Patent Abstract:
A media transaction kiosk with an antenna which provides better field coverage around a return slot. The media transaction kiosk includes a return portion including a wall containing an aperture for receiving a storage device containing media, and an antenna. The antenna includes a first antenna portion in a first position relative to the aperture, wherein the first antenna portion is coupled to a tag reader, wherein the first antenna portion is for radiating an electromagnetic field at a tag reading frequency for reading a tag on the storage device. The antenna further includes a second antenna portion in a second position relative to the aperture, wherein the second antenna portion is located within the electromagnetic field from the first antenna portion, and wherein the second antenna portion is for resonating at the tag reading frequency and for radiating another electromagnetic field for reading the tag.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are known for there usefulness in identifying items. RFID tag readers may be used in various venues, such as point-of-sale checkout, where RFID tag readers read RFID tags on merchandise items. 
     The compact disc (CD) and digital video disc (DVD) are leading portable digital media storage devices. Hundreds of millions of discs are produced each year. These discs are used to store digital media files including, but not limited to movies, television shows, music, music videos, video game software, productivity software and a wide array of additional file types and file formats. These discs are available in pre-recorded, recordable and rewritable formats. 
     Entertainment kiosks may store, dispense, and capture CD and DVD discs. Some kiosks may be equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers for reading RFID tags on CD and DVD discs. 
     RFID tags uniquely identify a disc as originating from or belonging to the kiosk or kiosk provider. Thus, for example, the kiosk may determine whether a disc placed in a return slot by a customer includes an RFID tag and whether the RFID tag is associated with the kiosk or kiosk provider. 
     RFID readers may have limited output power (250 mW). Also, a conventional RFID antenna mounted in front of a return slot may produce a field which is covers more than the return slot, squandering what limited power is available. The RFID reader may not be able to read an RFID tag anywhere it may be located within the return slot. An RFID tag mounted on a CD/DVD or similar media may have reduced sensitivity as the RFID read field is attenuated by conductive material in the recording surface of the media. 
     It would be desirable to further provide an RFID tag reading antenna for a media transaction kiosk which would facilitate reading of an RFID tag anywhere it may be located within the return slot. 
     SUMMARY 
     A media transaction kiosk and method are provided. 
     A media transaction kiosk with an antenna which provides better field coverage around a return slot. The media transaction kiosk includes a return portion including a wall containing an aperture for receiving a storage device containing media, and an antenna. The antenna includes a first antenna portion in a first position relative to the aperture, wherein the first antenna portion is coupled to a tag reader, wherein the first antenna portion is for radiating an electromagnetic field at a tag reading frequency for reading a tag on the storage device. The antenna further includes a second antenna portion in a second position relative to the aperture, wherein the second antenna portion is located within the electromagnetic field from the first antenna portion, and wherein the second antenna portion is for resonating at the tag reading frequency and for radiating another electromagnetic field for reading the tag. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example media transaction kiosk. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a user interface with an example return slot. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the user interface. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the use interface at a dispense and return portion. 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating an example first antenna portion. 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating an example second antenna portion. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , example media transaction system  10  primarily includes kiosk  12 . 
     Kiosk  12  dispenses digital media in storage devices  40 , which may include compact discs (CDs) and digital video discs (DVDs). Kiosk  12  may also dispense digital media in other storage devices  40 , such as Secure Digital (SD) cards, or may also electronically download digital media to customer provided storage devices. 
     Storage devices  40  may store media of various types, including, but not limited to movies, television shows, music, music videos, video game software, productivity software and a wide array of additional file types and file formats. 
     Kiosk  12  may include computer  20 , display  22 , input device  24 , payment peripheral  26 , printer  28 , radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader  30 , transport system  34 , and inventor data store  36 . 
     Computer  20  includes a processor, memory, program and data storage. Computer  20  may execute an operating system such as a Microsoft operating system, and a web browser for viewing web pages. 
     Computer  20  controls operation of kiosk  12 . Computer  20  executes transaction software  38 , which displays images of screens and records operator selections from those screens during a digital media transaction. 
     A digital media transaction may include a sale of digital media or licenses to digital media. Digital media may include, but not be limited to, movies, television shows, music, music videos, video game software, productivity software and a wide array of additional file types and file formats. 
     Display  22  displays the images of the transaction screens. 
     Input device  24  records operator selections during a digital media transaction. Input device  24  may include a touch sensitive device or a keyboard. Input device  24  and display  22  may be combined as a touch screen. 
     Payment peripheral  26  may include one or more of a card reader for reading credit, debit, and/or loyalty cards; a currency acceptor; a currency dispenser; a coin acceptor; and a coin dispenser. 
     Printer  28  includes a receipt printer, but may print additional information, such as coupons or other offers or promotions. 
     RFID tag reader  30  couples to antenna  32 , which in this example, is located in the vicinity of a digital media dispense/return slot of kiosk  12 . RFID tag reader  30  identifies dispensed or returned digital media or both. 
     Dispensed or returned storage devices  40 , such as CDs and DVDs, are equipped with RFID tags  42 . Alternatively, or in addition, containers of storage devices  40 , such as sleeves, jewel cases, or other types of cases may include RFID tags  42 . 
     Delivery system  34  delivers digital media to customers following selection and payment. For example, delivery system  34  may deliver digital media discs from storage locations within kiosk  12  or may burn digital media onto blank discs and deliver a newly burned disc. As another example, delivery system  34  may electronically download digital media to suitable electronic storage devices, such as customer provided mobile devices. Delivery system  34  also captures and stores returned digital media to the storage locations within kiosk  12 . 
     Inventory data store  36  contains an inventory of digital media within kiosk  12 , either physical discs or digital media files or both. Transaction software  38  updates the inventory of digital media each time a digital media item is dispensed or received. Transaction software  38  may also send updated inventory information to host server  16  via network  14 . Host server  16  may manage inventory in a plurality of kiosks  12 . 
     Network  14  may include a cellular communication network, a global communications network also known as the Internet, a wired or wireless network, or any combination of such networks. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an example kiosk  12  is illustrated. Example kiosk  12  may be based upon the entertainment kiosk disclosed in commonly-assigned published U.S. application Ser. No. 10/866,387, publication number 2004/0254676, entitled “AUTOMATED BUSINESS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VENDING AND RETURNING A CONSUMER PRODUCT”. This published application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Example kiosk  12  includes housing  50  for storing digital media. Kiosk  12  further includes user interface  52 , which includes touch screen  54 , card reader  56 , printer  58 , and dispense and retrieve slot  60 . 
     Example kiosk  12  may further include auxiliary display  62  for displaying movie trailers, promotions, and other information under the control of transaction software  38 . 
     Dispense and retrieve slot  60  includes a slot from which digital media items in cases are dispensed and into which empty cases may be inserted. RFID tag reader  30  may be located in dispense and retrieve slot  60  or on delivery system  34 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the rear side of user interface  52  illustrates the location of dispense and retrieve portion  70 , including antenna portions  72  and  74 . Antenna portion  72  is mounted or located below dispense and retrieve portion  70 , while antenna portion  74  is mounted or located above dispense and retrieve portion  70 . 
     During a return procedure at kiosk  12 , a customer inserts protective storage case  80  into dispense and retrieve portion  70  and into slot  60 . RFID tag reader  30  senses and reads RFID tag  42  on digital media storage device  40 . Transaction software  38  looks up the digital media item associated with RFID tag  42  and verifies that digital media storage device  40  belongs in kiosk  12 . Delivery system  34  transports digital media storage device  40  to a storage location with kiosk  12 . Transaction software  38  updates inventory data  36  to reflect storage of digital media storage device  40  within kiosk  12 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a storage device  40  having RFID tag  42  is located between antenna portions  72  and  74  and within dispense and retrieve portion  70 . Storage device  40  may be located within a protective storage case  80 . 
     The walls of dispense and retrieve portion  70  should be constructed of a non-conductive, RF transparent material. The walls form a recess defining a position for a customer to insert a returned storage device  40  or retrieve a dispensed storage device  40 . Antenna portion  72  is located below bottom wall  76 , and antenna portion  74  is located above upper wall  78 . Antenna portion  74  is inclined at an angle relative to antenna portion  72 , but other configurations are envisioned as user interface requirements change. 
     Antenna portion  72  is driven by RFID tag reader  30  to produce an electromagnetic field at an RFID frequency, such as 13.56 MHz. Antenna portion  74  is tuned to the same frequency and passively resonates to produce another electromagnetic field, thereby supplementing the electromagnetic field produced by antenna portion  72  to cover most of the volume in front of slot  60  where RFID tag  42  is located. Coverage is provided both below and above storage device  40  and is concentrated between antenna portions  72  and  74 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, antenna portion  74  may be driven and antenna portion  72  may be passive. 
     RFID tag  42  receives the energy from the electromagnetic field and responds with a signal containing information identifying digital media storage device  40 . Transaction software  38  uses the information to determine whether to accept digital media storage device  40 . Transaction software  38  may deny acceptance if no RFID tag  42  is present or if the identification information in RFID tag  42  is not included in inventory records within inventory data store  36 . 
     For example, transaction software  38  may cause delivery system  34  to either prevent insertion of digital media storage device through aperture  60 , for example, by closing or failing to open a gate, or to allow insertion by opening the gate and to transport digital media storage device  40  to an internal storage location. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , example antenna portion  72  includes active loop antenna  80 , which includes two conductive loops  82  and  84 . Other configurations are also envisioned in which active loop antenna  80  includes one or more loops. 
     Antenna portion  72  further includes active loop tuning components  86  and coaxial connector  90 . Connector  90  may include any suitable coaxial connector, such as a standard reverse polarity subminiature version A (RP-SMA) connector. The coaxial cable may include a fifty-ohm coaxial cable between connector  90  and RFID tag reader  30 . Any transmission line suitable for 13.56 MHz RF can be used, for instance twisted pair cable and connectors. 
     Example antenna portion  72  may be constructed as a printed circuit board with loops  82  and  84 , active loop tuning components  86  on one side and connector  90  on an opposite side. Antenna portion  72  may be fastened with loops  82  and  84  facing bottom wall  76  of dispense and retrieve portion  70  using screws or other suitable fasteners applied through apertures  92 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , example antenna portion  74  includes passive reflective loop antenna  100 , which includes two conductive loops  102  and  104 . Other configurations are also envisioned in which active loop antenna  80  includes one or more loops. 
     Antenna portion  74  further includes reflective loop tuning components  106 , which may include capacitors. Reflective loop tuning components  106  may be selected or adjusted to produce resonance with active loop antenna  80  at the desired frequency of 13.56 MHz. 
     Example antenna portion  74  may be constructed as a printed circuit board with loops  102  and  104  and reflective loop tuning components  106  on one side. Antenna portion  74  may be fastened with loops  102  and  104  facing upper wall  78  of dispense and retrieve portion  70  using screws or other suitable fasteners applied through apertures  108 . 
     Although particular reference has been made to certain embodiments, variations and modifications are also envisioned within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6