초록 ▼

An ordering terminal for videocassette program material including a keyboard, credit card reader, TV monitor and speaker and display board. The user can order videocassette program material from the terminal and can preview proposed selection before ordering. The terminal is in communication with a

An ordering terminal for videocassette program material including a keyboard, credit card reader, TV monitor and speaker and display board. The user can order videocassette program material from the terminal and can preview proposed selection before ordering. The terminal is in communication with a central processing station which in one embodiment of the invention provides complete processing of the customers order. In another embodiment of the invention, the terminal stores videocassette program material and dispenses the program material directly in response to a customer\s order. Internal computer and control logic coordinate the functions of the various elements of the system. Videocassettes are returned either by mailing the videocassettes back to the central processing station or by providing a return slot in the terminal for receiving the videocassette after use.

대표청구항 ▼

A terminal at which a customer can preview desired videocassette program material and order such material, such order being processed at a processing location remote from said terminal, comprising means for selecting the desired videocassette program material, control means including a memory for st

A terminal at which a customer can preview desired videocassette program material and order such material, such order being processed at a processing location remote from said terminal, comprising means for selecting the desired videocassette program material, control means including a memory for storing data coupled to said selection means to receive and store data corresponding to the desired videocassette program material, means coupled to said control means for communicating data between selected memory locations in said control means and said processing location so that orders for selected videocassette program material can be processed at the processing location and the selected videocassette program material supplied to the customer, preview display means coupled to said control means for providing optional preview of said videocassette program material prior to selecting the desired videocassette material, said preview display means being adapted to successively display a plurality of previews of respective videocassette program materials for which orders can be placed by said customer from said terminal, and preview selection means coupled to said control means for altering the operation of said display means to permit selected videocassette program material to be displayed on said display means.