CA2605552A1 - System and method for calibrating a vending apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for calibrating a vending apparatus is provided. A
vertical base reference position of a selector arm is stored, wherein the vertical base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of rows in a cylindrical storage device. A horizontal base reference position is stored, wherein the horizontal base reference position corresponds to a compartment identifier identifying a compartment within each of the plurality of rows. A
position of the selector arm corresponding to a media storage compartment is also stored, wherein the position comprises a vertical position and a horizontal position. A motor is initiated to move the selector arm along a vertical axis, wherein a movement of the selector arm results in one of an increment and/or a decrement to the vertical position of the selector arm. A
stepper motor is initiated to rotate the cylindrical storage device, wherein a rotation of the device results in one of an increment and/or a decrement to the horizontal position of the selector arm.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR

CALIBRATING A VENDING APPARATUS
DESCRIPTION
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[00011 This application clainis priority froxn U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/674,011, filed Apri122, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/824,781, filed on April 15, 2004, is also incoiporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The iilventiori relates to a system and method for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media prodiict. More particularly, the present invention provides a system for detennining a base reference position of a selector ann and storing a location of the selector arni wit11 reference to the base reference position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] While the present invention is often described herein with reference to a digital video disc distribution system, an application to which the present invention is advantageously suited, it will be readily apparent that the present invention is not limited to that application and can be eniployed in vending systems used to distribute a wide variety of vending products.
[00041 Currently, brick-and-mortar digital video disc ("DVD") stores dominate the movie video and video game rental landscape in the U.S. One element repeatedly cited for success of certain briclc-and-mortar store video rental franchises is perceived high availability of new video releases. Consumers want their entertainment on deinand, and through stoclcing multiple units of each new release, successful briclc-and-inortar conipanies deliver as proinised.
[0005] Pay-per-view video services, mail-based video rental services and Internet-based video rental services are also laiown. Inteniet based video retital seivices have been plagued by their inability to nieet the deinands of consumers for new video releases during peak viewing times, leading to increased custoiner dissatisfaction. Pay-per-view video services offer only limited selections to viewers during any time period, resulting in significantly less rentals per airy given period of time.
[0006] The foregoing indicates that there is a treinendous marlcet potential for aligning regular rotitines of consumers (e.g., shopping, getting coffee or gas or going to a convenience store) with their DVD movie video and video gatne rental activities.
[0007] The present invention can fiinction as a DVD dispensing machine-Uased distribution system that recognizes the consumer demand recognized of traditional video rental stores by having multiple units of each new release per video dispensing machine. The dispensing niachines can stock up to two thousand DVDs (movies and/or gaines), malcing them conzpetitive with existing briclc-and-mortar video rental superstores.
[0008] The present invention distinguishes itself from such stores by offering major benefits not conventionally offered by such stores, including additional cross-marketing programs (e.g., promotional rentals for a certain ainount of dollars spent at the hosting store) and convenience (e.g., open always).
[0009] The present invention yields a competitive advantage in the DVD rental marketplace by offering consumers cross-marlceting/promotional programs, convenience of selection (e.g., coniputer-Uased searches for movies and recommendations based on consumer profiles), and extended hottrs. The present invention einploys a more cost effective, convenient platfoi7n than brick-and-mortar stores. In addition, with the present invention, DVD dispensing machines can be situated in hosting locations having high foot traffic, such as at a popular hosting location and/or a high foot traffic area at a hosting location.

[0010] The present invention can be operated at a suUstantial savings over the costs associated witll traditional briclc-and-inortar video rental stores. For exainple, the present invention does not require hourly einployees at the dispeiisiiig lnachines or restocking thenz with inventories, due to the ability of article transport storage units delivered to/piclced up frozn host locations by third-party delivery setvices, such as overnight courier services.
[0011J Unlike brick-and-mortar stores, the present invention does not require an on-site store manager because all operational decisions can be made at a centralized location by a managenient tean3 office renlote from the hosting locations. Unlilce Uriclc-and-inortar stores, the present invezition does ziot require a great deal of pliysical space.
Unlilce tirick-and-inortar stores, the present invention has low operating costs because no heating or air conditioning is required for the dispensing inacliines and they consume a relatively low level of electrical energy. In addition, the present invention has low maintenance costs and downtime.
[0012] The present invention addresses all of these shortcomings of traditional brick-and-mortar stores in a convenient and cost effective delivery vellicle having the added bonus of serving as an effective promotional platform that drives increnzental sales to hosting locations. In addition, the present invention overcomes these disadvantages by offering more new releases and older selections for any given time period, lower cost per viewing, and more convenience than intenlet-Uased and pay-per-view services.
[0013] Dispensing machines are laiown. Dispensing machines have been traditionally used to distribute a wide variety of goods, including, among other things, snack foods.
Conventional dispensing machiiles used in article dispensing systems must be restocked with inventory manually. In the conventional machines, the inventory articles are uploaded to the macliines and offloaded from the machines by dedicated route serviceinen, who are provided access to the storage space. Route servicemen conventionally are employed to control inventory of a plurality of dispensing machines situated at a plurality of hosting locations. In order to stock the machines with inventory, a serviceman typically first removes the articles of inventory designated for offloading one by one prior to uploading new articles of inventory one by one. An altemative manner of removing inventory designated for offloading from a dispensing niachine is by renioval of all inventory in the machine by removing a drawer containing all articles of inventory. This latter approach of removing inventory articles is particularly suitable for dispensing inacliines that are either directly connected or in close proximity to manned dispensing locations.
[0014] Most dispensing machines must be serviced by a serviceman to upload new dispensable articles of inventoxy into the machines in inultiple quantities.
Conventional drawers used to stock dispensing machines with inventoiy and remove articles designated for offloading from dispensing machines require a dedicated seivice man for carrying out the stocking and removal tasks. In addition, conventional drawers do not permit automated access to the article dispensing machines. Such conventional drawers allow the servicemen to have access to the articles of inventory being stoclced into the dispensing machine and the articles of iriventoiy being removed from the dispensing inachine. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages associated witli traditional metliods of providing nierchandise to dispensing inachines.
[0015] The present invention is provided to solve the probleins discussed above and other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not provided by prior systems and metliods of this type. A fi.1l1 discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention is a coinpact article dispensing machine in which a reznovable and substitittable article transport storage unit is used to carry out inventory fiinctions for an article dispensing machine. Each unit is loclced in transpoxt and the articles caxmot be extracted fronx the uiiit unless the unit is installed within the loclced dispensing inaclline.
[0017] These units are preferably furnished with articles slated for inventory at a ceiitral location and then locked and provided to authorized personnel who, in turn, deliver the locked units to a plurality of dispensing machines. At each location, the servicing of the macliine consists essentially in initiating the resident tinit renioval process by entering the appropriate cominands at the machine. This will cause the unit residing within the dispensing machine to be autoinatically ejected froni the znachine. The previously installed unit is then reilioved froin the machine, and the new unit delivered from the central location is then installed into the machine. Preferably, the machine automatically pulls the uiiit into the inaclzizie azzd the tinit is loclced in place. The unit is unlocleed and opened, preferably within the locked dispensing machine and the machine then has access to the articles in the unit.
Rernoved units are returned to the central location by the third party freigllt con-ipany and are processed for the next shipment of inventory. Authorized customers can then select articles from the inventoiy of the dispensing inachines.
[0018] The present invention provides a reinovable article transport storage unit for the haiidling of articles of inventory. The unit has a particularly simple, yet reliable, construction for use in article dispensing machines. This aspect of the present invention malces it particularly suitable for use in association with DVD dispensing machines.
[0019] Preferably, each unit is configured to receive a plurality of articles of inventory to be stocked into and/or renloved from an article dispensing maclhine. In that regard, each unit is cozifigured to have an interior with a volume sufficiently large enough to receive and store an appropriate quantity of the particular lcind of inventory to be dispensed.
The aiticles of inventoiy are preferably stored within the unit in an aligned relationship, aizd most preferably in racks contained within the unit.

[0020] Each unit can be received within a receptacle associated with a dispensing machine arid preferably is opened automatically once the unit is received into the receptacle to pennit rapid stoclcing of inventory articles into the dispensing machine.
In that regard, a robotic ariil preferably positioned in the dispensing machine is actuated and upon opening of the inventory transport aiid stoclcing unit, the robotic ami causes uploading and/or offloading of inventory aiticles, as desired. In one enzUodiinent, the unit may be quiclcly received on and/or removed from a drawer at the dispensing machine for stoclcing of the machine or replenishment of inventory into the unit for suUsequent stocking of an article dispensing machine with inventory.
[00211 The flow of inventoiy can be controlled at a centralized inventory control or supply center. In addition, the removal of offloaded articles of inventory from a received article transport and storage unit can be carried out at the inventory control or supply office.
Furthermore, the replenisliment of articles of inventory into the units can be carried out at the inventory control or supply office, translating into increased quality control and security associated with the articles dispensable at dispensin.g machines.
[0022] The article transport storage tuiit is tamper and theft proof and easy to handle.
The article transport storage units reduce theft and personnel costs and ensure a steady supply of new releases suitable for each dispensing machine.
[0023] Following installation into a dispensing machine, the article transport storage unit can be unlocked and opened automatically to release the DVDs. The article transport storage units cannot be opened prior to installation, thus deterring and preventing theft that typically plagues video rental stores. The resident article transport storage unit is closed and locked automatically and then removed from the machine and retut-ned to a system inventory control or supply office via the tllird party delivery service. Only authorized personnel at the system inventoly control or supply office are able to unlock and open the returned article transport storage unit and remove the individttal DVDs, preferably stored within raclcs within the interior of the unit.

[0024] The present invention provides a system for distributing DVD inovie videos and video games for honie entertainment or other use. The present invention liiflcs the regular routines of consunzers to renting and/or purchasing movie videos and/or video games froni a dispensing machine.
[0025] The dispensing niachines can include a user-friendly control interface resembling the interface conventionally used in association with an automated teller macliine. The dispensing machines also preferably have a graphical user interface witli touch screen interface conhol capability. In addition, if desired, multiple control interfaces can be incoiporated in dispensing inachines situated at high traffic locations, such as by being positioned on each side panel of such machines.
[0026] The dispensing machines used in the present invention preferably incorporate a slot load'ang DVD drive associated therewith that permits video related to a desired advertisement or trailer to be read from DVD media at the machine location.
The video conteiit read from the DVD media will preferably be stored in a storage unit (e.g., hard drive) associated with the dispensing macliine and can be accessed, played and presented on the associated video display monitor, as desired.
[0027] The dispensing snachines used in the present invention are fully automated, integrated DVD movie video and video game rental and/or purchase systems. The present invention preferably incorporates robust, secure, scalable software that provides a fully personalized user experience and real-time feedback to hosting Iocatioizs and advertisers, scalable hardware that leverages existing tecluiologies such as touch screen, focused audio spealcers and plasma video monitors, technology utilizing the Internet through a system website, and an article transport storage unit that facilitates the exchange of new DVDs for old DVDs in each niachine wit11 virtually no need for human intervention.
These technologies and others fill long felt needs in the art and give advantages over conventional video disti-ibution options. The present invention fitnctions as much as a promotional platfonn as it does a rental kiosk.
[0028] By sihiating the dispensing machines at hosting locations where there is both high repeat foot traffic and the opportunity to utilize marlceting/promotional programs to leverage the synergies between hosting locations, such as grocery stores, consumers are enticed to use the dispensing niachines. For example, a grocery store 1losting a machine could offer its preferred cardholders reduced price DVD rentals or even free rentals for a specified dollar aniount of groceries purchased by linlcing certain aspects of its preferred cardholder promotional program witli the promotional software used by the present invention. This and other types of creative promotions can be iznplemented to ensure that the dispensing machiiies are valuable to the hosting locations and their patrons alilce.
[0029J Renting DVDs from the dispensing machines is seen as inore rewarding because of such promotional programs. The rental experience is more convenient for the consumer versus renting frorn traditional brick-and-mortar video stores as the rental experience is closely tied to the shopping routines of the consumer and the hours of hosting locations. The present invention fosters enhanced custonier loyalty, satisfaction and goodwill for the hosting locations, as well as the opportunity to share revenues generated by the dispensing inachines at their hosting site.
[00301 By utilizing the dispensing machines and the fully interactive, real-time, linked Interzlet website, consuiners can rent one or niore DVD movie videos and/or video gaines directly from dispensing machines as well as indirectly by making a rental reservation through tl-ie website for later pickup at a conveniently located machine. The dispensing machines will preferably be fully networlted with each other, wzth the inventory control or supply office and with the system website Tnternet linlcs at each hosting location. Through this linlced networlc, the rental experience for each consumer, can be customized based on a profile for eaeh consumer, such as via personalized home pages and rental screens.
[0031] In additiou, the rental experienee can be customized for each hosting location.
For exanzple, a large number of Spanish language fih2is can form the basis for the inventory in dispensiilg niachines situated at a hosting location witli predoininately Spanish speaking patrons. Furtllerniore, by leveraging the networlc, the present invention is able to run custoniized promotional program tailored to the unique iieeds of each liosting location and provide feedback as to the success of such proinotion in real time via networlc linlcs to the hosting location coinputers.
[0032) The present invention llas the advantage of generating reventie from the following sources: movie and video ganie rentais, cross-marketing promotional programs whereby prefeixed customer or other targeted customer segments at a hosting location are encouraged to patronize the store and repeatedly rent from the dispensing machines, advettising revenues resulting from video advertisements displayed on plasma video display nlonitoxs incorporated as part of the dispensing machines, advertisements presented on DVD jacket case covers dispensed itom the dispensiiig machines, and banner ads displayed on the system website.
The present invention can also generate revenues froin sales of new aud pre-viewed movie videos and new and used video games via the system website and dispensing xnachines, and recurrizzg revenue generated tllrougll nrenibership-based rentals (e.g., monthly fees paid by a consunler in exchange for a fixed nuxnber of rentals over a specified period of time on a discounted basis).
[0033] Through use of the present invention, new customers are drawn to the hosting locations to talce advantage of the added service and convenience of renting DVD media from within the locations and the eross,n7arketing promotions, such as reduced DVD
rental rates that are offered to preferred custoxllers and/or those spending a specified amount of money on the products and services offered by the host locations. The llost locations can also share in the revenue generated by the dispensing machines at its location.
(00341 Several aspects of the present invention distinguish it from conventional options.
The present invention utilizes software designed to provide real-time monitoring of the inventory at each dispensing machine, customer history and demographic information, and inventory managenient, ainong otller tliings. The interactive system website will be linked to the dispensing machines and provide customers with the ability to query machine locations aiid select and reserve DVDs for rental.
[00351 The present invention also incorporates a unique article transport storage unit that provides the ability to exchange the inventory of the dispensing macllines with little need for hunlan intervention. The present invention also is designed to provide for automated query of rental pattenls. Furthennore, on a per machine basis, the present invention also provides for automatic suivey of the systein inventory of existing movies/games and new releases. By coniparing these two sources of information, the present invention provides for automatic selection of the DVDs in each dispensing machine that are experiencing a low rental rate and therefore should be automatically pulled by the robotic arin for offloading and loaded into the article transport storage unit residing inside the maclline.
10036) The present invention includes a user-friendly website to facilitate the consumer experience. The website permits a consunier to browse new releases and older titles, query titles in stock for viewing or purchase, read reviews and recoininendations from critics and otlier users, locate a macliine based on inputting a preferred geographical area such as a particular zip code enroll as a member, and view movie trailers and promotions. Members are able to do all of the foregoing tasks, and are able to modify their preferences, alter or cancel their rnenlbership, and view special znenlbers only pronzotions.
Additionally, existing members are greeted by a customized homepage which is personalized for each member based on their inputted preferences and viewing habits (e.g., preferred genres, already viewed movies, etc.). The website is preferably accessible from a variety of hardware units and in a variety of fomzats. For example, the website may be accessed from personal digital assistants, cell phones and personal computers.
[00371 Each dispensing nlachine is a "smart" znacliine such that each machine has an Znternet uplinlc that networl(s all of the machines together tbrough the Internet, coordinates the user experience via the systeni website, and pei7nits the system administrator to manage all of its operations at a centralized location. The present invention permits coordinated roll-out of prornotional programs across all or select dispensing machines, real-time feedback fron-i each macliine as to its use and fiinctionality, and coordinates distribution of movie trailers and promotional programs across all or select machines.
[0038] The present invention can generate revenue by selling time slots to movie studios, food manufacturers and other select parties to play their trailers and/or promotions on the plasma video display monitors. The trailers and/or promotions can be loaded into the dispensing machines and stored in a storage unit associated witlz the inachine through the use of a DVD drive. These promotional efforts can be compleinented by selling ad space on the DVD rental jacket covers and selling banner ads on the system website and/or ad space on the panels of the dispensing machines.
[00391 When desired, the existing/resident article transport storage unit will be swapped out for a new article transport and storage unit containing new releases and popular existing titles, which can delivered by a tliird party overiiight courier service. The foregoing process is entirely automated, and the only need for liuman intervention occurs when authorized personnel from the third party delivery service approaches a designated unit with the new article transport storage unit. Each article transport storage unit contains a radio frequency identification transmitter that triggers a proximity sensor positioned at each dispensing n7achine. As the delivery persozi approaches a specified unit, the transmitter communicates with the proxiinity sensor in lnlown niaiuler to cause the dispensing machine to release the resident article transport storage unit, which the delivery person will swap for the new article transport storage unit being delivered. The entire process talces just a few minutes and can be done without causing any dispensing machine downtilne.
[0040] One benefit of the present invention is that it can provide a unique nieans for automatic inventoiy eontrol and restocking of flat-pack type products such as DVD jewel cases and the like froni an article dispensing machine.
[00411 Another benefit of the present invention is that it can pernnit unmanned loading and offloading of DVD cases in large quantity through remote networking of dispensing machines to an inventory control or supply office.
[0042] Anotlier benefit of the present invention is that it can provide an article transport and storage unit that is readily removable from a dispensing machine by authorized personnel from a third party delivery conipany without requiring the use of a dedicated serviceman.
[0043] Another benefit of the present invention is that it can provide for efficient, automated stoclcing of inventory articles into a dispensing macliine and removal of inventory articles from a dispensing machine.

WO 2006/116114 lo PCT/US2006/015131 [0044] A further venefit of the present invention is that it can provide an improved method of initiating the steps of stoclcing articles of inventory into a dispensing machine and removing articles of inventory froni a dispensing machine.
[00451 Another benefit of the present invention is that it can provide a unique coupling and actuating mechanism carried by a dispensing mechanisni for causing the dispensing and restocleing of articles froni a removable article transport storage unit.
[0046] Another benefit of the present invention is that it can be adapted to receive a pair of trays or raclcs contained within an article transport and storage unit to allow distribution of either two differeiit types of articles or a double quantity of the sanie type of article, witli articles being removed selectively from each tray or rack to stock dispensing machines with inventory, as desired.
[00471 Aiiother benefit of the present iiivention is that it can provide a method for automated inventory control so that electronic data records can be lcept related to inventory control for each dispensing machine within a network of such machines.
[0048] Another benefit of the present invention is that it can provide for a linked networlc of dispensing inachines all in conuiaunication with each otlier and with an inventory control office, preferably via the internet, such that the inventoiy of each dispensing machine on the networlc can be reviewed so that inventory decision making fiuictions can be centralized and carried out at the inventory control or supply office.
[0049] Further benefits of the present invention are to substantially reduce the time and expense involved in the stoclcing and maintenance of article dispensing iiiachines situated at a plurality of hosting locations over a given period, and to reduce any losses due to pilferage of articles.
[0050] The invention provides a method for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product. The method comprises the steps of setting an optical sensitivity setting of an optical sensor to zero, and incrementing the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor optically senses an object, representing a first optical sensitivity setting.
The metllod further comprises the steps of decrenienting the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor no longer optically senses the object, representing a second optical sensitivity setting, and storing the second optical sensitivity setting. The method further comprises the step of selecting a third optical sensitivity setting between the first and second optical sensitivity settings.
[0051] In one embodiment, the tliird optical sensitivity setting is the average of the first and second optical sensitivity settings. In anotlier embodiment, the object is the nzedia product. In yet anotlier enibodiment, the optical sensor is at least one of a laser, an infrared sensor, aiz ultraviolet sensor, a barcode reader and/or a magnetic scanner. In a further embodinient, the optical sensor is inounted on a selector arm.
10052] The xnvention fiirther provides a nlethod for calibrating a vending apparatus for a vending niedia product, wherein one of the steps is to optically sense a first position on a conlpartmentalized storage device. The method further comprises the steps of recording the first position as a horizontal base reference position, and optically sensing a second position oi.1 the storage device. Tl-ie inethod also coinprises the recording tlie second position as a vertical base reference position, and tracking the loeation of a selector arni, wherei.n the location is nleasured witll reference to the horizontal base reference and vertical base reference positions.
[0053] In one enrUodinlent, the horizontal base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of coznpartinents. In another embodiment, the vertical base reference position coiresponds to one of a plurality of compartmentalized rows. In yet aiiother embodiment, a coinUinatioal of at least the liorizontal base reference position and the vei-tical base reference position detennine a location of a coinpartnlent in the storage device. In a further einbodiniei-it, the metliod fiirther comprises the step of initiating a substantially vertical znovement of the selector az7n, wlierein the substantially vertical movenZent aligns the selector aini witli one a plurality of compartmentalized rows. In one embodiment, the metliod furtlier comprises the step of initiating a stepper inotor, wherein the stepper motor rotates the coinpartnientalized storage device to place the selector arm in substantial alignimnt with one of a plurality of compartments. In another enibodiment, the location of the selector ann is adjusted to correspond with the rotatioil of the compartmentalized storage device.

[0054] The invention also provides a system for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product. The systenl comprises a storage device having a plurality of comparlinents, wlierein each of the compartinents has a loeation designed by a horizontal location and a vertical location. The systezn ftirth.er comprises a stepper motor for rotating the storage device, and a selector ai-in for nlanipulating the media product.
The system also comprises a vertical niotor for moving the selector arzn along a vertical axis, and a controller having an associated iiiemory for storing a location of the selector aran, wherein the location coniprises a horizontal positioxl and a vertical position; the horizontal position is determined witii reference to a horizontal base reference position, aiid the vertical position is determined wit11 reference to a vertical base reference position.

[0055] Ot11er features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in con}unction with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

10056J To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accoinpanying drawings in whicli:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article dispensing machine and an article transport storage unit constructed in accordance wit11 the principles of the present inventzon;
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the article dispensing machine illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the article dispensing magazine illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the article dispensing machine illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the article dispensing machine illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the article transport storage unit illustrated in FIG. 1, shown in a closed condition;
FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the article transport storage unit illustrated in FIG. 6, shown in an open condition;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the article transport storage unit illustrated in FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the article transport storage unit illustrated in FIG.
6;
FIG. 10 is a partially open rear perspective view of the article dispensing machine illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another enibodiment of an article dispensing machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a partially exploded perspective view of the article dispensing inachine illustrate in FIG. 11, along with anotlier embodiment of an article transport storage unit eonstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a partially exploded rear perspective view of the article dispensing machine and article transport storage unit illustrated in FIG. 13;
FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the article transport storage zinit illustrated in FIG. 13, shown in a closed condition;

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the article transport storage unit illustrated in FIG. 14, shown in aii open condition;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the article transport storage unit illustrated in FIG.
14, shown in an open condition;
FIG. 17 is another perspective view of the article transport storage unit illustrated in FIG. 14, shown in an open condition;
FIG. 18 is a partially exploded perspective view of another embodiment of an article dispensing machine constructed in accordance witl-i the principles of the present invention and another enibodiment of an article transport storage unit constnicted in accordance witli the priiiciples of the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a partially open perspective view of the article dispensing machine illustrated in FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is a partially open side elevational view of the article dispensing machine illustrated in FIG. 18;
FIG. 21 is a partially open top view of the article dispensing machine illustrated in FIG. I 8;
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the article transport storage unit illustrated in FIG.
18;
FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the article transport storage unit illustrated in FIG. 18;
FIG. 24 is an illnstration of a system for communicating and processing information in a networlc of article dispensing machines and vending apparatus and a remote control center;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart ilh.tstrating the order of operations perfoiYned by a vending apparatus and remote control center in a system and metllod for regulating vending inerchandise;
FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating the order of operations performed by a vending apparatus and remote control center in a system and method for offline vending of a media product;

FIG. 27 is a flowcliart illustrating the order of operations perfonned by a vending apparatus and remote control center in a system and method for communicating vending iiifoixnation for a vendiUle media product;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating the order of operations performed by a vending apparatus and remote control center in another system and method for communicating vending infonnation for a vendible media prodtict;
FIG. 29 a flowchart illustrating the order of operations performed by a vending apparattis and remote control center in a system and method for selling a rental media product;
FIG. 30 is a flowcllait illustrating the order of operations performed by a vending apparatus in a system and niethod for calibrating the vending apparatus for vending a media product;
FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating additional elements in the order of operations perfoixned by a vending apparatus in a system and method for calibrating the vending apparattis;
FIG. 32 is an illustration of the internal components of a vending apparatus for use in a system and metl-iod for calibrating the vending apparatus;
FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating the order of operations performed by a vending apparatus and ren-iote control center in a system and tnethod for managing vending inventory of a plurality of vendible media products;
FIG. 34 is a scheinatic diagram of the elements of a system for managing vending inventory of a plurality of vendible niedia products;
FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating the order of operations performed by a vending apparatus and remote control center in a system and metliod for vending vendible media products;
FIG. 36 is an illustration of a user interface for selecting a vendible media product at a vending aplaaratus;
FIG. 37 is an illustration of a user interface for displaying information regarding a vendible media product and initiating a rental transaction for the vendible media product;
FIG. 3$ is an illustration of a user interface for a plurality of rental and purchase transactions for a plurality of vendible inedia products at a vending apparatus;
FIG. 39 is an illustration of a security interface for providing security infonnation during a rental and/or purchase transaction of a vendible media product at a vending apparatus;
FIG. 40 is an illustration of a user interface for providing promotional infonnation during the transaction of a vendible media product at a vendin.g apparatus;

FIG. 41 is an illustration of a user interface for providing an electronic mail address during the transaction of a vendible media product at a vending apparatus;
FIG. 42 an illustration of is a user interface for configuring an electronic mail message to be transmitted to a user-provided mail address according to the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 43 an illustration of is a user interface for entering inventory information to an inventoiy database in accordance witli a system for managing vending inventory;
FIG. 44 an illustration of a user interface for viewing a vending inventory at a vending apparatus, in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 45 is an illustration of a user interface for displaying the results of a query of an inventory database storing data related to a systein for vending vendible media products;
FIG. 46 is an illustratioil of a user interface for viewing and editing customer user infonnation stored in a database configured for use with a vending apparatus;
FIG. 47 is an illustration of a user interface for selecting vendible media products in a vending inventory of a vending apparatus for removal froin the vending apparatus;
FIG. 48 is an illustration of a user interface for viewizig vendible media products that have been rented from a vending apparatus;
FIG. 49 is an illYistration of a user interface for displaying pricing policy information for a plurality of vendible media prodttcts stored in a vending apparatus;
FIG. 50 is an illustration of a user interface for establisliing a discount offer for a vendible media product vended from a vending apparatus; and, FIG. 51 is an illustration of a user interface for displaying and editing information pertaining to users of a vendible media distribution system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] While this invention is susceptible of einbodiments in many different for-ms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred enibodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the emUodinients illustrated.
[00581 FIGS. 1-5 illustrate an article dispensing niachine generally designated 30.
Article dispensing machine 30 is one of a plurality of article dispensing machines included within an article distriUution system having a plurality of such macliines situated at a plurality of hosting locations. The article dispensing machines of a particular article distribution system preferably form a networlc. As such, those macllines are preferably in electrical conlniunication with each other and witli a central office from wliich inventory decisions can be made.
[0059] In a preferred application, the article dispensing machines 30 of the system are directed to DVD dispensing machines that can be utilized by consuiners to purcllase and/or rent movie videos annd/or video games embodied on DVD discs. Nonetheless, those skilled in the art will appreciate that article dispensiiig inachine 30 is not limited to the application of DVD distribution, but rather will have applicability for use in the distribution of a variety of articles.
[00601 As illustrated, article dispensing macliine 30 includes a cabinet housing 32 with front, rear, top, bottom and side panels. Dispensing machine 30 fizrther includes a user interface portion 34 and an article transport storage unit holder 36 desigzled to receive an article transport storage i.ulit 38, as desired.
100611 The macliine housing 32 is preferably a combination molded fiberglass and sheet metal cabinet. However, those slcilled in the art will appreciate that the llousing can be constructed from a variety of otller suitable materials and witll a variety of other suitable manufacttiring tecllniques.
[0062] In the article dispensing inachine einbodinient illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the article dispensing machine 30 preferably has a total height of eiglity-one inches, a total width of fifty-seven inches, and a total depth of forty-six inches. Assuming the constniction described above with reference to this illustrated embodinient of the article dispensing inachine, machine 30 and article transport storage unit 38 (when enipty) preferably have an approximate combiiled weight of six hundred sixty pounds.
[0063) As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the user interface portion 34 of housing 32 includes a card reader 40, a keypad and/or touch screen 42 and an article transfer opening 44.
The card reader 40 is preferably desigited in lalown fashion to read magnetically encoded iriembership and/or credit cards for authorizing the distribution of ai-ticles of inventory through the article transfer opening 44. K-eypad and/or touch screen 42 perniits consumers and/or inventory stocking personnel to conununicate witli the dispensing machine 30 and/or a central office linlced in electrical coinmunication with the dispensing machine. Keypad and/or toucli screen 42 also permits consumers and/or inventory stocking personnel to en.ter appropriate comniands directed to cariying out specific niachiue tasks. It will be appreciated that the optional touch screen includes a monitor made with lalown technologies znalcing it capable of being utilized as a user interface for entry of commands designed to carry out machine tasks. Additionally, known audio technology could be incorporated with article dispensing inachine 30.
100641 Furtherznore, it will be appreciated that additional user interface portions having additional or even identical user interface components could be incorporated within article dispensing maclline 30. For exainple, these components could be incorporated on other panels of tlie housing 32 of inachine 30 so that the machine can be used simultaneously by niultlple consLilnerS, translating into more efficient distribution of articles in high traffic areas.
[0065] The ai-ticle transport storage unit holder 36 is able to slide in and out of housing 32. Holder 36 is connected to two generally spaced and parallel rails 45a, 45b positioned within housing 32. The holder 36 can be manually slid into and out of housing 32, as desired.
Altei7latively, a drive motor (not sliown) can be used to slide holder 36 into and out of housing 32, as desired.
[0066] Referring now to FIG. 10, a robotic ann 46 positioned within article dispensing macliine 30 is illustrated. The position of robotic am2 46 can be due to a powered drive motor (not shown). Rails 47, at least some of which are illustrated in FIG. 8, are included to define patlis for niovement of robotic arm 46. Robotic arnz 46 can preferably move in all the x, y and z directions. Using lczzown electromeciianical teclmology, robotic ann 46 can be used to open and close the article transport storage unit 38, as desired, and can further be used to move returned articles into the unit and grab and dispense requested articles from the unit, as desired.
[0067] FIGS. 6-9 illustrate a generally rectangular-shaped article transport storage unit 38. As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the article transpoi.~t storage unit 38 includes a roller door 48 shown closed but designed to be selectively opened to grant access to the interior of the unit.
The roller door 48 can incorporate catches 49 to facilitate the opening and closing process, as described below. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the article transport storage unit 38 with its roller door 48 open. As shown, the interior of article transport storage unit 38 preferably includes a plurality of comparhnents 50 foi-ining racks configured to receive articles slated for inventory witllin the article dispensizig machine. The interior compartinents 50 in the illustrated article transport storage unit 38 are fonned by a plurality of laterally and longitLidinally extending conzpartinent boundaiy panels and are designed to receive a plurality of articles. Generally, a thirty inch wide, thirty-six inch long and eiglit inch deep article transport storage unit can store one hundred twenty DVD cases. While the compartments 50 of the illustrated ardcle transport storage unit 38 are particularly suitable for flat paclc type axticles, such as DVD
cases, it will be appreciated that the compartments of a particular article transport storage unit can be designed to receive a variety of types of articles, as desired. It will further be appreciated that the numUer of compartnzents in the interior of a unit can be varied to accommodate a different quantity of articles slated for inventory at a dispensin.g machine. In addition, an article transport storage unit may be designed to hold a plurality of types of articles and articles having a plurality of sizes and shapes, as desired.
[0068] FIG. 9 illustrates a latch block 52 positioned and designed to selectively lock the roller door 48 of the article transport storage unit. The unit also includes an electrical switch 54 in the forin of a solenoid positioned and designed to cause the latch bloclc 52 to move between two distinct positions, one of which enables movement of the roller door along its J-shaped track 56, the other of which prevents such nlovement. A renlovable cover 58 for the locking mechanism is also illustrated in FIG. 9.
[00691 Witli the present invention, the article transport storage units are filled with inventory at a centralized inventory supply center. Once filled with articles slated for dispensing nlachine inventory, the roller doors 48 of the article transport storage units 38 are closed and loclced by systeni adin.inistration personnel. Tliereafter, a particular article transport storage unit is then delivered to a particular article dispensing machine as illustrated in FIG. 1. This delivery can be nsade by third party delively coinpanies, such as overnight courier services.

[0070] The authorized serviceman initiates the appropxiate routine for removal of the previously installed article transport storage unit. A variety of mechanisms can provide access to the inachine by the seiviceman. For exainple, a personal digital assistant having an infrared transmitter can acttiate an optional drive motor associated with the holder mechanism and cause the previottsly installed article transport storage unit to be carried outside the dispensing niachine housing. Additionally, the delivered article transport storage unit can include a radio frequency identification tag that can similarly actLiate an optional holder inechanism drive motor. Additionally, the servicenian can enter appropriate coinmands at the user interface keypad to initiate the unit reinoval process. Furthennore, ejection of the holder can be acconiplished manually.

[0071] In any event, the previously installed article transport storage unit is ejected from the Ilousing of the dispensing nlachine during the removal process. The ejected unit is locked upon removal fronl the holder to prevent access to the articles fornZing the contents of the ullit. In that regard, the electrical switch 54 is de-energized wllen the unit is removed fronl the holder, causing the block to nlove to its locked position. The removed article transport storage unit can be delivered back to an inventory supply center by the third party freiglit company for restocking of appropriate articles slated for inventory of a particular dispensing niachine.
100721 Wb.en the reni.oved article transport storage unit arrives back at the inventory supply center, it can be unlocked and opened, its contents can be emptied and it can be refilled with articles, based on the desired inventory at its newly assigned dispensing machine. Thereafter, that unit can be delivered to its assigned dispensing machine to update the inventoiy of articles available for consumption at that machine.
[0073] Following removal of the previously installed article transport storage unit, the delivered article transport storage unit is placed on the holder mechanism. In particular, the top and bottom panels of the article transport storage unit will rest upon the extracted holder mechanism.
[0074] Upon placenlent of the unit onto the holder mechanism, the electrical switch is actuated, causing the block to move to its unlocked position. This allows the unit door to be opened so the interior of the unit can be accessed.
[0075] The holder mechanism can then be slid into the dispensing machine along its associated rails. This sliding can be done manually, or more preferably, under the power of the drive lnotor, as desired. In the event that a drive inotor is used for automatic installation of the article transport storage uiiit, the motor can be actuated by a sensor inechanism that detects that the unit is secure witliin the holder mechanisiii. As a result, the automated installation of the delivered article transport storage unit can be done by siinply placing the unit onto the holder mechanism.
[0076] In the enibodiments of the dispensing machine and the article transport storage unit illusttated in FIGS. i-10, the back panel of the article transport storage unit acts as the cover door for tlie dispensing machine to prevent access therein. The holder mechanism secures the article transport storage unit within the cabinet.

[0077] Upon installation of the article transport storage unit into the dispensing machine, the robotic arni positioned within the dispensing niachine can open the roller door of the article transport storage unit and has access to the articles delivered for dispensing machine inventory. Alteniatively, the door catches can be caught by cooperating fingers positioned within tlie nzacliine housing while the holder mechanisni is slid into the housing. This allows the unit to be installed into the machine housing, but prevents the door from being inserted into the housing nzuch past the fingers to cause the door to slide along its 0-shaped track, thereby opening the unit to permit access to its interior by the robotic arm.
[0078] During subsequent reinoval of the article transport storage unit, the roller door is closed by the robotic ai-in or alteniatively by the action of sliding the holder mechanism out of the machine llousing. The electrical switch is de-energized upon removal of the unit from the holder niechanisin, causing the latch mechanism to shift into its loctced position to prevent the roller door from opening and exposing the contents of the unit.
[0079] FIGS. 11-13 illustrate another article dispensing macliine generally designated 130 forining one of a plurality of article dispensing machines included within a networlced article distribution system.
[0080] Article dispensing machine 130 includes a cabinet housing 132 with front, rear, top, bottom and side paliels. Dispensing machine 130 fiirther includes a user interface portion 134 and opposing rails 136 designed to receive an article transport storage unit 138, as desired. The machine housing 132 is preferably a combination molded fiberglass and sheet metal cabinet.
[0081] The user interface portion 134 of housing 132 preferably includes a card reader 142, a display monitor 143 and an article transfer opening 144. The card reader 142 is preferably designed in laiown fashion to read nlagnetically encoded membership and/oz credit cards for authorizing the distribution of articles of inventory through the article transfer opening 144.
[0082] Display monitor 143 pemiits consuniers and/or inventory stocking personnel to comniunicate witli the dispensing machine 130 and/or a central office liiilced in electrical communication with the dispensing niachine. Display monitor 143 also perinits consuniers and/or inventoiy stocking personnel to enter appropriate con7mands directed to carrying out specific niachine tasks.
[0083] Display inonitor 143 provides for a user interface presenting visual display of pertinent izrformation during the servicing and distribution processes of inaclline 130.
Display monitor 143 preferably incorporates known plasina video teclinology and Icnown touch screen teclinology. As such, display monitor 143 preferably operates as a user interface for entiy of conamands designed to carry out machine taslcs. Optionally, a lceypad can be included to permit all or some of those fiinctions to be carried out.
[00847 Additionally,luiown audio tecluiology could be incozporated within arCicle dispensing machine 130. Preferably, laiown audio technology is incorporated witliin dispensing machine 130 to broadcast focused audio directed to relatively small (e.g., 3 square feet) locations in front of the inachines and/or in otlier designated locations at a hosting site.
[0085] Furthermore, it will be appreciated that additional user interface portions having additional or even identical user interface components could be incorporated within article dispensing machine 130. For example, these components could be incorporated on other panels of the housing 132 of machine 130 so that the maclline can be used simultaneously by multiple consuiners, translating into more efficient distribution of articles in high traffic areas.
[0086] The ai-ticle transport storage unit 138 can be slid in and out of housing 132. Each article transport storage unit 138 has guides positioned along the top and bottom panels of the unit. The guides are designed to cooperate witli the associated rails 136 contained within niachine 130.
[0087] A robotic ann (not showii) is positioned within article dispensing machine 130. A
powered drive motor (not shown) can be used to 7nove the robotic am1. Rails are preferably included to define patlis for movement of the robotic ann, aiid the robotic ann can preferably move in all the x, y and z directions. Using lrnown electromechanical teclmology, the robotic ann can be used to open and close the article transport storage unit 138, as desired, and can fiutlier be used to move returned articles into the unit and grab and dispense requested articles from the unit, as desired.

100881 FIGS. 14-17 illustrate a generally rectangular-shaped article transport storage unit 138. As used herein, the tenns "article transport storage unit" and "vending delivery module"
are synonymous, aild refer to an apparatus for transporting a plurality of vendible media products to and from a vending apparatus 30. The article transport storage unit 138 includes a roller door 148, sliowu closed but designed to be selectively opened to grant access to the interior of tlie zinit. FIGS. 15-17 illustrate the article transport storage unit 138 with its roller door 148 open. As shown, the interior of article transport storage unit 138 preferably ilicludes a plurality of conlpai~.inents 150 conflgured to receive articles slated for inventory within the article dispensing machine. The interior compartinents 150 in the illustrated article transport storage unit 38 are foixned by a plurality of longitadinally extending coznpartment boundaiy panels and a plurality of laterally extending coinpartiilent boundary panels extending fronz a longitl.idinally extending boundary panel partially towards anotlier longitudinally extending boundaiy panel. The laterally extending boundary panels can be aligned to retain opposite ends of the same side of flat-pack type article.

[0089] While the coinpartinents 150 of the illustrated article transport storage unit 138 are particularly suitable for flat-pack type articles, such as DVD cases, it will be appreciated that the compartinents of a particular article transport storage unit can be designed to receive a variety of types of articles, as desired. It will fiirther be appreciated that the number of cotnpartiilents in the interior of a unit can be varied to accommodate a different quantity of articles slated for inventoiy at a dispensing macliine. In addition, an article transport storage unit may be equipped with raclcs having coinpartments of different types so that it is designed to hold a plurality of types of articles and articles having a plurality of sizes and shapes, as desired.
[0090] FIG. 17 illustrates latch blocks 152 positioned and designed to selectively lock the roller door 148 of the article transport storage unit. The unit also includes electrical switches 154 positioned and designed to cause the latcli blocks 152 to enable and prevent the roller door to be opened.
[0091] With the present invention, the article transport storage units are filled with inventory at a centralized inventory supply center. Once filled with articles slated for dispensing niachine inventory, the roller doors 148 of the article transport storage units 138 are closed and locked by system administration personnel. Thereafter, a particular article transport storage unit is then delivered to a particular article dispensing machine. The article transport storage unit 138 preferably inchzdes a handle 155 to facilitate delivery. Delivery of an article transport storage tinit to the hosting site can be nzade by third party delivery conzpanies, such as overnight cotirier services.
[00921 The authorized serviceman initiates the appropriate routine for removal of the previotisly installed article transport storage unit. A variety of mechanisms can provide access to the machine by the serviceinan. For exainple, a personal digital assistant having an infrared transmitter can unloclk a side door panel of the machine and provide access by the servicenlan. Additionally, the delivered article transport storage ttnit can include a radio frequency identification tag that can similarly actuate the holder mechanisin drive motor.
Additionally, the seiviceman can enter appropriate connnands at the user interface keypad to initiate the unit removal process.
[00931 In any event, the previously installed article transport storage unit is accessible and reniovable from the housing of the dispensing machine during the removal process. The previously installed tulit is locked prior to it being accessible, thereby securing the articles fornling the contents of the unit. In particular, once the previously installed unit is inoved from its fully inserted position, the electiical switches are deactivated (de-energized), causing the latch bloclcs to move into their loclted positions. Once removed, the previously installed article transport storage unit can be delivered back to an inventory supply center by the third party fieight company for restocking of appropriate articles slated for inventory of a particular dispensing machine.
[0094] When the removed article transport storage unit arrives back at the inventory supply center, it can be unloclced and opened, its contents can be emptied and it can be refilled with articles, based on the desired inventory at its newly assigned dispensing inachine. Tllereafter, that unit can be delivered to its assigned dispensing inachine to update the inventoiy of articles available for consumption at that machine.
[00951 Following removal of the previously installed article transport storage unit, the delivered article transport storage unit is installed into the dispensing machine. In particular, the guides are slid into cooperating relationship with the rails within the machine so that the unit rests upon the rails and is secured thereby.
[0096] In the embodiments of the dispensing machine and the article tiansport storage unit ilhistrated in FIGS. 11-17, the rails and guides cooperate to secure the article transport storage unit within the cabinet.
[0097] Upon installation of the article transport storage unit into the dispensing machine to its fi7lly inserted position, the electrical switches are actuated, causing the latch blocks to na.ove to their Yunlocked positions. As a resttlt, the roller door associated with the unit is perniitted to be opened. Opposing latches on opposite sides of the unit allow the unit roller door to be opened only wheil n7ating latches meet up with their counterparts.
When actuated, these elements iuilock the door and the door will open or close as the unit moves in or out of the machine. An electroiiic solenoid in the article transport storage unit is actuated and unlocks the roller door only wlien the proper electronic connection is made between the unit and the inachine. Under these circuinstances, the roller door will open or close as the magazine nloves in or out of the machine. As the magazine is pulled into the vending machine, the magazine wi111oc1c into place allowing new articles to be uploaded into the vending machine. The robotic ann positioned within the dispensing machine then opens the door and thereafter lias access to the articles delivered for dispensing machine inventory.
[0098] Dtiring subsequent removal of the article transport storage unit, the roller door is closed by the robotic ann and the latch mechanism is shifted into its locked position to prevent the roller door from opening and exposing the contents of the unit.
This closing and locking of the roller door can be carried out prior to unlocking the side door panel and nlalcing the article transport storage unit accessible. These actions will take place once the unit moves fiom its fiilly inserted position.
[0099] FIGS. 18-21 illustrate another preferred embodiment of an article dispensing machine generally designated 230 fonning one of a plurality of article dispensing machines included within a networlced article distribution systein. Article dispensing machine 230 includes a cabinet housing 232 witll front, rear, top, bottom and side panels.
The illustrated side panel of cabinet housing 232 preferably includes a door pane1233 that can be opened for repair of components included within macliiiie 230.
[00100] The machine housing 232 is preferably a combination molded fiberglass and sheet metal cabinet. However, those slcilled in the art will appreciate that the housing can be constructed from a variety of otller suitable materials and witli a variety of other suitable manufacturitig tecl2niques.
[00101] Dispensing machine 230 furtlier includes a user interface portion and an article transport storage unit transfer opening 236 with an associated door designed to receive an article transport storage unit 238, as desired. The user interface portion of housing 232 can include a touch activated display screen 234 for input of cominands, a card reader 235 and an article transfer opening 244. The article transfer opening 244 pennits distribution of requested articles tllrough the opening and receipt of rettiirned articles through the opening.
[00102] The card reader 235 (details not shown) is preferably designed in known fashion to read magnetically encoded memUership and/or credit cards for authorizing the distribution of articles of inventory through tlie article transfer opening 244. The touch screen 234 pei7nits consumers and/or inventory stocking persoiuiel to conimunicate witli the dispensing inachine 230 and/or a central office linked in electrical communication with the dispensing machine. Touch screen 234 also perniits consunlers and/or inventory stocking personnel to enter appropriate cominands directed to carrying out specific macliine tasks.
[00103] In particular, the display monitor of the dispensing machine 230 preferably incorporates lcnown touch screen technology. As such, it provides for a user interface presenting visual display of pertinent infoi7nation during the servicing and distribution processes of nlacliine 230 and operates as a user interface for entry of cornmands designed to cany out machine tasks.
[001041 The dispensing machine 230 preferably includes an additional display nzonitor 245. Display 245 preferably incoiporates laiown plasina video teclinology and provides for display of trailers, advertiseinents and other desired point-of-purchase video effects.

[0100] Dispensing n3achine 230 also preferably includes spealcer units 246.
Preferably, laiown audio technology is incorporated within dispensing machine 230 to broadcast focused audio directed to relatively small (e.g., three square feet) locations in front of the machines from speaker units 246 and/or in other desigiiated locations at a hosting site.
[0101] Referring now to coinponents positioned in the interior of dispensing machine 230, the machine includes a storage rack unit 248 having a plurality of circular-shaped storage racks 250 sliaring a cominon central axis. A motor 251 is configured to drive a shaft 252, which is positioned along the coznnlon central axis of storage rack unit 248 to provide for rotation of the storage racks 250, as desired. Wlieels 253 are included to receive a belt used to rotate the wheels and, in turn, rotate shaft 252.
[0102] Each storage rack 250 includes radially extending, angularly separated compart7zlent panels def2ning article receiving conipartments designed to receive and retain flat-type pack articles, such as DVD cases, as desired, T]ae compartment panels are preferably axially aligzied to retain the opposing sides of DVD cases at the top and bottom ezlds thereof, In that regard, the DVD cases are preferably retained between successive vertical pairs of storage racks 250. The storage racks 250 are vertically spaced by axially extending support znembers 254.
[01031 The dispensizig zilachine includes a robotic anli 256 that is cozinected to a conveying belt 258 carried by rollers 260. At least ozie of the rollers 260 is dzxven by a motor to provide for niovenlent of robotic anzz 256.
[0104] FIG. 21 illustrates an az.-tiele transport storage unit 238 having a gen.erally square configuration witli a cut off conler. The article transport storage unit 238 is designed to have an opening 262, which permits articles to be removed from and inserted into the unit.
[01051 Article transport storage unit 238 includes a top pane1264 having a shaft aligned bore extending tlirough it, a bottom pane1266 also having a shaft aligned bore extending through it, side panels 267, and a storage rack unit 268 illustrated as having two axially aligned, circular-shaped storage raclcs 270. As shown, top pane1264, bottom panel 266 and side panels 267 are constructed to fonn opening 262 wlien assenlbled.
[0106] Each storage rack 270 includes radially extending, angularly separated compartinent panels defining article receiving compartments designed to receive and retain flat-type pack articles slated for inventory, such as DVD cases, as desired.
The coinparhilent panels are preferably axially aligned to retain the opposing sides of DVD
cases at the top and bottom ends thereof. In that regard, the DVD cases are preferably retained in comparlnients illustrated as slots fornned between successive vertical pairs of storage raclcs 270.

[0107] The storage racks 270 are vertically spaced by axially extending support members 274. In addition, a closing member 276 configured from two adjacent locked slots extends between the storage raclcs and is designed to prevent access to the articles stored within article transport storage unit 238 wllen the closing ineniber is axially aligned with opening 262.
[0108] Again, it will be appreciated that the compartxnents of a particular article transport storage unit can be designed to receive a variety of types of articles, as desired. It will further be appreciated that the nuinber of compartments in the interior of a unit can be varied to accolmnodate a different quantity of articles slated for inventoiy at a dispensing machine. In addition, an article transpoi-t storage unit may be designed to hold a plurality of types of articles and articles having a plurality of sizes and shapes, as desired.
[01091 The storage rack uiiit 268 also includes a centrally positioned, locking rotational mechanism 278 designed to perniit selective rotation of the storage rack unit within the interior of article transport storage unit 238. It will be appreciated that storage rack unit 268 cannot be rotated within article t.ransport storage unit 238, absent locking rotational znechanisin 278 being actiiated by a cooperating unloclcing iizecllanism. It will furtlier be appreciated that the shaft 252 witliin article dispensing macliine 230 includes a cooperating unlocking mechanisin and that additional unlocking mechanisnrs are available at a centralized inventory sltpply center. In the arrangement shown, tlie article transport storage unit 238 includes locking pins 280 that, when depressed, pennit the storage rack unit to be rotated.
[01701 Wit11 the present invention, the article transport storage units 238 are filled with inventory at a centralized inventory supply center. Once filled witli articles slated for dispensing machine inventory, an unlocking mechanism is broiiglit into cooperating engagement with loclcing mechanisn1278 and iniplemented to cause rotation of storage rack unit 268 to align closing nieniber 276 with opening 262. In particular, pins 280 are depressed and the storage rack unit 268 is rotated until closing nlenlber 276 is aligned with opening 262. Thereafter, the unlocking inechanisin is removed fiom engagement with locking mechanisni 278 and access to the contents witllin article transport storage unit 238 is prevented. These steps are preferably perforn-ied by authorized system adniinistration personnel.
[0111] T1lereafter, a particular article transport storage unit 238 is then delivered to its destined article dispensing machine 230. This delivety can be made by third party delivery companies, such as overnight courier serviees.

10112] The autliorized servicenian initiates the appropriate routine for removal of the previously installed article transport storage unit. A variety of ineclianisms can provide access to the niachine by the serviceman. For example, a peripheral device, such as a personal digital assistant having an infrared transmitter, can initiate the removal process.
Additionally, the delivered article transport storage unit 238 can include a radio frequency identification tag that can similarly initiate the removal process.
Additioiially, the serviceman can enter appropriate coinmands at the user interface (e.g., touch screen and/or lceypad) to initiate the unit ren-ioval process.
[0113] In any event, any additional inventory to be offloaded is delivered from storage rack unit 248 to storage rack unit 268 in the article transport storage unit 238 and loaded into unit 238. This off loading process is carried out by robotic arm 256 and shaft 252, which has been Urought into engagenieiit with the locldng rotational nrechanism 278 of the previously installed unit.
[0114] The article transport storage unit ejection process is then cominenced.
Shaft 252 is actuated to rotate storage rack unit 268 until closing ineinber 276 is axially aligned with opening 262. Thereafter, shaft 252 is raised, or alternatively article transport storage uziit 238 is lowered, to bring the shaft out of engagement with the locking rotational mechanism 278 of the previously installed article transport storage unit 238. In particular, fingers (not shown) associated with the shaft can be brought out of engagement wi.tli locking pins 280 so that the pins are no longer depressed. This causes the previously installed article transport storage unit 238 to be locked and prevents access to the articles fonning the contents of the unit. The door associated with opening 236 is opened. The previously installed article transport unit 238 is tlien automatically ejected .fronl dispensing machine 230 so that it can be removed througli opening 236.
[01151 The article transpo~,-t storage unit 238 is then renioved and delivered back to an inventory supply center by tlle tliird party freight conipany for restoclcing of appropriate a-i-ticles slated for inventory of a particular dispensing nlachine.
[0116] W11en the removed article transport storage unit arrives back at the inventory supply ceiiter, its contents can be eniptied and it can be refilled with articles, based on the desired inventory at its newly assigned dispensing niacliine. Thereafter, that unit can be closed, locked and then delivered to its assigned dispensing niachine to update the inventory of articles available for cozisiuiiption at that machine.
[0117] rollowing removal of the previously installed article transport storage unit, the delivered article transport storage unit 238 is inserted into article tTansfer opening 236 for installation within dispensing machine 230. The installation processor may be completed by using eitlier a tractor, or by inanual effort. After being partially inserted into opening 236, a tractor (not shown) conlpletes the installation process. The article transport storage unit 238 is automatically positioned so that it is centrally aligned with shaft 252.
The automatic positioning and installation of article transport storage unit 238 can be actuated by a sensor mechanism that detects that the unit has been inserted into article transfer opening 236. It will be understood that the process may be perfonned eitlier manually, or automatically.
[01181 Upon installation of the article transport storage unit 238 into the dispensing machine, the unit is raised so that the unlocking ftngers associated witli shaft 252 are brought into engagement with and press against pins 280 of loclcing rotational mechanisin 278 and an inventory storage process is then commenced. Shaft 252 rotates storage rack unit 268, successively causing articles stored within article transport storage unit 238 to be aligned witli openii.ig 262. Robotic arm 256 is then actuated to grab each article of inventory, remove that article from tlie unit, carry that article to its desired location on one of the storage racks 250 of storage rack unit 248 and insert that article into the proper conlparlinent.
[01191 In its preferred form, electronic records are stored within a storage unit (e.g., hard drive unit) related to each of the inventory supply and removal process. For example, the delivered article transport storage unit is preferably identified and accepted by the dispensing machine prior to connnaricement of the removal and installation processes.
[01201 In addition, each article of inventoiy removed from the storage rack unit fixed within the dispensing macliine housing and delivered to the storage rack unit contained within the article transport storage unit is preferably scanned and identified by the dispensing niachine. Similarly, each article of inventoiy removed from the storage raclc unit contained witliin an installed article transport storage unit and delivered to the storage rack fixed within the dispensing machine housing is preferably scaxnied and identified by the dispensing machine, along with an identification of its stored position on the storage rack unit.
Electronic records are preferably stored in the syste2n regarding this information.
[01211 Each article of inventory dispensed from a dispensing machine is also preferably scanned and an electronic record is created indicating the consumer who rented and/or purchased the media. In addition, articles of inventoiy returned to a dispensing machine by a customer and inseited into the article transfer opening tliereof are preferably scanned and identified by the dispensing machine (for example with a bar code reader or scanner in electronic communication witli the dispensing znachine controller, positioned proximate the media dispending / return opening) along witli an identification of its later stored position on the storage rack unit.
[01221 These electronic records can be shared ainong dispensing machines within a networlc thereof, and can also be shared with a centralized office via the Internet or any other electronic data communication lililc. These electronic records can be used to ensure that the inventory process is carried out efficiently and acctirately.
[01231 Electronic records will also be transmitted to the inachines indicating the new articles slated for inventory and uploaded iilto the machine. Therefore, when new inventory is loaded into a inachine, each article can be inspected and scanned for verification.
[0124] Article dispensing machine 230 incorporates a slot loading drive in electronic conlniunication witli a storage unit (e.g., hard drive) for the lnachine. The DVD drive can receive an uncased DVD fxom the robotic arm. The END drive then reads the content from the DVD niedia. The coiltent is stored on tlie storage unit in the form of one or more computer files. The content is then available for fast access and presentation on the plasma video monitor. Accordingly, video, such as video related to a desired advertisement or trailer, can be read from DVD media at the inacliine location. The video content read from the END media is stored in the storage unit and can be accessed and played on display monitor 245, as desired.
[01251 As a consunier approaches a dispensing machine, the consumer observes the display monitor and the user interface. The consumer may also observe a plasma/LCD
moilitor displaying niarlceting infonnation, or a liglitbox containing marketing information for branding the vending apparatas 30. The consumer then enters the appropriate commands at the user interface control systein associated witll the dispensing machine to select a DVD
to be dispensed by the niaclline. The user interface control system 49 can employ simple menus and a fixed set of keys for consumers to nzalce their selections, it can employ Urealc-resistant touch screens, or it can employ a coinbination of both. Once a selection has been made, the consumer would then merely insert his/her magnetically encoded dispense activation card into the card reader slot positioned at the front of the dispensing inachine and, in response, the machine will dispense the selected DVD witliout the need for further input by the consumer.
[0126] It is not necessaiy for a consumer to become a member of a video rental program in order to rent a movie. As an alternative, consumer can simply pay for rentals by credit card instead. Witli appropriate hardware, the machine is also configztrable to accept currency.

[0127] For those consuiners having a rental memUership, tlie DVD rental experience can more readily be customized. The member can insert lus/her membership card into the card reader and enter his/her personal identification number ("PIN") when prompted through the user interface coiitrol systern. In response to these commands, the consumer is presented witli a customized, personal start-up menu. From this personalized nlenu, which can be custoniized to have suggested titles scroll across the screen based on past renting patterns of the particular meniber and/or all ineinbers at the particular hosting location, the member selects a previously reserved movie or selects a new movie from the list of titles embodied in DVD iizedia contained within the inventory of the dispensing machine. Once the selection has been nlade, the robotic arm incorporated in the machine will grab and cause the selected DVD to be dispensed, preferably in less than twenty seconds. The specific user request made at the n2achine (e.g., reziting a new nlovie or payment by credit card) is then sent via satellite feed or DSL or cable nlodein or via the hitenlet to a centralized system office in real-time for processing. Such a procedure ensures accurate and rapid handling of every user request as well as secure billing to any credit card account of the consunner.
[0123] When a consumer retun-is a DVD to a dispensing nlachine, he/she, if he/she is a member, can insert the membership card into the card reader on the front of the machine, eizters his/her personal identification number when prompted and inputs the appropriate additional cominands to initiate the return process. The consumer then inserts the DVD into the dispensing/receiving receptacle on the front of the niaclzine. A bar code reader inside the machine then scans the returned DVD for its unique code and places the rettiu7led DVD Uack into the physical inventoiy of the machine to await the next rental of that DVD. As an added convenience, consumers will have the option of returning a DVD to macliines other than the one fronz which ti-iey originally rented the movie, preferably but not necessarily for a-a additional charge to cover any additional incremental adininistrative costs.
[0129J The nlachiues and software are preferably configured to automatically produce and deliver a printed receipt to collsuniers reniing or purchasing DVDs from a machine.
They can also preferably send an email receipt to a consumer, or cause a hardcopy receipt to be delivered to a consumer by mail upon request. In addition, consuiners can rent and/or purchase DVDs remote from the dispensing inaclzines throtigli use of the system website, already described.
[0130] Referring now to FIG. 24, a system is provided for coimnunication between the article dispensialg maclline 30 and a central controller 302, preferably located remotely from the article dispensing machine 30. It will be understood that as used herein, the terms "central controller" and "central server" are synonynlous, and refer to a microprocessor operating computer software that is configured to perfornz the software tasks described herein. Article dispensing machine 30, as described previously 1lerein, is electronically controlled, and is equipped for that purpose with electronic circuitry including a vending controller 300. The vending controller 300 is responsible for generating the user interface, processing coninzands received from the user interface, displaying information to the user and conlnlzrnicating witli the vending networlc.
[0131] Gerierally, in ten-ns of hardware arcliitecture the server 302 includes a processor and/or controller, memory, and one or more input and/or output (I/O) devices (or peripherals) that are communicatively coupled via a local interface. The local interface can be, for example, but not limited to, one or more buses or other wired or wireless corulections, as is lu-iown in the art. T12e local interface inay have additional elements, which are omitted for siinplicity, such as controllers, bttffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers, to enable communications. Further, the local interface may include address, control, and/or data com-iections to enable appropriate coininunications among the other coinputer components.
[01321 Processor/controller is a hardware device for executing software, particularly software stored in meznory. Processor can be any custom made or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), an auxiliary processor ainong several processors associated with the server 302, a semiconductor based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set), a macroprocessor, or generally any device for execi.tting software instiLictions. Exaniples of suitable conimercially available microprocessors are as follows: a PA-RISC series microprocessor from Hewlett-Packard Company, an 80x86 or Pentium series microprocessor fioin Intel Corporation, a PowerPC microprocessor from IBM, a Sparc niicroprocessor from Sun Mierosystems, Inc., or a 68xxx series microprocessor from Motorola Corporation. Processor may also represent a distributed processing architecture such as, but not limited to, SQL, Smalltalk, APL, KLisp, Snobol, Developer 200, MUMPS/Magic.
[0133] Menioxy can include any one or a combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access nlemory (RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, etc.)) and nonvolatile menloiy eletnents (e.g., ROM, hard drive, tape, CDROM, etc.). Moreover, nlemory may incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types of storage nledia. Meinory can have a distributed arclzitecture wl-iere various components are sitz2ated reznote from one another, but are still accessed by processor.

[0134] The software in memory may incltide one or more separate programs. The separate programs comprise ordered listings of executable instructions for implementing logical fturctions. The software in memory includes a suitable operating system (O1S). A
non-exhatistive list of examples of suitable coinmercially available operating systems is as follows: (a) a Windows operating system available from Microsoft Corporation;
(b) a Netware operating system available from Novell, hac.; (c) a Macintosh operating system available from Apple Computer, Ine.; (d) a UNIX operating system, which is available for purchase from inany vendors, such as the Hewlett-Paclcard Company, Sun Microsystems, Inc., and AT&T Corporation; (e) a LINUX operating system, wliich is freeware that is readily available on the hiternet; (f) a run time Vxworks operating systeni from WindRiver Systems, Inc.; or (g) an appliance-based operating systenl, such as that implemented in handheld conlputers or personal digital assistants (PDAs) (e.g., PalmOS available fronz Palni Colnputing, Inc., and Windows CE available from Microsoft Corporation).
Operating system essentially con.trols the exectttion of otlier coinputer progranls and provides scheduling, input-output control, file and data management, memory management, and comxnunication control and related sei vices.
[0135] Steps and/or elements, and/or portioiis thereof of the present invention may be impleniented using a sotirce program, executable program (object code), script, or any other entity comprising a set of instructions to be perfomied. When a source prograxn, the program needs to be translated via a compiler, asseniUler, interpreter, or the lilce, wlzich may or may not be included within the memory, so as to operate properly in coimection with the O/S.
Furthei7nore, the software einbodying the present invention can be written as (a) an object oriented progran7ming language, wliich has classes of data and snethods, or (b) a procedural programming language, which has routines, subroutines, and/or functions, for example but not limited to, C, C++, Pascal, Basic, Fortran, Cobol, Perl, Java, and Ada.
[0136] The I/O devices may include input devices, for exainple but not liinited to, input modules for PLCs, a keyboard, mouse, sca.nner, microphone, touch screens, interfaces for variotis medical devices, bar code readers, stylus, laser readers, radio-fiequency device readers, etc. Furtliermore, the I/O devices may also include output devices, for example but not limited to, output modules for PLCs, a printer, bar code printers, displays, etc. Finally, the I/O clevices may fiirther include devices that communicate both inputs and outputs, for instance but not limited to, a xnodulator/demodulator (modem; for accessing another device, system, or networlc), a radio frequency (RF) or other transceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, and a router.

[0137] If the server 302 is a PC, worlcstation, PDA, or the like, the software in the memory may fiirtlier include a basic input output system (BIOS). The BIOS is a set of essential software routines that initialize and test hardware at startup, start the O/S, and support the transfer of data among the hardware devices. The BIOS is stored in ROM so that the BIOS can be executed wlien server 302 is activated.
[0138] When server 302 is in operation, processor is cojifigured to execute software stored within nleinory, to communicate data to and from nleniory, and to generally control operations of server 302 pursuant to the software. The present invention and the O/S, in whole or in part, but typically the latter, are read by processor, perhaps buffered within the processor, and then executed.
[0139] When the present invention is implemented in software, it should be noted that the software can be stored on aziy coinputer readable medimli for use by or in connection with any computer related system or n7ethod. In the context of this document, a computer readable mediunz is an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other pliysical device or means that can contain or store a coniputer program for use by or in coimection with a conlputer related system or method. The present invention can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection witli an instri,iction executioli system, apparatus, or device, such as a coniputer-hased system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instrLictions froin the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this docunient, a"computer-readable mediunl"
can be any means that can store, communicate, propagate, or transport the prograin for use by or in connection with the instn.iction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer readable medium can be for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electroniagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical coiinection (eleetronic) having one or inore wires, a portable computer dislcette (n-iagnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (electronic), a read.-only menioly (ROM) (electronic), an erasable prograinmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory) (electronic), an optical fiber (optical), and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM) (optical). Note that the coniputer-readable medium could even be paper or anotlier suitable niedium upon which the prograni is printed, as the program ean be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scamiing of the paper or other niedium, then compiled, inteipreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then stored in a coniputer menioiy.

[0140] For that purpose, article dispensing machine 30 is equipped with network comnztinication equipment and circuitry. In a preferred embodiment, the network connnunication equipment includes a networlc card such as an Ethernet card. In a preferred network environnlent, each of the plurality of article dispensing inachines 30 on the networlc is configured to use the TCP/IP protocol to communicate via the network 301.
It will be understood, however, that a variety of network protocols could also be employed, such as IPX/SPX, Netware, PPP and others. It will also be understood that while a preferred emUodiment of the present invention is for ai-ticle dispensing maclline 30 to have a "bxoadband" connection to the network 301, the principles of the present invention are also practicable with a dialup connection using a standard xnodenx. Wireless networlc connections are also contemplated, such as wireless Etheniet, satellite, infrared and radio frequency networlcs.
[0141] Vending controller 300 is configured to transmit information to, and receive infornlation from, the networlc 301. While the Internet is the preferred network metlzod for interconnecting the networlc 301 of the plurality of article dispensing machines 30, it will also be understood that a private or closed networlc is also practicable herewith.
The networlc 301 is preferably the Inteniet, but may be any networlc for placing the plurality of article dispensing machines 30 in communicatioxi witli the central controller 302. The netwoxk 301 serves to communicate inforn.iation regarding vending transactions, and is also therefore refei7ed to herein as a"transaction network," though as used herein, the terms "network" and "transaction networlc" are synonymous.
[0142] The central controller 302 is responsible for communicating witli the vending controller 300 via the network 301. The central controllez 302 is preferably located at a centYal station that is remote from the plurality of article dispensing machines 30. The central controller 302 operates as the server for comnlunicating over the networlc 301 between the plurality of article dispensing machines 30. The central controller 302 receives conimunication fiom the article dispensing niachines 30, and also transmits information to the nlachines 30. For example, wheYi a DVD rental transaction is perforined at the article dispeiising machine 30, transaction data such as the rented DVD title is then transmitted from tlle machine 30 to the central controller 302 via the networlc 301. It will be understood that servers in general, such as the central controller 302, are often distributed.
[0143] As shown in FIG. 24, there are preferably a plurality of central coiitrollers 302.
Tlnis, the controllers 302 are arranged in a "load Ualanced" architecture to improve the speed and efficiency of the network. To acconiplish the iniplementation of multiple controllers 302, the controllers 302 are in conuilunication witli a router/distributor 303. The router 303 receives comniunication froni the network 301, and distributes the communication to one of the plurality of controllers 302. Lilcewise, when one of the controllers 302 transmits infoiznation, that inforination is received by the router 303 and then transmitted to the networlc 301.
[0144] The central controller 302 is in communication with a central database 304. The database 304 stores infoi-niation regarding the transaction networlc. For example, the database 304 stores data regarding the vending inventory at each of the plurality of article dispensilig machines 30. The database 304 also stores sales information regarding the sales quantities of the vending merchandise stored in the machines 30. For example, the database 304 stores infonnation regarding the sales totals for each DVD title and for each machine 30 vending location. Database 304 also stores user inf'ormation and rental transaction information, sucli as user IDs, PINs, the date on which DVDs are due to be returned and the date on wlzich DVDs were rented from the machines 30.
[0145] Database 304 is preferably a relational database, altlzough other types of database architectures may be used without departing from the principles of the present invention. For example, database 304 may be a SQL database, an Access database or an Oracle database, and in any such embodinient have the functionality stored herein. Database 304 is also preferably capable of being shared, as illustrated, between a plurality of central controllers 302 and its infoi7iiation is also preferably capable of being transmitted via network 301. It will be understood that a variety of iilethods exist for serving the inforination stored in database 304, such as ODBC, MySQL and CFML.
[0146] The central controller 302 and database 304 are also preferably accessible by a personal computer 306. The personal conlputer 306 will be understood as comprising hardware and software consistent with marlcetable personal computers, such as a display monitor, a lceyboard and naouse and ainicroprocessor. The personal computer also comprises hiternet browser software such as Mozilla or Internet Explorer. Using the browser software, a usei- at the personal coniputer 306 can access a web interface through the central controller 302. To that end, central controller 302 preferably comprises web server software such as IIS
or Apache. It will be understood that a variety of web server software and web browser software exists to implement the principles of the present invention without departing therefrom. Througll the web browser software, the personal conzputer 306 communicates with the central controller 302 and allows the user to login to a ceiitral coinmand fiinctionality of the central controller 302 and to view and modify data stored in the database 304. The browser interface also allows the user to perforzn certain system functions, which will affect the inventoiy and behavior of the article dispensing macllines 30.
[0147] In a prefeiTed embodiment, a financial server 305 is also in communication with the networlc 301. It will be understood that a variety of financial services exist for processing financial inforniation via the Internet and other networks 301. Those sei-vices allow for the processing of credit card and debit card information, so that users of the services do not have to iiiterface directly with credit and debit card companies. In FIG. 24, the financial server 305 is illustrated as a single server, althougli the financial server 305 may comprise an entire sub-network of financial servers 305 responsible for processing financial information.
[0148] When a user interfaces with the article dispensing inaclline 30 and provides financial inforination such as a credit card ntunber, that inforznation is transmitted from the inachine 30 via the netwoilc 301. In oiie emUodiment, the financial information is transmitted directly from the niachine 30 to the fuiancial server 305. In anotlier embodiment, the information is transniitted to the central controller 302 first, and is then transmitted to the financial seiver 305. In either of those embodinients, financial seiver 305 is responsible for processing the financial information received from the user at the article dispensing machine 30. In anotller embodiment, financial server 305 software is comprised in the central coritroller 302, and financial transactions are perfoniied by the central controller 302 without a separate financial server 305.
[01491 Referring now to FIG. 25, a system and method is illustrated for regulating vendible media products. A plurality of vendible niedia products are provided in a first vending apparatus 30 (also referred to herein as article dispensing machine 30), located at a first vending loeation. A list of vendible media products is received from a remote control location froin the vending location, wherein the list identifies a subset of the vendible media products at the vending location. A signal is then generated to place the subset of vendible inedia products at the vending location in a predetermined area witliin the vending apparatus 30 for removal from the vending apparatus 30 at the vending location. The system and methoci allows for the user, or the system itself, to remotely detei7nine a set of DVD titles that will be removed from the veizding inventory of the article dispensing machine 30.
[0150] First, as shown in step 315, the central controller 302 is accessed.
Step 315 can be perforined reniotely, by a user at a personal conxputer 306 (tllrough the web browser interface described previously), or can be perfornied by a user at the reinote control location.
Alternatively, step 315 can be perfoi.-med automatically by a microprocessor executing software enibodying the metliod for regulating vendible media products. In other words, the method for regulating vending 3nerchandise can be performed manually by a user, or can be perforined autoniatically by a processor configured to perform the steps of the method described hereia.l. The inventory database 304 is queried next, as shown in step 307. The queiy of the database comprises first a detennination of the inventory stored in the vending apparatus 30. In effect, a queiy is run to determine which DVDs are in the machine inventory.
[01511 Next, in step 308, sales data stored in the database 304 is queried. In one enibodiment, the analysis of the sales data in step 308 is to determine how long the vendible niedia products have been stored in the vendiiig inventory. For example, it is desirable to have a large quantity of new releases in the vending inventory, because new releases are frequently the most popular titles for rental and/or purchase. To store the new releases, older titles lnust first be removed. Thus, the querying of the sales data in step 308 allows for the selection of DVD titles that have been stored in the vending inventory for longer than a predetermined period of time.
[0152] In another einbodiment, the querying and analysis performed in step 308 comprises a profitability analysis to determine which vendible media products (such as DVD
titles) are selling well and wlrich are not. For example, a vending inventory may comprise ten copies of DVD Title A and ten copies of DVD Title B. It can be determined in step 308 which title is selling better. For exainple, all ten copies of DVD Title A may be vended from the inventory, while only one copy of DVD Title B nlay be vended. In that event, the sales data analysis perfonned in 308 can deternnine that it is advantageous to redtice the supply of DVD Title B in the vending inventory and increase the supply of DVD Title A.
Tlie analysis in step 308 tlierefore allows the systenl or user to detennine which vendible media products should be renioved from the vending inventory and which vendible media products should be added to the vending inventory.
[0153] In step 309, a manual user selection of vendible media products is made based on the analysis perfoi7ned in step 308. In one enibodinient, the quetyizig in step 308 is perfoinaed manually by a user who personally analyzes the sales data stored in the database 304. In that enZbodinient, the user then selects tlie vendible media products, in step 309, that are to be removed from the vending inventory at the vending apparati.ts 30. In another exnbodiment, a inicroprocessor executing coniputer software is used to gellerate, in step 310, a set of vendible inedia products. The computer software ennboclies the azialysis performed in step 308. For exauzple, the software can be configured to autoniatically suggest tlie removal of vendible niedia products that have been in the vending inveiitoiy for longer than a predetei7nined period of tinie, such as two months. As another example, the software can be configured to autoniatically suggest the reinoval of vendible products that are renting or selling below a predetennined th.reshold, such as 20%. As another example, the software can embody an algorithin to suggest an adjustment of the vending inventory to meet demand.
(E.g., if the vending inventory contains ten copies of Title A, but only two copies are vended at any point in time, the software can be configured to suggest the removal of eight of the copies of Title A.) The manual vendible media selection in step 309 and the automatic selection in step 310 have the same result, and both are based on the querying and analysis perfoixned in step 308. The difference is that step 309 is perl'onned mauually by a user, while step 309 is performed automatically by a microprocessor executing computer software. In addition, the two steps 309, 310 can be perfonned jointly, such as wliere the software suggests a set of vendible niedia products and the user adjusts the suggested set or adds to the selected set. Eitlier embodiment is practicable in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and botli embodiments are jointly practicable as well.
[0154] The next step in the method, illustrated as step 311, is to confirm the selection made in either or both of step 309 and 310. Step 311 is optional, yet particularly helpful if the veizdible media product selection was made automatically, as shown in step 310, without user input. In that einbodinzent, the confirination of the selection performed in step 311 assures user oversight of the method. Upon completion of steps 310 and 311, a list of vendible media products to be removed from the venting inventory is ready for transmission to the vending controller 300.
[0155] In one embodiment, illustrated in step 312, the central controller 302 at the central locatiozi then awaits for coinmunication from the vending controller 300.
Communication between the central server 302 and the vending controller 300 is bi-directional, such that both contiollers 300, 302 can transmit data to and receive data froin the other controller 300, 302.
However, it is advantageous for the central server 302 to only transmit data in response to communication froni the vending controller 300. It will be understood that in certain types of computer networlcs, the network address (e.g., IP address) of a network terminal will be static, and in otlier types of computer networks the networlc address will change. In TCP/IP
networks, for exaniple, network addresses are frequently static. But in PPP
networks, network addresses are frequently clianging. For that reason, it is advantageous in the present systenl for data transznissions froni the central seiver 302 to the vending controller 300 to be inade in response to connilunication froni the vending controller 300. That relieves the central server 302 of the burden of detei7nining the networlc address for each of the vending controllers 300. By colnparison, the networlc address of the central server 302 in that elnbodiment is preferably made static.
[0156] Thus, in step 312, the central server 302 awaits a communication .from the vending controller 300. Such a communication is made, for example, when a rental tralisaction has occurred at the vending apparatus 30. In that einbodiment, the central server 302, in response to the conlniuliication from the vending controller 300, transmits the list of vendible niedia prodticts to be removed froln vending inventory to the vending controller 300. That step is illustrated as step 313. In another emUodiment, the system proceeds to step 313 without awaiting connnunication froln the vending controller 300.
[0157] The vending controller 300 receives the list of vending inventory from the central server 302, and in response thereto, generates in step 314 a siglial to place the identified set of vendible inedia products in a predetennined location for removal from the vending location.
As described previously, that step is physically accomplished by instructing the robotic arm 46, 256 to remove the vendible media products (e.g., DVDs) from the vending inventory and place them in the portable vending management module (also referred to herein as an article transport unit) 38. Thus, when service persomiel arrive to add inventory to the vending apparatus 30, the service personnel need simply remove the vending management module 38, as described previously. That saves the need for the service personnel to manually instruct the macliine to place the vendible media products in the predetermined location, because the vending controller 300 has already instnicted the robotic arm 46, 256 to perform that step. In another embodiment, the predeterlnined location for removal can be the article transfer opening 44, 144, 244. In that embodiment, the service personnel identifies herself, and in response, the vending controller 300 automatically delivers the inventory identified in steps 310 and 311 tluough the article transfer opening 44, 144, 244.
[0158] Referring now to FIG. 26, there is illustrated a systeln and method for the offline vending of a vendible media product. The present invention provides for vendible media products to be distributed and the transaction recorded, wltliout reqturlllg network connectivity between the vending controller 300 and the networlc 301.
Beginning with step 316, the vending controller 300 receives a request from a user for a vendible media product.
For example, the user may request to rent a DVD from the vending apparatus 30.
The vending controller 300 then deterinines, in step 317, wliether connliunication witli the central server 302 is capable of being established. It will be understood that there are a variety of ways to perform that ftinction, including a"ping cliecle" to detet7nine wliether the vending controller 300 is in conilnunication witli the networlc 301. Such a check also enables a deterniination of whether the central server 302 is in communication with the network. If the ping is successfiil, connnunication is capable of being establislled between the controllers 300, 302. If the ping is unsuccessful, communication is teinporarily not capable of being established.
[0159] 113 the event that co2nmunication is capable of being established, the system then proceeds along an "online" mode of operation. In the "online" niode of operation, the transaction data (e.g., DVD title rented, user identif cation information, user financial infozmation, rental term, etc.) is transmitted to the central server 302 in step 318. Then, in step 319, the transaction data is deleted from the memory of the vending apparatus 30. The "online" mode of operation is thus to receive transaction data and vend a selected vendible media product from the vending inventory, witliout storing the transaction data at the vending location.
[01601 However, in the event that the vending controller 300 determines, in step 317, that communication is not capable of being established, the systein then proceeds in an "offline"
mode of operation. In the "offline" mode, the system is still capable of vending and receiving media products, and therefore a loss of coimectivity does not hann the operation of the system. In one embodinient, the veiiding controller 300 and/or central controller 302 checks the inventory database 304 to determine whetller user has exceeded a predetermined number of rentals. If the user has exceeded the predetennined nuinber of rentals, then the transaction is not perfornned.
[0161] In a prefeired embodiment, the system restricts the nuinber of rentals that can be made fioin a vending apparatas 30 while the vending apparatus is unable to establish a connection to the transaction networlc 301. In another enibodiment, the system restricts the amount of time during which a vending apparatus 30 will be operational while the vending apparatus 30 is unable to establish a connection to the transaction networlc 301. In another enlbodiment, the system restricts the number of rentals that can be made by any one specific user while the vending apparatus 30 is unable to establish a connection to the transaction network 301. It will be understood that such restrictions are embedded in the computer software and/or operating system of the vending controller 300.
[0162] In the offline mode, the systeni receives transaction data in step 320.
Next, in step 321, the vending controller 300 stores the transaction data in a vending memory located at the vending location and in communication with the vending controller 300.
Preferably, the transaction data stored in the menlory is also encrypted. A variety of inetliodologies are laiown for enciypting stored data. In a prefeiTed embodiment, the transaction data is asymmetrically encrypted using a public/private key eneryption algorithm, wherein the public key is published by the central server 302. In a preferred embodiment, the transaction data is tiinestan7ped as having occurred at the time of the transaction. Thus, wllen the transaction data is ultiinately uploaded to the central server 302, the data will accurately reflect the time of the transaction, not the time of the upload.
[0163] In a preferred embodiment, the vend'zng controller 300 then inarks the transaction data as baving occuired while the vending apparattts 30 was in an "offline"
state, as illustrated in step 322. Identifying the transaction data as having occurred "offline" assists in generating statistical reports regarding the number of transactions that occur "online" versus "offline", and also assists in identifying networlc connectivity problems at the plurality of vending locations.
[01641 As illustrated in step 317, the system then returns to a status of determining wlletller coinnltmication witli the central server 302 is capable of being established. If cotnintuiication is capable of being established, the stored transaction data is uploaded to the central seiver 302, illustrated in step 318, and the transaction data is tlien deleted from the memoiy, illustrated in step 319.
[01651 It will be understood that the transaction data can comprise not only vending infoniiation such as DVD rental information, but can also comprise vending purchases, such as the purcliase of a DVD from the vending inventory. Furtherniore, the transaction data can also comprise return infomlation, such as the rettini of a rented DVD to the vending inventory.
[0166] Referring now to FIG. 27, there is illustrated a system and metllod for conlmunicating vending inforination for a vendible media product. A vending request is received for the vendible media product at a first location. Then, it is determined whether the vendible media product is in a first vending inventory within a first vending apparatus at the first location. Next, it is detei-inined whetlier tlie vendible media product is in a second vending inventozy within a second vending apparatus at a second location, wherein that detertiiination is performed if it is detenilined that the vendible media product is not at the first location. Then, inventoiy data is transmitted, wherein the data indicates whether the vendible media product is in the second vending inventoiy apparatus at the second location.
The system and metliod for conlmunicating vending infornnation allows for a tiser at alirst location to receive inforanation indicating a second locatioz2 at wliich a vendible media product is located and can be rented or purchased. In one enibodiment, the first location is a vending apparatus 30. In another embodiment, the first location is a personal computer 306.

[0167] The nietllod for conlmunicating vending infoimation begins as illustrated at step 323, where the system receives a vendible media product identifier from a user. The product identifier siniply identifzes the vendible media product for wliich the user is searching. For exaniple, if the user wishes to rent a DVD Title A, the product identifier received in step 323 will identify the requested vendible media product as DVD Title A. Next, in step 324, the system deterinines wllether the requested vendible media product is in inventory. Tn one eniUodiment, that detenizination is performed by vending controller 300, by checking the vending inventory at the vending location, and the result of the determination is displayed to the user via the display monitor 143. In another enibodiment, that detemiination is performed by the central controller 302, by consulting or querying the inventory database 304, and is then coinnlunicated to the user via the Internet 301 and the web browser software on the personal coniputer 306.
[0168] If the requested vendible media product is in the vending inventory at the vending apparatus 30, a transaction interface is generated in step 329, as in the "normal" mode of operation described herein. If, however, it is determined in step 324 that the requested vendible n-iedia product is not in the vending inventory, the system proceeds to step 325, wherein the system receives a location identifier. The location identifier identifies the location of the user.
[0169] The location identifier can be received from several sources. First, the location identifier can be received manually frozn a user at the vending location. In that emUodiment, tlie user interface 234, 42, 143 at the vending apparatus 30 requests that the user provide the location identifier. The user then supplies the location identifier using the lceypad or touch screen 234, 42. In that emUodinlent, the location identifier can be data that is easy to recall for the user, sueli as a zip code. In another embodiment, the location identifier is received autoniatically, from the vending controller 300. The vending controller in that embodiment is provided with data identifying its own location, such as an address, an intersection, a global positioning identifier or other coordinate data identifying its physical location.
[0170] Next, in step 326, the location identifier is transmitted from the vending controller 300 to the central server 302. In essence, the vending controller 300 requests of the central server 302 the location of the requested vendible media product. In step 327, the central server 302 queries the database 304 to deterinine the location of the vendible media product.
A query is perfoniied on the database 304 to deterniine a vending apparatus 30 inventory having the requested vendible media product. The restilts of the query are then sorted according to their location, and are ranked accordiing to the locations that are closest to the location identifrer. For example, the first result will be the location of a vending apparatus 30 that is one block away, the second result will be the location of a vending apparatus 30 that is 1 mile away, and so on. Further, the systein may be optionally configured to transmit any predeteniiined nuniber of locations. For example, the system may transmit to the user only one recommeiided location having the requested vendible media product, or the system may suggest any number of locations having the product, wherein the suggestions are ranked in order of proximity to the location identifier.
[0171] In step 328, the location of a vending apparatus 30 having the requested vendible media product in its vending inventory is transmitted to the user. The Iocation can be displayed on the touch sensitive display 234 at the vending apparatus 30.
Then, in step 329, the system generates a transaction interface, wherein the user can rent or purchase the requested vendible media product, located at the second location, from the interface at the first location. Thus, the user interface at the first vending apparatus 30 allows the user to rent or purchase a vendiUle inedia product from the inventory at a second, remotely located vending apparatLis 30. The user rents or purchases the vendible media product via the user interface at the first vending location, and the transaction data is transmitted to the central server 302, and then to a vending controller 300 at the second vending location. Ttzen, at the second vending location, the vending controller 300 receives user identification, such as a credit card or identification card passed through the card reader 40, 142, 235 or a PIN
provided by the user using the keypad 42. Wlien the vending controller 300 at the second vending location has confii7ned the identity of the user, the vending controller 300 generates a signal in step 331 to deliver the vendible media product to the user at the second vending location.
[0172] In another embodiinent, a system for conimunicating vending infoimation is provided to communicate the location of a requested vendible media product to a user using a personal coniputer 306. In that enibodiment, the system for conm7unicating vending infoiillation is embodied in an interactive website in cominunication with the central server 302. A user uses browser software at the personal computer 306 to visit the website, and provides first, in step 323, a requested vendible media product. For example, the user selects a DVD title from a list of titles displayed on the website. Then, in step 325, the user provides a location identifier such as a zip code. In step 326, the location identifier is transmitted from the user's personal computer 306 to the central server 302. The central seiver in step 327 consults with or queries the database 304 to determine the location of a vending apparatus 30 that botli has the requested vendible inedia product in its vending inventory and is located within a proximity to the location identifier. In step 328, the central server transmits the location of that vending apparatus 30 to the user, thereby notifying the user of the location of the vending apparattis 30 that has the requested vendible media product.
[0173] In a preferred einbodiment illustrated in step 329, the website then provides a transaction interface, whereby the user can purchase or rent the requested vendible media product using the personal computer 306 and the website. The user may then travel to the location of the vending apparatus 30 to receive the vendible media product that she rented or purcllased through the website. In a preferred embodinlent illustrated in step 330, the vending apparatus 30 receives a user identifcation from the tiser, such as a credit card, user identification card, usernanle/password or PIN, and then in step 331 the vendible media product is delivered to the user, preferably through article transfer opening 44. In another embodinient, if the requested vendible media product is not located at the vending apparatus 30, the user nzay provide an electronic mail address; when the requested vendible media product is in the vending inventory at that vending apparatus 30, the user will be transmitted an electronic mail n-iessage indicating that the requested vendible media product is at that point izi the inventory. Preferably, the electronic message further comprises a uniform resource locator, whereby the user can reserve the vendible media product via the Internet.
[01741 Refet-ring now to FIG. 28, there is provided a system and method for coinniunicating vending information. A vending controller 300 receives a plurality of transaction data from a plurality of users regarding a plurality of transactions, and stores each of the plurality of transaction data in a memory located within the vending apparatus 30. The vending controller 300 tlien receives a request for communication from the central server 302 and in response thereto, tiansmits the plurality of transaction data to the central server 302.
[0175] Initially, as illustrated in step 332, the vending controller receives transaction data fiom the user. The transaction data comprises information concerning the transaction perfornled by the vending apparatus 30. For example, the transaction data can comprise a user identification, a vendible media product identification (e.g., a serial nunlber of a rented DVD) and financial infoi.-mation such as the user's credit or debit card number. The vending controller then stores the transaction data in a meinory, illustrated in step 333, and preferably encrypts the data. As discussed herein, a variety of encryption schemes are practicable with the present invention. A preferred encryption scheine is an asymmetric public/private key encryption schenie, wherein the public key is published by the central setver 302. In a preferred einbodiment illustration in step 334, the transaction data is also timestainped, so that the transaction data when uploaded to the central server 302 will reflect the actual time of the transaction as opposed to the time of the upload.
[0176] In step 335, the vending controller 300 checks to determine whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the transmission of transaction data to the central server 302. The predeterinined period of time is conflgurable by vending personnel at eitller the vending controller 300 or the central server 302. The predetermined period of time deterniines the fi-equency witli wllich the vending controller 300 uploads transaction data to the central server 302. For example, if the predetermined period of time is two minutes, the vending controller 300 will transmit any stored transaction data to the central server 302 every two minutes.
[01771 In step 336, the vending controller 300 checks to determine if the stored transaction data has exceeded a predetermined storage tlireshold. The storage threshold is coilfigurable by vending persoimel at either vending controller 300 or the central server 302.
The storage threshold detennines a zneinory storage liniit. If the limit is exceeded, the veiiding controller 300 uploads transaction data to the central server 302.
For exanlple, if the predetei-iizined storage tlueshold is 1 megabyte, the vending controller 300 will transmit any stored transaction data to the central server 302 upon a detennination that the stored tratisaction data exceeds 1 nlegabyte in meinoxy storage.
101781 The vending controller 300 and its attendant computer software can be figured to upload transaction data upon either or botll of the expiration of the predetermined tiine interval and the reaclling of the predetermined storage thresliold. In other words, either or both of those events can trigger the uploading of the transaction data. The option of which event to use, or to use both, is configtlrable by vending personnel at either the vending controller 300 or the central server 302.
[0179] As illustrated in step 337, upon the triggering of one or botll of the aforementioned events, the transaction data is tiploaded to the central server 302 , similarly to the "noi7liaP" mode of operation. In step 338, the transaction data is tlien deleted from the meinory at the vending apparattis 30.
101801 The present invention ftirther provides a system for connnunicating vending information via a transaction networlc, as illustrated in FIG. 24. The systein fiirther comprises a remote control center, which is a physical location housing the central server 302. The central server(and thereby, the reinote control center) is in connnttnication with the vencling controller 300. The central server 302 receives a communication froni the vending controller 300 at a predetei7nined time interval, as discussed herein. The central server 302 also receives a plurality of transaction data from the vending controller 300, wherein each of the plurality of transaction data corresponds to a rental transaction from the vending apparatus 30. In a preferred emUodiment, each of the plurality of transaction data corresponds in particular to a rental transaction for a DVD.
(0181] The present invention ftirther provides a system for coinmunicating vending infornlation comprising a transaction networlc as illustrated in FIG. 24 and a vending controller 300 in comiminication with the transaction networlc. The vending controller 300 transmits, at a predetermined tinle interval, a conlmunication to a central server 302 located at a rexnote control center. The vending controller 300 is also preferably configured to receive a request for infoi7nation from the central server 302. The vending controller 300 transznits a plurality of transaction data to the central server 302 , wherein each of the plurality of transaction data corresponds to a rental transaction.
[01821 Referring now to FIG. 29, there is illustrated a system and method for selling a rental iziedia product, whereby a user wlio rents a vendible media product from a vending apparatus 30 may tlien have the option to purcliase the vendible media product. Transaction data is received from a user interface, wlierein the transaction data coinprises an electronic mail address for a user. The rental product is then vended from the vending apparatus 30 to the user, and an electronic n1ai1 message is transmitted to the electronic mail address, wherein the electronic mail message comprises an invitation to purchase the rental media product.
[0183] The vending controller initially receives transaction data from a user, as illustrated in step 340. The transaction data comprises information related to the specific transaction performed at the vendin.g apparatus 30, such as vending product information (e.g., the serial number of a rented DVD), user identification information and financial information such as the user's credit or debt card nuinUer. The vending controller 300 also receives an electronic mail address from the user. It will be understood, however, tliat an electronic mail address coii7prises a.-iot only traditional electron.ic mail such as POP and IMAP
electronic mail systems, but also conlprises instant niessaging protocols and alphanumeric protocols as well.
Thtts, the electronic mail address received by the vending controller 302 is an address to which a message may be electronically transmitted, and is not limited to traditional electronic mail.
[0184] After the vending controller 300 receives the transaction data and electronic mail address froni the tiser, the reznainder of the method can then be perfor;ned immediately, wliile the transaction is still oceurring at the article dispensing machine 30, or can occur later by electronic mail. In either embodiment, the steps of the method remain largely the saine.

First, a coaritroller clleclcs to determine whether the product is available for purchase. That check may be perfomied by either the vending controller 300 or the central server 302. In one enlbodiment, the vendible niedia rental product is offered for sale immediately, wliile the user is still physically present at the article dispensing machine 30. In that embodiment, the vending controller 300 checks a local database to detennine wliether the requested vendible media rental product has been flagged as a vending product that caii be offered for sale.
Optionally, the vending controller transmits inforination identifying the vending product to the central server 302 and receives froin the central seiver 302 information that identifies the recluested vendible media rental product as a vending product that can be offered for sale.
[0185] In anotlier euibodiinent, the central server 302 perfonns the clieck to determine wliether the vendible inedia rental product can be offered for sale.
Typically, that step is perfozined by querying a database 304. A vendible media rental product may be flagged as a vending product that can be offered for sale either by vending personnel, nzanually, or by the system automatically. Coniputer software operated by a inicroprocessor at the central server 302 can be configured to deteniiine whether a product should be offered for sale. For example, the software can be configured to determine the percentage of vendible media rental products of a certain type that are being rented. The software can then suggest that the percentage of the products not being rented be offered instead for sale. For instance, if only 20% of the inventoiy of DVD Title A is ever rented by a vending apparatus 30 at any time, the software can be configured to automatically suggest tliat the remaining 80% of the vending inventory of DVD Title A be offered for sale to users at the vending apparatus 30.
That detei7nination of whetlier a product sliould be offered for sale, and the quantity and price at which the product should be offered, may tlius be rnade automatically by the system, or may be made manually by the user. In either event, the vending controller 300 and/or central server 302 detennine in step 341 whether the requested vendible media rental product has been identifled as a vending product tliat can be offered for sale.
[01861 If the controller 300, 302 deterinines that the vendible media rental product has not been identified as a product that can be offered for sale, the nzethod for selling the product terininates. If, however, it is detei7nined in step 341 that the product can be offered for sale, the controller 300, 302 then detennines the sale price of the vending product.
In one embodiment, the central server 302 consults or queries database 304 to detennine a user-defined sale price. The user-defined sale price is a price established and recorded in the database 304 by vending personnel, who have nianually detennined the price at which the vendible media rental product should be sold. In another enxbodiment, the sale price is recorded in the database 304 automatically by coinputer software executed by the central server 302 or another controller located at the remote control center. The software is configured to deten-iline the price at which the vending inventory should be offered for sale in order to both meet customer demand at the vending apparatus 30 and meet predetermined tliresholds of profitability established by the vending personnel.
(0187] In another embodinlent, the sale price of a vendible inedia rental product is detei7nined by the vending controller 300 at the article dispensing machine 30. The sale price can be stored in an inventory database local to the macliine 30, or can be identified on the vendible media rental product itself. The vending controller 300 can then generate a user interface coinprising an offer to the user to purchase the vendible media rental product, so that the product is offered for sale innnediately to the user upon vending.
[01881 In anotlier enzbodinient, the vendible media rental product is offered for sale at a later tizne, after it has been vended to the user, such as in a vending rental transaction. A
controller located at the remote control location, such as the central server 302, generates a purchase offer and transmits the purchase offer to the user-provided electronic mail address, as illustrated in step 345. In a preferred embodinient, the message transmitted to the user in step 345 includes a website address, wliich the user can then visit using personal computer 306 and thereby electronically purchase the rented product. Because the user has already provided financial transaction infonnation to the vending apparatus 30 at the time of the rental of the vendivle media rental product, the user need not provide financial information again. Rather, the user need only provide user identification information, such as the last four digits of the credit or debit card used during the rental transaction, or a zip code corresponding to the financial account used during the rental transaction.
Alternativel.y, the niessage transinitted to the user-provided electronie mail address can comprise instructions, wherein the instructions instruct the user to physically visit a vending apparattis 30 to purchase the vendibl.e media rental product. Alternatively, the purcliase offer can be transnlitted to the user upon returiiing the product to the vending apparatus 30.
[0189] In a preferred embodinient, a controller at the remote control center such as the central sc;xver 302 determines whetlier a predetermined period of time has elapsed, as illustrated in step 343. The predetea.-mined period of tinle determines the time interval at wliicli purchase offers for the vendible media rental product will be transmitted to the user.
The predeterniined time period is configurable by an administrative user, such as vending personnel at the reniote control location or an admizlistrative user accessing the control facility using a persoiial computer 306. For example, if the predeterniined period of tiine is configured to be one day, then the system will transmit a purchase offer to the user once per day. If the controller determines that the predetermined period of time has not elapsed, the controller checks again in a"loop" fashion and does not proceed until the predetermined period of tiii7e has elapsed.
(0190] In a prefeiYed embodiment, a controller at the reinote control location such as the central seiver 302 deteinlines whetlier the vendible media rental product has been returned by the tiser before transmitting a purchase offer to the user. If the product has been returned by the user to the vending apparattis 30, the purchase offer is not transmitted to the user-provided electronic mail address. If, however, the rental product has not been returned to the vending apparatus 30, then the purchase offer is transinitted to the user-provided electronic mail address.
[0191] In a prefeiTed embodiment, the vendible media rental product is removed from the vending inventory after it has been purchased by the user, illustrated in step 347. That step may be accomplished by marlcing the vending product as "sold" in the inventory database 304, and may also be acconiplislzed by deleting the vendible media rental product from the inventoiy database 304. It will be understood that the steps of transmitting the purchase offer to the user-provided email address, generating the transaction interface for the purchase of the vending product, and reflecting such purchase in the inventory database can be accoinplished by either the central server 302 , the vending controller 300 or anotlier controller at a location remote from the vending apparatus 30. In a preferred einbodinient, those steps are perfonned by a controller located at the remote control location.
[0192] The present invention provides a system for selling vendible media rental products, wlzerein a central server 302 at a central location receives transaction data from a vending controller 300 at a vending location. The transaction data comprises an identifier, which identifies a rental product, and fiuther coinprises an electroilic mail address. The systein fiirtlier comprises an electronic mail application, preferably residing on a server 302 at the ceiitrallocation. The electronic niail application transmits an electronic mail message to the electronic nzail address, wherein the message comprises an invitation to purchase the rerrtal, product. The system fiirther coxnprises a purchase application, preferably residing on a server 302 at the central location. The purchase application receives a seeond transaetion data from a user, whereirl the second transaction data coniprises a request to purchase the rental product.

[0193] Referring now to FIG. 30, there is illustrated a system and inetliod for calibrating a vending apparatus 30. As used hereui, the term "vending apparatus" refers to a vending-machine style device, such as article dispensing machine 30. The vending apparatus 30 is eqtiipped witli an optical sensor 370 for sensing objects stored in the inventory of the apparatus. A variety of fornis of optical sensors are practicable with the present invention without departing from the principles tliereof, including an optical laser scanner, a magnetic scanner, an optical bar code reader, an ultraviolet optical scanner and an infrared optical scanner. It will be understood that optical sensors such as optical sensor 370 have sensitivity setlings that determine the anlount of light that will be sensed by the optical sensor 370. It will be fiirther understood that such optical sensors are operated by an optical sensitivity controller, which controls the optical sensitivity of the optical sensor and processes data received by the optical sensor.
[0194] The optical sensor and its controller are preferably inounted on a selector arm 373, as illustrated in FIG. 32. As illtzst7=ated in step 348, one step of the meth.od for calibrating the vending apparatus is to initialize the optical sensor 370 such that tlie optical sensor 370 has an initial optical sensitivity setting of zero.
[0195] As illustrated in step 349, the optical sensitivity setting of the optical sensor 370 is th.en increniented,, such that the optical sensitivity setting of the optical sensor 370 is greater tlian zero. The optical sensor controller then checks, in step 350, to determine whether the optical sensor 370 has optically sensed one of the objects in the inventory of the vending apparatus. If the optical sensor 370 has not sensed one of the objects, then the optical sensor controller again increimnts the optical sensitivity setting of the optical sensor 370. As illustrated by steps 349 and 350, this "loop" is repeated until the optical sensor 370 optically senses one of the objects in the inventoly of the vending apparatus 30.
[0196] Upon the optical sensing of one of the objects, the optical sensor controller stores the optical sensitivity setting of the optical sensor 370 as a first optical sensitivity setting, illustiated in step 351. It will be understood that the settitzg niay also be stored by another controller within the vending apparatus, such as the vending controller 300.
Then, as illustrated by step 352, the optical sensor controller decreinents the optical sensitivity setting of the optical sensor 370, such that it is less than the first optical sensitivity setting at which the optical sensor 370 sensed the object. The controller 371 then deterinines, in step 353, wllether the optical sensor 370 no longer detects the object. If the optical sensor 370 does continue to detect the object, the optical sensor controller 371 again decrements the optical sensitivity setting of the optical sensor 370, and perfot7ns the same checlc to determine whether tlie optical sensor 370 continues to sense the object. As illustrated by steps 352 and 353, this "loop" eontinues until the optical sensor 370 is no longer able to optically sense the object in the vending apparatus inventory.
[01971 Upon the in.ability of the optical sensor 370 to sense the vending inventory object, the optical sensor controller 371 stores the optical sensitivity setting of the optical sensor 370 as a second optical sensitivity setting, illustrated in step 354. It will be understood that the second setting inay also be stored by another controller within the veiiding apparatus, such as the vending controller 300. The coznbination of the first and second optical sensitivity settings establishes an upper and lower bound of optical sensitivity, witliin which range the optical sensor 370 is capable of sensing an object in the vending apparattis inventory.
101981 As illustrated in step 355, the optical sensor controller 371 selects a third optical sensitivity setting, wherein the third optical sensitivity setting is within the range defined by the first and second optical sensitivity settings. In one embodilnent, the third optical sensitivity setting is the average of the first and second optical sensitivity settings. It will be understood that the selection of the tliird optical sensitivity setting can be performed by another coiitroller within the vezlding apparatus 30, such as the vending controller 300. It will be understood that an optical sensor 370 is used to optically sense the object in the vezlding inventory. However, otlier types of sensors can be used without departing from the principles of the present invention, such as radio frequency sensors.
[01991 Referring now to FIG. 31, a system and method for calibrating a vending apparatus 30 is provided. Illustrated in step 356 an optical sensor 370 senses a first position on a compart7nentalized storage device, such as the storage device 369 illustrated in FIG. 32.
The optical sensor controller 371 records that position as a horizontal base reference position in step 357. The optical sensor 370 tlien senses a second position on the coinpartxnentalized storage device 369, in step 358, and the optical sensor controller 371 records that position as a vertical base reference position in step 359. In a preferred embodiment, the vertical and horizontal base reference positions are the same position, foi.-ining a position denoted by a coordinate pair such as (0,0).
[0200} A selector arni 373 on which the optical sensor 370 is preferably located is then nloved, as illustrated in step 360. Wlzile the selector arin is being moved, the optical sensor 370 tracks the inotion of the selector ami 373. A variety of inetliodologies for tracking the inove7nent of the selector ani1373 are practicable with the present invention.
In one embodiment, the selector arm 373 is operated by a controller, which directs the movement of the selector arm 373 by a predetei7nined distance. The predeterrnined distance corresponds to a diniension (height, widtli or depth) of one of the objects stored in the inventory of the vending apparatus. For exainple, the selector ann controller can instruct the selector arm to move "up" a distance of seven inches, wherein the diinension of seven inches corresponds to a height of a DVD stored in the inventory of the vending apparatus. The sensor 370 then senses the new position of the selector ann 373 after the motion of the selector arm 373 has been completed. Altei-iiatively, the sensor 370 can sense the motion of the selector amz 373 while the selector ann 373 is in xnotion.
[0201] In another embodiment, the selector arm controller instnicts the selector arm 373 to move in a direction (up, down, left, riglit), and the sensor 370 optically scans the inventory of the vending apparatus until a new vending object is detected. Upon detection of the new vending object, the sensor 370 transmits a signal to the selector arm controller to stop the motioii of the selector anli 373. In that embodiment, the selector ann 373 is in effect driven by input from the sensor 370. For exanlple, the selector ann controller can direct the selector ann 373 to move "up," at which time the sensor 370 optically senses DVD Title A in the inventory. When the sensor 370 optically senses DVD Title B in the inventory, the sensor 370 transmits a signal to the selector ann controller to stop the movement of the selector ami 373.
[0202] In a preferred embodiment, the compartmentalized storage device 369 coniprises a plurality of compartnientalized rows 250 wherein each of the compartmentalized rows 250 comprises a plurality of conipartments 254. Each of the compartments 254 corresponds to a horizontal position, and each of the rows corresponds to a vertical position, such that each conipartment 254 witliin the storage device 369 has a position defined by a coordinate pair such as (0,0). The present invention provides a systezn and inethod for sensing the position of a selector az7n 373 with respect to the storage device 369, and for directing the selector arm 373 to a compartinent 254 of the storage device 369.
[0203] In one embodiimnt, the sensor 370 senses an object within the storage device 369, as described herein. The sensor 370 then conlmunicates that data to a controller within the vending apparatus, such as vending controller 300. The controller 300 then determines, by consulting or cluerying a vending database witliin the vending apparatus, the position of the selector ann 373 with respect to the storage device 369. For example, the inventory database can store urfoi7nation relating DVD Title A to position (1,2), denoting that DVD Title A is stored in the first conipartmentalized row 250, in the second com.parhnent 254 within that row. Then, at a later time, the controller 300 can require the selector az-in to be positioned relative to another conipartment 254 on the storage device 369, which stores for example DVD Title B. The controller 300 consults or queries the inventory database to detennine the compartment 254 in which DVD Title B is stored, for exainple, the compartment 254 denoted by the coordinate pair (3,7). The controller 300 then transmits that position to the selector arin 373. which moves the selector ann to the tliird compartinentalized row 250 and the seventh compartineut 254 witllin that row 250. The optical sensor 370 can then be used to verify the position of the selector arm relative to the storage device 369, or can be used to control the motion of the selector arln 373 while it is being moved, as described herein.
[0204] Referring to FIG. 32, the storage compartinent 369 is adjacent to the selector arm 373. FIG. 32 is a relief illustration of the interior of the vending apparatus 30 illustrated in FIGS. 19, 20 and 21. The compartnlentalized storage device 369 is preferably a carousel-style, cylindrical storage facility having a plurality of conlpartmentalized rows 250 wlierein each of the rows 250 has a plurality of compartments 254. ln each of the compartments 254 can be stored a vending pr.=oduct, such as a DVD. A motor 253 coinprised of a plurality of wheels rotates the storage device 369 about a vertical axis 252. Positioned adjacent to the storage device 369 is the selector arm 373, which moves vertically along a second vertical axis 258. The selector arni is driven by a second motor 260, which may be positioned on the vez-tical axis 258, as illustrated. Alternatively, the second motor 260 may be positioned on the selector az7n 373. In a preferred einbodimeiit, the motors 253, 260 are stepper motors.
The selector ann 373 comprises at least one conveyor 374 such as a conveyor belt 374, which coiltacts one of the nledia products in one of the comparhnents 254 and conveys the product to the article transfer opening 44, 144, 244, wlzereby it is delivered to a user on the exterior of the article dispensing inacliine 30. The conveyor 374 is driven by a motor 372. The sensor 370 is preferably, as illustrated, monnted on the selector ann 373, as is the sensor controller 371.
[0205] Referring again to FIG. 31, the system and method for calibrating the vending apparatus uses a coordinate-style map to remove products froan, and place products into, the storage device 369. In one embodinient, the controller (such as the vending controller 300 or the sensor controller 371) analyzes the coordinates of a vending product stored within one of the conipartments 254. The coordinates comprise a vertical coordinate and a horizontal coordinate, wherein the vertical coordinate refers to one of tlie plurality of compartmentalized rows 250 and the horizontal coniponent refers to one of the comparhnents 254 within that row 250. The controller 371 then analyzes the vertical coordinate of the coordinate pair to determine whether to advance the selector ann 373 up or down along the vertical axis 258. If the verlical coordinate is greater than the present vertical base reference position of the selector arm 373, as detennined in step 367, the controller 371 instructs the motor 260 to advance the selector arm 373 in an "up" direction along the vertical axis 258, as illustrated in step 363. If the vertical coordinate is less than the present vertical base reference position of the selector arin 373, as detennined in step 368, the controller 371 instructs the motor 260 to advance the selector arm 373 in a"down" direction along the vertical axis 258, as illustrated in step 364. Tlnis, the selector ai7n 373 is positioned at the vertical coordinate received from the controller 300, 371, wherein the vertical coordinate refers to one of the plurality of conipartmentalized rows 250.
[0206] The controller 371 also analyzes the horizontal coordinate of the coordinate pair, wllerezn the horizontal coordinate refers to one of the storage coinpartinents 254 in one of the rows 250. If the horizontal coordinate is greater than the present liorizontal base reference position of the selector arin 373, as deterinined in step 366, the controller 371 instructs the motor 253 to rotate the storage device 369 in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in step 362.
If, liowever, the horizontal coordinate is less tlian the present horizontal base reference position of the selector arin 373, as deterinined in step 365, the controller 371 instructs the motor 253 to rotate the storage device 369 in a counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in step 361. Thus, after t1-ie rotation is coniplete, the selector ann 373 will be aligned with the storage compai-tment 254 coi.Tesponding to the coordinate pair.
[0207] It will be understood that a inotor 253 capable of rotating in a single direction (i.e., cloclcwise or counter-cloclcwise) is practicable with the present invention, because the storage device 369 is cylindrical. In particular, if the llorizontal coordinate of the coordinate pair is less than the present horizontal base referenee position of the selector arm 373, the controller 371 can instruct the motor 253 to rotate the storage device 369 clockwise until the selector arm 373 is aligned witli the correct coinpartment 254. Thus, either a unidirectional or bidirectional motor 253 can be used to rotate the storage device 369.
[0208] Referring now to FIG. 33, a system and inetliod for nlanaging vending inventory is illustrated. An inventoiy descriptor is generated, wherein the inventoly descriptor corresponds to a set of vendible media products. The set of vendible inedia products con7prises a first and second vendible media product storeds in first and second locations 391, respectively. A signal is generated to dispense the first vendible media product from the first location 391, and a second signal is generated to dispense the second vendible media product fronz the second location 391. The set of vendible media products is then seci,ired in a vending delivery niodule 238.
[02091 An inventoiy descriptor is generated in step 380, wherein the descriptor corresponds to a set of vendible media products such as DVDs, wherein the set of vendible media products comprises first and second vending products stored in first and second locations 391, respectively. A signal is then generated, in step 382, to provide the first vendible media product from the first location 391 and the second vendible media product from tlie secoiad location 391. The first and second products are then, in step 383, secured within a vending delivery module 238.
[02101 The generation of the inventory descriptor is illustrated in steps 375, 378, 379 and 380. In step 375, the vending supplier selects the vending products that it wishes to purchase fiom the product sttpplier. For example, the operator of vending apparatus 30 selects a phuality of DVD titles that it wislles to supply in the vending apparatus 30.
The vending supplier also determines, for each of the vending locations, a set of inventory that will be placed at that vending location. Next, in step 378, those inventory allocations are entered into a database 304. The inventory data in the database is used to create deliveiy allocations, in step 379, corresponding to merchandising routes. For exarnple, the inventory allocation for a first vending apparatus 30 located along merchandising route A will be organized so as to coincide with the inventory allocation for a second vending apparatus 30 tlaat is also located along merchandising route A. Thus, the product inventories for multiple vending apparatuses 30 are organized based on merchandising routes, to assure a more efficient method of distribution of the products.
[0211] In step 380, an inventory descriptor is generated, wlierein the inventory descriptor refers to a set of vendible media products. The inventory descriptor identifies the quantity and type of each of the vendible media products that will be in the inventory of the vending delivery module 238 which the inventoiy descriptor identifies. For exainple, if the vending supplier wishes to secure 10 copies of DVD Title A and 20 copies of DVD Title B within a vending delivery module 238, an inventoiy descriptor will be generated in step 380 that identifies those inventoiy allocations. The inventory descriptor itself may be an optically readable media, such as a bar code, an infrared code or an ultraviolet code, or may also be a radio frequency identifier that is readable by a radio frequency receiver.
[0212J In step 376, the vendible media products that have been selected by the vending supplier are shipped to the supplier. In step 377, the products are arranged in predetermined Iocations 391. The predeteinlined locations 391 can be storage bins or friction feeders. Each predeternlined location 391 stores a particular type of vendible media product. For example, all of tlle copies of DVD Title A will be stored in storage bin A, all copies of DVD Title B
will be stored in storage bin B, etc. Tn step 381, the inventory descriptor is scanned. Tlle scanning can be perfornied by an optical sensor such as a bar code reader, an ultraviolet reader or an infrared reader, and can also be performed by a radio frequency receiver. Based on the scanning of the inventory descriptor, the vendible media products identified by the inventory descriptor are released from the predetermined locations 391 according to the quantities specified by the inventory descriptor, as illustrated in step 382.
For example, if the inventory descriptor specifies 10 copies of DVD Title A and 20 copies of DVD
Title B, then upon scamling that inventory descriptor, a controller will generate a signal to release 10 DVD
products from storage bin A and 20 DVD products from storage bin B.
[02131 In step 382, the set of vendible inedia products identified by the inventory descriptor is secured in the vending delivery module 238. The physical process of securiiig the vendible media products is described elsewhere llerein. Referring to FIG.
34, a system for securing the vendible media products within the vending delivery module 238 is illustrated. The vendible media products are stored within predetermined locations 391, such as storage bins or friction feeders. Each of the locations 391 stores a particular type of vendible niedia product. The vendible media products are delivered from the locations 391 to the vending module by a conveyor 392. In one enlUodiinent, the conveyor 392 is a conveyor belt, along which the vendible inedia products travel from the storage locations 391 to the vending delivery module 328. Upon arrival, they are eitller placed manually into the vending modu(e 238, or are automatically fed into the vending delivery module 238 by use of a funnel sorter 393. In anotller embodiment, the conveyor 392 is gravity itself, and the vendible media products are dropped from the storage locations 391, which are located above a sorter 393, and are thereby delivered to the vending delivery module 238.
[0214] Referring again to FIG. 33, the inventory descriptor is attaclied to the vending delivery nlodule 238, as illustrated in step 384. The vending delivery modules 238 are then orgaizized according to a nlerchandising route, such that a plurality of vending delivery modules 238 can be delivered to a plurality of vending apparatuses 30 in a single merchandising trip. In step 385, vending personnel deliver the vending delivery modules 238 to the vending locations and insert the vending delivery inodules 238 into the vending apparatuses 30, as described elsewhere herein. The vendible media products are thereby delivered to the vending apparatus 30. In step 386, the systeni optionally generates inventory reports. The reports can be generated at the remote control center, by a user using a personal computer 306 accessing the control fiinctionality of the renlote center via a web browser or by the vending controller 30 at the vending location. The inventozy report contains data identifying the inventory in the vending apparatus 30, including the inventory that has been rented tioni, retiirned to and purchased fronl the vending apparatus 30.

[02151 In step 388, the system deteimines whether there are any problems that have ariseii as a result of the inventory delivery process. One example of a problem that may arise is ttiat a vending delivery module 238 may have been mistakenly delivered to the wrong vending location. Another example of a potential problem is that a vending delivery module 238 n2ay have beeli tampered with, and vendible media products may be missing from the vending delivety module 238. Thus, in step 388, the system analyzes the inventory report generated in step 387 to deterniine if any such problems have arisen. The analysis of the inventory report n-iay be perfonned either inanually by a user or automatically by the vending controller 300 or the central server 302. The analysis is performed by coniparing the inventory repoit generated in step 387 with the merchandising list set generated in steps 378 and 379. The analysis may be perfonned by the central server 302 by coinparing the inventory database 304 data with the inventory report generated in step 386 and uploaded to the central sezver 302 by the vending controller 300. Alternatively, the analysis may be perforn-ied by the vending controller 300 by comparing local inventoiy database data with central database 304 data received fronZ the central server 302.
[0216] If in step 388 it is detemlined that inventory was incorrectly delivered, the vending controller 300 can initiate a return process in step 389, wliereby incorrectly delivered vendible media products are placed witliin a vending delivery module 238 at the vending location for pickup by vending personnel. Alternatively, as illustrated in step 390, any problems identified in step 388 can be investigated and addressed manually by vending personnel at either the renlote control location or the vending location.
[0217] Referring now to FIGS. 43 and 44, a system and metliod for managing a plurality of vendible media products is illustrated. In step 427, a vending delivery module 238 is received containing a plurality of vendible media products. For exainple, a vending delivery modu I e 23 8 can be received containing vendible media products that have been returned from a vending apparatus 30 as products that are no longer to be rented at the vending apparatus 30 because they have exceed a predetennined shelf life period of tiine. In step 428, the plurality of vendible media products are removed from the vending delivery module 238, preferably by rotating an interior axis within the vending delivery module 238, as described elsewhere hereiu. In step 429, each of the plurality of vendible niedia products is scamled, preferably by a scazuier 440. Tlie scanner 440 ca.n be an optical scamler stich as a bar code reader, an infrared scaziner or an ultraviolet scanner. The scanner 440 can also be a radio frequency receivcr, wherein each of the plurality of vendible niedia products is affixed witli a radio frequc;ncy product identifier.

[02181 As the vendible inedia products are scanned, the identifying information from the vendible media products (e.g., title of the product, serial niunber of the product, SKU, etc.) are electronically transinitted to a server for recordation in the inventory database 304. Using that information from the database 304, packing lists are then generated in step 434, and the vendible 2nedia prodticts are gathered into groups according to their type.
[0219] After a vendible media product is scanned, a deterinination is made as to whether the vendible media product has been identified, as illustrated in step 431. If the product is not identified in step 430, it is collected in a universal predetermined location 391, such as a storage Uin, as illustrated in FIG. 44. If the vendible media product is identified in step 403, the product is delivered from the vending delivery module 238 to a predetermined storage location 391, such as a storage bin, according to the type of the vendible niedia product. For example, if the vendible media product is identified in step 330 as being a DVD having the title "Crossroads", the vendible nzedia product is delivered in step 433 from the vending delivery niodule 238 to the predetermin.ed storage bin 391, wllerein the storage bin 391 collects all vendible media prodticts having the title "Crossroads". The plurality of vendible media products are tlius sorted according to their type, based on infonnation received from the vendible media products during the scan perfonned in step 429.
102201 To deliver the vendible media product from the vending delivery module 238 to the predetei7nined location 391, a conveyance means such as a conveyor belt 441 can be used. Alternatively, a friction feeder or a fiinnel can be used to sort the pluxality of vendible media products. In step 436, each of the plurality of predetermined locations 391 is gathered according to its type. In step 437, it is deterinined, preferably by a server such as the central server 302 , whetlier the vendible niedia products are to be reallocated to the plurality of vending apparatuses 30. For example, vending personnel may determine that while the "Crossroads" type of vendible inedia product did not rent sufficiently in a first vending location, the "Crossroads" type of vendible media product does rent sufficiently in a second vending location. Based on that assessment, the vending personnel can stored information in database 304 that will indicate that a predetermined number of vendible media products of the "Crossroads" type are to be reallocated from the first vending location to the second vending location. Thus, in step 437, the server determines whether the vendible niedia products in the storage locations 391 are to be reallocated by querying the invelltory database 304. If it is deteiznined that the vendible znedia products are to be reallocated, then in step 438 the vendible n-iedia products are delivered to a vending delivexy niodule 238 for reallocation according to the system aiid inethod desci7ibed elsewhere herein.

[0221] If it deterrnined in step 437 that a vendible nredia product is not to be reallocated (e.g., it is damaged, or is to be returned to a media supplier), then in step 439 the appropriate measures are taken by vending persoimel to appropriate the vendible media product.
Determining whether a vendible media product is not to be reallocated is also niade by queiying the inventory database 304, wlierein vending persoimel can record information in the database 304 signaling that the vendible inedia product is not to be reallocated.
[02221 Referring now to FIG. 35, there is illustrated a system and method for marlceting vendible niedia products. A first user input cominand is received, and it is determined whetller a discount offer notification is pending. A colnnlunication for display on a user interface is generated, wherein the communication is structured to communicate an offer for at least one of the vendible media products at a discount price.
[02231 A user inptrt command is received at the vending location of the article dispensing machuie 30, as illustrated in step 394. The user input command can be a request by a user to rent a vendible media product such as a DVD, a coinmand to retuan a previously rented DVD
or another type of input coniinand such as a command to browse the vending inventory or learn more about a vendible media product in the vending inventory. The vending controller 300 then deternlines whether a discount offer notification is pending. The discount offer infonnation can be stored in a local inventory database, or it can be stored remotely in the central database 304. In the latter scenario, the discount offer is transmitted from the central server 302 to the vending controller 300. In that case, the central server 302 makes the deten-nination as to whetlier a discount offer notification is pending.
[0224] A discoturt offer is an offer to sell or rent a vendible media product at a discounted price. For instance, if the nornial cost of a DVD rental is $1.00 per day, a discount offer may be to rent the product at $0.50 per day. If the normal cost of a DVD purchase is $18.00, a discount offer may be to purchase the product for $12.00. Whetlier a discount offer notification is pending for any particular vendible media product is preferably stored either in a central database 304, or in a vending database local to the vending apparatus 30.
Alternatively, whether a discount offer notification is pending or not can be determined at the time of the receipt of the user request and tllerefore need not be stored in a database. If in step 395 it is deterinined that there is no discount offer notification pending, the method terniinates because no sucli offer is available to be transinitted to the user.
[0225] If, however, it is deternlined in step 395 that a discoujit offer notification is pending, then in step 396, a tiser interface is generated by the vending controller 300, wlierein the interface serves to receive a user input comnland to receive the vendible media product according to the discount offer. For example, if the discount offer is to rent a DVD for $.050 instead of $1.00, as detennined in step 395, then the vending controller 300, in step 396, generates a user interface wliich notifies the user of that discount offer and receives the user's acceptance of that offer. The user interface can be presented using the audiovisual means previously described, such as the keypad and touch screen 234, 42.
[0226] In step 397, the vending controller receives, via the user interface generated in step 396, a request by the user to accept the discount offer. For exanlple, the user may reql.iest to rent a DVD at a discounted rate of $0.50 per day or purchase a DVD at a discounted price of $12.00. In one enibodiment, tlie discount offer is for a vendible media product that has been previously delivered to the user. For example, the vendible media product may be delivered to the user as a rental at a first tinie, and then when the user returns the vendible media product to the vending apparatus 30, the vending controller 300 may generate a discount offer for the user to purchase the rental product she is returning at that second time. Based on the user's acceptance of the discount offer in step 397, the discount transaction is processed in step 398 according to the transaction processing routine described herein. For example, the local vending inventory is updated to reflect the transaction, the transaction data is transmitted to the central seiver 302 and the vendible media product is delivered to the user througll the article transfer opening 44. If the discount offer was for a purchase of a vendible inedia product, the product is then preferably removed from the local inventoiy database and the central inventory database 304, as illustrated in step 399.
[0227] The present invention also provides a system and method for determiiiing whether a discotrnt offer will be provided for a vendible media product. A preferred basis for nialcing that determination is having an oversupply of a vendible niedia product in the inventory. For exaniple, if the vending inventory contains 20 copies of DVD Title A, but only 80% of those copies are rented from the vending apparatus 30 at any point in tiine, the otller 20% of the copies can be offered at a discounted rental rate, or can be offered for sale at a discounted purchase price. In step 400, the vending conti-oller 300 detercnines whether the inventory of a particular vendible nledia product exceeds a predetennined tliresliold. The threshold can be detennined as a percentage of inventoiy that does i7ot get rented or sold, or it can be a quantitative measure of an inventoiy. For example, if the predetermined tlueshold is 20 copies of DVD Title A and 30 copies of that title are in the inventory, the vending controller 300 will determine in step 400 that 10 copies of DVD Title A are to be offered for discounted rental or sale. Alternatively, the analysis of whether the inventory exceeds a predetennined tlireshold can be niade by the central server300, or manually by a user using a personal computer 306 to access the control functionality of the remote control center via Internet browser software. If it is determined in step 400 that the inventory exceeds the predeternlined threshold, then in step 401 the discount offer is generated.
[0228) In one enlbodiinent, the discount offer is generated based on the genre of a previously delivered vendible 2nedia product. The vending controller 300 or central server 302 can, in step 395, determine the geiire of a vendible media product previously rented or purchased by tlie user and can then offer discount offers for other vendible media products having the sanie genre. For exaniple, the user can select to rent a DVD in step 394, wherein the genre of the DVD is "comedy." The vending controller 300 or central server 302 can then, in step 395, offer discounted rental rates to the user for other DVD
titles that are also in the "comedy" geiire, thereby encouraging the user to rent or purchase additional vendible media products that have already been identified of potential interest to the user.
[02291 Referring now to FIG. 36, there is illustrated a vendible media product selection interface for the purchase of vendible media products such as DVDs. The user interface is preferably displayed on a touch screen interface 243, 42. The user interface comprises a plurality of icons 410 representizig vendible media products. The user interface further comprises geiue selectors 411, corresponding to a type of vendible media product. The genre selectors 411 allow the user to select a particular type of product, thereby generating a user interface that will display all of the vendible media products in that particular genre. The interface also comprises a"checkout" function 412, which allows the user to view the vendible media products she has selected to rent and/or purchase.
[02301 Referring now to FIG. 37, there is illustrated a vendible media product display interface for the purchase of vending products such as DVDs. The interface comprises vendible media product infoniiation 413, which provides to the user a description of the vendible media product. As illustrated, the vending product information 413 can comprise the title of the product, its ruzi time, a user rating, any restrictions such as MPAA ratings and a description of the contents of the product. The interface also preferably comprises an image 415 for promoting the product, such as a "splash screen" iniage or other promotional image.
The interface also preferably comprises transaction details 414, such as the price of the rental and/or purchase of the product, and the date by which the product is expected to be returned to the vending apparatus 30. The interface also preferably comprises a transaction completion fiinction 416, whereby the user can request to zent and/or purchase the vendible media product.

[0231] Referring now to FIG. 38, there is illustrated a transaction interface for renting and/or purchasing vendible media prodticts such as DVDs. The transaction interface allows the user to select multiple vendible inedia products to rent and/or purchase, using a "shopping cart" fiulctionality known to one of skill in the art. The interface comprises a list of a plurality of vendible media products that have been selected by the user, wherein the list comprises detailed infol7nation 417 relating to the selected veiidible media products, such as the title of the product and the rental and/or purchase price of the product.
The interface also preferably comprises a "remove" filnction 418, wliereby the user lnay edit the list of selected produets to reniove a product she no longer desires to rent and/or purchase.
The interface also preferably coniprises a"checlcout" fiinction 419, whereby the user can select to complete the transaction to rent and/or purchase the products listed in the interface.
[0232] Referring now to FIG. 39, there is illustrated a security interface for the rental or purchase of a vendible lnedia product such as a DVD. The security interface comprises a touch sensitive number pad 420, as illustrated, or a touch sensitive keypad.
When the user provides financial information such as a credit card or debit card nulnber, preferably by sliding the credit or debt card through a financial card reader on the exterior of the article dispensing machine 30, the security interface illustrated in FIG. 39 is preferably displayed, providing additional security to the transaction. The user can be prompted, as illustrated, to provide a security identifier associated witli the financial account, such as the zip code associated with the billing address of the financial account. Alteniatively, the user can be prompted to enter a PIN or a CVV nlmlber using the nuniber pad 420.
[0233] Referring now to FIG. 40, there is illustrated a prolnotional interface for use in renting and/or purchasing vendible niedia products such as DVDs. The promotional interface comprises an entiy fttnction 421 such as a touch-sensitive keyboard displayed on the display screen, as illustrated. The keypad allows the user to enter a proinotional code, thereby entitling the user to a discount offer for the rental and/or purchase of a vending product.
[0234] Referring now to FIG. 41, there is illustrated an electronic mail address interface, tlirougli which the user can provide an electronic mail address to which will be transmitted promotional offers, discount offers and/or offers for the sale of vendible media products. The interface comprises a toucli-sensitive lceyboard 421 displayed on the display scxeen, whereby the tiser can provide her electronic lnail address. The interface also preferably comprises a denial fLlllctloll 422, Wllerevy the user Can elect not to provide an eleCtronZC n2a1l address to the system.

[0235] Referring now to FIG. 42, a user interface is illustrated for configuring an electronic mail message to be transmitted to a user-provided electronic mail address according to the system and method for selling vendible media products. The user interface is intended to be used by an administrative vending personnel user employing personal comptiter 306 and interfacing with the central server 302 via the Internet browser software of personal eomputer 306. Through the interface, the user can specify the text 423 of the electronic mail message that will be received by the customer user, and can also specify the price portion 424 of the transaction data that will be transmitted to the customer. The user interface allows the administrative user to fomiat the presentation of a receipt for the transactiozi, as illustrated, and can also be used to transniit to the customer user an option to purchase the vendible media rental product, or to rent or purchase additional vendible media products at a diseotuited price. The user interface also allows the administrative user to view and, if desired, transmit to the user-provided electronic mail address payment information 425 that has been provided by the user during the transaction, and location information 426 specifying the vending location at which the transaction occurred. It will be understood that tlae user interface provides a template for electronic mail messages, and need not be accessed or modified by the administrative user for every receipt or discount offer.
The template is used by aii electronic mail application enlbodied in computer software executed by the cezztral server 302 to send the teinplate to the customer users. It will be understood that the electronic nlail application retrieves information from the inventory database 304 and enters the information fronz the database 304 into the template and then automatically transmits the electronic niail inessage to the user-provided electronic mail address.
[0236] Referring now to FIG. 43, a user interface is illustrated for entering inventory information to the inventory database 304, wherein the inventory information specifies a type of vendible media product. The user interface is intended to be used by an adininistrative vending personnel user employing personal computer 306 and interfacing with the central server 302 via the Internet browser software of personal computer 306. The user interface allows the adininistrative user to determine the infoniiation that will be displayed to a customer user at the vending apparatus 30 pertaining to a particular type of vendible inedia product. The interface allows the user to specify the title 442 of the vendible media product, and additional infoi7nation 445 related to the vendible media product, such as the actors starring in a DVD movie, the director of the movie and a description of the inovie. The interface also allows the user to specify a user rating 444 or an MPAA rating 444 that will be displayed to customer users. The interface also allows the administrative user to specify a genre 447 of the vendible niedia product, and further to specify the quantity 448 of the vendible media products.

[0237] The quantity 448 of vendible media products entered into the user interface can specify the quantity of that type of vendible media products located at a particular vending location, or the qtzaiitity that type of vendible media product in aggregate throughout the vending inventories of the vending apparatuses 30 or the quaiitity of that type of vendible media product that will be ordered firom a vendible media supplier and then delivered to the vending inventory of the vending apparatuses 30. The user interface also allows the administrative user to specify an image 446 that will be displayed to the customer user pertaining to the vendible media product, such as a trailer image, a screenshot or a promotional poster image.
[0238] Referring now to FIG. 44, a user interface is illustrated for viewing the vending inventoiy at a vending apparatus 30. The user interface is intended to be used by an administrative vending persoruiel user employing personal computer 306 and interfacing with the central server 302 via the Inteniet browser software of personal computer 306. The user interface is generated by querying database 304 to retrieve a listing of the vendible media products located in the vending inventory of a particular vending apparatus 30. The user interface displays an identifier 449 that uniquely identifies each of the vendible media products, such as a product identifier. The interface also displays a title 450 of the vendible media product, and the physical status 451 of the product, indicating for example whether the vendible media product is prevent in the inventory, has been rented or is missing. The interface also displays a quantity indicator 452 that indicates the quantity of that type of vendible media product in the inventory. For exaniple, if the quantity of that type of vendible media product in the vending inventory is below a predetermined threshold, the interface will display that vendible media product supply as being "thin" or below the threshold.
[0239] Referring now to FIG. 45, a user interface is illustrated for querying the inventory database 304 to retrieve vending inforniation regarding the vendible media products. The user interface is intended to be used by an adininistrative vending personnel user employing personal computer 306 and interfacing with the central server 302 via the hlternet browser software of personal computer 306. The interface allows the administrative user to query the database accorclinl; to the title 453 of the vendible media product, a vending location 454, a unique product identifier 455 or a custonier user naine 456. Inforniation stored in the database 304 pertaining the queiy will be displayed in the user interface, as illustrated in FIG.
46.

[0240] Referririg now to FIG. 46, a user interface is illustrated for viewing and editing customer user iiiformation. The user interface is intended to be used by an administrative vending personnel user employing personal coniputer 306 and interfacing with the central seiver 302 via the Intei7iet browser software of personal conlputer 306. The interface allows the administrative taser to view the customer's name 458 and a unique customer identification code 457. The interface also allows the adininistrative user to view the customer user's financial inforinatioii 459, such as the user's credit card account infomiation. In a preferred embodiinent, the customer user's credit or debit card number is stored in the database 304, but the adniinistrative persoimel, as illustrated, cannot view the infoi-ination via the interface.
The interface also allows the administrative user to view and/or edit the customer user's electronic mail address 460, and the customer user's aggregate data 461 relating to the number of vendible media products that have been rented and/or purchased by that customer user. The interface also allows the administrative user to set a privilege 462 that will detennine the type of customer user; for example, specifying whetller the customer user is able to rend vendible media products at tl-ie vending apparattis 30 or whether the customer user is a preferred customer. It will be understood that any changes made via the interface can tllen be stored in the database 304 for later retrieval via the interface or download to a vending controller 300.
[0241] Referring now to FIG. 47, a user interface is illustrated for selecting vendible media products in a vending inventoxy of a vending apparatus 30 that will be removed from the vending apparatus 30. The user interface is intended to be used by an adininistrative vending personnel user employing personal computer 306 and interfacing with the central seiver 302 via the Intei7iet browser software of personal computer 306. The user interface allows an administrative user to query the database 304 for vendible media products meeting an inventory description 463 such as the title of a type of vendible media product. The interface then displays a list of database 304 entries of vendible media prodticts meeting that inventory description 463. The interface displays the location 464 of the vendible media product, and allows tlie user to select a quantity 465 of the vendible nledia product to be removed froin the vending apparatus 30. The adnzinistrative user then submits the information to the database 304, and it is then downloaded to the vending controller 300. The identified vendible media products are then placed in a predetermined location for removal from the vending apparatus 30 according to the system and niethod described elsewhere herein.

[0242} Referring now to FIG. 48, a user interface is illustrated for viewing vendible media products that have been rented longer than a predetennined period of time. The user interface is intended to be used by an adininistrative vending personnel user employing personal computer 306 and iziterfacing with the central server 302 via the Intenxet browser software of personal coiiiputer 306. The interface queries the database 304 based on the rental time inforznation 468 of the vendible media product descriptions stored in the database 304, and retrieves a list of vendible media products that have been rented, and not returned, for long than a predeterniined period of time. The administrative user, via the interface, n-iay specify the predeterinined period of time. For example, the user can select to view a list of vendible media products that liave been rented and not rettirned for longer than one week.
The interface then displays a product identifier 466 identifying the vendible media product, such as a uzuque product code or a title of the product. The interface also displays contact infornlation 467 for the customer user, suclz as the user's electronic mail address, by which tlie adniinistrative user can contact the customer user to notify her of the late stattis of the rented vending media product.
[02431 Referring now to FIG. 49, a user interface is illustrated for displaying pricing policy infoi7uation for a plurality of vendible media prodttcts at a vending apparatus 30. The user interface is intended to be used by an administrative vending personnel user employing personal computer 306 and interfacing witli the central server 302 via the In.ternet browser software of persotlal computer 306. It will be understood that the fields illushated in the user interface are populated witli data retrieved from the inventoiy database 304.
The interface allows the user to specify a pricing policy for a vending location, or for a particular type of vendible media product. For example, the administrative user can use a media selector 469 to determine a pricing policy for a particular type of vendible media product, or can use a location selector 470 to deten-izine a pricing policy for a set of vending apparatuses 30 or an individual vending apparatus 30. The interface allows the user to determine a threshold of time 471 wliicli will be considered a maximum rental period, beyond which the customer user will be charged for the fii11 purchase price of the vendible media product.
The interface also allows the administrator user to determine a tlireshold cost 472 as a maximum rental period cost, beyond which the customer user will not be charged for the rental of the vendible media product.

[0244] The interface also allows the user to specify priciizg iiifarxziation 473, wliich dernes a pricing policy for the rental and/or purchase of vendible media products. As illustrated, the interface allows the administrative user to custornize the rental and/or purchase prices for veildible media products at a particular set or individual one of vending apparatuses 30, according to periods of tizne such as days of the week. For exaniple, the administrative user can, via the interface, establish a different rental price for Thursday as opposed to Friday, and a different late fee cliarge for those days as well.
Using the interface, the adniinistrative user can also thereby establish discount periods and discount offers based on the tinie periods. It will be understood that after the user submits the requisite information in the interface, the data is then saved into the inventory database 304 and then downloaded to the vending controller 300.
[02451 Relerring now to FIG. 50, a user interface is illustrated for establishing a discount offer. The user interface is intended to be used by an administrative vending persorniel user employing personal computer 306 and interfacing with the central server 302 via the Internet browser software of personal coinputer 306. It will be understood that the fields illustrated in the interface are populated witli data retrieved from the database 304. The interface allows the adnlinistrative user to deteniline the nuinber of times 474 the discount offer will be offered, and the value 475 of the discount offer. The interface also allows the user to specify a dui-ation 476 for the discount offer. The interface can also allow the user specify a particular type of vendible media for which the discount offer will be offered, and/or a particular location at whicli the discount offer will be offered. It will be understood that after the user submits the infonziation via the interface, the infonnation is stored in the database 304 for later download to the vending controller 300.
[0246] Refet-ring now to FIG. 51, a user interface is illustrated for displaying and/or editing inforn-iation pertaining to users of the vendible media distribution systein. The user interface is intended to be used by au admiuistrative vending persoimel user employing personal conlputer 306 and interfacing witli the central server 302 via the Internet browser software of personal conzputer 306. The interface allows the administrative user to view and change inforniation pertaining to both custoiner users and administrative users. The interface allows the administrative user to view identiftcation infoiii-iation 477 pertaining to the user, and contact infoi7ilation 478 pertaining to the user. The interface also allows the user to specify a set o1'vending apparatuses 479 for which an administrative user is responsible for adniinistering; via the same interface, the administrative user also view a set of vending apparatuses 479 at which a customer user has transacted a vending transaction for a media product. Tlie interface also allows the ttser to view and cllange a list 480 of vending apparatuses for which an adnrinistrative user is responsible for administering, or a list at wliich a customer user has perfoixned a vending transaction. It will be umderstood that after the administrative user enters data into the interface, that data is uploaded to the database 304 for later download to the vending controller 300.
[0247] Any process descriptions or blocks in figures represented in the figures should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable iiistrtzctioiis for impleinenting specific logical functions or steps in the process, and altei7iate implenlentatioris are included witllin the scope of the embodiments of the present nivention in wllich functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the fitnctionality involved, as would be understood by those having ordinary sl{ill in the art.
[0248] While the specific enibodiinents have been illustrated and described, numerous moditications come to mind without significantly departing froin the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.

Claims (20)

1. A method for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product, comprising the steps of:
setting an optical sensitivity setting of a optical sensor to zero;
incrementing the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor optically senses an object, representing a first optical sensitivity setting ;
storing the first optical sensitivity setting;
decrementing the optical sensitivity setting until the optical sensor no longer optically senses the object, representing a second optical sensitivity setting;
storing the second optical sensitivity setting; and, selecting a third optical sensitivity setting between the first and second optical sensitivity settings.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein the third optical sensitivity setting is the average of the first and second optical sensitivity settings.

3. The method of Claim 1, wherein the object is the media product.

4. The method of Claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is at least one of a laser, an infrared sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a barcode reader and/or a magnetic scanner.

5. The method of Claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is mounted on a selector arm.

6. A method for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product, comprising the steps of:
optically sensing a first position on a compartmentalized storage device;
recording the first position as a horizontal base reference position;
optically sensing a second position on the compartmentalized storage device;
recording the second position as a vertical base reference position; and, tracking the location of a selector arm, wherein the location is measured with reference to the horizontal base reference position and the vertical base reference position.

7. The method of Claim 6, wherein the horizontal base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of compartments.

8. The method of Claim 6, wherein the vertical base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of compartmentalized rows.

9. The method of Claim 6, wherein a combination of at least the horizontal base reference position and the vertical base reference position determine a location of a compartment in the compartmentalized storage facility.

10. The method of Claim 6, further comprising the step of:
initiating a substantially vertical movement of the selector arm, wherein the substantially vertical movement aligns the selector arm with one of a plurality of compartmentalized rows.

11. The method of Claim 6, further comprising the step of:
initiating a stepper motor, wherein the stepper motor rotates the compartmentalized storage device to place the selector arm in substantial alignment with one of a plurality of compartments.

12. The method of Claim 11, wherein the location of the selector arm is adjusted to correspond with the rotation of the compartmentalized storage device.

13. A system for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product, comprising:
a storage device having a plurality of compartments, wherein each of the plurality of compartments has a location designated by a horizontal location and a vertical location;
a stepper motor for rotating the storage device;
a selector arm for manipulating the vending of the media product;
a vertical motor for moving the selector arm along a vertical axis; and, a controller having an associated memory for storing a location of the selector arm, wherein the location comprises a horizontal position and a vertical position, wherein the horizontal position is determined with reference to a horizontal base position and wherein the vertical position is determined with reference to a vertical base position.

14. The system of Claim 13, wherein the location of the selector arm corresponds to one of the plurality of compartments.

15. The system of Claim 13, wherein the vertical base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of compartmentalized rows.

16. The system of Claim 13, wherein at least a combination of the horizontal base reference position and the vertical base reference position determines a location of one of the plurality of compartments.

17. The system of Claim 13, wherein movement of the selector arm along the vertical axis results in one of an increment and/or a decrement of the vertical position of the selector arm.

18. The system of Claim 13, wherein a movement of the storage device results in one of an increment and/or decrement to the horizontal position of the selector arm.

19. The system of Claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of compartments is for storing the media product.

20. A method for calibrating a vending apparatus for vending a media product, comprising:
storing a vertical base reference position of a selector arm wherein the vertical base reference position corresponds to one of a plurality of rows in a cylindrical storage device;
storing a horizontal base reference position of a selector arm, wherein the horizontal base reference position corresponds to a compartment identifier identifying a compartment within each of the plurality of rows;
storing a position of the selector arm corresponding to a media product storage compartment in the cylindrical storage facility, wherein the position comprises a vertical position and a horizontal position;
initiating a motor to move the selector arm along a vertical axis, wherein a movement of the selector arm results in one of an increment and/or a decrement of the vertical position of the selector arm; and, initiating a stepper motor to rotate the cylindrical storage device, wherein a rotation of the cylindrical storage device results in one of an increment and/or a decrement of the horizontal position of the selector arm.