Electronics Recycling Retail Desktop Verification Device

• US 20150309912A1
• Filed: 03/25/2015
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tu X. Nguyen, Vu Nguyen
• Original Assignee: Tu X. Nguyen, Vu Nguyen
• Inventors: Nguyen, Tu, Nguyen, Vu
• Application Number:
  US14/668,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20150309912A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products

Abstract

A verification device for evaluating a used electronic device brought in for resale, intended to be used to assist a retail clerk in a resale transaction, said verification device capable of performing a functional test of a device, performing a cosmetic test of a device, and calculating its resale value.

Claims

1. A test machine to assist a clerk in evaluating a device under test, comprising:

a user interface;

a memory;

a device interface for connecting to the device under test;

a network connection for connecting to a server;

a processor, said processor configured to perform at least one of the following tasks;

identify the manufacturer, model, and device ID of the device under test;

evaluate the functionality of the device under test;

evaluate the cosmetic condition of the device under test;

determine whether the device under test is likely to have been stolen;

determine the resale value of the device under test based on the functional evaluation and the identification of the device under test;

display the resale value of the device under test on the user interface.

2. The test machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery charging circuit for charging the battery of the device under test.

3. The test machine of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform at least one of the following functions:

erase the data on the device under test;

transfer data from the device under test to one of the following group;

another device, the cloud;

transfer apps from the device under test to one of the following group;

another device, the cloud;

transfer apps to the device under test.

4. The test machine of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a physically separate device connected to the test machine by one of the following:

a cable, a wireless connection.

5. The test machine of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the following tasks:

display instructions for a cosmetic evaluation on the user interface;

receive data regarding the cosmetic condition of the device under test.

6. The test machine of claim 5, wherein the instructions for the cosmetic evaluation comprise the following questions:

whether or not the screen is broken;

whether or not the corners of the device under test are broken;

whether or not the device under test has any scratches;

whether or not the screen of the device under test has any dead pixels;

whether or not the device under test has any engraving.

7. The test machine of claim 5, wherein the instructions for the cosmetic evaluation comprise directions for the clerk to take at least one photograph of the device under test using the device under test'"'"'s camera and a reflective surface.

8. The test machine of claim 5, wherein at least one surface of the test machine is reflective.

9. The test machine of claim 5, further comprising:

a scan module for scanning the device under test to produce at least one image of the device under test;

wherein the processor is configured to evaluate the at least one image to determine the cosmetic condition of the device under test.

10. The test machine of claim 1, wherein evaluating the functionality of the device under test comprises at least one of the following group:

testing the battery of the device under test;

testing at least one camera of the device under test;

testing at least one of the buttons of the device under test;

testing the touchscreen of the device under test;

testing the display of the device under test;

testing the wi-fi connection of the device under test;

testing the cellular transmitter and receiver of the device under test;

testing the Bluetooth connection of the device under test;

testing the microphone of the device under test;

testing the speaker of the device under test;

testing at least one biometric scanner of the device under test;

testing the NFC function of the device under test;

testing the processor of the device under test;

testing the memory of the device under test;

testing the light sensor of the device under test;

testing the GPS function of the device under test;

testing the gyroscope of the device under test;

testing the barometer function of the device under test;

testing the infrared transmitter and receiver of the device under test.

11. The test machine of claim 1, further comprising at least one of the following group:

a printer;

a bar code scanner;

a fingerprint sensor;

an identification reader module.

12. A method of assisting a store clerk in repurchasing a device under test, comprising:

connecting the device under test to a test machine;

using the test machine to identify the manufacturer, model, and operating system and identification number of the device under test;

determining whether the device under test is likely to have been stolen, and rejecting the device under test if it is likely to have been stolen;

using the test machine to perform a functional test on the device under test;

performing a cosmetic evaluation on the device under test;

using data derived from the functional test, the identification of the device under test, and the cosmetic evaluation to determine a resale value for the device under test;

offering remuneration to the owner of the device under test.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of using the test machine to perform a functional test on the device under test comprises performing at least one of the following functions:

testing the battery of the device under test;

testing at least one camera of the device under test;

testing at least one of the buttons of the device under test;

testing the touchscreen of the device under test;

testing the display of the device under test;

testing the wi-fi connection of the device under test;

testing the cellular transmitter and receiver of the device under test;

testing the Bluetooth connection of the device under test;

testing the microphone of the device under test;

testing the speaker of the device under test;

testing at least one biometric scanner of the device under test;

testing the NFC function of the device under test;

testing the processor of the device under test;

testing the memory of the device under test;

testing the light sensor of the device under test;

testing the GPS function of the device under test;

testing the gyroscope of the device under test;

testing the barometer function of the device under test;

testing the infrared transmitter and receiver of the device under test.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of performing a cosmetic evaluation on the device under test comprises:

displaying instructions for a cosmetic evaluation on the user interface;

receiving information regarding the device under test'"'"'s cosmetic condition via the user interface.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of performing a cosmetic evaluation on the device under test comprises:

displaying instructions for taking at least one photograph of the device under test using the device under test'"'"'s own camera and a reflective surface;

receiving at least one photograph of the device under test;

analyzing the at least one photograph.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of performing a cosmetic evaluation on the device under test comprises:

scanning the device under test using a scanner module to create at least one image;

analyzing the at least one image.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of performing a cosmetic evaluation on the device under test comprises:

placing the device under test in a receptacle comprising at least one inner reflective surface;

causing the device under test to take at least one photograph of itself reflected in the at least one inner reflective surface;

transmitting the at least one photograph to the testing machine;

analyzing the at least one photograph.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein determining whether the device under test is likely to have been stolen comprises:

determining whether anti-theft software is turned on;

instructing the clerk to ask a user to turn off the anti-theft software;

if the user cannot turn off the anti-theft software, concluding that the device under test is likely to have been stolen.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein determining whether the device under test is likely to have been stolen comprises:

contacting a service provider associated with the device under test to report a problem with the device under test;

receiving an answer from the service provider;

analyzing the answer;

if the answer includes instructions to turn off anti-theft software,

instructing the clerk to ask a user to turn off the anti-theft software;

if the user cannot turn off the anti-theft software, concluding that the device under test is likely to have been stolen.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein determining whether the device under test is likely to have been stolen comprises:

contacting a manufacturer associated with the device under test to report a problem with the device under test;

receiving an answer from the manufacturer;

analyzing the answer;

if the answer includes instructions to turn off anti-theft software, instructing the clerk to ask a user to turn off the anti-theft software;

if the user cannot turn off the anti-theft software, concluding that the device under test is likely to have been stolen.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

collecting personal information from a customer comprising at least one of the following;

name, address, phone number, driver'"'"'s license information, fingerprints, signature, photograph;

generating a form for reporting the transaction to law enforcement using the personal information;

transmitting the form to law enforcement in a manner compliant with the laws of the jurisdiction where the transaction was performed.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining the account status of an account associated with the device under test.

23. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether a battery of the device under test is sufficiently charged for the other steps of the method to be performed;

if the battery is not sufficiently charged, charging the battery to a sufficient level for the other steps of the method to be performed.

24. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transferring personal data from the device under test to one of the following group;

another electronic device, the cloud, a backup drive.

25. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transferring apps from the device under test to one of the following group;

another electronic device, the cloud, a backup drive.

26. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

installing at least one app on the device under test.

27. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

requesting permission from at least one entity associated with the device under test to erase the data on the device under test;

erasing data from the device under test;

generating a certificate of erasure incorporating the permission.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein erasing data from the device under test is performed by a customer.

29. The method of claim 12, wherein determining a resale value for the device under test comprises:

downloading a price table from a server;

looking up device information in the price table;

determining a price associated with the device identification, functional evaluation, and cosmetic condition of the device under test.