Abstract:
A new business method for acquiring and reselling new and used media or other similar items by creating a collection of network-accessible databases and computer scripts stored on a secure server and by connecting this server to machines that are distributed across a market geographically and function as vending and “reverse vending” points, and by further allowing access to other business entities such as owners and operators of the machines, and other business entities who are customarily involved in the wholesale or resale of the items purchased or sold throughout the machines, or other methods of procurement, and to laypersons who have presented items for sale to these reverse vending machines or other methods of procurement. When all of said entities and machines become connected and fully operational within this business system, new and used media or other suitable items can be randomly purchased from diverse segments of an existing marketplace, made available to wholesalers and resellers and other individual buyers, so as to facilitate and expedite the process of uniting buyers and sellers of items that may be procured and resold through this business system, and to achieve these results in a manner that is asynchronous and convenient for each party or entity participating in this business system.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention is intended to be used within an existing or newly created marketplace that is concerned with the random purchasing and reselling of new and used media items or other similarly purchased and sold items such as consumer electronics or common consumer goods that may have recognizable value in a broadly presented resale marketplace. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is common for media items, (such as books, music CDs, movie DVDs and electronic games) to be sold on ecommerce marketplaces that specialize in the sale of such items, and also common for these marketplaces to make their ecommerce systems available to other merchants who offer similar items for sale in such a manner as to make use of the database of items-for-sale already created and used by the owner or operator of the existing ecommerce systems. An example of such ecommerce is the various websites that offer new and used books for sale to any individuals who choose to patronize such systems by means of a common web browser. 
         [0003]    These specialized websites have added functionality to their ecommerce system that makes it easy for any person or entity wishing to sell similar items to access the ecommerce system, create an identification account, and associate their own inventory with the newly created account for the purpose of selling their own inventory through the more commonly recognizable and more frequently patronized ecommerce website. 
         [0004]    This practice has become very common with the general community at large—so common as to comprise a considerably large community of professional resellers that operate individually within specific geographic markets for the purpose of procurement, and then sell their inventory, in some cases exclusively, as a large online aggregate of autonomous businesses. The selling side of their business is guaranteed success by the sheer volume of items presented for sale into these singular but widely recognized and frequently patronized ecommerce websites. However, it is common for such small business entities to suffer from a lack of procurement opportunities, or to incur such large expenses in the procurement process as to threaten their sustainability. 
         [0005]    Also, this ad hoc aggregation of specialized business entities are laterally disconnected except by their shared and common use of singular ecommerce websites which offer no additional services outside their offering of storefront opportunity for the placement of items for sale, and in some cases by common use of web-based chat rooms. This aggregation by the shared practice of online selling creates no opportunity for the lateral exchange of items-for-sale beyond those available to the general community at large, such as the general buying and selling opportunity created by the commonly used ecommerce website. 
         [0006]    For the individual layperson who does not act as a business entity but does have new or used media items, or other similar items, and wishes to sell such items to an interested buyer, there is no convenient method of doing so that would create fast and reliable results without going through extraordinary efforts to do so. 
       OBJECTS OF THE METHOD AND APPARATUS  
       [0007]    The first object of the system is a collection point that would be accessible to all individual laypersons wishing to use the system. This object would be a machine designed as an assembly of electronic and mechanical items that would function together so as to allow random media or similar items to be presented and then identified by way of a computerized control system performing a database lookup, and then to be priced by the database and control system. This part of the system would then present the determined pricing to the layperson wishing to sell the presented item in such a way as to allow this layperson an opportunity to accept or reject the stated purchase price. If accepted by the layperson, this machine would then have the ability to record the presence of the item by means of bar code recognition, or RFID recognition, or by photographing the object, or by other similar means of electronically recording it&#39;s presence in the machine. The machine would also have the ability to move the newly purchased item into a storage location for later retrieval. The actual storage area could be a central repository, or a movable canister or movable resting surface, or other suitable physical storage device. 
         [0008]    This machine would further allow removal of the item by the machine&#39;s owner or other designated individual in such a way as to preserve the identity of the purchased and stored item for further processing of the purchased item in the electronic system. 
         [0009]    And this machine would allow a layperson to identify a bank or credit card account, or other type of account such as a Paypal account, for the purpose of depositing funds as consideration from the sale of presented media items, or other items, into that account. This identification process could be accomplished by presenting a card with a magnetically stored data record, or RFID chip with similar data, or by manually typing the data using a keypad or touch-screen. 
         [0010]    The second object of the system is a set of computer programs that together comprise a local computerized control system that is stored in the local machine for the purpose of reading inputted values from such devices as electronic or magnetic card readers or barcode scanners or RFID scanners, and control the movement of mechanical components that provide all necessary functional requirements of the local machine, described as the first object of the invention, and to record events and data on a local storage medium, and to communicate through a networked connection to a server for the purpose of exchanging data relating to the transactions necessary for the purchase, collection and resale of the items purchased. 
         [0011]    The third object of the system is a method employed by the local computerized control system that allows the local control system to determine the presence and integrity of locally stored data files and locally stored computer programs, including itself, and a method for updating such data files and programs, and for restarting itself according to such updates, and further to render itself inoperable if a recognized corruption has occurred that would prevent itself from repair or acquiring an updated version, or prevent normal operation without such an update when such an update is not available. 
         [0012]    The fourth object of the system is a set of computerized programs that together comprise a computer control system that is placed onto a server for the purpose of routing and storing the data that records and enables transactions necessary for the entire invention to work. These programs include MCV modules for accepting http requests or other requests delivered in a similar messaging protocol, and a data file storage structure, and a module for routing messages, and a module for creating and verifying the delivery of ACH transaction authorizations. 
         [0013]    The fifth object required for the system is a set of encryption methods that allow data to be stored, transferred, and decrypted in such a manner as to provide adequate security to all parties involved in said transactions. 
         [0014]    The sixth object of the invention is a method for allowing wholesale organizations to provide a specialized pricing database to be stored onto the server so that individual machine owners can access that database for ordinary purchasing, and an items-purchased database that pushes purchased-items data back to the wholesale organization. 
         [0015]    This specialized layer of the system further involves the creation of data within procurement transactions that facilitate the sale, shipping and payment process for moving items purchased by the machine back to the wholesale organization in a manner that is timely, efficient and convenient for all parties. 
         [0016]    The seventh object of the invention is a machine that can vend media or other such items back to the public. The design of this machine is such that it can be placed adjacent to the machine described in the first object, so that the control system for the procurement machine can be used to control the operation of the vending machine. This vending machine can, in another instance, contain its own computerized control system for the purpose of controlling all machine functions and transactional data, and for exchanging this data with the networked server(s) as described in the fourth object of this invention. In another instance this machine would be designed to be manufactured into the machine of the first object of this invention, so that a layperson could sell randomly presented media items or other similar items, and purchase similar items, or other items, from one single point of operation. 
         [0017]    The eighth object of this invention is a system for identifying existing or recently procured inventory that exists locally within a geographic market and making this information available to the general public and machine owners or operators within or adjacent to that geographic market. A layperson would then be able to predetermine an item for purchase, and if so desired complete a purchase of the selected item by use of a common web-browser or other means. Once this transaction is completed, the owner of the inventory would be notified of the item being purchased and the desired point of pickup designated by the layperson making the purchase. If the desired pickup location is not specifically a location where a vending machine owned by the seller of the item is located, but rather is a location of a vending machine owned by anther operator or business entity, then the seller of the item will in a timely manner deliver the sold inventory to that location by use of the machine described as the first object of this invention, or other predetermined and suitable method, so that that the owner of the vending machine at the desired location can make it immediately available to the layperson making the purchase. The computer control system described as the fourth object of this invention will notify all parties of the incremental steps required to move the item from its original inventory to the final point of dispensing to the layperson, and of the completion of the this process. 
         [0018]    In such an instance as described, where the sold item is withdrawn from the inventory of one machine owner, and finally dispensed to the purchasing layperson by a machine owned and operated by a third party to the transaction, the third party providing the dispensing service can receive consideration in monetary form, or in the form of transaction points, where such a point system is made available to participating machine owners an other participants, and is facilitated by the computerized control system described as the fourth object of this invention. Such a point system would exist as a series of credits and debits, which, over time would create and maintain balances plus or minus, so as to create a system within the larger system, allowing a fair and continued exchange of such services in the interest of the participating machine owners and the general public. 
         [0019]    The ninth object of this invention is an enhancement of all of the above mentioned objects, so as to allow the general purchase, sale, and exchange of goods across a contiguous network of geographic markets. In this enhanced version of the system, a network of machines which can both receive and store goods, and also dispense these same goods, are located strategically, each positioned within a geographic market at locations which are convenient and well traveled. A networked control system such as object four will maintain and facilitate the deposit, sale, or inventory placement in all machines so as to allow laypersons and machine owners who own inventory, and non-machine owners who also own inventory, to place items into the system in a geographic location convenient to that party. This same system will similarly facilitate and maintain a system that will allow for the withdrawal of these and other goods as sold, for such consideration as agreed upon and rendered, in a manner and location that is convenient for the party making the purchase of the goods. 
         [0020]    This object, behaving as a system within a larger system, can allow for consideration to be granted and received in monetary form, or as points earned and spent within the system as described here and similarly described in object eight. This enhanced embodiment of the machines described within objects one through three and object seven differs slightly in that deposits and withdrawals are made from a single point without the intervention of that machine&#39;s owner or operator. Rather, a system of authorization codes are used to give individuals other than a machine&#39;s owner the ability to remove a desired item that was sold as a transaction within this enhanced business system. Items may then be transported across a geographic market by either the seller or the buyer of the good(s), or a third party acting as a courier. Similarly, items may be re-deposited into a second machine for resale or even for further transportation across a geographic market. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a reverse vending machine of the method and apparatus for buying randomly presented media items within the system of the present invention 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a system block diagram of the PC control system used by the reverse vending apparatus of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective of an intermediate storage system as used by the reverse vending apparatus of the system of the present invention 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing the basic method of operation for a reverse vending apparatus employed by the system that is the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart that details the layperson&#39;s interactions with a reverse vending apparatus as employed by the system that is the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart that details the functions and logic for the method and apparatus that is a reverse vending apparatus as employed by the system that is the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a media vending machine of the method and apparatus for selling randomly chosen media items within the system of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a Large Multi-Use model of the method and apparatus for buying or selling randomly chosen media items within the system of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a system block diagram of the entire networked control system that includes the method and apparatus of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a geographic deployment of the method and apparatus for buying or selling randomly chosen media items within the system of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a geographic deployment and demonstrated usage of the method and apparatus for buying or selling randomly chosen media items within the system of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is also a diagrammatic perspective view of a geographic deployment and demonstrated usage of the method and apparatus for buying or selling randomly chosen media items within the system of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a point system of the method and apparatus for buying or selling randomly chosen media items within the system of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic perspective view a large deployment of users and non-users of the point system of the method and apparatus for buying, selling, or transporting randomly chosen media items within the system of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for extending the business practice of buying new and used media such as books, CDs, DVDs or electronic games or other similar items to laypersons desiring to sell such items, in a manner which is wholly automated and asynchronous. The apparatus comprises a storage system, a personal or embedded computer, and electronic items for reading magnetic cards or barcodes or RFID chips, one or more electronic cameras, and a means of connecting to a wide area network such as the internet. 
         [0036]    The method allows for a layperson to present random media items of varying types, values, and sizes to a single point of purchasing that is automated in such a was as to make purchasing offers based on the calculated value of each item presented, and an apparatus for accepting and storing the newly purchased item. It also allows for the recording of specific data relating to a purchase transaction and for the transmission of such data across a wide area network for the purpose of placing data onto a server and for the purpose of sending such data directly to personal electronic devices of owners or managers of the purchasing apparatus. 
         [0000]    In a one such example the apparatus of the invention could also embody additional functionality for the purpose of vending or dispensing similar items within the geographical market. 
         [0037]    The method further includes the computer programs and data structures placed onto a networked server. These programs and data allow the system to consolidate an aggregation of independent business owners with a combined purchasing volume that would represent a wholesale model. It further allows each of these owners to access a collection of individual machines that are located in separate or proximate geographical markets. 
         [0038]    In its preferred embodiment, the method and apparatus of the invention would allow for random purchases, sale, and distribution of various items across geographic and proximate markets by strategically locating the apparatus at various placements within the markets A-C and connecting all machine operators, laypersons, and related users of the system together by use of networked servers and wide area networks. This would also include a point system to allow transactions to occur as credits and debits, without the transfer of money as consideration, when such non-monetary consideration might facilitate a transaction that would otherwise be inhibited. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0039]      FIG. 1  shows a specialized reverse-vending machine  10 . This machine which is an example of the preferred embodiment of the invention consists of four primary parts. These parts may be described as an outer shell  24 , an electronic assembly, a storage system  20 , and an intermediate storage system  18 . 
         [0040]    The first part is the outer shell  24  of sheet metal or other structurally sound material which supports the remaining three parts. This part contains access panels  22  for the electronics, the storage areas  20  and other maintenance areas. In examples where the design is a small model, it may posses adjustable feet, and in larger models that are meant to be permanent installations it may be fitted with a canopy or protective covering and exterior lighting. 
         [0041]    The second part is an assembly  FIG. 2  including but not limited to a personal or embedded computer  12 , a computer touch screen  12 , or an alphanumeric keypad and a computer display screen  12 , a receipt printer  17 , and a barcode scanner  18 . Another included electronic device is a magnetic or RFID card reader  14  which can retrieve data from a common credit card as used in most commercial establishments. Other electronic components would be concealed within the shell  24  of the apparatus, such as a power supply and voltage converters, wiring and terminating connectors, surge suppression or short circuit protection and a modem or cellular modem. Some of the electronic components would be assembled onto the other parts, such as the internal storage area or intermediate storage area. And some components would assemble directly to the shell  24  itself. In one example of this preferred embodiment of the invention the shell would protect and conceal an electronic surveillance camera for security purposes. 
         [0042]    The third part of the machine is a storage system  20  for the items that have been recently purchased or donated. This part of the design includes one or more storage canisters or platforms that would allow for automated delivery of the item into each canister or platform. In one example of the invention the canisters or platforms are rotated into an alignment position to allow the deposit or removal of the stored item. The rotating storage canisters and platforms may be guided and supported by well known bearing rails or by cables or by well known reinforced timing belts. An external sensor may be used to determine the alignment position for deposit and also for item removal. The deposit and removal areas may be coincidental or may be two separate locations within the machine. 
         [0043]    In one example of the usage of a plurality of storage areas each storage area may be labeled with a barcode label, RFID chip, or other passive digital device such as a series of metallic targets that when identified as a series of objects which are present or missing represent a unique digital value such as a byte of data. 
         [0044]    In another example of the preferred embodiment of the invention, where such a machine is quite large and comprises a plurality or more of storage areas, the storage canisters or platforms may be permanently fixed, and the motors, sensors, rails and cables or timing belts may be used to move a placement and retrieval mechanism. Such an example of the storage design would be related to a well known Automated Storage and Retrieval System, and would be designed into the surrounding embodiment of the invention as described herein. 
         [0045]    In yet another example ( FIGS. 7   a  &amp;  8 ) of the preferred embodiment of the invention, where such a machine is quite large  260  and comprises a plurality or more of storage areas  220 , some of the storage areas may be accessed directly by users of the system by means of an electromechanical latch  222  and sensor  224 , where laypersons or other users of the system may enter a pass-code at the computer touch screen  12  to gain access to specific storage compartments as predetermined by the logic of the method and system of the invention. 
         [0046]    The fourth part of the preferred embodiment of the invention is related to a temporary storage  18  area where an item that is contemplated for purchase  50  and storage  20  can be placed by the layperson using the embodiment of the invention. The temporary storage area  18  would be positioned within the machine so as to allow a user of the machine to place an object into the temporary storage area  18  and to further allow the machine to use such an electronic device as described within the second part of the design, such as a barcode scanner  16  or an RFID reader to attempt a determination of a recognizable feature of the item such as an ISBN number for a published media item  50 ,  51  or an SKU number of a similar item. This intermediate storage area  18  further improves the design by allowing the layperson placing the item  50 ,  51  therein to then remove the item without the benefit of a sale of the item. 
         [0047]    The preferred embodiment is further improved by the relation of this intermediate storage area  18  to the permanent storage depositing area  20 , or the mechanism which moves the item from this position to its final storage canister or resting platform. 
         [0048]    In one such an example of the preferred embodiment, the intermediate storage area  18  is also the mechanism that transfers the item into the storage canister after approval by the layperson. 
         [0049]    In any example of the invention, the intermediate storage area  18  also serves a separation medium to keep the layperson from attempting an unsafe or problematic motion such as removal of the item while the mechanism of the apparatus is also moving the item. 
         [0050]    In one example of the preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the intermediate storage area is designed as a rotating media pan  32  that is captive within the media access door  30  by means of a shaft, so that the media pan can rotate about a horizontal axis  33  within its captive position. In a further contemplation of the design a gear-motor and sensors would be attached to the media unit, with a second gear attached to the media pan. The gear-motor would cause the media pan to rotate about its axis  33  so that an item  51  deposited in the pan would be flipped upside down onto a second intermediate platform  35  which allows a photographic record of the deposited item to made, and arrests the fall of the deposited item. 
         [0051]    A further enhancement of the design allows for flexible storage compartments that can collapse or expand to match the thickness of randomly presented items. This storage design can also be used for items to be vended to individuals. By combining the storage of inbound items with the storage of inventory for sale, a single system can be created that both purchases and vends random types of media or similar items. In one example of such a design the vending apparatus  200  has its own personal or embedded computer  12  and touch screen or keypad and display, and functions as an autonomous system. 
         [0052]    In another example of such a design, seen in  FIG. 7   b,  the vending apparatus  200  sits next to another unit  200 , such as an autonomous vending apparatus, or a purchasing apparatus  10 , and uses the computer control system and interface features of said apparatus  200 ,  10  for machine control. 
         [0053]    In another example of this design, the vending apparatus  200  is designed into the structure of an autonomous unit  10  allowing a plurality or more of storage and vending systems to exist within a single unit  250 . 
         [0054]    In another example of such a design, as in shown in  FIG. 8 , the vending apparatus  200  is designed into the structure of a media purchasing system  10 , so that the entire apparatus  260  comprises the ability to purchase randomly presented media items  50 , or vend randomly selected media items from the same single apparatus. 
         [0055]      FIG. 9  A contemplation of the preferred embodiment of the invention as described herein requires the use of well known wide area networks  80 , and of well known servers  60  connected to such wide area networks  80 , and the use of data structures  64   67  placed on the server  60  and of computer scripts  70  used to store and retrieve the data  64   67  of said data structures, and use preconfigured logic  70  to make decisions about how and when such data  64   67  is stored or retrieved. Such an implementation of well known servers would also make use of authorization procedures that are common when allowing a multitude of users  100  to connect to such a networked system  150  for the purpose of storing, retrieving or editing of said data  64 . 
         [0056]    This contemplation of the preferred embodiment of the invention would allow each apparatus of the invention  10   250   260  strategically placed in physical locations for buying and vending of various items  50   51  to have a unique ID and to further have a means of connecting to the networked system  150  for the purpose of storing and retrieving data  64   67 . This data would include records of transactions  67  that occur at the apparatus  10  itself, such as the recent purchase of items  50   51  from a layperson. 
         [0057]    In addition to a unique ID for the purpose of access to the secure server  60  on the network  80 , a configuration file  64  would be associated with each instance of said apparatus  10   250   260  of the invention. These files that are unique to each and every instance of the apparatus  10   250   260  would include important data  64  about the apparatus itself, such as a unique ID number for security as mentioned herein, and also data  64  that would indicate personal preferences of the owner of the apparatus. One example of such preferences would be the unique ID number of the owner of the apparatus, and another example would be how and when information regarding updated transactions or current operating condition of the apparatus, or current status of the apparatus should be transmitted back out of the networked system  150  for the purpose of notifying the owner of the apparatus, or a designated agent or employee of the owner, when such significant events have occurred. 
         [0058]    Similarly, each individual or business entity owning an apparatus  10   250   260 , or a plurality or more of said apparatus, would also have a data file  64  that would contain unique information about the owner of the machine, such as contact information, account information for the purpose of completing payment transactions, and how and when information regarding such details as completed purchasing transactions  67  that would occur automatically and ordinarily by each instance of the apparatus  10   250   260  of the invention owned by said owner. Such data files  64  could be referred to as configuration files, since each one contains specific information that details how the system is to make logical choices  70  when performing automated functions. A further contemplation of the design of the invention would make use of such data files  64  to notify an owner of an apparatus  10   250   260  when a transaction is completed. 
         [0059]    One example of such a notification would be the delivery of said transaction data by the automatic release of an email message to one or more email addresses as indicated in the owner&#39;s configuration file  64 . Since a record of the deposit of the item  50   51  was made at the time of the deposit  67 , it would be possible send photographic images of each item  50  deposited along with the transaction data  67 . It would also be possible for the message to be broken into a Simple Message Structure (SMS) text message and relay that to personal cell phone  90  or PDA  90 . In this manner an operator  100  of a machine could remotely review the detailed data  67  of any given transaction from any individual apparatus  10   250   260  and could thereby make a determination remotely as to the validity of the items  50   51  of the transaction for the purpose of approving the transaction for payment. A payment approval could be made by sending a return SMS message to a specified cellular phone number, and the transaction payment authorization could be completed by the networked computerized programs  70 . In another example the owner of the apparatus  10   250   260  could send an email reply to a specific email address that would approve the transaction for payment, and could also include an edited version of the transaction as approved. In another example the owner  100  could log onto the network  80  securely using a common web browser and interact with a set of computer scripts that would allow the owner to review, edit and authorize the transaction payment. 
         [0060]    A messaging service is thereby included in the system  150  for the purpose of notifying laypersons  90   100 , business entities, and programmable apparatus  10   250   260  of the invention when significant events have occurred. Such events could include the completion of an apparatus  10   250   260  transaction such as purchasing or vending or dispensing a pre-purchased item. Similarly, an event could be the completion of an ACH payment transaction to a layperson selling media  50   51  to an apparatus  10  of the invention, or a receipt sent via SMS or email to a cell phone  90  or PDA  90  for the same transaction. 
         [0061]    In an enhanced contemplation of the preferred embodiment of the design  FIG. 10 , the combined  10 + 200  apparatus  250  with both buying and vending capabilities can be placed in a strategically selected geographical location Market A 1 . And other units of said enhanced apparatus  250  could also be placed in strategic geographic locations of Market A 1 , or nearby and proximate Market B 1 , and the placement of said enhanced apparatus  250  in such strategic locations would, by their adjacent relationships to one another, create a network of units that could function and be used in a coordinated manner. This geographic network of strategically placed, adjacent and contiguous units  250  would be beneficial to a layperson wishing to predetermine which geographic location would be most convenient for selling or purchasing media or other items. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , these contiguous markets A 1 , B 2  or C 3 , could be defined by demographic consideration, or by governmental boundaries, or by other similar boundaries. It is also likely that owners and operators of these machines  10   200   250   260  would associate the inventory  300  acquired through random purchases made by said units, and these territorial placements of machines could comprise a virtual market A 1  B 2  C 3  which is defined not by demographic or by governmental boundaries, but by the ownership of the machines  10   200   250   260  and their collective inventory  300 , as owned by this single entity of ownership. 
         [0063]    Further contemplation of the preferred embodiment of the design, as a network of strategic placements of said units, would allow the network as a system  150  to function as a valuable feature for owners of the machine, and for laypersons who are users of the machines. 
         [0064]    In one such example as seen in  FIG. 11 , a layperson could sell a randomly presented item such as used media  51  to a machine  10 -B in Market B, which is the neighborhood and well traveled location of that first layperson. The owner of the machine  10 -B who purchases the item  51  from the first layperson would naturally add the purchased item  51  to the owner&#39;s inventory  300  and offer it as an item for sale  52 . The preferred embodiment of the design of the invention would allow owners of said apparatus of the invention to offer such inventory for sale within their own marketplace B, or in their own vending machines  200 ,  250 . These items for sale could be examined by users  100 , and if desired purchased, using common and well known web browsers to access the system  150  which is the method of the invention as shown in  FIG. 9 . Similarly, a second layperson of a nearby or contiguous Market C could request the item  52  or even purchase the item  52  directly from its current owner in Market B, but retrieve said item  53  from an apparatus of the invention  200 -C existing and strategically positioned in Market C. 
         [0065]    The preferred embodiment of the design could allow such a transaction to occur in a multitude of ways. In one example seen in  FIG. 12 , wherein the item  51  has been purchased in Market B by Owner  2 &#39;s apparatus  250 - 2   b  and placed into Owner  2 &#39;s inventory  300 - 2 , the second layperson of Market C could recognize the very same item  52  as being for sale within a Market B that is nearby or adjacent to the neighborhood and well traveled area C of the second layperson, and could make a purchase of the desired and very same item  53  directly from the owner of one instance of the invention  250 - 3   c  which is found to be placed conveniently in the local Market C of the second layperson. In this example, the owner of the instance of the invention  250 - 3  in Market C could directly purchase said item  52  from the owner of the instance of the invention  250 - 2  in Market B who originally purchased said item  51  from the first layperson. The eventual reseller of the item  53 , who owns and operates machines  200 ,  250  in Market C, could retrieve the item  52  in Market B from Owner  2 &#39;s machines  250 - 2   b,    250 - 2 , or by another well known method. This new reseller Owner  3  of the item  53  could then deposit it for dispensing into one of the machines  250 - 3   c  owned by said reseller in Market C, thus fulfilling the sales transaction as requested by the second layperson, who had specified a machine of the invention  250 - 3   c  located in Market C as the preferred and convenient location at the time of her online purchase using the system  150  which is the method of the invention. Alternatively in this example, the first layperson of Market B could sell an item  51  to the owner of the machine  250 - 2   b  in Market B, and the second layperson of Market C could purchase the same item  52  for sale in Market C, at a specified location  250 - 3   c  which would be convenient to the second layperson, but this sale is made directly by the reseller of Market B who purchased the item  51  directly from the first layperson of Market B. In this alternative condition the reseller of Market B could deposit the item  53  for eventual dispensing directly into the apparatus of the invention  250 - 3   c  owned by the reseller Owner  3  of Market C, as specified by the second layperson, using an authorization code which was generated by the networked system  150  that comprises the preferred embodiment of the invention. In this manner, the owner of the apparatus in Market B has purchased directly in Market B  250 - 2   b  and also sold directly into Market C by use of the networked apparatus of the invention  250 - 3   c.  Wherein the reseller of Market C who has an apparatus  250 - 3   c  of Market C as used for vending to the second layperson of Market C is due some consideration for use of said apparatus  250 - 3   c,  as requested by the second layperson, a predetermined monetary transaction could be tendered as consideration. Alternatively, a point system of debits and credits as maintained within the system described herein as the preferred embodiment of the invention could be used as a similar means of consideration. An illustrated example of such a point is seen in  FIG. 13 . In either instance, where such consideration is due because a single transaction has occurred that includes multiple owners of a plurality of apparatus that are used to complete the single transaction, the system contemplated as the preferred embodiment of the invention would automatically notify the parties involved as to the extent of their obligation and also of the consideration as offered for the performance required by parties to the single transaction. 
         [0066]    As seen in  FIG. 13 , parties wishing to participate in such a point system  500  of the broader system  150  would accumulate a series of transaction values as either credits or debits, or both, and could offer parcels of such transaction values to another using a point system. In such a point system  500  wherein the points themselves have a well known value within the system, said points could be used as consideration in any transaction between any parties choosing to participate in the point system  500  which is a method employed within the system  150  which is the method of the invention. For example, and as seen in  FIG. 13 , an owner  410   b  of a plurality of apparatus of the invention  250   b,    260   b  operating within a typical geographic or demographic market  400 , could purchase, or earn by performance or trade, 100 points and thereby realize a balance of 100 points in the system, and later earn or purchase and additional 500 points, thereby increasing his point balance to 600 points. In a later transaction a value of 900 points could be tendered through trade or performance thus resulting in a balance of (300) or minus three hundred points. And later another 250 points could be tendered as a debit and resulting in a current balance  530  of (550) or minus five hundred and fifty points for business entity  410   b,  as witnessed in the accounting of  510   b    520   b  of that parties transactions. 
         [0067]    Similar participation could be enjoyed by other trading parties in the system such as business entity  420   a,  having inventory  300   a  for sale but no ownership of apparatus of the invention  250   260  with which to dispense or purchase items traded in the system of the invention  150 . A party such as said business entity  420   a  could transact with other parties  410   b  within the system  150  who offer value in trade such as the use of apparatus of the invention  250   b    260   b  for the purpose of vending or dispensing inventory items  300   a  previously sold within the larger system  150  which is the method of the invention and comprises the system and method  500  allowing points to be used as consideration. 
         [0068]    Other parties  430   c  who have no direct ownership of apparatus of the invention  250   b    260   b,  nor any inventory  300   a    300   b  to offer for sale, could participate within such a system by the performance of services or other valuable acts as contracted by other parties of the system, such as the act of courier when an item located in one geographic location and purchased online by use of the system  150  is specified for eventual dispensing in a distant or proximate market by the layperson making the purchase or by an intermediate party to the transaction. 
         [0069]      FIGS. 9 &amp; 14  In another example of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as described herein and consisting of a variety of apparatus  10   250   260  of the invention strategically located across various contiguous and adjacent markets  400 , a system of points  500  or other consideration can be offered and administrated by the computerized network  80  and system  150  of said apparatus, and operated in such a fashion as to allow individuals and business entities who are owners or non-owners of said apparatus within any given market to make use of such a network of apparatus for the purpose of selling items of an existing inventory  300  to laypersons of a local market  400  or similarly to laypersons of markets adjacent to their own market  400 . The conception of such transactions can occur wholly within the system  150  that operates as the preferred embodiment of the design, or such a transaction could occur in any well known methods for sellers and buyers to transact, such as an existing but separate online marketplace developed and operated for online sales of goods. In any way conceivable, the items presented for sale and finally delivered to the layperson who is the buyer of the items for sale can be placed into the networked system  150  in one location of any given market A, and finally vended out to the layperson making the purchase in any given market B, by means of transaction codes, performance and consideration, as dictated by the system  150  operating as a preferred embodiment of this invention. Further contemplation of the invention allows the practice of couriers  630  who are in the practice of moving items retrieved from an apparatus of the invention placed in one or more local markets and re-depositing them into apparatus of the invention in nearby locations or locations within adjacent markets, to receive consideration in the form of money or points as maintained within the system  150  that is also the preferred embodiment of the invention for said performance.