Automated business system and method of vending and returning a consumer product

• US 20040254676A1
• Filed: 06/11/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: Touch Automation, LLC (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Blust, Donald, Driscoll, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,646,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/305 for record players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/069 by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

System and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing disc-based media, the method comprising:

selecting the disc-based media;

retrieving the disc-based media;

reading an identification tag on the disc-based media; and

dispensing the disc-based media.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a user that selected the disc-based media by reading a magnetic stripe on one of a credit card, a stored value card, a debit card, a smart card, an affinity card, a membership card, and an identification card.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising charging a fee to one of the credit card, the stored value card, the debit card, and the smart card.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a rental option to rent the selected disc-based media for a predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a purchase option to purchase the selected disc-based media.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising verifying that the retrieved disc-based media is the disc-based media that was selected prior to dispensing the disc-based media.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the disc-based media is a DVD.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification tag is a radio frequency tag.

9. A method of servicing multiple users of a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

a first user selecting a first disc-based media at the disc-based media system;

a second user selecting a second-disc based media at the disc-based media system at the same time as the first user selected the first disc-based media;

determining an order in which to service the first and second users;

retrieving the first and second disc-based media based on the order; and

dispensing the first disc-based media to the first user and the second disc-based media to the second user.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first disc-based media and the second disc-based media are DVDs.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first disc-based media and the second disc-based media have the same title.

12. An automated business system comprising:

a housing;

a user station supported by the housing;

a retrieval system operable to retrieve disc-based media stored in the housing;

a RFID reader operable to read a RFID tag on the disc-based media; and

a port to dispense the disc-based media.

13. The automated business system of claim 12 further comprising a server supported by the housing, the server operable to communicate with the user station to display search options on the user station.

14. The automated business system of claim 12 further comprising a server supported by the housing, the server operable to communicate with the retrieval system to retrieve the disc-based media selected by a user of at the user station.

15. The automated business system of claim 12 further comprising a server supported by the housing, the server operable to communicate with a remote computer terminal operable to service the server and the retrieval system.

16. The automated business system of claim 12 further comprising a server supported by the housing, the server operable to communicate with a remote computer terminal via the Internet.

17. The automated business system of claim 12 further comprising a tracking and identification system operable to identify the location of each disc-based media and the status of each disc-based media.

18. The automated business system of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of user stations

19. A system for retrieving disc-based media, the system comprising:

a plurality of guide rails supported by a frame;

a track supported by the guide rails;

a gripper assembly supported by the track, the carriage including

a gripper, and

a RFID device; and

a controller operable to transmit instructions to the carriage to retrieve a selected disc-based media.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the plurality of guide rails is laterally spaced apart and coupled together by a link shaft, each pair of guide rails including a sprocket and a conveyor member, the link shaft coupled to a motor and operable to drive the sprockets at a common rotation.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the plurality of guide rails each include a carriage adapted to support the track and operable to move the track in a generally vertical direction.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the track includes a motor and a sensor operable to provide information to the motor related to the location of the gripper assembly.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the gripper includes a plurality of fingers operable to move from a first position to a second position to engage the disc-based media.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein the gripper assembly further comprises a rotate device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the rotate device includes a motor operable to rotate the gripper.

26. A system for retrieving disc-based media, the system comprising:

a guide rail oriented along a first axis;

a track oriented along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;

a gripper supported by the track, the gripper operable to move along the track, the gripper operable to telescope along a third axis perpendicular to the second axis; and

a plurality of fingers coupled to the gripper, the fingers operable to engage the disc-based media.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising a controller operable to transmit instructions to the gripper to retrieve a selected disc-based media.

28. The system of claim 26 further comprising an extend/retract device supported by the track, the gripper operable to telescope along the extend/retract device to engage the disc-based media.

29. A system for retrieving disc based media, the system comprising:

a plurality of guide rails having a length oriented along a vertical axis; and

a linear positioning table supported by the plurality of guide rails, the linear positioning table having a length oriented along a horizontal axis, the linear positioning table adapted to support a carriage operable to move horizontally along about 90 percent of the linear positioning table.

30. A gripper for retrieving disc-based media, the assembly comprising:

a plurality of fingers operable to support the disc-based media;

an actuator operable to move the fingers from a first position to a second position;

a carriage adapted to support the fingers; and

an actuator operable to move the carriage toward and away from the disc-based media.

31. A storage position for disc-based media comprising:

a receptacle within the storage position; and

a synthetic material that surrounds an interior of the receptacle.

32. A method of dispensing disc-based media, the method comprising:

selecting a plurality of disc-based media;

retrieving the plurality of selections; and

dispensing the plurality of selections at the same time through a port.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising identifying a user that selected the plurality of disc-based media by reading a magnetic stripe on one of a credit card, a stored value card, a debit card, a smart card, an affinity card, a membership card, and an identification card.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising charging a fee to one of the credit card, the stored value card, the debit card, and the smart card.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising selecting a rental option to rent the selected disc-based media for a predetermined period of time.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprising selecting a purchase option to purchase the selected disc-based media.

37. The method of claim 33 further comprising reading a RFID tag on each of the disc-based media.

38. The method of claim 33 further comprising verifying that the retrieved disc-based media is the disc-based media that was selected prior to dispensing the disc-based media.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein the disc-based media is a DVD.

40. A method of returning disc-based media to a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

inserting the disc-based media in a port of the disc-based media system without regard to orientation of the disc-based media.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising automatically detecting the presence of the disc-based media at the port.

42. The method of claim 40 further comprising reading a RFID tag on the disc-based media.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising comparing the read information to a transaction database to verify that the correct disc-based media has been returned.

44. The method of claim 40 further comprising printing a receipt upon request.

45. The method of claim 40 further comprising retrieving the disc-based media from the port and positioning the disc-based media in a storage location.

46. A method of tracking transactional history of a disc-based media, the method comprising:

selecting a disc-based media; and

recording transaction information associated with the selection of the disc-based media onto the disc-based media.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising recording transaction information associated with the return of the disc-based media to a disc-based media system onto the disc-based media.

48. The method of claim 46 further comprising recording transaction information associated with the selection of the disc-based media onto a RFID tag associated with the disc-based media.

49. The method of claim 46 further comprising recording transaction information associated with the return of the disc-based media to a disc-based media system onto a RFID tag associated with the disc-based media.

50. A method of returning disc-based media to a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

placing the disc-based media in a receptacle in the disc-based media system; and

automatically recognizing the disc-based media in the receptacle.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising automatically detecting the presence of the disc-based media in the receptacle.

52. The method of claim 50 further comprising reading a RFID tag on the disc-based media.

53. The method of claim 52 further comprising comparing the read information to a transaction database to verify that the correct disc-based media has been returned.

54. The method of claim 50 further comprising printing a receipt upon request.

55. The method of claim 50 further comprising retrieving the disc-based media from the receptacle and positioning the disc-based media in a storage location in the disc-based media system.

56. A method of dispensing disc-based media, the method comprising:

selecting a disc-based media;

selecting a format for the disc-based media; and

generating the disc-based media in the selected format.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising determining if the selected disc-based media is available at the time of the selection.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein selecting a format includes selecting one of a DVD and a CD.

59. A method of dispensing disc-based media, the method comprising:

selecting a disc-based media;

determining if the selected disc-based media is available; and

generating the disc-based media if the selected disc-based media is not available.

60. A method of servicing a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

accessing the disc-based media system with a remote computer terminal;

communicating with one of a server and a retrieval system within the disc-based media system;

diagnosing performance of the server and the retrieval system; and

correcting problems associated with the disc-based media system.

61. A method of configuring a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

determining a number of users that can access the disc-based media system at the same time; and

configuring the size of the disc-based media system according to the predetermined number of users that can access the disc-based media system at the same time.

62. A method of taking inventory of a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

accessing the disc-based media system with a remote computer terminal;

initiating an inventory process including

instructing a disc-based media retrieval system to begin inventory process,

moving the disc-based media retrieval system to each storage position within the disc-based media system, and

if a disc-based media is in one of the storage positions, reading a radio frequency tag on the disc-based media; and

outputting results of the inventory process to the remote computer terminal.

63. The method of claim 62 further comprising removing each disc-based media from its storage position to read the radio frequency tag.

64. A method of adding disc-based media to a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

inserting the disc-based media in a receptacle in the disc-based media system;

automatically reading a radio frequency tag on the disc-based media; and

positioning the disc-based media in a storage position, the disc-based media available for selection by a user.

65. The method of claim 64 further comprising downloading one of a sound file and a video file associated with the added disc-based media.

66. The method of claim 64 further comprising accessing a remote server to download one of a sound file and a video file associated with the added disc-based media.

67. A method of interacting with a disc-based media system, the method comprising:

selecting a first disc-based media of interest to the user; and

recommending additional disc-based media to the user based on certain attributes of the first disc-based media selected by the user.

68. A controller for a disc-based media retrieval system, the controller comprising:

a software program operable to receive instructions from a point of sale software application, the software program operable to transmit commands to the disc-based media retrieval system to locate specific disc-based media within a disc-based media system.

69. A method of reviewing items in an automated business system having a plurality of adjacent user stations, the method comprising:

selecting an item of interest at one of the user stations; and

directing audio waves of a sound file related to the selected item wherein the user does not use an auxiliary listening device and wherein users of the adjacent user stations cannot hear the audio waves of the sound file.

70. A method of dispensing a product comprising:

displaying questions to a user;

recommending a product that satisfies a majority of answers to the questions provided by the user;

selecting a product;

reading a radio frequency tag on the product; and

dispensing the product to the user.

71. The method of claim 70 further comprising charging the user for the product prior to dispensing the product to the user.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein the product is one of a health care item and a beauty item.

73. The method of claim 70 wherein the act of selecting the product includes selecting the recommended product.