Abstract:
An improved digital media enclosure having two primary components, a sleeve into which the digital media is placed, and an envelope into which the sleeve is placed. At least one surface of the sleeve is printed with a plurality of identification markings on at least one of the sleeve&#39;s outer surfaces. The identification markings are each positioned at a first radial distance from a center of the sleeve in regularly angled intervals around the center. The envelope includes a pocket into which the sleeve fits. There is an opening in the envelope pocket located at substantially the first radial distance from the planar center of the sleeve pocket. The opening is also positioned at a same angle as the identification markings, such that any of the identification markings will show through the opening when the sleeve is placed in the sleeve pocket in any of its possible orientations.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a digital media disk enclosure for facilitating processing, distributing, and redistributing digital media disks by mail. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The development of the Digital Versatile Disc (“DVD”) as a medium for carrying digital movie and video information has led to a new rental business models that use postal mail for media transport. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,450, Method and Apparatus for Renting items, describes a DVD rental service in which a subscriber establishes an online “pick list” of DVD movies that the subscriber wishes to rent. In addition to DVD&#39;s such a service may be used to provide video game disks, CD&#39;s, CD-ROM&#39;s, or any other optical media. When a selected one of the DVD movies on the pick list becomes available in inventory, the service mails the selected DVD movie to the subscriber. The subscriber views the DVD and returns it to the service by mail. When the DVD is received by the service, the subscriber is entitled to receive another available DVD from the pick list. 
         [0003]    In the conventional service, much of the work in receiving returned DVD&#39;s and sending gut new DVD&#39;s to customers is done manually. For example, an envelope containing a returned DVD is opened by hand by workers employed by the service. The worker manually scans a code on the DVD packaging to identify the returned DVD and the customer. Some of the returned DVD&#39;s will be returned to inventory, however many of the returned DVD&#39;s will need to be sent to other customers. The returned DVD&#39;s are then manually processed again to determine which are need to be resent to customers, and which should be kept for internal storage or processing. Finally, outgoing DVD&#39;s are manually inserted into conventional mailers to be placed for outgoing delivery with the postal or delivery service. To maintain customer satisfaction, rapid processing of these incoming and outgoing DVD&#39;s is critical. The extensive manual processing of returned and outgoing DVD&#39;s can be time that makes quick and reliable turn-around more difficult. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention overcomes disadvantage of the conventional methods and systems by providing a digital media enclosure that can be efficiently processed in an automated fashion. Also, the improved enclosure arrangement can be read regardless of the orientation in which the user placed the media in the arrangement. 
         [0005]    The improved digital media enclosure includes two primary components, a sleeve into which the digital media is placed, and an envelope into which the sleeve is placed. At least one surface of the sleeve is printed with a plurality of identification markings on at least one of the sleeve&#39;s outer surfaces. The identification markings are each positioned at a first radial distance from a center of the sleeve in regularly angled intervals around the center. 
         [0006]    The envelope includes a pocket into which the sleeve fits. There is an opening in the located at substantially the first radial distance from the planar center of the sleeve pocket. The opening is also positioned at a same angle as the identification markings, such that any of the identification markings will show through the opening when the sleeve is placed in the sleeve pocket in any of its possible orientations. This provides automated scanning capability that does not depend on the user placing the sleeve in the envelope in any single orientation. 
         [0007]    In preferred embodiments, the identification markings on the sleeve are similarly positioned on both sides of the sleeve. Also, the opening in the sleeve pocket can extend completely through both sides of the envelope. The sleeve is preferably square, fitting in a square sleeve pocket is square. In this square arrangement, the identification markings on one side of the sleeve are comprised of four markings that are positioned at right angles to each other. 
         [0008]    The identification markings can be one dimensional or two dimensional barcodes. The barcodes can include identification information about the content of the digital media disk, or about the subscriber who sent the disk. 
         [0009]    In the method for using the digital media enclosure, the digital media is placed in the sleeve, and the sleeve is placed in the envelope. When the stuffed envelope is returned to the processing center, an identification marking can be read through the opening in the sleeve pocket, without opening the envelope. Based on the identification marking, the stuffed envelope can then be sorted for further processing. 
         [0010]    Further details of the present invention are provided in the accompanying drawings, detailed description, and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1A and 1B  depict an exemplary back sheet for forming a two-way mailer. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary middle sheet for forming a two-way mailer. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts the combination of the exemplary back and middle sheets for forming a two-way mailer. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  depicts the combination of  FIG. 3  with the addition of a removable top sheet. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict exemplary fronts and backs of sleeves for holding digital media disks. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  depicts an alternative arrangement for forming two-way mailers. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 7A-7D  depict components and finished assembly of one of the alternative arrangements. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  depict an exemplary return portion of the mailer with the digital media sleeve enclosed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  depicts an embodiment with an check box for indicating a defective DVD is enclosed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  depicts an exemplary known digital media disc for use in connection with the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  depicts an embodiment of a combination of a DVD and sleeve. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  depicts a view of a DVD and sleeve inside an envelope in accordance with a preferred embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  depict an exemplary sorter machine for use with the DVD processing system. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 13 and 14  depicts an exemplary sorter machine for use with the DVD processing system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The preferred embodiment of the digital media mailer shown in  FIGS. 1-4  is composed of three sheets fastened on top of one another in three layers. While the preferred embodiment uses separate and distinct sheets for its layers, the term “sheets” should also be understood to mean parts of a single sheet that have been folded to form the layers that comprise the mailer. 
         [0026]    In this application, certain elements of the two-way mailer may be relevant for different stages in the use of the mailer. These stages will be referred to as “initial” or “outgoing” stage for the delivery of the media from the service to the customer. A “return” or “incoming” stage refers to the part of the process when the customer is returning the digital media to the service. Certain features are directed to assisting to quickly transition a DVD from an incoming stage from one customer, to an outgoing stage for another customer. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  depict a back sheet  10  that forms a base for constructing the two-way mailer.  FIG. 1A  shows a rear view of the back sheet  10 . The back surface shown in  FIG. 1A  will be the back side of the envelope for both the outgoing and return mail pieces.  FIG. 1B  is the interior side of back sheet  10 . This interior side will form part of the pocket for holding the digital media. 
         [0028]    Back sheet  10  includes the flap  11  used for sealing the mailer. On flap  11  adhesive  16  is used to seal the flap closed upon outgoing delivery. Perforated strip  14  is torn by the digital media recipient in order to open the sealed flap  11  to remove the digital media. For resealing, a covered adhesive  17  is provided. When the recipient wishes to reseal and return the mailer, a non-adhesive covering is removed from adhesive  17  and the flap  11  may be sealed again (with the upper portion of flap  11  gone from the prior opening process). 
         [0029]    The body  12  of back sheet  10  includes a circular opening  13 . Opening  13  is a hole in the sheet positioned to be a predetermined distance from the center of the pocket region in which the digital media will be placed during outgoing and return delivery. The predetermined distance and angular positioning of the opening  13  will be discussed later in connection with  FIGS. 5A and 5B . Opening  13  provides viewing access to a digital media sleeve  50  from the rear side of the envelope for both outgoing and return mail pieces. A circular shaped opening is preferred because that shape is less likely to catch in postal processing equipment. However, any alternative shape may suffice. 
         [0030]    Adhesive regions  15  along the left and right sides of back sheet body  12  are used to attach the middle sheet  20  ( FIG. 2 ) to the back sheet  10 . In between the adhesive regions  15 , a pocket region  18  will be formed for holding the digital media. Accordingly, it will be important to carefully dimension the adhesive regions  15  to achieve the desired pocket region. It will be understood that the glue regions  15  may be correspondingly placed on middle sheet  20 , and still have the same structural result. 
         [0031]    Preferred dimensions for the back sheet  10  are as follows: back sheet body  12  is 7.5″×5.5″; flap  11  extends 2″ from body  12 ; and opening  13  is 1.2″ in diameter. The adhesive regions  15  are 1″ wide, and the pocket region is 5.75″ inches wide. 
         [0032]    Middle sheet  20 , depicted in  FIG. 2 , fits directly over the body  12  of back sheet  10 , and has the same measurements. In a preferred embodiment the middle sheet  20  is placed upside down on the back sheet  10 , so that when the flap  11  eventually closes it will not cover the return address  22  or postal markings  24 . This combination of the back sheet  10  and middle sheet  20  is depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0033]    Middle sheet  20  also includes a return destination address  21 , indicating where the digital media will be delivered upon return from the customer. In a first embodiment, the return destination address  21  is preprinted on middle sheet  20  prior to assembly in the mailer. Alternatively, for use in an embodiment such as depicted in FIGS.  7  and  8 A-D, the return destination address  21  may initially be blank. Middle sheet opening  23  is the same size, and aligns with, back sheet opening  13 . When middle sheet  20  is fastened on top of back sheet  10  a pocket region  18  is formed, and through openings  13  and  23  the contents of pocket region  18  may be viewed both from the front and back. 
         [0034]    For attaching a top sheet  40  to the middle sheet  20 , adhesive areas  25  are placed on the middle sheet  20 . Adhesive areas  25  are preferably small as compared to adhesive regions  15 . The reason for small adhesive areas  25  is so that a user will be able to easily remove the top sheet  40  when it is time to use the return portion of the mailer. Accordingly, a plurality of small adhesive areas  25  is preferred, as opposed to fewer and larger areas. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  depicts a top sheet  40  fastened on top of the middle sheet  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the delivery address region  41  is initially blank. Only after the digital media has been inserted in the mailer, the delivery address region is filled in with a customer delivery address. Return address  42  and postage markings  44  may be pre-printed, but may also be printed after the mailer is filled. Top sheet  40  also includes an opening  43  to allow scanning of information on the middle sheet  20 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict embodiments of a digital media sleeve  50  having a front face  51  and a back face  52 . In these examples, the sleeve is comprised of a single sheet separated by a folding line  59 . It will be understood that any configuration of sleeve will suffice, so long as it fits in the pocket region  18 . 
         [0037]    An important feature of the sleeve  50  in  FIG. 5A  is that 2-D barcodes  53 A-H are evenly space at a radial distance around a center of the sleeve. Barcodes  53 A-H is preferably ½ inch square. 
         [0038]    These barcodes  53 A-H includes an identification of the content of the digital media contained in the sleeve  50 , for example the DVD movie title, or a serial number for a particular copy of the DVD. Such information may also be included in supplementary 1-D barcode  54  or plain text code  55 . The sleeve  50  further preferably includes a plain text title  56  for the media content, along with detailed descriptions  57  and instruction messages  58 . 
         [0039]    By positioning the four barcodes  53 A-D in a square at a predetermined distance around the center of the front face  51 , and by positioning the openings  13  and  23  at the same predetermine distance, and at 90 degrees relative to the edges of the envelope, it is assured that one of the barcodes  53 A-D can be positioned to be scanned through openings  13  and  23  for outgoing and incoming pieces, without opening the mailer. With this arrangement, one of the barcodes  53 A-H will be visible through the openings  13  and  23  regardless of the orientation in which the customer places the DVD sleeve  50  into the envelope. 
         [0040]    As a result, more streamlined processes may be applied by a rental service for incoming mail whereby time critical DVD&#39;s can be identified sooner, without the need to open the pieces. Also, for outgoing pieces, automated processes for inserting and addressing DVD&#39;s can be controlled by scanning of at least one of the sleeve barcodes  53 A-H. Similarly,  FIG. 5B  depicts an embodiment where one dimensional barcodes  54 A-H are used instead of 2D barcodes. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  show an exemplary return portion of a two-way mailer, with the sleeve barcode  53  showing through openings  73  and  76 , offset from the center of the sleeve by 90 degrees and at the predetermined distance from the center. 
         [0042]    It should be understood the requirement of placing the barcode  53 , or openings  13  and  23 , in their respective positions on the sleeve  50  or pocket region  18  does not require a strict geometric measurement. Rather, the size of the openings  13  and  23  and a smaller size of the barcode  53  may allow for a margin of error in placement such that they may be considered centered for purposes of this invention. What matters most is that at least one of the barcodes  53 A-H be visible through the openings  13  and  23 , regardless of the orientation of how the sleeve  50  is placed in the pocket. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  depicts an alternative embodiment for constructing the mailer, having two main differences from what was described previously. First, the sheets  10 ,  20  and  60  forming the mailer are formed from a single sheet. In this arrangement, middle sheet  20  would first be folded along line  62  to be fixed along the adhesive regions  15  of the back sheet  10 . Then, top sheet  60  could be folded along fold line  63  to be affixed on top of the middle sheet  20 . Line  63  may be perforated to facilitate removal of top sheet  60  prior to sending the return mail piece. 
         [0044]    Alternatively, sheet  20  be switched with sheet  60 , so that the top of middle sheet  20  is along fold line  63 , while the edge of top sheet  60  is along fold line  62 . As another acceptable variation, sheets  10  and  20  may be formed from a single sheet, while top sheet  60  is formed from a separate sheet. 
         [0045]    The other structural difference depicted in  FIG. 6  is the placement of opening  61 . Top sheet opening  61 , when folded over middle sheet  20  allows access to the opening  23  and to the return address destination region  21 . By exposing the return address destination region  21 , it is possible scan one of the sleeve barcodes  53  and to print a unique return address in the return address destination  21  while the mailer is being assembled, and after the media is inserted. This arrangement is discussed further below in connection with  FIGS. 7A-D . 
         [0046]      FIGS. 7A  depicts a partially constructed mailer similar to that shown in  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 7A  the return delivery address region  21  has been left blank on the middle sheet  20 . Also, the opening  61  has taken the place where normally an outgoing delivery address would have been printed. To finish mailer shown in this embodiment, a printer prints the return delivery address on the region  21  through the opening  61 . The unique return address printed in region  21  may include Postnet and/or PLANET codes. Such codes can bye used by the Postal Service to track mail throughout delivery in the postal delivery system. Next, an outgoing delivery address is printed on a label  83  as depicted in  FIG. 7B . The label  83  is then place on the top sheet  60  over the opening  61  as depicted in  FIG. 7C . For completeness,  FIG. 7D  shows a rear view of the mailer with the sleeve  50  and barcode  53  showing through the opening  65 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  depicts a preferred embodiment where the return portion of the envelope includes a box  91  for an indicator marking. If the user has a problem playing the DVD, the processing center needs to know so that corrective action can be taken. Accordingly, automated equipment scans the incoming returned mail pieces to determine whether box  91  includes an indicator mark. If a mark is present, then the automated equipment can outsort the returned piece for cleaning or repair processing. 
         [0048]      FIG. 10  depicts an exemplary DVD  100  that is used in connection with the preferred embodiment. DVD  100  includes a hub  101  on which a barcode  102  and/or text information can be displayed. In a prior art arrangement, it is known for the hub to include a barcode  102  that includes information about the DVD  100 . 
         [0049]    The arrangement shown in  FIG. 11  represents a significant improvement that provides for automated processing of returned DVD&#39;s. In this embodiment, DVD  100  is placed within a sleeve  101  having barcodes  111 . The DVD barcode  102 , on the hub  101  of the DVD  100 , includes information identifying the DVD. Barcodes  111  also include information identifying the DVD. As a result, the barcodes  102  and  111  can be compared to determine whether the DVD  100  is matched with the correct sleeve  110  for which it is intended. Since the sleeve  110  usually includes information that is specific to that DVD  100 , it is important that it be correct before being sent to another customer. By automated scanning of the barcode  102  through the opening in the sleeve, and scanning of a barcode  111  an automated comparison can be done to determine whether extra processing is required to correct a mismatch between the DVD and the sleeve.  FIG. 12  depicts one exemplary way in which barcodes  102 , on the DVD hub  101 , and barcode  111  on the sleeve are seen through an opening in an envelope  120 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 13 and 14  depict a side and top view of sorter machine  103 . Incoming DVD envelopes  123  are placed in a feeder  124 . In the preferred embodiment, then the codes on the DVD sleeves and on the DVD&#39;s themselves should be visible through windows on either side of the envelope. A scanner camera  125  scans codes from the DVD envelopes  123  as they are fed to the sorter deck  126 . Envelopes  123  are then transported along the length of deck  126 . In this embodiment, if the camera  125  cannot properly read the envelope, the envelope is diverted at divert module  127  into divert bin  128  or  129 . Unreadable envelopes may be processed by hand, or repaired and placed back in the feeder  124 . At the end of the sorter  103 , a stacking device  130  is positioned to stack the processed DVD envelopes. 
         [0051]    In operation, envelopes  123  are preferably similar to the one depicted in  FIG. 12 . The scanner camera  125  captures an image of the disc hub barcode  102  and sleeve barcode  111 . Camera  125  is coupled to a controller computer  132 . Controller computer  132  may be any kind of conventional computer capable of rapidly processing barcode images. Controller computer  132  decodes the barcodes  102  and  103  and determines whether they correspond to one another. In one embodiment, the corresponding match may be established by identifying that the two barcodes are identical to each other, the identical barcodes being associated with a particular DVD. Alternatively, the barcodes  102  and  103  might be different, but can be related to each other in a database as linked to a common DVD. 
         [0052]    If the controller  132  determines that the sleeve barcode  111  does not match the disc hub barcode  102  then the sorter is controlled to divert the digital media package into one of the divert bins  128  or  129  that is designated for manual processing when errors such as this are detected. If a proper match is found between the barcodes  102  and  111  then the sorter may proceed with sorting the digital media to the output stacker  127 . 
         [0053]    In another embodiment, scanner camera  125  looks for a mark made by the subscriber in box  91 , as seen in  FIG. 9 . The controller computer  132  interprets such a mark to mean that the disc is defective and requires error processing. Accordingly, controller  132  controls diverters  127  to direct the marked envelopes to bins  128  or  129  for manual error processing. 
         [0054]    In a further embodiment, the sorter  103  detects whether there are more or less than a single disk in the mail packages  123 . A first technique comprises including scanning a third code on an opposite side of the disc hub through the sleeve opening via a second scanner camera  133 , positioned opposite scanner  125 . Controller computer  132  is coupled to the second camera  133 . Controller computer  132  compares the third code the first and/or second codes to determine if the codes on both sides belong to the same DVD. If they are different, then controller  132  determines that there is more than one DVD in the sleeve. If no first or third barcode is detected, the controller  132  determines there is no disc in the sleeve. In either event, where there is more or less than one disc in a sleeve, then controller  132  outsorts the digital media package to one of the error processing bins  128  or  129 . 
         [0055]    In another embodiment, a thickness sensor  127  coupled to controller  132  is used to determine whether the thickness of the mailed digital media package is too much or too little for a single disc. If it is too much, then it may be inferred that there is more than one disc. If there is too little thickness, then it means that there is no disc in the sleeve. In either event, where there is more or less than one disc in a sleeve, then controller  132  outsorts the digital media package to one of the error processing bins  128  or  129 . 
         [0056]    Although the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and deviations in the form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. In particular, it should be remembered that although DVD&#39;s are described as the mailed digital media, the invention is applicable any type of flat digital media.