Concepts for repair and service of a consumer device using a network connection and diagnostic test

• US 10,140,654 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2014
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Parris, Carrie
• Primary Examiner(s): Levine, Adam L
• Application Number:
  US14/220,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20150269535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 709224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a repair or purchase program that may be associated with a common carrier. In various embodiments, one or more bids for a target item are received prior to receiving a listing for an item. After receiving the listing for the item, one or more relevant bids may be identified. Information associated with at least one of the identified bids may be provided. A user selection of one of the identified bids may be received. Completion of the transaction indicated by the user'"'"'s selection may be facilitated. Associated methods, systems, and computer program products are provided.

Claims

1. A method for providing a consumer with after-market options, the method comprising:

receiving, via one or more processors, a plurality of service bids for a target device, the plurality of service bids being bids to repair the target device, at least one bid of the plurality of service bids being an immediate repair bid, each bid of the plurality of service bids being associated with a bid identifier configured to uniquely identify the bid;

after receiving the plurality of service bids, establishing, via a wired or wireless network, a connection between a consumer device and a diagnostic device;

performing, via the one or more processors and the connection between the consumer device and the diagnostic device, at least one diagnostic test on the consumer device via the diagnostic device, wherein the at least one diagnostic test is configured to identify a fault condition associated with one or more software modules stored on the consumer device;

presenting one or more test results of the at least one diagnostic test to a graphical user interface of the consumer device;

in response to one of the test results indicating the fault condition, identifying, via the one or more processors, one or more service bids of the plurality of service bids for the target device that are relevant to the consumer device, wherein for a bid to be relevant to the consumer device, the target device is substantially the same as the consumer device, and wherein at least one of the one or more service bids includes a time frame for completing the repair of the consumer device;

providing, via the one or more processors, information associated with at least one of the one or more service bids and causing display via the graphical user interface of the at least one of the one or more service bids;

receiving, via the graphical user interface, a user selection of one of the at least one of the one or more service bids displayed via the graphical user interface;

associating the bid identifier associated with the user-selected service bid with a transaction identifier, wherein the transaction identifier is configured to uniquely identify a present transaction corresponding to the consumer device and the user-selected service bid; and

in an instance in which the user-selected service bid is an immediate repair bid, responsive to receiving the user selection, un-installing, re-installing, installing, or a combination thereof at least one software module in accordance with the user-selected service bid to repair the fault condition.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic device is a kiosk.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein diagnostic device is a user computing device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

capturing at least one digital image of the consumer device; and

analyzing the digital image to determine a physical condition of the consumer device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more service bids is for completion of a software service for the target device, a repair of the target device, or disposal of the target device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the software service is to be performed via the diagnostic device.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the repair of the target item comprises shipping the consumer device to a facility associated with a service provider.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein a disposal bid is one of:

(a) an offer to purchase the target device, (b) a donation request for donation of the target device, or (c) a recycling option for recycling the target device.

9. A system comprising:

one or more memory storage areas; and

one or more processors in communication with the one or more memory storage areas;

wherein the one or more processors, collectively, are configured to;

establish a connection with a consumer device via a wired or wireless network;

perform at least one diagnostic test on the consumer device via the connection with the consumer device, wherein the at least one diagnostic test is configured to identify a fault condition associated with one or more software modules stored on the consumer device;

present one or more test results of the at least one diagnostic test to a graphical user interface of the consumer device;

in response to one of the test results indicating the fault condition, identify one or more service bids that are relevant to the consumer device, the one or more service bids being bids relevant to repair the consumer device, wherein for a service bid to be relevant to the consumer device the target device is substantially the same as the consumer device, and wherein each service bid is associated with a bid identifier configured to uniquely identify the service bid; and

wherein at least one of the one or more service bids includes a time frame for completing the repair of the consumer device;

provide information associated with at least one of the one or more service bids and cause display via the graphical user interface of the at least one of the one or more service bids;

receive, via the graphical user interface, a user selection of one of the displayed service bids;

associate a selected bid identifier with a transaction identifier, wherein the selected bid identifier is the bid identifier associated with the user-selected service bid and the transaction identifier is configured to uniquely identify a present transaction corresponding to the consumer device and the user-selected service bid; and

in an instance in which the user-selected service bid is an immediate repair bid, responsive to receiving the user selection, un-install, re-install, install, or a combination thereof at least one software module in accordance with the user-selected service bid to repair the fault condition.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one connection device; and

wherein the connection with the consumer device is established via the connection device.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a digital imaging device configured to capture at least one digital image of the consumer device; and

wherein the one or more processors are configured to analyze the at least one digital image to determine a physical condition associated with the consumer device.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein, based at least in part on the results of the diagnostic test, the apparatus is configured to identify one or more fault conditions associated with the consumer device.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the one or more service bids are each one of:

a software service offer for repairing a fault condition related to a software issue associated with the consumer device, repair offer for repairing a fault condition related to a hardware issue associated with the consumer device, a disposal offer for disposing of the consumer device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the disposal offer is one of:

(a) an offer to purchase the target device,

(b) a donation request for donation of the target device, and

(c) a recycling option for recycling the target device.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the offer to repair a fault condition related to a hardware issue comprises shipping the consumer device to a facility associated with a service provider.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the repairing of the fault condition is to be performed via the diagnostic device.

17. A computer program product for providing a user with after-market service provider options, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions configured to, when executed by at least one processor, cause the processor to at least:

establish a connection with a consumer device via a wired or wireless network;

perform at least one diagnostic test on the consumer device via the connection with the consumer device, wherein the at least one diagnostic test is configured to identify a fault condition associated with one or more software modules stored on the consumer device;

present one or more test results of the at least one diagnostic test to a graphical user interface of the consumer device;

in response to one of the test results indicating the fault condition, identify one or more service bids that are relevant to repair the consumer device, wherein for a service bid to be relevant to the consumer device, the target device is substantially the same as the consumer device, and wherein each service bid is associated with a bid identifier configured to uniquely identify the service bid; and

wherein at least one of the one or more service bids includes a time frame for completing the repair of the consumer device;

provide information associated with at least one of the one or more service bids and cause display via theft graphical user interface of at least one of the one or more service bids;

receive, via the graphical user interface, a user selection of one of the displayed bids;

associate a selected bid identifier with a transaction identifier, wherein the selected bid identifier is the bid identifier associated with the user-selected bid and the transaction identifier is configured to uniquely identify a present transaction corresponding to the consumer device and the user-selected bid; and

in an instance in which the user-selected bid is an immediate repair bid, responsive to receiving the user selection, un-install, re-install, install, or a combination thereof at least one software module in accordance with the user-selected bid to repair the fault condition.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising computer-readable code portions configured to, when executed by at least one processor, cause the processor to at least:

analyze at least one digital image of the consumer device to determine a physical condition associated with the consumer device.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising computer-readable code portions configured to, when executed by at least one processor, cause the processor to at least:

identify one or more fault conditions associated with the consumer device based at least in part on the results of the diagnostic test.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the one or more service bids are each one of:

a software service offer for repairing a fault condition related to a software issue associated with the consumer device, repair offer for repairing a fault condition related to a hardware issue associated with the consumer device, a disposal offer for disposing of the consumer device.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the disposal offer is one of:

(a) an offer to purchase the target device,

(b) a donation request for donation of the target device, and

(c) a recycling option for recycling the target device.

22. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the offer to repair a fault condition related to a hardware issue comprises shipping the consumer device to a facility associated with a service provider.

23. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the repairing of the fault condition is to be performed via the diagnostic device.