Patent ID: 8463432

Claim:
A self-service entertainment media rental terminal comprising: a first customer interface for enabling a first customer to interact with the terminal to rent a media item on which entertainment data is stored from the terminal utilizing a first touch screen to select the media item and a card reader to pay for the media item; a second customer interface for enabling a second customer to interact with the terminal to return a media item on which entertainment data is stored to the terminal utilizing a second touch screen; a media storage bin for (i) storing media items to be dispensed when a customer rents a media item, and (ii) storing media items which have been returned from a customer; a media transport mechanism arranged to (i) support movement of media items between the media storage bin and the first customer interface, and (ii) support movement of media items between the media storage bin and the second customer interface; and a controller arranged to (i) receive customer input data through the first customer interface, (ii) receive customer input data through the second customer interface while customer input data is being received through the first customer interface, and (iii) control operation of the media transport mechanism based upon the customer input data received through the first customer interface and customer input data received through the second customer interface, the controller programmed to drive the first touch screen to display transaction related information to allow customers to interact with the touch screen to conduct both rental transactions and return transactions, and to drive the second touch screen to display transaction related information to allow customers to interact with the second touch screen to conduct return transactions but not rental transactions.