Dynamic inventory distribution system

Abstract

Embodiments include systems and methods of delivery DVDs, games, other electronically or computer readable media, or other high value items through the mail or via any other delivery service for return and redelivery to a second customer. For example, in one embodiment, items returned by a first customer are identified during processing of a container or mailer containing the item, the second customer is determined, a new address label is affixed to the container, and the item is delivered to the second customer.

1 . A method of distributing an item to successive recipients, the method comprising:
 receiving addressing data based on indicia on a surface of a container;   determining with a computer, based on the address data, that an item is disposed within the container, the container and the item having been dispatched from a first recipient of the container and of the item;   receiving data identifying at least one of the item disposed within the container or the container, the data being based on further indicia on a surface of the container;   determining with a computer the number of uses of either of the container or the item disposed within the container based on the data identifying at least one of the item disposed within the container or the container;   identifying a second recipient of the item with a computer based on said number of uses;   readdressing the container to the second recipient; and   dispatching the container to the second recipient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein readdressing the container comprises applying a label to the container, the label having printed thereon addressing information indicative of the second recipient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving data identifying the item disposed within the container comprises reading an identifier of the item positioned on the container. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the identifier of the item comprises at least one of data identifying the item and data identifying the first recipient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the identifier of the item is disposed on a sleeve enclosing the item and wherein reading the identifier comprises reading the identifier via a viewing area of the container. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein reading the identifier via the viewing area of the container comprises reading the identifier through one of a transparent portion of the container or an opening in a surface of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 obtaining image data indicative of at least a portion of the surface of the container;   generating the address data based on the image data; and   generating the data identifying the item based on the image data in response to the determining.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the item comprises a computer-readable medium, and wherein the addressing information identifies content stored on the computer readable medium. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the computer-readable medium comprises at least one of a memory card, an electronically readable disc, a game cartridge, a DVD, or a disc storing high definition video content. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving the container having the item disposed therein, the container and the item having been received from the first recipient of the container and item. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the second recipient of the item further comprises identifying the second recipient based at least in part on one of a transit time or a transit cost of dispatching the item to the second recipient. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the second recipient of the item further comprises identifying the second recipient based at least in part on request data received from the second recipient. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising updating a database with data indicative of dispatching the item to the second recipient. 
     
     
         14 . A system for distributing an item to successive recipients, the system comprising:
 a database configured to store item and recipient data;   at least one processor configured to:
 receive addressing data based on indicia on a surface of a container; 
 determine based on the address data that an item is disposed within the container, the container and the item having been dispatched from a first recipient of the container and of the item; 
 receive data identifying at least one of the item disposed within the container or the container, the data being based on further indicia on a surface of the container; 
 determine the number of uses of either the container or of the item disposed within the container based on the data identifying at least one of the item disposed within the container or the container; 
 identify a second recipient of the item based on said number of uses and based on the data stored in the database; 
 generate instructions for readdressing the container to the second recipient and dispatching the container to the second recipient; and 
 update the data in the database to associate the item with the second recipient. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein generating instructions for readdressing the container comprises instructing at least one apparatus to generate and apply a label to the container, the label having printed thereon addressing information indicative of the second recipient. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a scanner configured to read the identifier of the item positioned at a selected location on the container. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the scanner comprises at least one of a bar code reader or an optical character recognition reader. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the identifier of the item comprises at least one of data identifying the item and data identifying the first recipient. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the identifier of the item is disposed on a sleeve enclosing the item and wherein the reader is configured to read the identifier via a viewing area of the container. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the identifier of the item is disposed on a sleeve enclosing the item and wherein the reader is configured to read the identifier through one of a transparent portion of the container or an opening in a surface of the container. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the item comprises a computer-readable medium, and wherein the addressing information identifies content stored on the computer readable medium. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the computer-readable medium comprises at least one of a memory card, an electronically readable disc, a game cartridge, a DVD, or a disc storing high definition video content. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to identify the second recipient based at least in part on one of a transit time or a transit cost of dispatching the item to the second recipient. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to identify the second recipient based at least in part on request data received from the second recipient. 
     
     
         25 . A system for distributing an item to successive recipients, the system comprising:
 means for storing item and recipient data;   means for processing data, said processing means configured to:
 receive data identifying at least one of an item disposed within a container received for processing or the container, the container and the item having been dispatched from a first recipient of the container and of the item; 
 determine the number of uses of either the container or of the item disposed within the container based on the data identifying at least one of the item disposed within the container or the container; 
 identify a second recipient of the item based on said number of uses and based on the data stored in the database; 
 generate instructions for readdressing the container to the second recipient and dispatching the container to the second recipient; and 
 update the data in the database to associate the item with the second recipient. 
   
     
     
         26 . A computer-program product for distributing an item to successive recipients, the product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon data indicative of codes executable by at least one processor to:
 receive addressing data based on indicia on a surface of a container; 
 determine based on the address data that an item is disposed within the container, the container and the item having been dispatched from a first recipient of the container and of the item; 
 receive data identifying at least one of the item disposed within the container or the container, the data being based on further indicia on a surface of the container; 
 determine the number of uses of either the container or of the item disposed within the container based on the data identifying at least one of the item disposed within the container or the container; 
 identify a second recipient of the item based on said number of uses; 
 readdress the container to the second recipient; and 
 dispatch the container to the second recipient.