Application for device evaluation and other processes associated with device recycling

• US 9,911,102 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2017
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Bowles, Mark Vincent, Erman, Randal, Hammes, Jarrod, Ploetner, Jeffrey, Silva, John, Segil, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, IG TAI
• Application Number:
  US15/630,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20170286921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• 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: 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

Software application systems and associated methods for recycling, purchasing, and/or performing other processes with mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and/or other electronic devices at a kiosk are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods associated with an electronic device to facilitate a consumer-operated kiosk processing (e.g., purchasing) the electronic device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes using a mobile app to identify an electronic device, evaluate the electronic device, resolve device issues to enable purchase of the electronic device, etc. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating and purchasing a used electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving, via a software application executed on the electronic device, characteristic information about the electronic device, wherein the characteristic information includes at least one of a make, a model, a hardware configuration, or an identifier of the electronic device;

receiving, via the software application, condition information about the electronic device, wherein the condition information is based at least partially on a diagnostic test performed on the electronic device by the software application;

receiving the electronic device in an internal inspection area of a kiosk, wherein the kiosk includes an inspection camera operably associated with the inspection area;

receiving, via the inspection camera, an image of the electronic device after receiving the electronic device in the inspection area; and

purchasing, via the kiosk, the electronic device for a price based at least partially on the characteristic information, the condition information, and the image, wherein purchasing the electronic device includes dispensing payment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic test includes:

prompting a user of the electronic device to operate a feature of the electronic device; and

detecting operation of the feature.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the feature is a camera of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a wireless link between a wireless transceiver of the kiosk and a wireless transceiver of the electronic device; and

prompting a user of the electronic device to authorize loading of the software application onto the electronic device, wherein the loading is via the wireless link.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing, via the software application, the electronic device to display graphical information, wherein the image is an image of the electronic device displaying the graphical information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing, via the software application, the electronic device to display a test pattern, wherein the test pattern is configured to highlight defects in a display of the electronic device, and wherein the image is an image of the electronic device displaying the test pattern.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the test pattern is a checkerboard pattern.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein purchasing the electronic device includes dispensing cash via the kiosk.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the characteristic information is first characteristic information; and

the method further comprises—

receiving second characteristic information from the electronic device after receiving the electronic device in the inspection area, and

comparing the first characteristic information to the second characteristic information to confirm the first characteristic information.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second characteristic information is not received via the software application.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, via the software application, electronic device location data, wherein the location data indicates whether the electronic device has been properly submitted at the kiosk.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition information is further based at least partially on a response from a user of the electronic device to a question about the electronic device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting, via the software application, directions to the kiosk.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the price based at least partially on the characteristic information and the condition information before receiving the electronic device in the inspection area; and

confirming the price based at least partially on the image after receiving the electronic device in the inspection area.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising presenting, via the software application, the price to a user of the electronic device before receiving the electronic device in the inspection area.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein presenting the price includes presenting the price as a time-expiring offer.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the price is a purchase price;

the method further comprises—

determining a contingent price based at least partially on the characteristic information and the condition information before receiving the electronic device in the inspection area, and

determining the purchase price based at least partially on the image after receiving the electronic device in the inspection area; and

the purchase price is different than the contingent price.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising presenting, via the kiosk, the purchase price after receiving the electronic device in the inspection area.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein purchasing the electronic device includes receiving, via the kiosk, an acceptance of the price.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising moving the electronic device into a secure receptacle of the kiosk after receiving the acceptance.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising interrogating, via the software application, the electronic device to obtain the characteristic information.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising requesting, via the software application, a permission from a user of the electronic device, wherein the permission allows the software application to interrogate the electronic device to obtain the characteristic information.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the characteristic information includes at least one of an international mobile equipment identity number, a media access control address, or a serial number of the electronic device.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising interrogating, via the software application, the electronic device to obtain the condition information.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising requesting, via the software application, a permission from a user of the electronic device, wherein the permission allows the software application to interrogate the electronic device to obtain the condition information.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the condition information includes an image taken by a camera of the electronic device.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the condition information includes information from a charge-discharge log of the electronic device.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the condition information includes information from a call log of the electronic device.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, via the software application, a self-photograph of a user of the electronic device.

30. A system for evaluating and purchasing a used electronic device, the system comprising:

a kiosk including an internal inspection area and an inspection camera operably associated with the inspection area, wherein the inspection area is configured to receive the electronic device; and

one or more processors configured—

to receive, via a software application executed on the electronic device, characteristic information about the electronic device, wherein the characteristic information includes at least one of a make, a model, a hardware configuration, or an identifier of the electronic device,

to perform, via the software application, a diagnostic test on the electronic device, wherein the diagnostic test includes—

prompting a user of the electronic device to operate a feature of the electronic device, and

detecting operation of the feature,

to receive, via the software application, condition information about the electronic device, wherein the condition information is based at least partially on the diagnostic test,

to receive the electronic device in the inspection area,

to receive, via the inspection camera, an image of the electronic device in the inspection area,

to determine a compensation amount to dispense in exchange for the electronic device based at least partially on the characteristic information, the condition information, and the image; and

to dispense the compensation amount in exchange for the electronic device.