Controllable kiosk return gate

摘要

Techniques are described to substantially reduce a return of wrong DVD or return of a right DVD in an improperly sized DVD case to a DVD rental kiosk. An RFID tag on the DVD, as well as an RFID tag on the case, are sensed external to the kiosk. A controllable shutter normally closes the return slot and is driven open only upon detecting the correct predetermined condition or conditions. A supplemental camera may be employed to detect if a single DVD in its case is being placed proximate the return slot by the user. Help screens are employed as part of the above described system to reduce potential customer frustration from returning a DVD to the wrong DVD rental kiosk and the like.

主权项

1. Apparatus for reducing access to a rental kiosk by items not belonging to the rental kiosk comprising:
a delivery and return slot for delivery and return of rental items; means for sensing an RFID tag on an item proximate the delivery and return slot in an entryway surrounding the delivery and return slot which is external to the rental kiosk, said means for sensing arranged external to the delivery and return slot; a shutter which controls return of items through the delivery and return slot; a processor for evaluating whether the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk while the shutter is closed and the item under evaluation is external to the rental kiosk and which drives the shutter open and allows entry only if the RFID tag is for an item belonging to the rental kiosk; and a display driven by the processor to inform a user to check the item if the processor determines the RFID tag is for an item not belonging to the rental kiosk.