Patent Application
20070083379
The present invention relates to a system for processing, distributing, and redistributing digital media disks by mail.
The development of the Digital Versatile Disc (“DVD”) as a medium for carrying digital movie and video information has led to a new rental business models that use postal mail for media transport. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,450, Method and Apparatus for Renting items, describes a DVD rental service in which a subscriber establishes an online “pick list” of DVD movies that the subscriber wishes to rent. In addition to DVD's such a service may be used to provide video game disks, CD's, CD-ROM's, or any other optical media. When a selected one of the DVD movies on the pick list becomes available in inventory, the service mails the selected DVD movie to the subscriber. The subscriber views the DVD and returns it to the service by mail. When the DVD is received by the service, the subscriber is entitled to receive another available DVD from the pick list.
In the conventional service, much of the work in receiving returned DVD's and sending out new DVD's to customers is done manually. For example, an envelope containing a returned DVD is opened by hand by workers employed by the service. The worker manually scans a code on the DVD packaging to identify the returned DVD and the customer. Some of the returned DVD's will be returned to inventory, however many of the returned DVD's will need to be sent to other customers. The returned DVD's are then manually processed again to determine which are need to be resent to customers, and which should be kept for internal storage or processing. Finally, outgoing DVD's are manually inserted into conventional mailers to be placed for outgoing delivery with the postal or delivery service. To maintain customer satisfaction, rapid processing of these incoming and outgoing DVD's is critical. The extensive manual processing of returned and outgoing DVD's can be time that makes quick and reliable turn-around more difficult.
The present invention overcomes disadvantage of the conventional methods and systems by providing a new system and method for preparing digital media for delivery.
In a first aspect of the invention, outgoing digital media are prepared for delivery to recipients. The system has determined which digital media need to be delivered to customers. Those outgoing digital media items are collected and provided to an outbound processing device to be prepared for delivery. Empty digital media envelopes are also supplied to the outbound processing device. The automated device inserts the outgoing digital media into the empty envelopes.
A scanner scans a code on the digital media. Based on the code, the system determines an intended delivery address. The system applies delivery address information, as determined from the scanned code, to the filled envelopes. In one embodiment, the step of applying delivery address information includes printing the delivery address on a label, and applying the printed label to the envelope.
Preferably, the envelopes include at least one opening, wherein a business reply portion of the envelope is exposed through the opening. The step of applying delivery address information may include printing a return address on the business reply portion of the address. The printed return address may be selected based on the code scanned.
In another embodiment, the envelopes include at least one opening allowing visibility access to media inserted in the envelopes. In this embodiment the step of scanning is after the step of inserting, and scanning occurs through the opening in the envelope.
In a second major aspect of the invention, in addition to preparing outgoing digital media, the method and system includes steps and components for receiving and sorting incoming digital media. Digital media that has been returned from customers may be needed to satisfy outgoing mailings to satisfy demands of other customer.
Incoming sorting equipment separates incoming digital media that are needed for use as outgoing digital media for the outgoing aspect of the system. Incoming digital media are fed and scanned to read the code on the incoming digital media. The incoming scanning allows senders of the incoming digital media to be identified. Preferably, the step of scanning the incoming digital media may include scanning though a window in the envelope, without opening the envelope.
Under a business model for use with the present invention, someone who has returned an item of digital media is entitled to receive a different one in its place. Accordingly, the system identifies an outgoing digital media to be sent to the sender of the returned digital media. Thus, it is determined which of the incoming digital media can be used to serve as outgoing digital media to satisfy individual customer requests. Outgoing digital media are thus automatically sorted from the incoming digital media. The sorted outgoing digital media is supplied to the processing equipment that prepares outgoing digital media.
Another preferred feature of the system is an inventory. Incoming digital media that are not identified as requested outgoing digital media are placed in inventory. Inventory is also used to provide additional outgoing digital media where incoming digital media cannot satisfy all outgoing demands.
Further details of the present invention are provided in the accompanying drawings, detailed description, and claims.
In
The preferred embodiment of the digital media mailer is composed of three sheets fastened on top of one another in three layers. While the preferred embodiment uses separate and distinct sheets for its layers, the term “sheets” should also be understood to mean parts of a single sheet that have been folded to form the layers that comprise the mailer.
In this application, certain elements of the two-way mailer may be relevant for different stages in the use of the mailer. These stages will be referred to as “initial” or “outgoing” stage for the delivery of the media from the service to the customer. A “return” or “incoming” stage refers to the part of the process when the customer is returning the digital media to the service. Certain features are directed to assisting to quickly transition a DVD from an incoming stage from one customer, to an outgoing stage for another customer.
Back sheet 10 includes the flap 11 used for sealing the mailer. On flap 11 adhesive 16 is used to seal the flap closed upon outgoing delivery. Perforated strip 14 is torn by the digital media recipient in order to open the sealed flap 11 to remove the digital media. For resealing, a covered adhesive 17 is provided. When the recipient wishes to reseal and return the mailer, a non-adhesive covering is removed from adhesive 17 and the flap 11 may be sealed again (with the upper portion of flap 11 gone from the prior opening process).
The body 12 of back sheet 10 includes a circular opening 13. Opening 13 is a hole in the sheet positioned to be in the center of the pocket region in which the digital media will be placed during outgoing and return delivery. Opening 13 viewing access to a digital media sleeve 50 from the rear side of the envelope for both outgoing and return mail pieces. A circular shaped opening is preferred because that shape is less likely to catch in postal processing equipment. However, any alternative shape may suffice.
Adhesive regions 15 along the left and right sides of back sheet body 12 are used to attach the middle sheet 20 (
Preferred dimensions for the back sheet 10 are as follows: back sheet body 12 is 7.5″×5.5″; flap 11 extends 2″ from body 12; and opening 13 is 1.2″ in diameter. The adhesive regions 15 are 1″ wide, and the pocket region is 5.75″ inches wide.
Middle sheet 20, depicted in
Middle sheet 20 also includes a return destination address 21, indicating where the digital media will be delivered upon return from the customer. In a first embodiment, the return destination address 21 is preprinted on middle sheet 20 prior to assembly in the mailer. Alternatively, for use in an embodiment such as depicted in
For attaching a top sheet 40 to the middle sheet 20, adhesive areas 25 are placed on the middle sheet 20. Adhesive areas 25 are preferably small as compared to adhesive regions 15. The reason for small adhesive areas 25 is so that a user will be able to easily remove the top sheet 40 when it is time to use the return portion of the mailer. Accordingly, a plurality of small adhesive areas 25 is preferred, as opposed to fewer and larger areas.
By positioning the barcode 53 in the center faces of generally square sleeve 50, and by positioning the openings 13 and 23 generally in the center of the pocket region 18 between the back and middle sheets 10 and 20, it is assured that the barcodes 53 can be easily scanned for outgoing and incoming pieces, without opening the mailer. As a result, more streamlined processes may be applied by a rental service for incoming mail whereby time critical DVD's can be identified sooner, without the need to open the pieces. Also, for outgoing pieces, automated processes for inserting and addressing DVD's can be controlled by scanning of the sleeve barcode 53.
It should be understood the requirement of placing the barcode 53, or openings 13 and 23, in their respective center positions on the sleeve 50 or pocket region 18 does not require a strict geometrically calculated center. Rather, the size of the openings 13 and 23 and the smaller size of the barcode 53 may allow for a margin of error in placement such that they may be considered centered for purposes of this invention. What matters most is that the barcode 53 be visible through the openings 13 and 23, regardless of the orientation of how the sleeve 50 is placed in the pocket.
Alternatively, sheet 20 be switched with sheet 60, so that the top of middle sheet 20 is along fold line 63, while the edge of top sheet 60 is along fold line 62. As another acceptable variation, sheets 10 and 20 may be formed from a single sheet, while top sheet 60 is formed from a separate sheet.
The other structural difference depicted in
Accordingly, middle sheet 75 with opening 76 is folded along line 81 to be fixed on top of back sheet 71. Glue regions 72 and 77 attach the middle sheet 75 to the back sheet 71. Top sheet 78, with opening 79 is folded along line 82 to be fixed on top of middle sheet 75. Top sheet 78 may also include one or more glue regions, such as region 80. Flap 74 may be of a reduced size, so as to only extend horizontally across the pocket region.
The mailer envelope may form with paper and adhesives known in the art. As a particular example, paper and adhesive identified in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/937,108, Two-Way Electronic Media Mailer, filed Sep. 9, 2004, may also be used.
In the following descriptions, systems and equipment will be described for processing DVD's. For purposes of this description, the term DVD should be considered to include the sheath 50 with code 53 that encloses the actual digital media. It will also be understood that other digital media such as CD's, CD-ROM's, video game disks, or any other optical disk media, may be substituted for DVD's.
A delivery service 101 is used to transport returned DVD's 102 to distribution center 100. Delivery service 101 also receives outgoing DVD's 111 from the distribution center 100. The delivery service 101 may be a government postal service, or a private delivery service. An objective of the invention is to process returned DVD's 102 as quickly as possible in order to prepare outgoing mail 111 for delivery service 101 pickup in the same day, or even within a few hours.
Within the distribution center 100, returned, or incoming, DVD's 102 are placed in a scanning/sorting machine 103. If preferred envelopes, such as those described in connection with
The sorting machine 103 is coupled to a server computer 106 which in turn has access to customer data 109. Based on the scanned barcode 53 information received from the sorter 103, the server computer 106 can identify what DVD has been returned and who the sender was.
Under a business model that may be supported by distribution center 100, the sender customer is entitled to receive another DVD, now that a first one has been returned. The server computer 106 determines what next DVD should be sent to the customer. This determination can be based customer preferences (including lists of desired DVD's) stored in customer data 109. Also, the presence or absence of desired DVD's, as determined from the list of returned DVD's received from the sorting machine 103, and/or from inventory 105 records, may be used to determine what next DVD will be sent.
After determining what DVD's need to be sent to one or more customers, server computer 106 provides a list of needed outgoing DVD's back to the sorting machine 103. The incoming returned DVD's 102 are then sorted based on that list. DVD's that are needed to satisfy customer requests are sorted as outgoing DVD's 107 to be provided to the inserter equipment 110. DVD's that are not needed to satisfy outgoing customer requests may be sorted as restock DVD's to be placed into an inventory system 105. In an alternative embodiment, inventory system 105 may be coupled to a network including multiple distribution centers 100. Based on the needs at different distribution centers 100, DVD's can also be sorted into groups to be provided to a distribution center 100 at a different location. Since incoming DVD's may not be sufficient to satisfy all outgoing needs, server computer 106 identifies inventory DVD's 108 to be transported from DVD inventory 105 to inserter equipment 110.
Inserter equipment 110 is capable of receiving the DVD's 107 and 108 in any order. Inserter 110 is arranged to place the DVD's in appropriate envelopes, to address the envelopes, and to provide the filled addressed envelopes for the outgoing DVD's 111 to the delivery service 101. For each outgoing DVD, inserter equipment 110 receives the appropriate address information from server computer 106. A list of DVD's and corresponding recipients may be stored locally at the inserter 110 for use in the addressing process. Inserter 110 further reports back to server computer 106 the status of DVD's that are prepared for delivery.
In one alternative embodiment, DVD's stored in inventory 105 are pre-inserted into envelopes. That way, DVD's 108 retrieved from inventory may skip the mechanical inserting step on inserter 110. Instead the filled envelopes can be fed onto a portion of the inserter 110 that is upstream of the addressing mechanism. Inventory DVD's may be mechanically inserted into blank envelopes, such as on inserter 110. Alternatively, DVD's can be manually placed into envelopes prior to placement in inventory 105. Because updating the inventory 105 is less time sensitive than preparing outbound DVD's, the manual insertion process for inventory items may be acceptable.
In a preferred embodiment, restock DVD's 104 and outgoing DVD's 107 are manually inspected for damage. Damaged DVD's are rescanned and the server computer 106 is updated to indicate which DVD's are damaged, and to adjust the DVD processing plans accordingly.
In a further embodiment, the delivery service 101 can provide advance notice to the distribution center 100 that a returned DVD 102 is on the way before it arrives at the distribution center. This embodiment takes advantage of unique identifier information printed on the return address region 21 of the return mail piece. (See
At step 115, the sorter 103 is provided with an update on which DVD's are needed to satisfy outgoing DVD requests. The inventory 105 is updated to indicated the status of the DVD's in the system, including what DVD's will be returned from the sorter 103 to inventory 105, and which DVD's need to be removed from inventory to satisfy outgoing DVD requests. The inserter 110 is also updated by server computer 106 with information about which outgoing DVD is to be addressed to which recipient. Updates may be done in the form of files transferred from server computer 106 to be used locally, or information may be exchanged between the devices and server computer 106 on an as-needed basis.
At step 116, sorter 103 sorts outgoing DVD's 107, as determined in step 114, from the returned DVD's 102. Also, at step 117, any remaining DVD's to satisfy outgoing demand are retrieved from inventory 105.
At step 118, DVD's (with their sheaths 50) are removed from the returned DVD envelopes. The outgoing DVD's 107 and 108 are then provided to inserter 110 at step 119. At step 120, the inserter mechanically inserts the DVD's into blank envelopes, preferably of the type described in
At the end of the sorter 103, a stacking device 130 is positioned to stack the processed DVD envelopes. When operated in the preferred embodiment described in connection with
An envelope conveyor 131 receives empty envelopes to be filled with DVD's. As mentioned above, these empty envelopes may be configured as shown in
Downstream of the insert deck 133 is an optional mechanism for transferring pre-enveloped DVD's into the system. As discussed above, DVD's from the inventory 105 may be pre-inserted into empty envelopes. Such pre-filled envelopes are placed on a conveyor 136 that leads to a feeder 135 that places the pre-filled envelopes on the inserter transport.
Further downstream, a camera 143 scans the code on the DVD to determine what DVD is being processed. Based on the DVD identification, the appropriate recipient and recipient address are matched based on the information received from the server computer 106. The appropriate recipient name and address are then printed on the envelope with a printer 137. Referring to
Camera 143 may be of any commercial sort that can read codes. For example, for reading 2D data matrix barcodes, Cognex Corp., of Natick, Mass., and Vitek Industrial Video Products of Sun Valley, Calif., make suitable cameras. Suitable printers are also known in the art, such as those available from Kodak Versamark of Dayton, Ohio.
An error scanner is placed at diverter location 139 to detect improperly processed envelopes, and to divert them into exception diverter bin 138. Diverter 139 sends a list of exception pieces to the server computer 106 so that it is known what pieces need additional processing. Finished mail pieces are stacked on power stacker 140 in preparation for transfer to the delivery service 101.
Although the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and deviations in the form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
