SECONDARY MARKET AND VENDING SYSTEM FOR DEVICES

• US 20100088192A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• 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: Van Rooyen, Pieter, Bowles, Mark, Librizzi, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,195,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• 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 comprising:

device identification means for identifying a device to be recycled;

device inspection means coupled to the device identification means for automatically receiving and inspecting the device;

device evaluation means coupled to the device inspection means for determining a compensation value for the device.

2. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the device is an electronic device.

3. The kiosk of claim 2 wherein the device identification means comprises an interactive data input means for selecting a brand and model of the device.

4. The kiosk of claim 3 wherein the interactive data input means comprises a touch screen.

5. The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the device inspection means comprises a camera.

6. The kiosk of claim 5 wherein the camera captures an image of the device and compares it to a reference image to determine cosmetic condition of the device.

7. The kiosk of claim 6 wherein the device inspection means comprises a connector for providing an electrical connection to the device.

8. The kiosk of claim 7 wherein the connector is used to determine operability of the device.

9. The kiosk of claim 6 further including a plurality of connectors.

10. The kiosk of claim 9 wherein the system identifies a connector that is associated with the device based on the identification of the device.

11. The kiosk of claim 10 wherein the device is a mobile phone.

12. The kiosk of claim 11 wherein the compensation value is in the form of one of a store credit, trade-in value, cash, and coupon.

13. A method of recycling a device comprising:

receiving the device from a user at a kiosk;

automatically identifying and inspecting the device;

determining a compensation value for the device;

offering the compensation value to the user.

14. The method of claim 13 further including:

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

automatically initiating an on-line auction for the device.