Secondary market and vending system for devices

• US 8,195,511 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Bowles, Mark, van Rooyen, Pieter, Librizzi, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVIERE, HEIDI M
• Application Number:
  US12/573,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20100088192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/308, 705/14.37, 902/30
• US Class Current: 705/14.37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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: Y02W 30/82 Recycling of waste of electrical or electronic equipment [WEEE]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

The system enables one to securely recycle an electronic device in a publicly accessible location. In particular, the embodiment described may be used by a mobile phone owner to submit his/her mobile phone for recycling via an electronic kiosk and receive compensation in some form. The compensation might be dispersed via cash, voucher, credit or debit card, or other magnetic or electronic transaction methods.

Claims

1. A kiosk for recycling electronic devices, the kiosk comprising:

a housing;

a user interface device to identify an electronic device for recycling at the kiosk,

a user interface device positioned on an exterior of the housing;

The electronic device consists of cell phones, MP3 players, mobile computers, PDAs an input region for receiving the electronic device, the input region positioned within the housing and having a sealable access;

a plurality of cameras positioned within the input region for imaging the electronic device;

a display screen positioned on the exterior of the housing;

a computer positioned within the housing an in electrical communication with the plurality of cameras, the user interface device and the display;

wherein at least one image from at least one of the plurality of cameras is analyzed at the computer to determine a height, width, and depth of the electronic device;

wherein the computer is configured to utilize optical character recognition to identify at least one of a brand, model and serial number of the electronic device;

wherein at least one image from at least one of the plurality of cameras is compared to a reference image at the computer to determine a cosmetic condition of the electronic device;

wherein device evaluation means coupled to the device inspection means for determining the computer determines a compensation value for the electronic device based on an identification of the electronic device and a cosmetic condition of the electronic device.

2. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the user interface device comprises a touch screen.

3. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising a connector for providing an electrical connection to the electrical device, the connector positioned in the input region.

4. The kiosk of claim 3 wherein the connector is used to determine operability of the electronic device.

5. The kiosk of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of connectors.

6. The kiosk of claim 5 wherein the computer identifies a connector that is associated with the electronic device based on the identification of the electronic device.

7. The kiosk of claim 6 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.

8. The kiosk of claim 7 wherein the compensation value for the electronic device is in the form of one of a store credit, trade-in value, cash, and coupon.

9. A method of recycling an electronic device comprising:

receiving an electronic device from a user at an input region of a kiosk;

The electronic device consists of cell phones, MP3 players, mobile computers, PDAs

imaging the electronic device at the input region utilizing at least one camera;

performing optical character recognition to identify at least one of a brand, model and serial number of the electronic device;

automatically identifying inspecting the electronic device to determine a cosmetic condition of the electronic device;

determining a compensation value for the electronic device using a computer of the kiosk, the compensation value based on the identification of the electronic device and the cosmetic condition of the electronic device; and

offering the compensation value to the user on a display screen of the kiosk.

10. The method of claim 9 further including:

storing the electronic device in the kiosk when the offered compensation is accepted;

automatically initiating an on-line auction for the electronic device.