Beauchamp, Sean (54 Glenholm, Gatineau, Quebec J9H 6K9, CA)
Beauchamp, Sean (54 Glenholm, Gatineau, Quebec J9H 6K9, CA)
| 1. | A delivery and management method for renting specific entertainment media selections to customers, comprised of: Picking up, or having delivered one or more specific entertainment media selections within a manageable selection of entertainment media choices from which the customer chooses one or more specific entertainment media selections that a customer desires to rent for a specified timeframe; . |
| 2. | A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a total number of specific entertainment media selections are provided to the customer and are rented for a specified period of time. Delivery Methoaψfr renting specific entertainment media φhin a specified amount of time . |
| 3. | A method as recited in claim 2, wherein a customer will pay a fee should the specified amount of time pass. |
| 4. | A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a customer can return the rented item via the postal service, hand deliver it, have it picked up or courier it to the establishment. |
| 5. | A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a method of recording, tracking and reporting the number of units rented, number of customers and their location as well as any metrics associated to the customer at hand. |
| 6. | A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the customer will receive the specified rented entertainment media selection(s) with or without an order. |
| 7. | A method as recited in claim 1, of recording the transaction through a computer based medium, over the phone, fax, IVR, or manually. |
| 8. | A method as recited in claim 1, of an ongoing process of rotating rental selections as per market demand. |
| 9. | A method as recited in claim 1, wherein specific entertainment media selections are provided to the customer through delivery within a specified time period. |
| 10. | A method as recited in claim 1, wherein specific entertainment media selections are provided to the customer by a delivery agent. |
| 11. | A method as recited in claim 1, wherein: one or more specific entertainment media selections can comprise of any specific entertainment media format. |
| 12. | A method for renting specific entertainment media selections to customers, the method comprising of computerimplemented steps and processes ( See Attached Diagrams ):. |
| 13. | A method as recited in claim 1, providing a manageable selection of specific entertainment media choices for rental. |
| 14. | A method as recited in claim 1, of providing rental, inventory, and customer history. |
| 15. | A method as recited in claim 1, where late fees can be charged based on specified due dates. |
| 16. | A method as recited in claim 1, wherein specific entertainment media selections are returned to the establishment by mail, hand delivered, or couriered. |
17. Specific entertainment media selections are provided to the customer by a delivery agent within a specified time period.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to specific entertainment media selection rentals and delivery, and more specifically, to an approach for renting specific entertainment media selections to customers complete with delivery, management and return of the specific entertainment media selections within a specified time frame.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional Video Stores and Online Rental Subscription Services rental delivery methods are both limiting and inconvenient for most customers when it comes to the specific process that these models employ for the rental and return of entertainment media. Both of these delivery methods suffer from several significant limitations that are outlined below and given these limitations there is a need for a new delivery method that allows customers to rent entertainment media selections that comprise of the exact entertainment selections that they want to rent at that point in time and to receive these selections through immediate delivery within a pre-determined timeframe.
At any traditional Video Store customers must go in person to both rent and return entertainment media. Some of the fundamental issues with this model are that customers typically don't even know what is available to rent until they arrive at the store and browse the thousands of selections. So even if the customer takes the time to drive to the Video Store, find parking, and browse all of the available selections they probably won't get the titles that they wanted through this traditional delivery method for renting entertainment media.
Going to a Video Store and renting entertainment media is also a time consuming process where a customer must:
• Drive to the Video Store
• Find Parking
• Browse Selections - strategically placed throughout the entire Video Store
• Wait in Line
• Drive back home
• Drive back to the Video Store to Return the selections
• Find Parking
• Return the selections
• Drive back home
Delivery Method^m- renting specific entertainment media φhin a specified amount of time
And this entire process can take upwards of an hour or more. This model has worked well in the past but now people have less time and would prefer not to have to go to a Video Store to rent specific entertainment media selections if they don't have to.
Another alternate delivery method for renting entertainment media is through the Online Subscription Service Delivery Method. In this method of renting entertainment media the customers must subscribe to a monthly service and pick a number of entertainment media selections that will be delivered to them in the future and in an unknown order as well.
One of the main problems with the Online Subscription Service Rental Delivery method is that it takes a long time to get selections and the customer does not necessarily get the selections at the top of their list. With this rental method sometimes it takes customers weeks and even months to get the titles that they really want to see.
This rental method provides for very long rental and return process times and the customer has to sign-up to a monthly reoccurring fee structure to receive entertainment media. The fact that a customer doesn't get the entertainment media choices that they really want most of the time, makes this alternative method not suitable for many people.
Given the current demand for a better entertainment media rental delivery method based on customers dissatisfaction with the alternative methods outlined above and the limitations in these prior approaches, a new method for the rental of specific entertainment media selections to customers within a specified time frame from a manageable selection of entertainment media choices built to work with traditional delivery models is presented in this document. The manageable selection of entertainment media choices presented to customers allows for the picking of available selections by the customer quickly over the phone, internet, via fax, or IVR, in a relatively short timeframe to fit into the acceptable traditional delivery window of a delivery oriented business (Example: Pizza Delivery).
This method fills an important need for renting specific entertainment media selections to customers within a short time period (Example: 30 Minutes to 1 hour) and providing the means to return the item with the customer never leaving their home or having to go to a Video Store. They simply have the item delivered to their door in person by a delivery agent (possibly with a Pizza or other complimentary goods and/or services), and sent back through conventional methods. The customer also rents exactly what they want and receives delivery in a short pre-defined time period.
There is yet a further need for a method for entertainment media rentals for customers that is more convenient and flexible than the conventional approaches outlined in this section and the Delivery Method for renting specific entertainment media within a specified amount of time presented in this document fulfills this need and customers growing requirements to receive entertainment media quickly and conveniently.
Delivery Methoaψ)r renting specific entertainment media^βthin a specified amount of time
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is comprised of a centralized or decentralized system that allows an establishment to rent specific entertainment media selections to their customers within a specified time frame from a manageable selection of entertainment media choices built to work with traditional delivery models. The manageable selection of entertainment media choices presented to customers allows for the picking of available selections by the customer quickly over the phone, internet, via fax, or IVR, in a relatively short timeframe to fit into the acceptable traditional delivery window of a delivery oriented business (Example: Pizza Delivery).
Their customers would receive the specific entertainment media selections via a hand delivered method or process. The customer will be allowed to keep the specific entertainment media selections for a specified amount of time after which time fees may be incurred. Customers can send back the specific entertainment media selections via mail or courier or physically return them. Specific entertainment media selections are rotated on a regular ongoing basis providing up to date and current material to the customer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting an approach for the registration, rental and delivery of a specific entertainment media item.
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting an approach for returning the specific entertainment media selections or specific entertainment media selections that were rented
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting the registration of customers the rotation of inventory, and reporting
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. FUNCTIONAL OVERVIEW
FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates an approach for renting specific entertainment media selections to customers that call in, present themselves in person or have access to the rental system through the internet, IVR, or fax.
Customers contact the establishment to place an order for pick-up or delivery. At which time they will be presented with a choice of specific entertainment media products to rent from. Assuming they are registered to the system, they will be allowed to rent specific entertainment media selections. Once they have selected the specific entertainment media
Delivery Metho9ψ>r renting specific entertainment mediaφthin a specified amount of time..
item(s), that item(s) will be delivered to the address specified by the customer or held for pick-up. The system will allow the customer to register by providing their personal contact and billing details.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates, the return process for the specific entertainment media selections. The specific entertainment media selections can be returned through the postal service, can be physically brought back by the customer or can be courier in by the customer.
FIG.3 is a block diagram that illustrates, the Registration, Reporting, and Stock Update Processes.
2. ITEM SELECTION CRITERIA
The customer will have a manageable selection of entertainment media choices to choose from.
3. ITEM DELIVERY
Specific entertainment media selections are either hand delivered or picked up by the customer
6. INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Inventory is managed centrally or through a distributed process in real time or batch process.
7. IMPLEMENTATION implementations are customized to the look and feel desired by the customer.
Definition of terms:
Customer: Defined as the entity that purchases product or service from us
Entertainment media: Any DVD, movie, CD, game, or electronic media used to present entertainment material
IVR: Interactive Voice Response
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