System and method for regulating vendible media products

• US 7,747,346 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• 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: Hoersten, Eric, Lowe, J. Mitch, Hamilton, Devin
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/408,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244
• US Class Current: 700/242
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/004 Restocking arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/007 wherein the storage and dispensing mechanism are configurable in relation to the physical or geometrical properties of the articles to be stored or dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/04 in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/26 Endless bands
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/48 the storage containers or supports, e.g. magazine, being pivotally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/50 the storage containers or supports being rotatably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 : for hiring of objects
• 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 17/16 : for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 : for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/069 : by box-like containers, e.g. videocassettes, books
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 : Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 : Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 : Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 : for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/10 : Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling

Abstract

A system and method for regulating vendible media products is provided. A database stored information corresponding to a plurality of digital video discs within a vending apparatus at a vending location. A central server, having a memory, stores the database. An interface application interfaces with the central server and the database, and selects from the database a subset of the digital video discs. A vending processor within the vending apparatus receives a first signal from the central server, wherein the first signal comprises a list of digital video discs identifying the subset of digital video discs. The vending processor also generates a second signal to place the subset of digital video discs into a portable vending management module.

Claims

1. A method for regulating vendible media products having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of vendible media products in a vending apparatus at a vending location;

receiving a list of vendible media products at the vending location from a remote location, wherein the list identifies a subset of the vendible media products in the vending apparatus targeted for removal from the vending apparatus; and

,

generating a signal to place the subset of vendible media products in a predetermined area within the vending apparatus, wherein placement of the subset in the predetermined area segregates the subset from the vendible media products, prevents vending of the subset from the vending apparatus at the vending location, and prepares the subset for removal from the vending apparatus, wherein the predetermined area within the vending apparatus comprises a removably insertable enclosure configured to remove and transport the subset from the vending apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a list of vendible media products is performed by a vending controller.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vendible media products comprise a plurality of digital video discs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of vendible media products is generated by a user using an interface at the remote location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of vendible media products is generated by a vending management application.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

confirming a preliminary list of vendible media products generated by the vending management application.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the vending management application is accessible using an Internet browser.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a signal is performed by a vending controller within the vending apparatus.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset is determined by comparing an initial inventory of the plurality of vendible media products at the vending location to a sales history of the vendible media products at the vending location, wherein each unit of the subset is selected based on exceeding a predetermined storage duration in the vending apparatus.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset is determined by comparing an initial inventory of the plurality of vendible media products at the vending location to a sales history of the vendible media products at the vending location, wherein each unit of the subset is selected based on performance against a predetermined profit threshold.

11. A method of regulating merchandise, comprising the steps of:

identifying a set of poorly vending products to be removed from a vending apparatus at a vending location;

compiling a list identifying the set of poorly vending products to be removed; and

,

transmitting the list to a vending controller within the vending apparatus at the vending location, wherein upon receipt of the list, the vending controller generates a signal to place the set of poorly vending products in a removably insertable and portable enclosure within the vending apparatus;

ejecting the enclosure from the vending apparatus in advance of receiving by the vending apparatus a replacement enclosure containing a replacement set of merchandise.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the list of vendible media products is generated by a user at a control location remote from the vending location.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of identifying a set of vendible media products is performed by a vending management application.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

confirming a preliminary list of vendible media products generated by the vending management application.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the vending management application identifying each unit of the set is based on exceeding a predetermined storage duration in the vending apparatus.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the vending management application identifying each unit of the set is based on performance against a predetermined profit threshold.

17. A system for regulating vending merchandise, comprising:

a control center at a central location, wherein the control center is structured to identify a subset of media products from a set of vendible media products, and to transmit a list identifying the subset of media products and the set of vendible media products; and

,

a vending controller located at a vending location, wherein the vending controller is structured to receive the list from the control center, and to generate a signal to place the subset of media products in a portable vending management module removably inserted into a vending apparatus, wherein placement of the subset in the portable vending management module segregates the subset from vending in preparation for removal and replacement of the subset with replacement merchandise.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a vending management application for generating a preliminary list of vendible media products.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the preliminary list of vendible media products is generated based on at least one of a duration for which the set of vendible media products has been at the vending location and/or a sales amount corresponding to the set of vendible media products.

20. A system for regulating vendible DVDs, comprising:

a database for storing information corresponding to a plurality of DVDs within a vending apparatus at a vending location;

a central server having a memory for storing the database;

an interface application for interfacing with the central server and the database, and for selecting from the database a subset of the plurality of DVDs, wherein each unit of the subset is selected based on exceeding a predetermined storage duration in the vending apparatus;

a vending processor within the vending apparatus at the vending location for receiving a first signal from the central server, wherein the first signal comprises a list of DVDs identifying the subset of DVDs, wherein upon receipt of the first signal, the vending processor is structured to generate a second signal to place the subset of DVDs into a portable vending management module,

wherein the portable vending management module is removably insertable into the vending apparatus for portably segregating, removing, and replacing the subset of DVDs in the vending apparatus.