DEVICE RECYCLING SYSTEMS WITH FACIAL RECOGNITION

1 . A system for verifying the identity of a user of a consumer-operated kiosk, the system comprising:

at least one imaging device configured to obtain a first image of the user when the user is present at the kiosk; and

at least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions that cause the processor to perform a method including:

comparing the first image to a second image; and

determining a level of similarity of the first image to the second image based on the comparison.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second imaging device, wherein the second imaging device obtains the second image from an ID card of the user at the kiosk.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a remote computer, wherein the method further includes providing information related to the level of similarity to the remote computer for display to an operator prior to the user completing a transaction at the kiosk.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a remote computer, wherein determining a level of similarity includes generating a similarity score based on the comparison, and wherein the method further includes:

transmitting the similarity score to the remote computer for display to an operator;

in response to the transmission, receiving a signal from the remote computer; and

allowing the user to complete a transaction at the kiosk based on the signal.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a remote computer, wherein determining a level of similarity includes generating a similarity score based on the comparison, and wherein the method further includes:

generating an action recommendation based on the similarity score; and

transmitting the similarity score and the action recommendation to the remote computer for display to an operator prior to the user completing a transaction at the kiosk.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein determining a level of similarity includes determining a similarity rating, and wherein when the similarity rating is above a preset threshold, the user is allowed to complete a transaction at the kiosk.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein determining a level of similarity includes determining a similarity rating, and wherein when the similarity rating is below the preset threshold, the user is prevented from completing the transaction.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein determining a level of similarity includes determining a similarity rating, wherein when the similarity rating is below a preset threshold, the user is allowed to complete a transaction at the kiosk

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein determining a level of similarity includes determining a similarity rating, and wherein when the similarity rating is above the preset threshold, the user is prevented from completing the transaction.

10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first image and the second image are facial images, and wherein:

comparing the first image to the second image includes:

generating first facial feature data from the first image, wherein the first facial feature data represents facial features of the user;

generating second facial feature data from the second image; and

comparing the first facial feature data to the second facial feature data; and

determining a level of similarity of the first image to the second image includes determining a level of similarity based on the comparison of the first facial feature data to the second facial feature data.

11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one imaging device configured to obtain a first image of the user includes a biometric reader configured to obtain an image of a fingerprint of the user.

12 . A consumer operated kiosk system, the kiosk system comprising:

a kiosk for recycling electronic devices, the kiosk having:

a camera; and

a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions to obtain, via the camera, a first image of a kiosk user conducting a transaction at the kiosk;

a feature recognition component configured to generate a first numerical representation of features of the first image; and

a feature comparison component configured to:

compare the first numerical representation to a second numerical representation of features of a second image of a person; and

determine a level of similarity of the first image of the kiosk user to the second image of the person based on the comparison of the first numerical representation to the second numerical representation.

13 . The kiosk system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit the first image, the second image, and the level of similarity to a remote verification facility; and

receive, from the remote verification facility, a signal indicating whether to allow the user to complete the transaction at the kiosk.

14 . The kiosk system of claim 12 wherein the kiosk further includes an ID card scanner, and wherein the processor is further configured to obtain the second image from an ID card via the ID card scanner.

15 . The kiosk system of claim 12 wherein the second image is an image of a blocked user, and wherein the processor is further configured to automatically prevent the user from completing the transaction at the kiosk if the level of similarity exceeds a threshold.

16 . The kiosk system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a database containing, for each of a plurality of blocked users, a blocked user image and a numerical representation of features of the blocked user image; and

wherein the processor is further configured to obtain the second numerical representation from the database.

17 . The kiosk system of claim 12 wherein the second image is an image of an approved user, and wherein the processor is further configured to automatically allow the user to complete the transaction at the kiosk if the level of similarity exceeds a threshold.

18 . The kiosk system of claim 12 wherein the second image is an image of an individual authorized to service the kiosk, and wherein the processor is further configured to permit the user to gain access to the inside of the kiosk if the level of similarity exceeds a threshold.

19 . The kiosk system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a database containing, for each of a plurality of approved users, an approved user image and a numerical representation of features of the approved user image; and

wherein the processor is further configured to obtain the second numerical representation from the database.

20 . The kiosk system of claim 12 wherein the kiosk further includes an ID card scanner, and wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer-readable instructions to:

obtain, via the ID card scanner, identifying information from an ID card provided by the user; and

obtain the second numerical representation from a database based on the identifying information.

21 . A method for controlling use of a consumer operated kiosk, the method comprising:

generating, by a processor operably coupled to the kiosk, first feature data representing features of a first image of a kiosk user;

comparing the first feature data to second feature data to determine a level of similarity of the first feature data to the second feature data,

wherein the second feature data represent features of a second image.

22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising obtaining a first image of the user when the user is present at the kiosk.

23 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

obtaining a second image of at least a portion of an ID card provided by the user; and

generating, by the processor, second feature data representing features of the second image.

24 . The method of claim 21 wherein the kiosk is a consumer operated kiosk for recycling electronic devices.

25 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising verifying the identity of the user based at least in part on the level of similarity.

26 . The method of claim 21 wherein comparing the first feature data to the second feature data includes:

determining, by a processor operably coupled to the kiosk, a degree of correlation between values in the first feature data and values representative of an item that the user may be wearing;

determining whether the degree of correlation exceeds a threshold; and

if the degree of correlation exceeds a threshold, prompting the user to remove the item.

27 . The method of claim 21 wherein the ID card contains descriptive information, and wherein obtaining the second image includes obtaining the descriptive information, and further comprising:

determining expected feature data based on the descriptive information;

comparing the first feature data to the expected feature data to rate a second level of similarity of the first feature data to the expected feature data.

28 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

displaying information via the kiosk;

identifying a facial expression based on the first feature data;

estimating a user emotional response based on the facial expression; and

associating the estimated emotional response with the information.

29 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

identifying a facial expression based on the first feature data; and

categorizing the expression as positive or negative.

30 . A method for verifying the identity of a user of a mobile electronic device having a camera, the method comprising:

obtaining a first image of the user via the camera;

obtaining a second image of at least a portion of a personal ID card via the camera;

generating, by a processor, first feature data representing features of the first image and second feature data representing features of the second image; and

comparing the first feature data to the second feature data to determine a level of similarity of the first image to the second image.

31 . The method of claim 30 wherein the mobile electronic device includes the processor.

32 . The method of claim 30 wherein the processor is remote from the mobile electronic device.

33 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising transmitting the first image and the second image to a remote computer,

wherein the remote computer performs the generating and comparing.

34 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising:

transmitting the first image and the second image to a verification facility; and

in response to the transmission, receiving a verification indication based on the level of similarity.