System and method for substituting a media article with alternative media
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G06Q-030/06
G07F-011/00
G07F-017/00
출원번호
US-0517565
(2012-06-13)
등록번호
US-9280787
(2016-03-08)
발명자
/ 주소
Maskatia, Imran
Rubinstein, Jason
출원인 / 주소
REDBOX AUTOMATED RETAIL, LLC
대리인 / 주소
Muraff, James P.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
3
초록▼
A method of substituting digital alternative media for a physical media article at an article dispensing machine to a customer is provided. The method includes receiving a request related to the media article through a user interface from the customer, identifying an associated content provider, and
A method of substituting digital alternative media for a physical media article at an article dispensing machine to a customer is provided. The method includes receiving a request related to the media article through a user interface from the customer, identifying an associated content provider, and determining the alternative media selection at the associated content provider that corresponds to the media article. The method also includes receiving a unique customer identifier and identifying the associated content provider based on the unique customer identifier. The method further includes mapping the media article to the alternative media selection based on metadata. The media article may be available at the article dispensing machine or may be unavailable due to being out-of-stock or reserved to another customer. The associated content provider may be linked to the customer based on a subscription. The digital alternative media selection may be accessed by an audio/visual display interface.
대표청구항▼
1. A method of substituting an alternative media selection for a media article requested from an article dispensing machine, the article dispensing machine having a user interface connected to a processor and configured to communicate with a central processor via a network, the method comprising the
1. A method of substituting an alternative media selection for a media article requested from an article dispensing machine, the article dispensing machine having a user interface connected to a processor and configured to communicate with a central processor via a network, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a request for the media article to be dispensed at the article dispensing machine;receiving a unique customer identifier through the user interface;identifying an associated content provider of digital media based on the unique customer identifier;comparing first metadata corresponding to the media article with second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection; andselecting, for presentation in substitution of the media article, the alternative media selection from available media provided by the associated content provider based on the comparison, the alternative media selection comprising digital media content and being different from the media article. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request related to the media article comprises a rental request for the media article. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining if the media article is available at the article dispensing machine, in response to the request; and wherein the steps of receiving the unique customer identifier, identifying the associated content provider, comparing the first metadata to the second metadata, and selecting the alternative media selection are performed, if the media article is determined to be unavailable at the article dispensing machine. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request related to the media article comprises an information request to display media information related to the alternative media selection. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein: the request related to the media article comprises a browsing request for the media article, wherein the browsing request comprises at least one of browsing or searching for the media article; andselecting the alternative media selection comprises determining the alternative media selection related to the media article based on a user preference. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique customer identifier comprises at least one of a credit card number, a debit card number, or a customer-provided identification of the associated content provider. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the associated content provider comprises associating the unique customer identifier with a customer subscription at the associated content provider, wherein the customer subscription is stored in a customer profile database in communication with the central processor. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting the alternative media selection comprises determining the alternative media selection based on an access permission for the alternative media selection in the customer subscription. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the alternative media selection comprises utilizing a mapping of the media article to the alternative media selection based on the first metadata corresponding to the media article and second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection, the first metadata corresponding to the media article and the second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection stored in a metadata database in communication with the central processor, and wherein the selected alternative media selection comprises at least one of the media article in digital format or a related media article in digital format. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first metadata corresponding to the media article and the second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection each comprises at least one of a title, a release date, a running time, chapter information, technical details, a format, a peripheral device requirement, number of players, online capability, an actor, a voice actor, a director, a studio, a publisher, a developer, a platform, availability of downloadable content, episode information, a genre, a critic rating, an individualized rating, a parental rating, a description, related content, media artwork, a media still, or a proprietary identification code. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the media article comprises at least one of a digital video disc, a Blu-Ray disc, or a video game disc. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative media selection comprises at least one of a video on demand, a streaming video, a downloadable video, a streaming video game, or a downloadable video game. 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a list to the user interface, the list comprising the alternative media selection, the associated content provider, and a payment option for the alternative media selection. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving a request through the user interface to purchase the alternative media selection; andredeeming at least one of a promotion code, a discount, or a credit code to purchase the alternative media selection. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the payment option comprises at least one of a discount on a regular price for the alternative media selection, a charge for the alternative media selection to the associated content provider, redemption of a promotion code, redemption of a credit code, or an offer to upgrade to a premium customer subscription. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the associated content provider comprises receiving an identification of the associated content provider through the user interface. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the associated content provider comprises receiving a linkage of the associated content provider to a customer account for the article dispensing machine through a website interface in communication with the central processor. 18. A method of mapping a media article to an alternative media selection for a transaction conducted at an article dispensing machine, the article dispensing machine having a user interface and being connected to a central processor via a network, the central processor in communication with a metadata database, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a request through the user interface to vend the media article;transmitting the information corresponding to the request to vend the media article to the central processor via the network;accessing first metadata corresponding to the media article, the first metadata corresponding to the media article stored in the metadata database;comparing the first metadata corresponding to the media article to second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection, the second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection stored in the metadata database;if the first metadata corresponding to the media article matches the second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection, determining an associated content provider for selecting the alternative media selection; andtransmitting the information identifying the alternative media selection and the associated content provider to the article dispensing machine for display on the user interface. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving a unique customer identifier from a customer through the user interface, wherein the associated content provider is linked to the customer based on the unique customer identifier. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the information identifying the alternative media selection and the associated content provider is transmitted when a customer subscription at the associated content provider allows access to the alternative media selection. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first metadata corresponding to the media article and the second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection each comprises at least one of a title, a release date, a running time, chapter information, technical details, a format, a peripheral device requirement, number of players, online capability, an actor, a voice actor, a director, a studio, a publisher, a developer, a platform, availability of downloadable content, episode information, a genre, a critic rating, an individualized rating, a parental rating, a description, related content, media artwork, a media still, or a proprietary identification code. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the media article comprises at least one of a digital video disc, a Blu-Ray disc, or a video game disc. 23. The method of claim 18, wherein the alternative media selection comprises at least one of a video on demand, a streaming video, a downloadable video, a streaming video game, or a downloadable video game. 24. The method of claim 18, wherein the media article comprises an unavailable media article. 25. A method of authenticating a first customer account for an article dispensing machine with a second customer account at an associated content provider for substitution of an alternative media selection for a media article at the article dispensing machine, the article dispensing machine having a user interface and being connected to a central processor via a network, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a unique customer identifier through the user interface;transmitting the unique customer identifier to the central processor via the network;accessing the first customer account in a customer profile database, based on the unique customer identifier, the customer profile database configured to communicate with the central processor;linking the first customer account to the second customer account in the customer profile database, based on the unique customer identifier;determining whether the second customer account allows access to the alternative media selection;selecting the alternative media selection at the associated content provider corresponding to the media article based on a comparison of first metadata corresponding to the media article and second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection, if the second customer account allows access to the alternative media selection; andtransmitting information identifying the alternative media selection and the associated content provider to the article dispensing machine for display on the user interface. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein: selecting the alternative media selection comprises mapping the first metadata corresponding to the media article with the second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection; andtransmitting the information identifying the alternative media selection and the associated content provider comprises transmitting the information identifying the alternative media selection and the associated content provider if the metadata of the alternative media selection matches the metadata of the media article. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first metadata corresponding to the media article and the second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection each comprises at least one of a title, a release date, a running time, chapter information, technical details, a format, a peripheral device requirement, number of players, online capability, an actor, a voice actor, a director, a studio, a publisher, a developer, a platform, availability of downloadable content, episode information, a genre, a critic rating, an individualized rating, a parental rating, a description, related content, media artwork, a media still, or a proprietary identification code. 28. The method of claim 25, further comprising: receiving a request through the user interface to purchase the alternative media selection; andcharging the second customer account for the purchase of the alternative media selection. 29. The method of claim 25, wherein the media article comprises an unavailable media article. 30. An article dispensing machine configured to communicate with a network of different article dispensing machines, the article dispensing machine comprising: a user interface configured to receive a unique customer identifier and a request to vend a media article;a network interface configured to communicate with a central processor;a processor configured to communicate with the user interface and control the network interface to: communicate with the central processor to request access to a customer profile database and a metadata database stored on a central memory remote from the article dispensing machine in response to receiving the unique customer identifier and the request to vend the media article from the article dispensing machine, wherein the customer profile database contains a linkage of a first customer account with a second customer account based on the unique customer identifier, and the metadata database contains first metadata corresponding to the media article and second metadata corresponding to an alternative media selection, wherein the central processor is configured to transmit information identifying the alternative media selection to the article dispensing machine if the first metadata corresponding to the media article matches the second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection and if the second customer account allows access to the alternative media selection. 31. The article dispensing machine of claim 30, wherein the metadata database comprises at least one of a title, a release date, a running time, chapter information, technical details, a format, a peripheral device requirement, number of players, online capability, an actor, a voice actor, a director, a studio, a publisher, a developer, a platform, availability of downloadable content, episode information, a genre, a critic rating, an individualized rating, a parental rating, a description, related content, media artwork, a media still, or a proprietary identification code of the media article and the alternative media selection. 32. The article dispensing machine of claim 30, wherein the media article comprises an unavailable media article. 33. A system for substituting an alternative media selection for a media article from an article dispensing machine, the article dispensing machine having a user interface connected to a processor, the system comprising: a memory storing executable program code;a central processor configured to communicate with the processor of the article dispensing machine via a network, and configured to execute the executable program code stored on the memory to: receive a unique customer identifier received through the user interface in connection with a request related to the media article;identify an associated content provider based on the unique customer identifier; anddetermine the alternative media selection at the associated content provider based on first metadata corresponding to the media article and second metadata corresponding to the alternative media selection, the alternative media selection comprising digital media content corresponding to the media article.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (3)
Blust, Donald; Driscoll, Thomas, Automated business system and method of vending and returning a consumer product.
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