Apparatus and methods for distribution of media

Abstract

The present invention relates to apparatus for the controlled distribution of media. The apparatus includes a plurality of compartments that releasably retain media. The distribution manager may issue a key to a patron. The patron may then take the key to one or more compartment containing media. The media are selectively releasable by the key from the compartments when the patron presents the key to a lock interface located generally proximate the compartments. The present inventions also include methods for the controlled distribution of media from a plurality of compartments.

1 . A distribution apparatus, comprising:
 a media, the media selected by a patron;   a compartment, the compartment releasably retains the media;   a distribution manager;   a lock interface adapted to the compartment to release the media from the compartment; and,   a key, the key issued to the patron by the distribution manager, the key configured by the distribution manager to cause the lock interface to release the media from the compartment when presented to the lock interface.   
   
   
       2 . A distribution apparatus, as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an authorization to release communicated from the distribution manager to the lock interface by network to enable the key to release the media from the compartment.   
   
   
       3 . The distribution apparatus, as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of compartments, the specific media releasably retained in one of the plurality of compartments; and,   the distribution manager identifies to the patron the one compartment of the plurality of compartments that releasably retains the specific media.   
   
   
       4 . The distribution apparatus, as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the compartment includes a detent, the detent positionable between at least a locked position and a released position, the detent secures the media in the compartment in the locked position, the detent allows the media to be removed from the compartment in the released position.   
   
   
       5 . The distribution apparatus, as in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a solenoid, the solenoid positions the detent from the locked position into the released position.   
   
   
       6 . A distribution apparatus, as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a database, the distribution manager in communication with the database to determine the location of media.   
   
   
       7 . A distribution apparatus, as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a database, the distribution manager in communication with the database to determine the catalog of media.   
   
   
       8 . A distribution apparatus, as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a database, the database in communication with the integrated rack, the database configured to track the status of the media in the integrated rack.   
   
   
       9 . A distribution apparatus, as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first geographic location, the first geographic location includes the integrated rack;   an I/O interface, the distribution manager includes the I/O interface, the I/O interface adapted to allow the patron to select media, the I/O interface adapted to issue the key to the patron; and,   a second geographic location, the second geographic location includes the I/O interface.   
   
   
       10 . A distribution apparatus, comprising:
 media;   compartment means for releasably retaining the media;   distribution manager mean for issuing key means to a patron;   lock interface means for causing the compartment means to release the media; and,   key means for causing the lock interface means to release the media from the compartment, the key means issued to the patron by the distribution interface, the key means presented to the lock interface means by the patron to release the media from the compartment.   
   
   
       11 . A method for the distribution of media, comprising:
 providing media, a compartment, a distribution manager;   containing releasably the media in the compartment;   issuing a key for the compartment to a patron by a distribution manager;   presenting the key to the compartment by the patron to release the media selected by the patron; and   releasing the media selected by the patron to the patron from the compartment.   
   
   
       12 . The method, as in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 ascertaining the compartment releasably retaining the media selected by the patron from a plurality of compartments by the distribution manager; and,   identifying the compartment releasably retaining the media selected by the patron to the patron.