Systems and methods for vending and/or purchasing mobile phones and other electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12380420-B2
Application number	US-202017125994-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2020
Priority date	Dec 18, 2019
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

Kiosk systems and methods for vending mobile phones and other electronic devices to, and/or for purchasing mobile phones and other electronic devices from, consumers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, such systems can include subsystems for preparing purchased mobile phones for resale, moving mobile phones between different processing stations, transferring data from, e.g., an old phone to a newly purchased phone, etc. In some embodiments, the kiosk systems disclosed herein can purchase a mobile phone from one consumer, process the mobile phone for resale (e.g., by removing personal data, etc.), and then sell the mobile phone to another consumer.

First claim

We claim:

1. A consumer operated kiosk comprising:
an inspection area configured to receive a mobile phone for purchase from a first user;
a processing system configured to prepare the mobile phone for resale;
a storage area configured to receive the mobile phone from the processing system and display the mobile phone to prospective purchasers; and
a dispensing system configured to dispense the mobile phone to a second user after the mobile phone has been prepared for resale and purchased by the second user.

2. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 1 wherein the processing system includes a robotic device configured to interact with the mobile phone to prepare the mobile phone for resale.

3. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 1 wherein the processing system includes a robotic finger configured to contact the mobile phone to test operation of the mobile phone and/or remove data from the mobile phone to prepare the mobile phone for resale.

4. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 1 wherein the processing system includes a robotic device configured to interact with the mobile phone to prepare the mobile phone for resale, and wherein the robotic device carries a camera configured to obtain an image of the mobile phone.

5. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 4 wherein the image is viewable by a remote operator.

6. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 4 wherein the image is viewable by a remote operator so that the remote operator can facilitate positioning of the robotic device relative to the mobile phone.

7. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 1 , further comprising a transport system configured to move the mobile phone from the inspection area to the processing system, and from the processing system to the storage area.

8. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 7 wherein the transport system is further configured to move the mobile phone from the storage area to the dispensing system.

9. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 7 wherein the transport system includes:
a bridge configured to move in one of a vertical or lateral direction relative to the processing system; and
a robotic arm having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion is movably coupled to the bridge and configured to move in the other of the vertical or lateral direction relative to the processing system, and wherein the distal end portion carries a gripping member configured to releasably grip the mobile phone for movement via the transport system.

10. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 1 wherein the mobile phone is a first mobile phone, and wherein the kiosk further comprises:
data transfer apparatus configured to transfer data from a second mobile phone to the first mobile phone after the first mobile phone has been dispensed to the second user.

11. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 1 wherein the inspection area includes:
a wired and/or wireless connectivity device configured to connect to the mobile phone; and
one or more cameras, wherein the kiosk is configured to:
receive characteristic information about the mobile phone via the wired and/or wireless connectivity device;
perform a visual inspection of the mobile phone via the one or more cameras;
determine a price for the mobile phone based at least in part on the characteristic information and the visual inspection; and
purchase the mobile phone from the first user for the price.

12. A consumer operated kiosk comprising:
a user interface;
an inspection area configured to receive an electronic device from a first user;
a wired and/or wireless connectivity device operably associated with the inspection area and configured to connect to the electronic device;
a transport system;
a storage area at least partially covered by a transparent panel; and
one or more processors operably connected to the wired and/or wireless connectivity device and the transport system, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
receive characteristic information about the electronic device via the wired and/or wireless connectivity device;
facilitate a purchase of the electronic device from the first user based at least in part on the characteristic information;
cause the transport system to move the electronic device from the inspection area and place the electronic device in the storage area for viewing by prospective purchasers via the transparent panel;
receive a selection of the electronic device from a second user via the user interface; and
facilitate dispensing the electronic device to the second user at least partially in response to receiving the selection.

13. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 12 , further comprising:
a processing system configured to prepare the electronic device for resale after the electronic device has been purchased from the first user, wherein the processing system is operably connected to the one or more processors, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
cause the transport system to move the electronic device to the processing system prior to placing the electronic device in the storage area; and
cause the processing system to prepare the electronic device for resale.

14. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 13 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone, and wherein the processing system includes a robotic device configured to interact with the mobile phone to prepare the mobile phone for resale.

15. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 13 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone, and wherein the processing system includes a robotic finger configured to contact the mobile phone to test operation of the mobile phone and/or remove data from the mobile phone to prepare the mobile phone for resale.

16. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 12 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
determine a first price for the electronic device based at least in part on the characteristic information;
present, to the first user, an offer to purchase the electronic device for the first price;
receive an acceptance of the offer from the first user;
cause the kiosk to facilitate payment of the first price to the first user in exchange for the electronic device;
present, to the second user, an offer to sell the electronic device for a second price; and
confirm receipt of payment of the second price from the second user, wherein dispensing the electronic device to the second user includes dispensing the electronic device at least partially in response to confirming receipt of the payment of the second price.

17. The consumer operated kiosk of claim 12 , further comprising one or more cameras operably associated with the inspection area, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
perform a visual inspection of the electronic device when the first electronic device is positioned in the inspection area; and
determine a price for the electronic device based at least in part on the characteristic information and the visual inspection.

18. A method for operating a kiosk, the method comprising:
receiving an electronic device from a first user in an inspection area of the kiosk, wherein the kiosk further includes a user interface, a wired connector and/or a wireless transceiver operably associated with the inspection area, at least one camera operably associated with the inspection area, a processing system configured to prepare the electronic device for resale, and a storage area having a display portion;
receiving, via the wired connector and/or the wireles

Assignees

• Ecoatm Llc

Inventors

• Forutanpour Babak
• Enriquez Joemari
• Ploetner Jeffrey
• Mersten David
• Gooding Ted Ray

Classifications

• G06Q10/30

  Administration of product recycling or disposal · CPC title

• G07F17/0014

  for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 (meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00) · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• G06Q20/18

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

• G07F11/007

  wherein the storage and dispensing mechanism are configurable in relation to the physical or geometrical properties of the articles to be stored or dispensed · CPC title