System and method for communicating secondary vending options

• US 8,060,247 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• 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: Kaplan, Gregg, Hoersten, Eric, Lowe, J. Mitchell, Kapcar, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US12/549,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/240, 700/241, 700/244
• US Class Current: 700/240
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/54 about vertical axes
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for communicating secondary vending options for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein is provided. The system comprises a transaction network, and a database in communication with the transaction network, wherein the database stores a plurality of digital video disc titles and a plurality of locations and release dates corresponding to the digital video disc titles. A vending controller at a vending location receives a user request signal for a digital video disc, and determines whether the digital video disc is available in a vending inventory at the vending location. A central controller receives a first signal from the vending controller, wherein the first signal comprises a secondary vending option and a user electronic mail address. The central controller receives a second signal from the vending controller, wherein the second signal comprises an indication that the digital video disc is available in the vending inventory.

Claims

1. A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:

receiving a vending request for the vendible media product from a user interface of a vending kiosk;

determining whether the vendible media product is available in a vending inventory within the vending kiosk;

displaying through the user interface at least one secondary vending option input, upon a determination that the vendible media product is not available in the vending inventory;

receiving a secondary vending option request for the vendible media product from the user interface of the vending kiosk; and

,

electronically transmitting the secondary vending option request to a remotely located server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary vending option input allows a user to automatically rent the vendible media product upon availability in the vending inventory.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps:

receiving user billing information;

reserving the vendible media product upon determining that the vendible media product is in the vending inventory;

transmitting an electronic mail message to a user electronic mail address upon determining that the vendible media product is in the vending inventory;

receiving an input to vend the vendible media product from the user at the vending kiosk; and

vending the vendible media product at the vending kiosk.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary vending option input allows the user to be notified when the vendible media product becomes available.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

transmitting an electronic mail message to a user electronic mail address upon determining that the vendible media product is in the vending inventory.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary vending option input allows the user to pre-reserve the vendible media product before a release date.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps:

receiving user billing information;

reserving the vendible media product upon determining that the vendible media product is in the vending inventory;

transmitting an electronic mail message to a user electronic mail address on a predetermined release date for the vendible media product;

receiving an input to vend the vendible media product from the user at the vending kiosk on or after the release date; and

vending the vendible media product at the vending kiosk.

8. A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:

receiving user information from a kiosk user interface, wherein the user information comprises a requested vendible media product and a location identifier;

selecting a vending inventory based on the location identifier;

transmitting vending data to a first user interface screen, wherein the vending data comprises availability of the vendible media product in the vending inventory;

receiving through a second user interface screen a secondary vending option request for a specific user; and

,

storing the secondary vending option request to a database.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary vending option request enables a kiosk to automatically rent the vendible media product upon availability in the vending inventory.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps:

receiving user billing information;

reserving the vendible media product upon determining that the vendible media product is in the vending inventory;

transmitting an electronic mail message to a user electronic mail address upon determining that the vendible media product is in the vending inventory;

receiving an input to vend the vendible media product from the user at the vending inventory; and

vending the vendible media product to the user.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary vending option request enables a processor to notify a user when the vendible media product becomes available.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

transmitting an electronic mail message to a user electronic mail address upon determining that the vendible media product is in the vending inventory.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary vending option request enables a user to pre-reserve the vendible media product.

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

receiving user billing information;

reserving the vendible media product upon determining that the vendible media product is in the vending inventory;

transmitting an electronic mail message to a user electronic mail address on or before a predetermined release date for the vendible media product;

receiving an input to vend the vendible media product from the user at the vending inventory on or after the predetermined release date; and

vending the vendible media product to the user.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the vendible media product is a digital video disc.

16. A system for communicating vending information over a transaction network for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising:

a database in communication with the transaction network, wherein the database stores a plurality of digital video disc titles and a plurality of locations corresponding to the digital video disc titles;

a vending controller at a vending location for receiving a user request signal for a digital video disc, for determining whether the digital video disc is in a vending inventory at the vending location and for displaying at least one secondary vending option to the user upon a determination that the digital video disc is not available in the vending inventory; and

a central controller for receiving a first signal from the vending controller, wherein the first signal comprises a secondary vending option request, and for receiving a second signal from the vending controller, wherein the second signal comprises an indication that the digital video disc is available in the vending inventory.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the central controller is further configured to transmit an electronic mail message to a user electronic mail address upon receipt of the second signal from the vending controller.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the central controller is further configured to transmit a vending signal to the vending controller instructing the vending controller vend the digital video disc to the user upon receiving a vending request from the user at the vending controller.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the database further stores a plurality of release dates corresponding to the digital video disc titles.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the central controller transmits the vending signal to the vending controller on or after the release date corresponding to the digital video disc title.