Systems and methods for recycling consumer electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10417615-B2
Application number	US-201514925357-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

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.

First claim

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;
a wired electrical connector and/or a wireless transceiver configured to connect to the electronic device; and
a first processor in communication with the wired electrical connector and/or the wireless transceiver, the first processor configured to:
test the electronic device via the wired electrical connector and/or the wireless transceiver;
facilitate determining a compensation value for the electronic device, wherein the compensation value is at least partially based on the 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 identify the electronic device based on the unique identifier;
based on the identification of the electronic device, obtain at least partial verification that an electronic device present at the casher terminal is the electronic device; and
when the electronic device has been at least partially verified, dispense the compensation value to the user in exchange for the electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the evaluation apparatus comprises a housing enclosing the first processor, and wherein the evaluation apparatus further comprises a user-operated imaging component operably connected to the housing.

3. 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.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate recycling of a wearable computer.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the image comprises an image obtained of the electronic device at the evaluation apparatus.

11. 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;
an electrical connector extending from the housing and configured to connect to the electronic device external to the housing and/or a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with the electronic device; and
a processor within the housing and in communication with the electrical connector and/or wireless transceiver, the processor configured to:
electrically test the electronic device via the electrical connector and/or wireless transceiver;
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
transmit the unique identifier to a remote processing device for use by a cashier terminal to identify the electronic device as the same electronic device electrically tested by the apparatus, and identify the compensation value.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a user-operated imaging component external to the housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate recycling of a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and a tablet.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus is configured to facilitate recycling of a wearable computer.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising an imaging component, wherein the processor is configured to obtain an image of the user via the imaging component.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising an identification card reader in communication with the first processor.

17. 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;
a wired electrical connector and/or a wireless transceiver configured to connect to the electronic device; and
a processor in communication with the wired electrical connector and/or the wireless transceiver;

at the evaluation apparatus:
receiving information from the electronic device via the wired electrical connector and/or the wireless transceiver;
obtaining a unique identifier associated with the electronic device; and
displaying a price for the electronic device;

at a cashier terminal:
receiving the electronic device from the user;
receiving the unique identifier;
at least partially verifying the electronic device is the same electronic device from which the evaluation apparatus received information; and
dispensing the price to the user based on the verification.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of: a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and a tablet.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the electronic device comprises a wearable computer.

20. 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.

22. 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.

23. The method of claim 17 , further comprising, at the cashier terminal, displaying a sample image of a sample electronic device similar to the received electronic device.

24. 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.

25. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
electrically evaluating the information received from the electronic device; and
determining a price for the electronic device based at least in part on the electrical evaluation.

26. The system of claim 1 , wherein the evaluation apparat

Assignees

• Ecoatm Llc

Inventors

• Bowles Mark Vincent
• Librizzi Michael
• Ploetner Jeffrey
• Beane John Andrew
• Rosser Eric

Classifications

• G06Q30/0283

  Price estimation or determination · CPC title

• G07F7/06

  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 title

• G06Q20/18

  involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals · CPC title

• Y02W30/82

  Recycling of waste of electrical or electronic equipment [WEEE] · CPC title

• G06Q10/30 Primary

  Administration of product recycling or disposal · CPC title