SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEVICE CLEARING AND RE-INVENTORY

• US 20190019147A1
• Filed: 07/13/2017
• Published: 01/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2017
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Fedex Supply Chain Logistics & Electronics, Inc. (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Supply Chain Logistics & Electronics, Inc. (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: MCCARTY, Joel, GRIGALIS, Edgar, LLOYD, Tammy
• Application Number:
  US15/649,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20190019147A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/22 Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments include a method to automatically re-inventory an electronic device. The method includes collecting electronic device information upon receipt of the electronic device at an electronic device returns facility. The method also includes performing re-inventory testing of the electronic device, and the method includes performing reconditioning operations on the electronic device in response to results of the re-inventory testing. Additionally, the method includes automatically re-inventorying the electronic device upon completion of the reconditioning operations.

Claims

1. A method to automatically re-inventory an electronic device, the method comprising:

collecting electronic device information upon receipt of the electronic device at an electronic device returns facility;

performing re-inventory testing of the electronic device;

performing reconditioning operations on the electronic device in response to results of the re-inventory testing;

automatically re-inventorying the electronic device upon completion of the reconditioning operations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting the electronic device information comprises determining whether the electronic device is returned under a return merchandise authorization (RMA).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the electronic device is returned under the RMA comprises verifying that the electronic device received at the electronic returns facility is associated with the RMA.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the electronic device is returned under the RMA comprises verifying that the electronic device received at the electronic returns facility matches an expected electronic device of the RMA.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein verifying that the electronic device received at the electronic returns facility matches the expected electronic device comprises comparing a stock keeping unit of the electronic device to a stock keeping unit associated with the RMA.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising determining re-inventory tests to be performed on the electronic device based on the electronic device information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically re-inventorying the electronic device comprises:

tagging the electronic device with an indication of where the electronic device is to be transported; and

updating an inventory system with an inventory status of the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the re-inventory testing of the electronic device comprises customer private information (CPI) testing.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the reconditioning operations comprise customer private information (CPI) removal and CPI removal verification.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically re-inventorying the electronic device comprises repurposing the electronic device when the electronic device is not suitable for redistribution upon completion of the reconditioning operations.

11. A computer implemented method for automatically re-inventorying an electronic device, the method comprising:

collecting electronic device information upon receipt of the electronic device at an electronic device returns facility;

performing CPI testing of the electronic device;

removing CPI from the electronic device in response to detecting the CPI on the electronic device during the CPI testing;

verifying removal of the CPI from the electronic device;

automatically re-inventorying the electronic device upon verification that the CPI has been removed from the electronic device.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein collecting the electronic device information comprises determining whether the electronic device is returned under a return merchandise authorization (RMA).

13. The computer implemented method of claim 12, wherein determining whether the electronic device is returned under the RMA comprises verifying that the electronic device received at the electronic returns facility is associated with the RMA.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein verifying that the electronic device received at the electronic returns facility is associated with the RMA comprises comparing a stock keeping unit of the electronic device to a stock keeping unit associated with the RMA.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 11, wherein automatically re-inventorying the electronic device comprises:

tagging the electronic device with an inventory status of the electronic device; and

updating an inventory system with the inventory status of the electronic device.

16. A warehouse management system comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed to;

collect electronic device information upon receipt of an electronic device at an electronic device returns facility;

determine re-inventory tests of the electronic device based on the electronic device information;

perform re-inventory testing of the electronic device using the determined re-inventory tests;

determine at least one reconditioning operation to be performed on the electronic device in response to results of the re-inventory testing;

automatically re-inventory the electronic device upon completion of the reconditioning operations.

17. The warehouse management system of claim 16, wherein instructions executed to collect the electronic device information comprise instructions executed to determine whether the electronic device is returned under a return merchandise authorization (RMA).

18. The warehouse management system of claim 17, wherein instructions executed to determine whether the electronic device is returned under the RMA comprise instructions executed to verify that the electronic device received at the electronic returns facility matches an expected electronic device associated with the RMA.

19. The warehouse management system of claim 16, wherein instructions executed to automatically re-inventory the electronic device comprise instructions executed to:

tag the electronic device with an inventory status that the electronic device is available for redistribution as a warranty replacement; and

update an inventory system with the inventory status of the electronic device.

20. The warehouse management system of claim 16, wherein instructions executed to perform re-inventory testing comprise instructions executed to:

test the electronic device for customer private information (CPI); and

verifiably remove the CPI from the electronic device upon detecting the CPI on the electronic device.