims

1. A kiosk for media destruction that comprises:

a media acceptance subsystem having a media engager and a media tray, wherein the media engager receives a media item and transfers the media item to the media tray;

a media verification and documentation subsystem; and

a media destruction subsystem having an optical scanning unit for recording destruction of the media item;

wherein the media acceptance subsystem transfers the media item between the media tray and the media verification and documentation subsystem and the media destruction subsystem for processing by one or more media processing units, the one or more media processing units including the optical scanning unit;

wherein the media destruction subsystem physically damages the media item.

2. The kiosk of claim 1, further comprises:

a communication system;

a scanner for scanning the media item and a user identification;

a user input device for receiving input from the user;

a display for communicating information to the user; and

a camera for recording the user'"'"'s interaction with the kiosk system.

3. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the kiosk further comprises a user interface comprising:

a service menu;

a destruction/recycle menu; and

a live interface menu.

4. The kiosk of claim 3, wherein the service menu further comprises:

a power option;

a reboot option;

a central database service request option;

a remove recycle bin option; and

a service printer option.

5. The kiosk of claim 3, wherein the destruction/recycle menu further comprises:

a destroy/recycle option;

an add additional materials option;

an unreadable materials option;

a recycle only option; and

a sell through option.

6. The kiosk of claim 3, wherein the live interface menu further comprises:

an online chat option;

a video chat option; and

S a voice chat option.

7. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the media acceptance subsystem further comprises:

an upper support; and

a lower support.

8. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the media tray further comprises:

a motor;

a plurality of gears;

wherein the motor and the plurality of gears rotationally move the media tray between at least one void detection stage, at least one physical damage detection stage, and at least one storage stage.

9. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the media tray further comprises:

a motor;

a plurality of belts;

wherein the motor and the plurality of belts rotationally move the media tray between at least one void detection stage, at least one physical damage detection stage, and at least one storage stage.

10. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the media destruction subsystem further comprises:

a scanning unit for determining an optimal puncture point; and

a puncturing unit for puncturing the media at the optimal puncture point.

11. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the media verification and documentation subsystem further comprises:

a verification and documentation subsystem data file;

a destruction subsystem data file;

a generated data file for a destroyed media; and

wherein the generated data file is recorded in a connected database and transmitted to an accounting subsystem.

12. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the kiosk further comprises an accounting subsystem that comprises:

a data file for a destroyed media received from a record and data generation process;

a media accounting report generated from a received data file;

a studio accounting report; and

a confirmation report.

13. A system for media destruction comprising:

a computer network;

a kiosk unit connected to the computer network, wherein the kiosk unit further comprises;

a media acceptance subsystem having a media engager and a media tray, wherein the media engager receives a media item and transfers the media item to the media tray;

a media verification and documentation subsystem; and

a media destruction subsystem having an optical scanning unit for recording destruction of the media item;

wherein the media acceptance subsystem transfers the media item between the media tray and the media verification and documentation subsystem and the media destruction subsystem for processing by one or more media processing units, the one or more media processing units including the optical scanning unit;

wherein the media destruction subsystem physically damages the media item;

a management server connected to the kiosk unit through the computer network;

a network operation center connected via the computer network to the management server;

a central database connected to the network operation center;

an accounting database connected to the management server via the computer network;

an inventory database connected to the management server via the computer network;

a retail server connected to the management server via the computer network;

a vendor server connected to the computer network;

a payment processing server connected to the computer network; and

a live support center connected to the computer network.

14. A method of media destruction via a kiosk comprising the steps:

initializing the kiosk;

engaging the media item with a media acceptance subsystem having a media engager and a media tray, wherein the media engager receives the media item;

transferring, with the media engager, the media item to the media tray;

transferring, with the media acceptance subsystem, the media item between the media tray and a media verification and documentation subsystem and a media destruction subsystem for processing by one or more media processing units, the one or more media processing units including the optical scanning unit;

verifying the media item received from the user with the media verification subsystem;

documenting the verification of the media item;

destroying the media item with the media destruction subsystem;

recording a media item destruction with the optical scanning unit;

generating a data file with the recording the media item destruction;

transmitting a generated data file to a studio for a reimbursement;

accounting for the media item destruction and the reimbursement; and

printing a receipt.

15. The method of media destruction of claim 14, wherein the initializing the kiosk further comprises the steps:

receiving input from the user;

reading a user identification;

scanning the media item;

communicating information to the user; and

recording a user interaction with the kiosk.

16. The method of media destruction of claim 14, wherein the verifying the media item received further comprises the steps:

detecting any voids in the media item;

scanning the media item for any physical damage;

reading the media item data and data structure; and

authenticating the media item.

17. The method of media destruction of claim 14, wherein the documenting the media item verification further comprises the steps:

scanning the media item for identifying markings;

verifying security markings of the media item; and

recording the identifying and security markings.

18. The method of media destruction of claim 14, wherein the destroying the media item further comprises the steps:

reading the media item;

scanning the media item;

determining an optimal destruction point; and

puncturing the media item.

19. The method of media destruction of claim 14, wherein the recording the media item destruction further comprises the step of optically recording a puncturing of the media item.