Method for Determining if a Used Electronic Device Belongs to a User

• US 20150294320A1
• Filed: 09/21/2014
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nghia Huu Nguyen, Qui Nguyen Thach, Tu X. Nguyen
• Original Assignee: Nghia Huu Nguyen, Qui Nguyen Thach, Tu X. Nguyen
• Inventors: Nguyen, Tu, Thach, Qui Nguyen, Nguyen, Nghia Huu
• Application Number:
  US14/492,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20150294320A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

A method for determining whether a used electronic device has theft-detection software turned on. Such a method may be used at a repurchase facility or an automated kiosk to reject devices that may be stolen.

Claims

1. A method for detecting if a used electronic device belongs to a user, comprising:

connecting to the electronic device;

sending a command to the electronic device to request information normally restricted by anti-theft technology;

if the device does not provide the information, prompting the user to turn off theft-detection software;

if the user cannot turn off theft-detection software, concluding that the used electronic device does not belong to a user.

3. The method of claim 1, where the used electronic device is running the iOS operating system and the theft-detection software is Find My iPhone.

6. A method of repurchasing a used electronic device from a user, comprising:

connecting to the used electronic device;

determining if the used electronic device belongs to the user according to the method of claim 1;

rejecting the device if it cannot be determined that the used electronic device belongs to the user;

repurchasing the device if it can be determined that the used electronic device belongs to the user.

7. A method of determining on a test floor if a used electronic device has theft-detection software turned on, comprising:

connecting to the used electronic device;

determining if the used electronic device belongs to the user according to the method of claim 1;

labeling the device accordingly if it cannot be determined that the used electronic device belongs to the user.

8. A method of determining at a retail counter if a used electronic device has theft-detection software turned on, comprising:

connecting to the used electronic device;

determining if the used electronic device belongs to the user according to the method of claim 1;

rejecting the used electronic device if it cannot be determined that the used electronic device belongs to the user.

9. A method of repurchasing a used electronic device at a kiosk from a user, comprising:

connecting the kiosk to the used electronic device;

using the kiosk to determine if the used electronic device belongs to the user according to the method of claim 1;

rejecting the device if it cannot be determined that the used electronic device belongs to the user;

using the kiosk to repurchase the device if it can be determined that the used electronic device belongs to the user.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

if it cannot be determined that the used electronic device belongs to a user, performing one or more of the following group of actions;

sounding an alarm;

contacting law enforcement;

taking a picture of the user;

taking a video of the user.

2. A method for detecting if a used electronic device, said electronic device associated with a service provider, belongs to a user, comprising:

connecting to the electronic device to determine the device ID of the electronic device;

sending a command to the service provider to request information normally restricted by anti-theft technology;

if the service provider does not provide the information, prompting the user to turn off theft-detection software;

if the user cannot turn off theft-detection software, concluding that the used electronic device does not belong to a user.

4. A method for detecting if a used iPhone has Find My iPhone turned on, comprising:

connecting to the iPhone;

sending a command to the iPhone to determine the device ID of the phone;

contacting the manufacturer of the iPhone to report an issue with the iPhone, and receiving an answer;

analyzing the manufacturer'"'"'s answer to determine whether or not FindMylphone is turned on.

5. A method of repurchasing a used iPhone, comprising:

detecting if the used iPhone has FindMylphone turned on, according to claim 4;

rejecting the used iPhone if FindMylphone is turned on;

repurchasing the used iPhone if FindMylphone is not turned on.