WO 2016/069738 A1 - Systems And Methods For Recycling Consumer Electronic Devices - The Lens

Systems And Methods For Recycling Consumer Electronic Devices

Published: May 6, 2016
Earliest Priority: Oct 31 2014
Family: 9
Cited Works: 0
Cited by: 0
Cites: 16
Additional Info: Full text

Abstract

Systems and associated methods for recycling and performing other processes with consumer electronic devices are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods for identifying and evaluating an electronic device to facilitate processing (e.g., purchasing) the device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes a self-service evaluation apparatus and a cashier terminal that identifies and evaluates a device and that facilitates purchase and recycling of the device. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein.

Claims

I/We claim:
1 . A system for recycling electronic devices, the system comprising:
an evaluation apparatus comprising:
a user interface configured to receive user input associated with an electronic device;
at least one electrical connector configured to connect to the electronic device; and
a first processor in communication with the electrical connector, the processor configured to:
electrically test the electronic device via the electrical connector; facilitate determining a compensation value for the electronic device, wherein the compensation value is at least partially based on the electrical test; and
associate the electronic device with a unique identifier; and a cashier terminal comprising:
a second processor configured to:
receive the unique identifier;
at least partially verify the electronic device based on the unique identifier; and
when the device has been at least partially verified, dispense the compensation value to the user in exchange for the electronic device.
The system of claim 1 wherein the evaluation apparatus comprises a housing enclosing the first processor, wherein the electrical connectors are operably extendable from the housing, and wherein the evaluation apparatus further comprises a user-operated imaging component operably connected to the housing.
The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate recycling of a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet, an MP3 player, a DVD player, and a camera.
The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate recycling of a wearable computer.
The system of claim 1 , further comprising a secure binning area configured to receive the electronic device after the compensation value has been dispensed to the user.
The system of claim 1 wherein the evaluation apparatus further comprises an imaging component, wherein the cashier terminal further comprises a display, wherein the first processor is configured to obtain an image of the user via the imaging component, and wherein the second processor is configured to display the image of the user.
The system of claim 1 wherein the evaluation apparatus further comprises an identification card reader in communication with the first processor;
wherein the cashier terminal further comprises a display, and wherein the second processor is configured to display an image of the user obtained from a user identification read by the identification card reader.
The system of claim 1 wherein the cashier terminal further comprises a display, and wherein the second processor is configured to display an image of the electronic device after receiving the unique identifier.
The system of claim 8 wherein the image comprises a sample image of a sample electronic device similar to the electronic device associated with the unique identifier.
The system of claim 8 wherein the image comprises an image obtained of the electronic device at the evaluation apparatus.
1 1 . An apparatus configured to process electronic devices having multiple form factors, the apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a user interface configured to receive user input associated with an electronic device;
at least one electrical connector extending from the housing, the electrical connector configured to connect to the electronic device external to the housing; and
a processor within the housing and in communication with the electrical connector, the processor configured to:
electrically test the electronic device via the electrical connector;
facilitate determining a compensation value for the electronic device, wherein the compensation value is at least partially based on the electrical test; and
associate the electronic device with a unique identifier.
The apparatus of claim 1 1 , further comprising a user-operated imaging component external to the housing.
The apparatus of claim 1 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate recycling of a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and a tablet.
The apparatus of claim 1 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate recycling of a wearable computer.
The apparatus of claim 1 1 , further comprising an imaging component, wherein the processor is configured to obtain an image of the user via the imaging component.
The apparatus of claim 1 1 , further comprising an identification card reader in communication with the first processor.
A method for purchasing an electronic device, the method comprising: providing an evaluation apparatus, the evaluation apparatus having:
a user interface configured to receive user input associated with an electronic device:
at least one electrical connector configured to connect to the electronic device; and
a processor in communication with the electrical connector; at the evaluation apparatus:
receiving information from the electronic device via the electrical connector;
and
displaying a price for the electronic device;
at a cashier terminal:
receiving the electronic device from the user;
at least partially verifying the electronic device; and
dispensing the price to the user based on the verification.
The method of claim 17 wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of: a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and a tablet.
The method of claim 17 wherein the electronic device comprises a wearable computer.
The method of claim 17, further comprising, at the evaluation apparatus, validating an identification of the user.
21 . The method of claim 17, further comprising:
at the evaluation apparatus, obtaining an image of the electronic device; and at the cashier terminal, displaying the image of the electronic device.
The method of claim 17, further comprising:
at the evaluation apparatus, obtaining an image of the user; and
at the cashier terminal, displaying the image of the user.
The method of claim 17, further comprising, at the cashier terminal, displaying a sample image of a sample electronic device similar to the electronic device associated with the unique identifier.
The method of claim 17 wherein providing the evaluation apparatus comprises providing the evaluation apparatus in a retail establishment, and wherein the cashier terminal is located in the retail establishment.
The method of claim 17, further comprising electrically evaluating the information received via the electrical connector; and
determining a price for the electronic device based at least in part on the electrical evaluation.