System and method for communicating vending information

A system for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising:

• a transaction network;
• a control center in communication with the transaction network;
• a vending controller in communication with the transaction network, wherein the vending controller receives a request from a user interface for the vendible media product, and receives from the control center data indicating a location of a vending inventory of a vending apparatus where the vendible media product is present;
• and,
• wherein the vending controller receives a location identifier from the user interface.

A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:

• receiving user information, wherein the user information comprises a requested vendible media product and a location identifier;
• selecting a vending inventory based on the location identifier;
• transmitting vending data to a first user interface, wherein the vending data comprises a vending location of the vending inventory;
• receiving transaction data from a second user interface, wherein the transaction data comprises financial information;
• and,
• transmitting a vending signal to a vending controller at the vending location, wherein the signal instructs the vending controller to vend the vendible media product to a specific user.

A system for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising:

• a transaction network;
• a database in communication with the transaction network, wherein the database stores a plurality of digital video disc titles and a plurality of locations corresponding to the digital video disc titles;
• a first vending controller at a first vending location for receiving a user request signal for a digital video disc and for determining whether the digital video disc is in a vending inventory at the first vending location;
• a central controller for receiving a first signal from the first vending controller, wherein the first signal comprises a request for a location of the digital video disc, and for transmitting a second signal to the first vending controller, wherein the second signal comprises the location of the digital video disc;
• and,
• a second vending controller at a second vending location for receiving a third signal from the central controller, wherein the third signal is an instruction to deliver the digital video disc to a specific user upon receipt of a specific user identification signal for the specific user.

A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a vending request for the vendible media product at a first location;
• determining whether the vendible media product is in a first vending inventory within a first vending apparatus at the first location;
• determining whether the vendible media product is in a second vending inventory within a second vending apparatus at a second location, upon a determination that the vendible media product is not in the first vending inventory within the first vending apparatus at the first location;
• transmitting inventory data indicating whether the vendible media product is in the second vending inventory within the second vending apparatus at the second location;
• and,
• wherein the first and the second locations are determined based on a location identifier received from a user.

A method for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a vending request for the vendible media product at a first location;
• determining whether the vendible media product is in a first vending inventory within a first vending apparatus at the first location;
• determining whether the vendible media product is in a second vending inventory within a second vending apparatus at a second location, upon a determination that the vendible media product is not in the first vending inventory within the first vending apparatus at the first location;
• transmitting inventory data indicating whether the vendible media product is in the second vending inventory within the second vending apparatus at the second location;
• and,
• transmitting an electronic mail message to a user-specified electronic mail address upon determining that the vendible media product is in a vending inventory.

A system for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising:

• a transaction network;
• a control center in communication with the transaction network;
• and,
• a vending controller in communication with the transaction network, wherein the vending controller receives a request from a user interface for the vendible media product, and receives from the control center data indicating a location of a vending inventory of a vending apparatus where the vendible media product is present and wherein the location of the vending inventory is based on the location of the vending controller.

A system for communicating vending information for a vendible media product having entertainment content therein, comprising:

• a transaction network;
• a control center in communication with the transaction network;
• and,
• a vending controller in communication with the transaction network, wherein the vending controller receives a request from a user interface for the vendible media product, and receives from the control center data indicating a location of a vending inventory of a vending apparatus where the vendible media product is present and wherein the control center transmits an electronic mail message to a user-specified electronic mail address upon determining that the vendible media product is in the vending inventory.