Auditing of electronic device and packaging

• US 8,566,183 B1
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Sharma, Sanjay K., Steele, Kenneth R., Bonar, Laura M., Kruger, Katrina E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BORISSOV, IGOR N
• Application Number:
  US12/899,944
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/22, 705/23, 705/25, 705 261- 30, 705/317, 705/318, 705330-342, 235/385, 714/25, 714/31, 714/32, 714/37, 714/38.1, 700/115
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method of auditing electronic device shipments is provided. The method comprises electronically reading a first serial number on an electronic device, a second serial number on a point-of-sale package containing the electronic device, and a third serial number stored in a memory of the electronic device; storing the first serial number, the second serial number, and a third serial number in a non-transitory memory separate from the electronic device; and automatically comparing the first serial number, the second serial number, and the third serial number. The method further comprises automatically reading from the memory of the electronic device a software version identity associated with software installed on the electronic device and automatically comparing the software version identity with an approved software version identity. The method further comprises, when any miscompare occurs, automatically presenting a notification of an error.

Claims

1. A method of auditing electronic device shipments, comprising:

electronically reading a first serial number on an electronic device;

electronically reading a second serial number on a point-of-sale package containing the electronic device;

electronically reading a third serial number stored in a memory of the electronic device;

storing the first serial number, the second serial number, and a third serial number in a non-transitory memory separate from the electronic device;

automatically comparing, by a processor, the first serial number, the second serial number, and the third serial number;

automatically reading from the memory of the electronic device a software version identity associated with software installed on the electronic device;

automatically comparing, by the processor, the software version identity read from the electronic device with an approved software version identity;

when one of a miscompare of serial numbers occurs or a miscompare of software version identities occurs, automatically presenting a notification of an error;

pressing a plurality of keys of a keypad of the electronic device; and

in response to the pressing of the keys, adapting, by the processor, a presentation providing key press event feedback, wherein the key press event feedback comprises one of removing keys from a presented list of expected key press events or adding keys to a presented list of detected key press events.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a media player.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when a customer service call associated with the electronic device is received, automatically accessing the stored first, second, and third serial numbers;

automatically comparing the stored first, second, and third serial numbers with a plurality of serial numbers provided by the customer service call; and

providing customer service when the stored first, second, and third serial numbers compare with the plurality of serial numbers provided by the customer service call.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically reading a plurality of initial settings from the electronic device;

automatically determining that the initial settings satisfy an approved initial settings specification; and

when the initial settings do not satisfy the approved initial settings specification, automatically presenting a notification of an error.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein automatically reading a plurality of initial settings comprises triggering a ringer of the electronic device to activate, receiving an audible ring emitted by the ringer with a microphone, and determining a ringer volume level initial setting based on analyzing the audible ring received by the microphone.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically activating a vibrator of the electronic device;

automatically detecting a vibration of the electronic device; and

when the detected vibration of electronic device is less than a specified vibration level, automatically presenting a notification of an error.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically reading a preferred roaming list (PRL) from the memory of the electronic device;

automatically comparing the preferred roaming list read from the memory of the electronic device to an approved preferred roaming list; and

when the preferred roaming list read from the memory of the electronic device miscompares with the approved preferred roaming list, automatically presenting a notification of an error.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first serial number, the second serial number, and the third serial number are associated with an electronic serial number (ESN) of the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

inserting a battery into the electronic device;

actuating a power-on button of the electronic device;

inspecting at least one of a phone casing or a phone display screen for cosmetic condition;

inspecting the point-of-sale package for cosmetic condition;

automatically verifying information stored in the phone, the stored information comprising at least a preferred roaming list;

automatically taking a picture using a camera device of the electronic device;

automatically validating the picture;

automatically verifying at least one of a speaker device of the electronic device and a phone earpiece output of the electronic device;

testing a vibrator device of the electronic device;

automatically reading a preferred roaming list (PRL) from the memory of the electronic device;

automatically comparing the preferred roaming list read from the memory of the electronic device to an approved preferred roaming list; and

when the preferred roaming list read from the memory of the electronic device miscompares with the approved preferred roaming list, automatically presenting a notification of an error;

automatically weighing the electronic device, the point-of-sale package containing the electronic device, and at least one of accessories or printed material; and

automatically validating the weight determined by weighing.

10. A method of auditing mobile phone shipments, comprising:

electronically reading a first serial number on a mobile phone;

electronically reading a second serial number on a point-of-sale package containing the mobile phone;

electronically reading a third serial number stored in a memory of the mobile phone;

storing the first serial number, the second serial number, and the third serial number in a non-transitory memory separate from the mobile phone;

automatically comparing, by a processor, the first serial number, the second serial number, and the third serial number;

automatically sensing a weight of the point-of-sale package and contents;

automatically comparing, by the processor, the weight to a predefined weight range;

automatically taking a picture of the point-of-sale package contents with a digital camera;

automatically comparing, by the processor, an image of the point-of-sale package contents to a predefined image;

when one of the weight is outside of the predefined weight range or the image of the point-of-sale contents does not compare to the predefined image, automatically sending a notification of an error;

electronically playing a message through a speaker of the mobile phone and a headset jack of the mobile phone;

receiving an audible signal emitted by the speaker with a microphone;

determining, by the processor, a sound amplitude level based on analyzing the audible signal received by the microphone;

receiving an electrical signal output by the headset jack;

automatically determining, by the processor, an amplitude of the electrical output by the headset jack;

when the sound amplitude level is less than an approved volume setting, automatically presenting a notification of an error; and

when the amplitude of the electrical output of the headset lack is less than an approved headset lack amplitude, automatically presenting a notification of an error.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

electronically commanding the mobile phone to take a picture with a camera of the mobile phone;

electronically reading the picture file from the mobile phone;

automatically analyzing the picture file;

storing at least one of the picture file or the results of the analysis of the picture file in a memory that is separate from the mobile phone; and

when the analysis of the picture file identifies a fault in the picture file, automatically presenting a notification of error.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a sound fidelity of the speaker based on comparing the received audible signal with the message; and

when the sound fidelity is less than a predetermined level of fidelity, presenting a notification of an error.

13. The method of claim 10, further including assigning an employee to remedy the cause of the miscompare.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein electronically reading the first, second, and third serial numbers comprises capturing a photograph of the serial numbers using a digital camera and analyzing a digital image file produced by the digital camera to read the serial numbers.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

automatically reading a preferred roaming list stored in the memory of the mobile phone;

automatically comparing the content of the preferred roaming list with an approved preferred roaming list; and

when the preferred roaming list does not match the approved preferred roaming list, automatically presenting a notification of an error.

16. A method of auditing mobile phone shipments, comprising:

electronically reading a first stock keeping unit (SKU) number on a mobile phone;

electronically reading a second stock keeping unit number on a package containing the mobile phone;

storing the first and second stock keeping unit numbers in a non-transitory memory;

automatically comparing, by a processor, the stock keeping unit numbers;

when the stock keeping unit numbers miscompare, automatically presenting a first notification of an error;

electronically commanding the mobile phone to take a picture with a camera of the mobile phone;

electronically reading a picture file from the mobile phone;

automatically analyzing, by the processor, the picture file;

when the analysis of the picture file identifies a fault in the picture file, automatically presenting a second notification of an error;

automatically reading a preferred roaming list (PRL) from the memory of the mobile phone;

automatically comparing, by the processor, the preferred roaming list read from the memory of the mobile phone to an approved preferred roaming list;

when the preferred roaming list read from the memory of the mobile phone miscompares with the approved preferred roaming list, automatically presenting a notification of an error;

electronically playing a message through a speaker of the mobile phone and a headset lack of the mobile phone;

receiving an audible signal emitted by the speaker with a microphone;

determining, by the processor, a sound amplitude level based on analyzing the audible signal received by the microphone;

receiving an electrical signal output by the headset lack;

automatically determining, by the processor, an amplitude of the electrical output by the headset lack;

when the sound amplitude level is less than an approved volume setting, automatically presenting a notification of an error; and

when the amplitude of the electrical output of the headset lack is less than an approved headset lack amplitude, automatically presenting a notification of an error.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

automatically capturing a picture of the package with a digital camera;

automatically analyzing a digital image file produced by the digital camera to determine if the package has any cosmetic defects; and

when the analysis of the digital image file identifies a cosmetic defect of the package, automatically presenting a notification of an error.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

scanning a serial number on the package;

scanning a serial number on a master carton containing a plurality of packages each containing a mobile phone;

automatically comparing the serial number on the package with the serial number on the master carton; and

when a miscompare between the serial number on the package and the serial number on the master carton occurs, automatically presenting a notification of an error.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

storing the serial number on the package and the serial number on the master carton in the non-transitory memory; and

building a final inspection list based on the stock keeping unit numbers and the serial numbers stored in the non-transitory memory.