CONCEPTS FOR REPAIR, SERVICE, PURCHASE, SALE OR TRADE-IN OF ITEMS

• US 20150269535A1
• Filed: 03/20/2014
• Published: 09/24/2015
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,140,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 for providing a consumer with after-market options, the method comprising:

receiving, via one or more processors, one or more bids for a target device;

establishing, via the one or more processors, a connection between a consumer device and a diagnostic device;

performing, via the one or more processors, at least one diagnostic test on the consumer device via the diagnostic device;

based at least in part on the results of the at least one diagnostic test, identifying, via the one or more processors, one or more bids that are relevant to the consumer device;

providing, via the one or more processors, information associated with at least one of the one or more identified bids;

receiving, via the one or more processors, a user selection of one of the one or more identified bids; and

facilitating, via the one or more processors, completion of the user'"'"'s selection.

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 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 comprises un-installing, re-installing, and/or installing at least one software module on the consumer device 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;

perform at least one diagnostic test on the consumer device;

based at least on the results of the at least one diagnostic test, identify one or more bids that are relevant to the consumer device;

provide information associated with at least one of the one or more identified bids;

receive a user selection of one of the one or more identified bids; and

facilitate completion of the user'"'"'s selection.

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 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 offer to repair a fault condition related to a software condition comprises uninstalling, reinstalling, and/or installing at least one software module on the consumer device 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;

perform at least one diagnostic test on the consumer device;

based at least on the results of the at least one diagnostic test, identify one or more bids that are relevant to the consumer device;

provide information associated with at least one of the one or more identified bids;

receive a user selection of one of the one or more identified bids; and

facilitate completion of the user'"'"'s selection.

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 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 offer to repair a fault condition related to a software condition comprises uninstalling, reinstalling, and/or installing at least one software module on the consumer device via the diagnostic device.