Methods and systems for evaluating and recycling electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10860990-B2
Application number	US-201514934134-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2015
Priority date	Nov 6, 2014
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

Hardware and software application systems and associated methods for obtaining information from, evaluating, and pricing mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and/or other electronic devices for recycling and/or other processing are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods associated with an electronic evaluator device that facilitates processing (e.g., purchasing at a consumer-operated kiosk) a target device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes using an app on the evaluator device to obtain information from the target device, identify the target device, evaluate the target device, price the target device, etc. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein.

First claim

We claim:

1. At least one non-transitory computer-readable memory carrying computer-executable instructions for causing a handheld first electronic device of a user, having at least one processor, to evaluate a second electronic device for recycling by a method comprising:
automatically detecting when the second electronic device is connected to the handheld first electronic device;
electronically sending, by the processor, a request from the handheld first electronic device to the second electronic device for information describing the second electronic device;
receiving, by the handheld first electronic device, in response to the request, the information describing the second electronic device from the second electronic;
associating a unique identifier with the second electronic device;
obtaining an image of the second electronic device via a camera of the handheld first electronic device;
transmitting the image, the unique identifier, and the information describing the second electronic device to a remote server;
receiving a price for the second electronic device from the remote server, wherein the price is based on the information describing the second electronic device and the image of the second electronic device; and
displaying the price to the user via the handheld first electronic device.

2. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the handheld first electronic device is a mobile phone.

3. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the handheld first electronic device is a tablet computer or laptop computer.

4. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the second electronic device is a used mobile telecommunication device.

5. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises prompting the user to connect the handheld first electronic device to the second electronic device.

6. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the request from the handheld first electronic device to the second electronic device is sent via USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.

7. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein electronically sending a request for information describing the second electronic device includes querying an operating system API of the handheld first electronic device for information from the second electronic device.

8. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein electronically sending a request for information describing the second electronic device includes configuring the handheld first electronic device as a USB mass storage device containing an auto-run file, wherein the auto-run file includes instructions prompting the second electronic device to provide information describing the second electronic device to the handheld first electronic device.

9. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the request from the handheld first electronic device to the second electronic device is sent via USB, and wherein receiving the information describing the second electronic device includes receiving device class, vendor ID, and product ID information from the second electronic device.

10. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the request from the handheld first electronic device to the second electronic device is sent via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Bluetooth, and wherein receiving the information describing the second electronic device includes receiving MAC address information from the second electronic device.

11. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the request from the handheld first electronic device to the second electronic device is sent via Bluetooth, and wherein receiving the information describing the second electronic device includes receiving device name, device class, service, and MAC address information from the second electronic device.

12. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein receiving the information describing the second electronic device includes receiving UPnP or DLNA Simple Service Discovery Protocol device description information from the second electronic device.

13. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein receiving the information describing the second electronic device includes receiving HTTP or SIP User-Agent or UAProf address information from the second electronic device.

14. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein receiving the information describing the second electronic device includes receiving the unique identifier from the second electronic device.

15. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein receiving a price for the second electronic device includes accessing a lookup table or database stored on the handheld first electronic device.

16. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein receiving a price for the second electronic device includes:
receiving, in response to the transmitting, pricing data for the second electronic device or an indication that the information is insufficient to determine a price for the second electronic device.

17. The computer-readable memory of claim 16 wherein transmitting the information describing the second electronic device to a remote server includes transmitting the information describing the second electronic device to a recycling kiosk.

18. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the information describing the second electronic device includes USB device class, vendor ID, and product ID information, and wherein receiving a price for the second electronic device includes receiving a price determined at least in part by querying a data structure that maps USB device class, vendor ID, or product ID information to pricing data about the second electronic device.

19. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the information describing the second electronic device includes MAC address information, and wherein receiving a price for the second electronic device includes receiving a price determined at least in part by querying a data structure that maps MAC address information to pricing data about the second electronic device.

20. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
prompting the user to provide, via the handheld first electronic device, additional information about the second electronic device.

21. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
prompting the user, via the handheld first electronic device, to bring the second electronic device to a recycling kiosk for evaluation.

22. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
directing the user to photograph markings on the second electronic device using the camera of the handheld first electronic device;
receiving a photograph of the second electronic device; and
transmitting the photograph of the second electronic device to the remote server to determine the content of the markings on the second electronic device,
such that the receiving a price for the second electronic device includes receiving a price determined in part based on the content of the markings on the second electronic device.

23. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
performing a visual inspection of the second electronic device using the camera of the handheld first electronic device; and
determining whether the condition of the second electronic device is acceptable, based on the visual inspection,
such that receiving a price for the second electronic device includes receivi

Assignees

• Ecoatm Llc

Inventors

• Bowles Mark Vincent
• Erman Randal
• Beane John Andrew

Classifications

• 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

• Y02W90/00

  Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation · CPC title

• G06Q30/0278

  Product appraisal · CPC title

• Y02W30/82

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

• H04M1/0287

  being disposable or recyclable · CPC title