ARTICLE VENDING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR EXCHANGING AN INOPERABLE ARTICLE FOR AN OPERABLE ARTICLE
First Claim
1. A method for exchanging an inoperable rental article for an operable rental article via an article vending machine, the article vending machine having a user interface, a processor, a receptacle and an inventory of articles housed in the article vending machine, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a command through the user interface requesting to exchange an inoperable article for an operable article;
receiving the inoperable article via the receptacle;
identifying a customer associated with the inoperable article using program code operating with the processor;
determining if the customer is eligible to exchange the inoperable article using program code operating with the processor, and, if the customer is eligible, permitting the exchange; and
,determining if the inventory contains an identical replacement article using the processor, wherein, if the inventory does contain an identical replacement article, vending the identical replacement article.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An article vending machine in a network of article vending machines capable of exchanging an inoperable rental article received from a user for an operable replacement article. The article dispensing machine checks customer identification information against one or more customer rental criteria to determine if the customer is eligible to exchange an inoperable article for an operable one. The article vending machine searches for an identical replacement article within an inventory of the machine itself and within inventories of the networked article vending machines. Alternatively, the article vending machine may provide a refund for the inoperable article.
46 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for exchanging an inoperable rental article for an operable rental article via an article vending machine, the article vending machine having a user interface, a processor, a receptacle and an inventory of articles housed in the article vending machine, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a command through the user interface requesting to exchange an inoperable article for an operable article; receiving the inoperable article via the receptacle; identifying a customer associated with the inoperable article using program code operating with the processor; determining if the customer is eligible to exchange the inoperable article using program code operating with the processor, and, if the customer is eligible, permitting the exchange; and
,determining if the inventory contains an identical replacement article using the processor, wherein, if the inventory does contain an identical replacement article, vending the identical replacement article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An article vending machine configured to exchange an inoperable rental article for an operable rental article, the article vending machine comprising:
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a user interface configured to receive a request to exchange an inoperable rental article for an operable article; a receptacle for receiving the inoperable rental article; an inventory comprised of a plurality of articles; a memory containing a list of customers ineligible to exchange inoperable articles and a list of the articles that comprise the inventory; and
,a processor connected to the memory and configured using program code operating with the processor to determine if the inventory contains a replacement article that is identical to the inoperable article, wherein if the inventory does contain an identical replacement article, the program code is configured to vend the identical replacement article. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A network of article vending machines comprising:
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a first article vending machine comprising; an inventory comprised of a plurality of rental articles; a receptacle for receiving an inoperable rental article; and a user interface configured to receive a request to exchange the inoperable rental article for an operable article; a plurality of remote article vending machines in communication with the first article vending machine, each remote article vending machine having an inventory of a plurality of rental articles; and
,a processor configured using program code operating with the processor to determine if the inventory of the first article vending machine contains a replacement article that is identical to the inoperable article, wherein if the inventory of the first article vending machine does contain an identical replacement article the first article vending machine is instructed to vend the identical replacement article. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An article vending machine configured to exchange an inoperable rental article for an operable rental article, the article vending machine comprising:
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a user interface configured to receive a request to exchange an inoperable rental article for an operable article; a receptacle for receiving the inoperable rental article; an inventory comprised of a plurality of articles; a memory containing a database identifying the inoperable rental articles that have been received; and
,a processor in communication with the user interface and configured using program code to receive a request from a service person via the user interface to vend all of the articles identified as inoperable articles in the database. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. An article vending machine configured to receive an inoperable rental article and provide a refund for the inoperable rental article, the article vending machine comprising:
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a user interface configured to receive a request to provide a refund for an inoperable rental article; a receptacle for receiving the inoperable rental article; an inventory comprised of a plurality of articles; a memory containing a list of customers ineligible to receive a refund for returned inoperable articles and a list of the articles that comprise the inventory; and
,a processor connected to the memory and configured using program code to determine if the inventory contains a replacement article that is identical to the inoperable article.
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Specification