Patent ID: 6845909

Claim:
A system for the unattended distribution of items or retrieval of returned items, comprising: an unattended facility located remote from a central warehouse and capable of containing one or more items, comprising: a secure enclosure including a door with a lock; a data entry device, wherein said data entry device is used to access the unattended facility to place, obtain and return items and to enter information about return items including a status for each said return item that indicates whether said return item is used, unused, good, bad, damaged or warranty return; and a processor programmed to lock or unlock the lock on the door when a passcode is entered into the data entry device; a network; a central server connected to the unattended facility via the network; an electronic database residing on the central server containing inventory information about the items contained within the unattended facility, wherein said database is maintained by entering inventory information into the data entry device and transmitting said inventory information over the network to the central server; and an interface connecting an inventory management service to the central server through the network, said interface configured to enable an exchange of information between the inventory management service and the unattended facility, wherein the inventory management service monitors the unattended facility for replenishment of an inventory of items maintained in the unattended facility and to retrieve returned items from said unattended facility.