Patent Application
20160171575
The present disclosure is directed generally to methods and systems for recycling mobile phones and other consumer electronic devices and, more particularly, to methods and systems associated with identifying such devices.
Consumer electronic devices, such as mobile phones, laptop computers, notebooks, tablets, MP3 players, etc., are ubiquitous. Currently there are over 6 billion mobile devices in use in the world; and this number is growing rapidly as more than 1.8 billion mobile phones were sold in 2013 alone. By 2017 it is expected that there will be more mobile devices in use than people on the planet. In addition to mobile phones, over 300 million desk-based and notebook computers shipped in 2013, and for the first time the number of tablet computers shipped exceeded laptops. Part of the reason for the rapid growth in the number of mobile phones and other electronic devices is the rapid pace at which these devices evolve, and the increased usage of such devices in developing countries.
As a result of the rapid pace of development, a relatively high percentage of electronic devices are replaced every year as consumers continually upgrade their mobile phones and other electronic devices to obtain the latest features or a better operating plan. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, consumers in the United States alone dispose of over 370 million mobile phones, PDAs, tablets, and other electronic devices every year. Millions of other outdated or broken mobile phones and other electronic devices are simply tossed into junk drawers or otherwise kept until a suitable disposal solution arises.
Although many electronic device retailers and cell carrier stores now offer mobile phone trade-in or buyback programs, many old mobile phones still end up in landfills or are improperly disassembled and disposed of in developing countries. Mobile phones and similar electronic devices, however, typically contain substances that can be harmful to the environment, such as arsenic, lithium, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc. If not properly disposed of, these toxic substances can seep into groundwater from decomposing landfills and contaminate the soil with potentiality harmful consequences for humans and the environment.
As an alternative to retailer trade-in or buyback programs, consumers can now recycle and/or sell their used mobile phones using self-service kiosks located in malls, retail stores or other publically accessible areas. Such kiosks are operated by ecoA™, Inc., the assignee of the present application, and are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,463,646; 8,423,404; 8,239,262; 8,200,533; 8,195,511; and 7,881,965, which are commonly owned by ecoA™, Inc. and are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
When offering to purchase used mobiles phones and/or other electronic devices from consumers, it can be important to offer the consumer a suitable price. If the price is too low, the consumer may decline the offer. Conversely, if the price is too high the recycler may be losing potential profits from the enterprise. Accordingly, it is desireable to have a system for increasing the likelihood that a device can be positively identifyied in order to establish a suitable price.
The following disclosure describes various embodiments of systems and methods for determining prices for mobile phones and other consumer electronic devices, and for performing other operations associated with electronic device recycling. Embodiments of the methods described herein can be performed by or with consumer-operated kiosks, networked processing devices, retailer-assisted machines, and/or the like. Some embodiments of the present technology, for example, are directed to consumer-operated kiosks that can perform automatic visual and/or electrical inspections of mobile phones and/or other consumer electronic devices that are submitted to the kiosks for sale or recycling. As described in greater detail below, the visual evaluation or inspection can be performed using one or more cameras or other imaging devices, and the electrical analysis can be performed using a suitable processing device connected to the subject electronic device via, e.g., a suitable electrical connector.
Often different models of electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones) may look very similar (or even identical), even though the particular devices may in fact be very different in terms of electrical components, features, etc. This is especially true in the case of a mobile phone model that has a number of different sub-models that, although appearing visually similar, may actually have a wide variety of different electrical features. Additionally, in some instances a mobile phone may not “power up” at a recycling kiosk. In such situations, it may be very difficult for the kiosk to visually and/or electrically confirm the specific type (e.g., the make, model, sub-model, electronic features, etc.) of a particular device that is being submitted for recycling/sale. Although it may be difficult (or even impossible) to positively identify some devices taken in by the kiosk, in most instances such devices will fall into groups of visually and/or electrically similar devices. For example, visually similar groups are groups of electronic devices that look the same or similar and, as a result, are difficult for the kiosk to visually distinguish from one another. By way of example, some different models of mobile phones may have the same, or at least very similar external dimensions and features, such as the same length, width, and thickness (or height) dimensions; and/or the same placement and size of display screen, buttons, connector outlets, and/or other features. Electrically similar groups are groups of devices that share the same, or generally the same, electrical identification features. Such devices may be said to have, for example, the same or a similar “electrical fingerprint.” For example, some sub-models of mobile phones and other types of electronic devices include the same product identification number (PID) and vendor identification number (VID).
Different mobile phones within a visually/electrically similar group can have very different values. For example, some of the devices in a group may include certain features that others lack, such as larger memory, greater availability of carriers, etc., and such features can greatly affect the resale price of such devices. Accordingly, it can be important to accurately identify a mobile phone (or other electronic device) before determining a price to offer the consumer for the device. As noted above, however, in some instances consumers will submit mobile phones for sale that cannot be positively identified. When this happens, one alternative is to identify the group of visually and/or electrically similar devices to which the subject device belongs, and then offer the consumer the lowest price of any device in that group to minimize the risk of paying too much for the device. If it just so happens that the price offered to the consumer reflects the real value of the device, as the consumer perceives it, then the consumer may accept the offer. However, if it turns out that the device is actually a higher priced device within the group, then it is very likely that the consumer will reject the low price offer. This can lead to consumer dissatisfaction as well as lost profits for the kiosk operator. Conversely, if the kiosk pays too much for a device, this will also result in lost profits. Accordingly, offering a price that is closer to the actual value of the consumer's device can enhance customer satisfaction and maintain profit margins for the kiosk operator.
As discussed above, there is a need to be able to accurately identify a particular make and model of a piece of electronic equipment that is being offered for purchase. The technology described herein relates to a system that reads an identifier from the equipment and consults a database that keeps a record of the identifier and the make/model of equipment,
In one embodiment of the technology, the identifier is an IMEI/MEID code that is stored on the equipment and the database stores records of IMEI/MEID codes and particular makes/models of equipment. In another embodiment, the identifier is a TAC code that is read from the equipment and the database stores a record of TAC codes and previously determined makes/models of equipment that were the subject of previous transactions.
Certain details are set forth in the following description and in
The accompanying Figures depict embodiments of the present technology and are not intended to be limiting of its scope. The sizes of various depicted elements are not necessarily drawn to scale, and these various elements may be arbitrarily enlarged to improve legibility. Component details may be abstracted in the Figures to exclude details such as the position of components and certain precise connections between such components when such details are unnecessary for a complete understanding of how to make and use the invention.
In the Figures, identical reference numbers identify identical, or at least generally similar, elements. To facilitate the discussion of any particular element, the most significant digit or digits of any reference number refers to the Figure in which that element is first introduced. For example, element 110 is first introduced and discussed with reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the kiosk 100 is a floor-standing self-service kiosk configured for use by a user 101 (e.g., a consumer, customer, etc.) to recycle, sell, and/or perform other operations with a mobile phone or other consumer electronic device. In other embodiments, the kiosk 100 can be configured for use on a countertop or a similar raised surface. Although the kiosk 100 is configured for use by consumers, in various embodiments the kiosk 100 and/or various portions thereof can also be used by other operators, such as a retail clerk or kiosk assistant to facilitate the selling or other processing of mobile phones and other electronic devices.
In the illustrated embodiment, the kiosk 100 includes a housing 102 that is approximately the size of a conventional vending machine. The housing 102 can be of conventional manufacture from, for example, sheet metal, plastic panels, etc. A plurality of user interface devices are provided on a front portion of the housing 102 for providing instructions and other information to users, and/or for receiving user inputs and other information from users. For example, the kiosk 100 can include a display screen 104 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) or light emitting diode (“LED”) display screen, a projected display (such as a heads-up display or a head-mounted device), and so on) for providing information, prompts, etc., to users. The display screen 104 can include a touch screen for receiving user input and responses to displayed prompts. In addition or alternatively, the kiosk 100 can include a separate keyboard or keypad for this purpose. The kiosk 100 can also include an ID reader or scanner 112 (e.g., a driver's license scanner), a fingerprint reader 114, and one or more cameras 116 (e.g., digital still and/or video cameras, identified individually as cameras 116a-c). The kiosk 100 can additionally include output devices such as a label printer having an outlet 110, and a cash dispenser having an outlet 118. Although not identified in
A sidewall portion of the housing 102 can include a number of conveniences to help users recycle or otherwise process their mobile phones. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the kiosk 110 includes an accessory bin 128 that is configured to receive mobile device accessories that the user wishes to recycle or otherwise dispose of. Additionally, the kiosk 100 can provide a free charging station 126 with a plurality of electrical connectors 124 for charging a wide variety of mobile phones and other consumer electronic devices.
In the illustrated embodiment, the inspection plate 244 is configured to translate back and forth (on, e.g., parallel mounting tracks) to move an electronic device, such as the mobile phone 250, between a first position directly behind the access door 106 and a second position between an upper chamber 230 and an opposing lower chamber 232. Moreover, in this embodiment the inspection plate 244 is transparent, or at least partially transparent (e.g., formed of glass, Plexiglas, etc.) to enable the mobile phone 250 to be photographed and/or otherwise optically evaluated from all, or at least most viewing angles (e.g., top, bottom, sides, etc.) using, e.g., one or more cameras, mirrors, etc. mounted to or otherwise associated with the upper and lower chambers 230 and 232. When the mobile phone 250 is in the second position, the upper chamber 230 can translate downwardly to generally enclose the mobile phone 250 between the upper chamber 230 and the lower chamber 232. The upper chamber 230 is operably coupled to a gate 238 that moves up and down in unison with the upper chamber 230. As noted above, in the illustrated embodiment the upper chamber 230 and/or the lower chamber 232 can include one or more cameras, magnification tools, scanners (e.g., bar code scanners, infrared scanners, etc.) or other imaging components (not shown) and an arrangement of mirrors (also not shown) to view, photograph and/or otherwise visually evaluate the mobile phone 250 from multiple perspectives. In some embodiments, one or more of the cameras and/or other imaging components discussed above can be movable to facilitate device evaluation. The inspection area 108 can also include weight scales, heat detectors, UV readers/detectors, and the like, for further evaluation of electronic devices placed therein. The kiosk 100 can further include an angled binning plate 236 for directing electronic devices from the transparent plate 244 into a collection bin 234 positioned in a lower portion of the kiosk 100.
The kiosk 100 can be used in a number of different ways to efficiently facilitate the recycling, selling and/or other processing of mobile phones and other consumer electronic devices. Referring to
Referring next to
After the visual and electronic analysis of the mobile phone 250, the user is presented with a phone purchase price via the display screen 104. If the user declines the price (via, e.g., the touch screen), a retraction mechanism (not shown) automatically disconnects the connector 242 from the mobile phone 250, the door 106 opens, and the user can reach in and retrieve the mobile phone 250. If the user accepts the price, the door 106 remains closed and the user may be prompted to place his or her identification (e.g., a driver's license) in the ID scanner 112 and provide a thumbprint via the fingerprint reader 114. As a fraud prevention measure, the kiosk 100 can be configured to transmit an image of the driver's license to a remote computer screen, and an operator at the remote computer can visually compare the picture (and/or other information) on the driver's license to an image of the person standing in front of the kiosk 100 as viewed by one or more of the cameras 116a-c (
As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the foregoing routines are but some examples of ways in which the kiosk 100 can be used to recycle or otherwise process consumer electronic devices such as mobile phones. Although the foregoing example is described in the context of mobile phones, it should be understood that the kiosk 100 and various embodiments thereof can also be used in a similar manner for recycling virtually any consumer electronic device, such as MP3 players, tablet computers, PDAs, and other portable devices, as well as other relatively non-portable electronic devices such as desktop computers, printers, devices for implementing games, entertainment or other digital media on CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, etc. Moreover, although the foregoing example is described in the context of use by a consumer, the kiosk 100 in various embodiments thereof can similarly be used by others, such as a store clerk, to assist consumers in recycling, selling, exchanging, etc. their electronic devices.
The Figures described herein and below include representative flow diagrams and other information that depict processes used in some embodiments of the present technology. These flow diagrams may not show all functions or exchanges of data, but instead they provide an understanding of commands and data exchanged under the systems described herein. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that some functions or exchange of commands and data may be repeated, varied, omitted, or supplemented, and other (less important) aspects not shown may be readily implemented. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the blocks shown in the flow diagrams discussed below may be altered in a variety of ways. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative implementations may perform routines in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be rearranged, deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or sub-combinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, although processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed or implemented in parallel, or may be performed at different times. The steps depicted in the flow diagrams and/or represented by other tables, formulas, etc. can themselves include a sequence of operations that need not be described herein. Those of ordinary skill in the art can create source code, microcode, program logic arrays and/or or computer-readable instructions to implement the depicted steps and routines based on the flowcharts and the detailed description provided herein. The routines and portions thereof can be stored in non-volatile memory that forms part of a processor contained in the kiosk 100 or otherwise associated with the kiosk 100 (e.g., a remote processor operably connected to the kiosk 100 via a wired/wireless communication link, etc.), or they can be stored in removable media, such as disks, or hardwired or preprogrammed in chips, such as EEPROM semiconductor chips.
As discussed above, it can be important to offer the user what the user perceives as a “fair” price for the device to incentivize the user to sell the device. Moreover, it can also be important to determine a price that provides the kiosk operator (retailer, or other commercial enterprise) with a sufficient profit margin for providing the device recycling service. In some instances, however, it can be difficult to correctly identify and/or fully evaluate a mobile phone or other electronic device with a computer-controlled kiosk or similar machine for various reasons. For example, in the case of a mobile phone, the phone may not “power up” when connected to the kiosk. If the phone does not power up, then it may not be possible to electrically evaluate the phone with a suitably programmed processing device to obtain important information such as, for example, the PID, VID, carrier information, memory size, whether the phone is locked (and/or can be unlocked), LCD integrity, etc. Without a sufficient understanding of the physical and electrical aspects and/or features of a given device, it can be difficult to accurately determine a fair price for the device that is mutually beneficial to the seller (e.g., the kiosk user) and the buyer (e.g., the kiosk operator, retailer, etc.).
As noted above, many mobile phones and other electronic devices (e.g., tablets, notebooks, laptops, MP3 players, etc.) fall into or belong to groups of devices that have similar physical, visual, and/or electrical features. For example, often two or more mobile phones may have the same, or very close to the same, visual appearance (e.g., the same length, width, height/thickness, display screen shape, placement of buttons and/or connector ports, etc.). Similarly, many mobile phones and other electronic devices have equivalent or at least very similar electronic features and characteristics. For example, some mobile phone sub-models within device families (e.g., Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4 smartphones) may have the same “electrical fingerprint” or “electrical identification,” such as the same PID/VID, and/or portions of the IMEI or MEID numbers may be the same. Accordingly, one aspect of the present technology is the recognition that mobile phones and other consumer electronic devices can be arranged into similar groups, such as visually similar groups and electrically similar groups.
As discussed above, in some instances a consumer or other user may wish to sell a mobile phone or other electronic device via the kiosk 100 or other machine (e.g., an operator-assisted counter-top machine), and the kiosk 100 may not be able to sufficiently identify the device type. In these instances, the kiosk operator may be inclined to offer the user a price for the device that is too low, because of the risk that the device could in fact be the lowest-priced device in the visually similar and/or electrically similar group to which the device belongs. However, the user may in fact have submitted a higher-priced device to the kiosk 100 for sale. If the user has in fact offered to sell such a device, the user would likely decline a lower price offer. However, if instead the user was offered a higher price, the user would be more likely to accept the offer. Accordingly, embodiments of the present technology may enable the kiosk 100 to complete more purchase transactions and therefore recycle more mobile phones and other electronic devices in an efficient way than might otherwise be possible using other device pricing methods and systems.
As discussed above, there are instances where a correct identification of the make/model and capabilities of a phone or other electronic device is difficult from an electrical and/or visual inspection alone. For example, many phones that appear very similar may have different memory amounts or may have different processor versions. The best way to positively identify a device is based on a code or other identifier that is given to the device upon its manufacture and that indicates its make and model. In one embodiment of the disclosed technology, the code is the device's IMEI/MEID. This number uniquely identifies the device and can be used to identify its manufacturer, model number, memory size and communication protocol. IMEI/MEID numbers are typically allocated in blocks by a global issuing body such the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) to a particular manufacturer. The manufacturer assigns a model number to a particular portion of the IMEI/MEID such as its first eight digits (often referred to a Type Allocation Code or TAC code). The mapping of the device specifications to a particular TAC is returned to the GMSA or other issuing body. The GSMA keeps a database that relates the TAC codes to the model information. An IMEI/MEID number that is read from a phone or other electronic device that was offered for recycling can be used by a kiosk to identify the manufacturer, model number, communication protocol and other specifications associated with the device.
In one embodiment, the kiosk is configured to query the GSMA database with an IMEI/MEID that was read from a phone or other electronic device. The database returns information about the device to the kiosk in response to the query. The kiosk uses the information to ensure that the device is correctly identified and a fair price is offered. If the type of device does not match the type of device that was determined by the kiosk from the visual or electronic inspection, the user may be offered a different amount for the device. In one embodiment, the offer may be for a lower amount to be paid immediately and an additional amount to be paid when the type of device is confirmed by further physical and electrical inspection. If the information indicates that a device was misidentified, the information is used to further refine the device-identifying algorithm in order to better identify similar devices in the future.
The query can be sent directly from the kiosk to the GSMA or other governing organization via a wired or wireless communication link. In other embodiments, copies of the database are obtained and stored at a central or a regional processing location for the devices that are collected by the kiosks. In yet another embodiment, the database is stored locally on the kiosk itself. Updates to the database are periodically made so that the information about the latest models and specifications for devices is available to the kiosks as needed.
In one embodiment, the kiosk receives the IMEI/MIED by prompting the user to enter it via a keyboard. Alternatively voice recognition or other input means, such as a barcode scanner, are used to receive the IMEI/MEID. In other embodiments, the IMEI/MIED is determined by electronically reading it off the device.
In an alternative embodiment, a code made up from portions of the IMEI/MEID or other identifiers uniquely associated with the particular electronic device is used to query the database for the make/model information. For example, all or a portion of the device's serial number could be used. Similarly, a code could be produced from an input code comprising all or a portion of the device's IMEI/MEID, serial number or the like, similar to the way that keys are generated for encryption.
If a user enters an indication of a type of device and the kiosk determines from the information received from the database that the device does not match the description given, the user may be prompted to reenter their description of the device or the kiosk may make a revised offer for the device.
In some embodiments, the kiosks or central/regional processing facilities do not have access to the IMEI/MIED to device specifications database. In another embodiment, the central/regional processing locations therefore maintain a database that maps transactions involving confirmed device types to different TAO numbers.
Reports can be run from the database as shown in
As shown in
The CPU 700 can provide information and instructions to kiosk users via the display screen 104 and/or an audio system (e.g., a speaker) 704. The CPU 700 can also receive user inputs via, e.g., a touch screen 708 associated with the display screen 104, a keypad with physical keys, and/or a microphone 710. Additionally, the CPU 700 can receive personal identification and/or biometric information associated with users via the ID reader 112, one or more of the external cameras 116, and/or the fingerprint reader 114. In some embodiments, the CPU 700 can also receive information (such as user identification and/or account information) via a card reader 112 (e.g., a debit, credit, or loyalty card reader having, e.g., a suitable magnetic stripe reader, optical reader, etc.). The CPU 700 can also control operation of the label dispenser 110 and systems for providing remuneration to users, such as the cash dispenser 118 and/or a receipt or voucher printer and an associated dispenser 720.
As noted above, the kiosk 100 additionally includes a number of electronic, optical and electromechanical devices for electrically, visually and/or physically analyzing electronic devices placed therein for recycling. Such systems can include one more internal cameras 714 for visually inspecting electronic devices to, e.g., determine the external dimensions and condition, and one or more of the electrical connectors 242 (e.g., USB connectors) for, e.g., powering up electronic devices and performing electronic analyses. As noted above, the cameras 714 can be operably coupled to the upper and lower chambers 230 and 232, and the connectors 242 can be movably and interchangeably carried by the carrousel 240 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the kiosk 100 further includes a network connection 722 (e.g., a wired connection, such as an Ethernet port, cable modem, FireWire cable, Lightning connector, USB port, etc.) suitable for communication with, e.g., all manner of remote processing devices via a communication link 750, and a wireless transceiver 724 (e.g., including a Wi-Fi access point, Bluetooth transceiver, near-field communication (NFC) device, and/or wireless modem or cellular radio utilizing GSM, CDMA, 3G and/or 4G technologies) for data communications suitable for communication with, e.g., all manner of remote processing devices via the communication link 750 and/or directly via, e.g., a wireless peer-to-peer connection. For example, the wireless transceiver 724 can facilitate wireless communication with handheld devices, such as a mobile device 730 (e.g., a smartphone) either in the proximity of the kiosk 100 or remote therefrom. By way of example only, in the illustrated embodiment the mobile device 730 can include one or more features, applications and/or other elements commonly found in smartphones and other known mobile devices. For example, the mobile device 730 can include a CPU and/or a graphics processing unit (“GPU”) 734 for executing computer readable instructions stored on memory 736. In addition, the mobile device 730 can include an internal power source or battery 732, a dock connector 746, a USB port 748, a camera 740, and/or well-known input devices, including, for example, a touch screen 742, a keypad, etc. In many embodiments, the mobile device 730 can also include a speaker 744 for two-way communication and audio playback. In addition to the foregoing features, the mobile device 730 can include a mobile operating system (OS) 731 and/or a device wireless transceiver that may include one or more antennas 738 for wirelessly communicating with, for example, other mobile devices, websites, and the kiosk 100. Such communication can be performed via, e.g., the communication link 750 (which can include the Internet, public and private intranet, a local or extended Wi-Fi network, cell towers, the plain old telephone system (POTS), etc.), direct wireless communication, etc.
Unless described otherwise, the construction and operation of the various components shown in
The server computer 804 can perform many or all of the functions for receiving, routing and storing electronic messages, such as webpages, audio signals and electronic images necessary to implement the various electronic transactions described herein. For example, the server computer 804 can retrieve and exchange web pages and other content with an associated database or databases 806. In some embodiments, the database 806 can include information related to mobile phones and/or other consumer electronic devices. Such information can include, for example, make, model, serial number, IMEI, MEID, carrier plan information, pricing information, owner information, etc., as well as dimensional information (size, shape, location of displays, ports, etc.) and other visual information (e.g., logo shapes, sizes, locations, etc.) associated with known devices, such as particular device models, sub-models, etc. In various embodiments the server computer 804 can also include a server engine 808, a web page management component 810, a content management component 812, and a database management component 814. The server engine 808 can perform the basic processing and operating system level tasks associated with the various technologies described herein. The webpage management component 810 can handle creation and/or display and/or routing of web or other display pages. The content management component 812 can handle many of the functions associated with the routines described herein. The database management component 814 can perform various storage, retrieval and query tasks associated with the database 806, and can store various information and data such as animation, graphics, visual and audio signals, etc. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many of the routines and/or portions thereof and other functions and methods described above can be performed by the kiosk 100 (e.g., the processor 700), the server computer 804, or both.
In the illustrated embodiment, the kiosks 100 can also be operably connected to a plurality of other remote devices and systems via the communication link 750. For example, the kiosks 100 can be operably connected to a plurality of user devices 818 (e.g., personal computers, laptops, handheld devices, etc.) having associated browsers 820. Similarly, as described above the kiosks 100 can each include wireless communication facilities for exchanging digital information with mobile devices, such as the mobile device 730. The kiosks 100 and/or the server computer 804 are also operably connectable to a series of remote computers for obtaining data and/or exchanging information with necessary service providers, financial institutions, device manufactures, authorities, government agencies, etc. For example, the kiosks 100 and the server computer 804 can be operably connected to one or more cell carriers 822, one or more device manufacturers 824 (e.g., mobile phone manufacturers), one or more electronic payment or financial institutions 828, one or more databases (e.g., the GSMA International Mobile Equipment Identity Database, etc.), and one or more computers and/or other remotely located or shared resources associated with cloud computing 826. The financial institutions 828 can include all manner of entity associated with conducting financial transactions, including banks, credit/debit card facilities, online commerce facilities, online payment systems, virtual cash systems, money transfer systems, etc.
In addition to the foregoing, the kiosks 100 and the server computer 804 can also be operably connected to a resale marketplace 830 and a kiosk operator 832. The resale marketplace 830 represents a system of remote computers and/or services providers associated with the reselling of consumer electronic devices through both electronic and brick-and-mortar channels. Such entities and facilities can be associated with, for example, online auctions for reselling used electronic devices as well as for establishing market prices for such devices. The kiosk operator 832 can be a central computer or system of computers for controlling all manner of operation of the network of kiosks 100. Such operations can include, for example, remote monitoring and facilitating of kiosk maintenance (e.g., remote testing of kiosk functionality, downloading operational software and updates, etc.), servicing (e.g., periodic replenishing of cash and other consumables), performance, etc. In addition, the kiosk operator 832 can further include one or more display screens operably connected to cameras located at each of the kiosks 100 (e.g., one or more of the cameras 116 described above with reference to
The foregoing description of the electronic device recycling system 800 illustrates but one possible network system suitable for implementing the various technologies described herein. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other systems consistent with the present technology can omit one or more of the facilities described in reference to
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the routines and other functions and methods described above can be performed by various processing devices, such as the kiosk processor 700 (
The kiosks 100, mobile devices 730, server computers 804, user computers and/or other user devices 818, etc. may include one or more central processing units or other logic-processing circuitry, memory, input devices (e.g., keyboards and pointing devices), output devices (e.g., display devices and printers), and storage devices (e.g., magnetic, solid state, fixed and floppy disk drives, optical disk drives, etc.). Such computer devices may include other program modules such as an operating system, one or more application programs (e.g., word processing or spread sheet applications), and the like. The user computers may include wireless computers, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), palm-top computers, etc., which communicate with the Internet via a wireless link. The computers may be general-purpose devices that can be programmed to run various types of applications, or they may be single-purpose devices optimized or limited to a particular function or class of functions. Aspects of the invention may be practiced in a variety of other computing environments.
While the Internet is shown, a private network, such as an intranet may likewise be used herein. The network may have a client-server architecture, in which a computer is dedicated to serving other client computers, or it may have other architectures such as peer-to-peer, in which one or more computers serve simultaneously as servers and clients. A database or databases, coupled to the server computer(s), stores much of the web pages and content exchanged between the user computers. The server computer(s), including the database(s), may employ security measures to inhibit malicious attacks on the system and preserve the integrity of the messages and data stored therein (e.g., firewall systems, message encryption and/or authentication (e.g., using transport layer security (TLS) or secure socket layers (SSL)), password protection schemes, encryption of stored data (e.g., using trusted computing hardware), and the like).
One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the concepts of the invention can be used in various environments other than location based or the Internet. In general, a display description may be in HTML, XML or WAP format, email format or any other format suitable for displaying information (including character/code-based formats, algorithm-based formats (e.g., vector generated), and bitmapped formats). Also, various communication channels, such as local area networks, wide area networks, or point-to-point dial-up connections, may be used instead of the Internet. The system may be conducted within a single computer environment, rather than a client/server environment. Also, the user computers may comprise any combination of hardware or software that interacts with the server computer, such as television-based systems and various other consumer products through which commercial or noncommercial transactions can be conducted. The various aspects of the invention described herein can be implemented in or for any e-mail environment.
Although not required, aspects of the invention are described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as routines executed by a general-purpose data processing device, e.g., a server computer, wireless device or personal computer. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that aspects of the invention can be practiced with other communications, data processing, or computer system configurations, including Internet appliances, hand-held devices (including personal digital assistants (PDAs)), wearable computers, all manner of cellular or mobile phones (including Voice over IP (VoIP) phones), dumb terminals, media players, gaming devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, set-top boxes, network PCs, mini-computers, mainframe computers, and the like. Indeed, the terms “computer,” “server,” “host,” “host system,” and the like, are generally used interchangeably herein, and refer to any of the above devices and systems, as well as any data processor. Input devices may include a touchpad, keyboard and/or a pointing device such as a mouse. Other input devices are possible such as a microphone, joystick, pen, game pad, scanner, digital camera, video camera, and the like. The data storage devices may include any type of computer-readable media that can store data accessible by a computer, such as magnetic hard and floppy disk drives, optical disk drives, magnetic cassettes, tape drives, flash memory cards, digital video disks (DVDs), Bernoulli cartridges, RAMs, ROMs, smart cards, etc. Indeed, any medium for storing or transmitting computer-readable instructions and data may be employed, including a connection port to a network such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN) or the Internet.
Aspects of the invention can be embodied in a special purpose computer or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured, or constructed to perform one or more of the computer-executable instructions explained in detail herein. While aspects of the invention, such as certain functions, are described as being performed exclusively on a single device, the invention can also be practiced in distributed environments where functions or modules are shared among disparate processing devices, which are linked through a communications network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or the Internet. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
Aspects of the invention may be stored or distributed on tangible computer-readable media, including magnetically or optically readable computer discs, hard-wired or preprogrammed chips (e.g., EEPROM semiconductor chips), nanotechnology memory, biological memory, or other data storage media. The data storage devices may include any type of computer-readable media that can store data accessible by a computer, such as magnetic hard and floppy disk drives, optical disk drives, magnetic cassettes, tape drives, flash memory cards, DVDs, Bernoulli cartridges, RAM, ROMs, smart cards, etc. Indeed, any medium for storing or transmitting computer-readable instructions and data may be employed, including a connection port to a network such as a LAN, WAN, or the Internet. Alternatively, computer implemented instructions, data structures, screen displays, and other data under aspects of the invention may be distributed over the Internet or over other networks (including wireless networks), on a propagated signal on a propagation medium (e.g., an electromagnetic wave(s), a sound wave, etc.) over a period of time, or they may be provided on any analog or digital network (packet switched, circuit switched, or other scheme). The terms “memory” and “computer-readable storage medium” include any combination of temporary, persistent, and/or permanent storage, e.g., ROM, writable memory such as RAM, writable non-volatile memory such as flash memory, hard drives, solid state drives, removable media, and so forth, but do not include a propagating signal per se.
The above Detailed Description of examples and embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific examples for the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. References throughout the foregoing description to features, advantages, or similar language do not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present technology should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present technology. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the present technology may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the present technology can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the present technology.
Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further implementations of the invention.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.
The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various examples described above can be combined to provide further implementations of the invention. Some alternative implementations of the invention may include not only additional elements to those implementations noted above, but also may include fewer elements. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples—alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges.
While the above description describes various embodiments of the invention and the best mode contemplated, regardless how detailed the above text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its specific implementation, while still being encompassed by the present disclosure. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed examples, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the various embodiments of the invention. Further, while various advantages associated with certain embodiments of the invention have been described above in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims. Although certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the applicant contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to pursue additional claims after filing this application to pursue such additional claim forms, in either this application or in a continuing application.
