Automated business system and method of vending and returning a consumer product
System and method of dispensing disc-based media and other consumer products. A user can interact with an automated business system to select disc-based media for rental and/or purchase. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the interior of the automated business system and dispense the selection through a port to the user. The automated business system can retrieve the selection from the port in a return process.
1. A method of dispensing disc-based media from an automated machine for rent or purchase by a customer:
selecting the disc-based media;
retrieving the disc-based media utilizing a retrieval mechanism;
reading an identification tag on the disc-based media;
verifying that the retrieved disc-based media is the disc-based media that was selected prior to dispensing the disc-based media;
dispensing the disc-based media to a port for retrieval by the customer; and
upon dispensing, making an entry for tracking inventory in a digital memory, the entry utilizing identification information for the disc-based media read from the identification tag.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a user that selected the disc-based media by reading a magnetic stripe on one of a credit card, a stored value card, a debit card, a smart card, an affinity card, a membership card, and an identification card.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising automatically charging a rental or purchase fee to one of the credit card, the stored value card, the debit card, and the smart card.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a rental option to rent the selected disc-based media for a predetermined period of time.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a purchase option to purchase the selected disc-based media.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the disc-based media is a DVD.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification tag is a radio frequency tag.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
return of the disc-based media through the port.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
adding new stock to the kiosk by inserting a new item through the port.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
reading a radio frequency identification tag on the new item upon insertion through the access port.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
updating inventory data to include the new item.
12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
reading the identification tag on the disc-based media upon return of the disc-based media.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein reading the identification tag occurs at the port where dispensing occurs, and further comprising:
utilizing information read during reading the identification tag to verify the dispensed disc-based media is the selected disc-based media.
14. A method of dispensing disc-based media from an automated machine for rent or purchase by a customer, the method comprising:
reading a RFID tag on each of the disc-based media;
selecting a plurality of disc-based media;
retrieving the plurality of selections utilizing a retrieval mechanism;
dispensing the plurality of selections at same time through a port for retrieval by the customer;
identifying the customer that selected the plurality of disc-based media by reading a magnetic strip on one of a credit card, a stored value card, a debit card, an affinity card, a membership card, and an identification card utilizing a card reader; and
verifying that the retrieved disc-based media is the disc-based media that was selected prior to dispensing the disc-based media by analyzing information identifying the disc-based media read from the RFID tag.