Modular Rental Return System Landon Chelf EKU, Dept. of Technology, CEN

2 OUTLINE Inspiration for idea Mutation of concept to current form Why a modular return system Demonstration of results What’s next

3 MOTIVATION Personal experience with the issues of movie rental returns The growing industry involving RFID and integration into inventory management technologies

4 INTRODUCTION The lost (already returned) movie Return deadlines and fees The system doesn’t currently exist thus the dream to be the first to create and profit from it was born.

5 PROBLEM STATEMENT The ability for instant notification to the customer that their item was received and the time it was received without employee interaction (i.e. the movie drop slot).

6 ORIGINAL PROPOSED SOLUTION Outfit a regular return slot with a RFID reader and the media to be returned with RFID tags. Provide a receipt output at the return slot for the customer notification of return.

7 FINAL SOLUTION Outfit a regular return slot with a RFID reader and the media to be returned with RFID tags. Create the ability to send a text message or notification to the customer. No paper/printer involved.

8 RESULTS The Modular Return System was born! A pluggable architecture that can integrate with virtually any customer database, input hardware (RFID, barcode, mag stripe, etc), and output notifications ( , TXT Message, Receipt printer, LCD Display, etc).

9 Pluggable Architecture Plug-in System Printer Plug-in RFID Reader Plug-in Barcode Reader Plug-in Notification Plug-in Output Interface Input Interface Hook Interface Query/Update Library Database Query/Update Video Database

10 PLANNED EXPANSION An AJAX based website that will allow rental stores to join and post movie availability. Allow customers to receive notifications when the movies become available in their area (No reservations allowed since someone in the store may already have it in hand to rent)

11 CONCLUSIONS A new product that with some refinements I plan to release and market to major video rental companies. The Capstone Project created the motivational factor I’ve been needing to actually start and finish a project that I’ve thought of.

12 FUTURE WORK Other related projects: Robotic return slot for truly automated inventory system. RFID secured computers, doors, cars, etc.