WO 2016/053378 A1 - Wireless-enabled Kiosk For Recycling Consumer Devices - The Lens

Wireless-enabled Kiosk For Recycling Consumer Devices

Published: Apr 7, 2016
Earliest Priority: Oct 02 2014
Family: 9
Cited Works: 0
Cited by: 0
Cites: 3
Additional Info: Full text

Abstract

Wireless-enabled kiosk systems and associated methods for recycling and performing other processes with mobile phones and other electronic devices are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods for wirelessly connecting a consumer-operated kiosk with an electronic device to facilitate processing (e.g., purchasing) the device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes using a wireless link to identify a device, evaluate a device, resolve device issues to enable purchase of the device, locate a device, etc. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein.

Claims

1 . A consumer operated kiosk for recycling an electronic device, the kiosk comprising:
a user interface configured to receive input associated with the electronic device; an area configured to receive the electronic device from the user; and
a wireless communication component configured to wirelessly receive data from the electronic device.
The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.
The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication component includes a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC radio transmitter and receiver.
The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication component includes an optical or audio data link.
The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the electronic device includes a device identifier, and wherein the data received from the electronic device includes the device identifier of the electronic device.
The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the data received from the electronic device includes an identifier associated with a user of the electronic device.
The kiosk of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions configured to evaluate the electronic device based on the wirelessly received data, and further configured to determine an offer price for the electronic device based at least in part on the evaluation of the electronic device; and at least one processor for executing the computer-executable instructions.
The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication component is further configured to determine a location of the electronic device.
The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication component is further configured to determine a location of the electronic device based on detecting the electronic device's signal strength or continuity.
The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication component is further configured to determine whether the electronic device is located within the area configured to receive the electronic device based on detecting the electronic device's signal strength or continuity.
1 1 . The kiosk of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication component is further configured to verify that a purchased device has been properly submitted to the kiosk and not exchanged for a fake device based on detecting the electronic device's signal strength or continuity.
A method for processing an electronic device having a device wireless transceiver, the method comprising:
providing a consumer operated kiosk having a kiosk wireless transceiver;
wirelessly detecting the electronic device via the kiosk wireless transceiver; wirelessly receiving information from the electronic device; and
processing the electronic device with the kiosk based at least in part on the information.
The method of claim 12, further comprising identifying the electronic device based at least in part on the information.
The method of claim 12 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone having a make, model, storage capacity, carrier, radio bands, and charge state, and wherein the method further comprises identifying at least one of the make, model, storage capacity, carrier, radio bands, or charge state of the electronic device based at least in part on the information.
The method of claim 12 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone having a make, model, storage capacity, carrier, radio bands, and charge state, and wherein the method further comprises identifying each of the make, model, storage capacity, carrier, radio bands, and charge state of the electronic device based at least in part on the information.
The method of claim 12, further comprising:
providing a wireless network by the kiosk wireless transceiver;
wherein the electronic device is unassociated with the wireless network, such that receiving information from the electronic device includes observing characteristics of the electronic device;
accessing a database of device signatures;
comparing the observed characteristics of the electronic device with the device signatures; and
identifying the electronic device based at least in part on the comparing.
The method of claim 12 wherein processing the electronic device includes determining an offer price for the electronic device.
The method of claim 12 wherein the electronic device is a first electronic device, and wherein the information includes a time associated with wirelessly detecting the first electronic device via the kiosk wireless transceiver, and wherein the method further comprises:
wirelessly detecting a second electronic device;
aggregating the information from the first and second electronic devices; and processing the aggregated data.
The method of claim 12 wherein the electronic device is a first electronic device, and wherein the information includes a time associated with wirelessly detecting the first electronic device via the kiosk wireless transceiver, and wherein the method further comprises:
offering to purchase a second electronic device with the kiosk;
wherein the offer is rejected at a time substantially similar to the time associated with wirelessly detecting the first electronic device; and
associating the information from the first electronic device with the rejected offer to purchase the second electronic device.
A method in a consumer operated kiosk having a kiosk wireless transceiver for processing an electronic device having a device wireless transceiver, the method comprising:
detecting the electronic device by the kiosk;
establishing a wireless link with the electronic device;
receiving information about the electronic device via the wireless link;
determining whether to accept the electronic device based on the information; and
if the determination is to accept the electronic device, receiving the electronic device.
21 . The method of claim 20 wherein detecting the electronic device includes receiving an indication that the electronic device is within range of the kiosk wireless transceiver, and wherein establishing a wireless link with the electronic device includes activating the kiosk wireless transceiver.
The method of claim 20 wherein an electronic device is a registered device, and wherein the method further comprises:
determining whether the electronic device is a registered device based on the information; and
automatically providing a wireless connection to the registered electronic device.
The method of claim 20 wherein the kiosk includes a display, and wherein establishing a wireless link with the electronic device includes providing instructions to a user of the electronic device for activating or configuring the device wireless transceiver via the kiosk display.
The method of claim 20, further comprising loading an app on the electronic device using the wireless link.
The method of claim 20, further comprising loading an app on the electronic device using the wireless link by automatically initiating download of the app or providing a link for a device user to download the app.
The method of claim 20, further comprising wirelessly inducing a notification on the electronic device, such that the electronic device displays a message including an incentive to submit the electronic device for processing at the kiosk.
The method of claim 20, further comprising:
determining whether the information is sufficient to identify and evaluate the electronic device; and
when the information is insufficient to identify and evaluate the electronic device, providing an alternative method of receiving device information; and when the information is sufficient to identify and evaluate the electronic device, processing the electronic device based on the information.
The method of claim 20, further comprising determining whether the information is sufficient to determine a price to offer for the electronic device.
The method of claim 20, further comprising determining whether the information is sufficient to identify the presence or absence of an issue affecting the device's operation, value, or ability to be resold.
The method of claim 20, further comprising determining whether the information is sufficient to identify whether the device is associated with a remote user account.
31 . The method of claim 20, further comprising determining whether the information is sufficient to identify whether the device is associated with a remote user account with a device kill switch.
The method of claim 20, further comprising:
at a first time before detecting the electronic device by the kiosk, receiving data characterizing the electronic device, wherein the data is received remote from the kiosk,
such that receiving information about the electronic device via the wireless link is at a second time;
wherein determining whether to accept the electronic device based on the information includes:
comparing the information and the data; and
determining whether the condition of the device at the first time is substantially similar to the condition of the device at the second time, based on the comparing; and
wherein determining whether to accept the electronic device based on the information includes, when the condition of the device at the first time is substantially similar to the condition of the device at the second time, determining to accept the electronic device.
The method of claim 20 wherein each of receiving information about the electronic device, determining whether to accept the electronic device based on the information, and receiving the electronic device exclude receiving information via a wired connection.
A computer-readable memory storing computer-executable instructions for causing a consumer operated kiosk having a processor, a display, and a kiosk wireless transceiver to perform a method for processing an electronic device having a device wireless transceiver, the method comprising:
receiving information about the electronic device;
identifying the electronic device based on the information;
determining that the electronic device is in an unacceptable state for processing based on the information;
providing wireless access for the electronic device to communicate with a remote server via the kiosk wireless transceiver;
providing directions via the display for a device user to change the state of the electronic device from the unacceptable state to an acceptable state using the wireless access;
determining whether the electronic device is in the acceptable state for processing;
when the electronic device is determined to still be in the unacceptable state for processing, rejecting the electronic device; and
when the electronic device is determined to be in the acceptable state for processing, processing the electronic device.
The computer-readable memory of claim 34 wherein determining that the electronic device is in an unacceptable state for processing includes determining that the electronic device is associated with a remote user account and that an electronic device associated with a remote user account is in an unacceptable state for processing.
The computer-readable memory of claim 34 wherein determining that the electronic device is in an unacceptable state for processing includes determining that the electronic device may be subject to a device kill switch and that an electronic device that may be subject to a device kill switch is in an unacceptable state for processing.
The computer-readable memory of claim 34 wherein receiving information about the electronic device includes querying a database of devices that are associated with a remote user account by the kiosk.
The computer-readable memory of claim 34 wherein receiving information about the electronic device includes querying a stolen phone database by the kiosk.
The computer-readable memory of claim 34 wherein an unacceptable state for processing includes a state associated with a remote user account or an unactivated state, and wherein determining that the electronic device is in an unacceptable state for processing includes:
querying an electronic interface of the electronic device; and
receiving information indicating the unacceptable state of the electronic device in response to the querying.
The computer-readable memory of claim 34 wherein the electronic device includes a display, and wherein an unacceptable state for processing includes a state associated with a remote user account or an unactivated state, and wherein determining that the electronic device is in an unacceptable state for processing includes:
obtaining an image of the display of the electronic device;
analyzing the image; and
determining that the image includes an indication of the unacceptable state of the electronic device, based on the analyzing.
41 . The computer-readable memory of claim 34 wherein determining that the electronic device is in an unacceptable state for processing includes determining that the electronic device requires activation.
The computer-readable memory of claim 34, further comprising:
determining a purpose for the wireless access;
identifying allowed types of communications associated with the purpose;
receiving wireless device communications;
determining whether the received communications are allowed; and
permitting only allowed communications.
The computer-readable memory of claim 34, further comprising:
specifying one or more allowed communication address or message type;
receiving a wireless device communication;
determining that the received communication address or message type is disallowed;
providing a message to the user via the display; and
canceling wireless access for the electronic device.
The computer-readable memory of claim 34 wherein processing the electronic device includes purchasing the electronic device at the kiosk.