Receiving malfunctioning mobile phone and a dispensing functioning cellular telephone console

• US 9,378,606 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellomat Israel Limited
• Original Assignee: Cellomat Israel Limited
• Inventors: Samet, Hanan, Borachov, Roshel, Chayun, Itzik, Rabinovitch, Meir, Poran, Rafael, Nabarro, Ron, Bhrami, Rafi
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US14/367,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20140346185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/40 for devices for accepting orders, advertisements, or the like
• 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: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability

Abstract

The present invention relates to a user-friendly and a user-interactive cellular mobile phone console, allowing a user to interactively replace a malfunctioning cellular mobile phone with a functioning mobile phone.

Claims

1. In a cellular phone station, a cellular phone console comprising:

a receiving port for receiving, from a user, a malfunctioning cellular phone; and

a dispensing mechanism for providing said user with a functioning cellular telephone.

2. The cellular phone console according to claim 1, wherein said cellular phone console also includes a user interactive unit comprising a user data input device for providing data input to said console, said input data comprising at least one of the following:

a user identification code;

cellular mobile phone manufacturer data;

a cellular mobile phone serial number;

a cellular mobile phone model type and any combination thereof.

3. The cellular phone console according to claim 1, further comprising an outlet port for ejecting a replacement cellular mobile phone.

4. The cellular phone console according to claim 1, further comprising a selection of temporary replacement cellular mobile phones.

5. The cellular phone console according to claim 4, further comprising an ejection port for providing said user with said selected temporary replacement cellular mobile phone.

6. The cellular phone console of claim 1, wherein said cellular phone console is provided with at least one anti-theft mechanism adapted to prevent theft of said malfunctioning cellular phones received.

7. The cellular phone console of claim 1, also comprising at least one identification mechanism adapted to identify said user.

8. The cellular phone console of claim 1, also comprising at least one identification mechanism adapted to identify said malfunctioning cellular phones received.

9. The cellular phone console of claim 8, wherein said at least one identification mechanism is adapted to identify at least one of a model of said malfunctioning cellular phones received, a producer of said malfunctioning cellular phones received, a phone number of said user, an I.D. number of said user, an address of said user, an email address of said user and any combination thereof.

10. The cellular phone console of claim 1, wherein said malfunctioning cellular phones received are enclosed within a protected container.

11. The cellular phone console of claim 1, also comprising a data interface adapted to back-up information contained within said malfunctioning cellular phones received.

12. The cellular phone console of claim 1, also comprising cell phone analysis functionality adapted to diagnose a malfunction of said malfunctioning phone.

13. The cellular phone console of claim 1, also comprising at least one camera adapted to identify said user.

14. The cellular phone console of claim 1, also comprising at least one printer adapted to dispense at least one receipt once said malfunctioning cellular phone is received within said cellular phone station.

15. A method for replacing a cellular mobile phone comprising:

providing a cellular phone console, in a cellular phone station;

inserting a malfunctioning cellular mobile phone into a receiving port of said station; and

dispensing a functioning cellular telephone.

16. The method according to claim 15, additionally comprising inputting a user identification code into said console using a data input device.

17. The method according to claim 15, additionally comprising confirming that a user is a registered user.

18. The method of claim 17, additionally comprising dispensing at least one receipt once said malfunctioning cellular phone is received within said cellular phone station.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said at least one receipt includes at least one of the following:

details of said malfunctioning phone,

details of a user of said malfunctioning phone,

details of a malfunction of said malfunctioning phone,

details of a cellular phone console in which said malfunctioning phone has been deposited,

an identification number,

a date and a time at which the malfunctioning phone is deposited in said cellular phone console, and

any combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said details of said malfunctioning phone include at least one of a type of said malfunctioning phone, a phone number of said malfunctioning phone and any combination thereof.