Redbox Automated Retail, LLC

Franz Kuehnrich

Eric J. Hoersten

William E. Caputo

Eric J Hoersten

Christopher A Kapcar

J Mitchell Lowe

J Mitch Lowe

Jim Polubinski, Jr

Thomas Franklin Smith

William Martinka

William E Caputo

Devin Hamilton

Gregg Kaplan

An article dispensing machine capable of performing an inventory audit of a portion of the inventory and automatically pausing the inventory audit in response to a customer transaction request and method for performing the same are shown. After completing the customer request, the article dispensing machine resumes the inventory auditing process. The article dispensing machine thereby remains available for customer use during the inventory auditing process.

Article dispensing machine and method for auditing inventory while article dispensing machine remains operable

Article dispensing machine and method for auditing inventory while article dispensing machine remains operational

An article vending machine in a network of article vending machines capable of exchanging an inoperable rental article received from a user for an operable replacement article. The article dispensing machine checks customer identification information against one or more customer rental criteria to determine if the customer is eligible to exchange an inoperable article for an operable one. The article vending machine searches for an identical replacement article within an inventory of the machine itself and within inventories of the networked article vending machines. Alternatively, the article vending machine may provide a refund for the inoperable article.

Article vending machine and method for exchanging an inoperable article for an operable article

A system and method for communicating vending information for a digital video disc is provided. A plurality of vending transaction data is received, wherein each of the plurality of data comprises a transaction timestamp and corresponds to a rental transaction for a digital video disc. The plurality of vending transaction data is stored in a memory of a vending apparatus, and is encrypted. It is determined whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since a first transmission of transaction data from the vending apparatus, and a communication request is transmitted upon such determination to a remote control center. A signal is received at the vending apparatus from a control center in response to the communications request, and a plurality of vending transaction data is transmitted to the remote control center in response to receiving the signal.

System and method for communicating vending information

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

System and method for regulating vendible media products

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

System and method for communicating secondary vending options

A system and method for offline vending of digital video discs is provided. The method comprises the step of receiving, at a vending location and at a first time, a request for a digital video disc from a user interface. The method also comprises the step of determining whether a vending controller is capable of being placed in communication with a transaction network. Transaction data is stored, wherein the transaction data is provided by the user interface. The transaction data is stored in a memory, and comprises a title of the requested digital video disc and financial information provided by the user interface. The method also comprises encrypting the transaction data, and generating a signal for vending the digital video disc from a vending apparatus. The transaction network is polled at predetermined periodic intervals, and the transaction data is transmitted via the transaction network upon a determination that the vending controller can be placed is capable of being placed in communication with the transaction network.

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

Eric J Hoersten