IP Library Granted Patent US 11,790,327
Granted Patent B2
US 11,790,327 · App. 16/556,018 · Granted Oct 17, 2023

Application for device evaluation and other processes associated with device recycling

Inventors: Mark Vincent Bowles (San Diego, CA); Randal Erman (San Diego, CA); Jarrod Hammes (San Diego, CA); Jeffrey Ploetner (San Diego, CA); John Silva (San Diego, CA); Rick Segil (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: ecoATM, LLC
G06Q10/30G06Q20/18G06Q20/208G06Q30/0611G07F7/06G06Q30/0237G06Q30/0278Y02W30/82Y02W90/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,790,327
App. No.
16/556,018
Granted
Oct 17, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Software application systems and associated methods for recycling, purchasing, and/or performing other processes with mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and/or other electronic devices at a kiosk are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods associated with an electronic device to facilitate a consumer-operated kiosk processing (e.g., purchasing) the electronic device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes using a mobile app to identify an electronic device, evaluate the electronic device, resolve device issues to enable purchase of the electronic device, etc. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein.

Claims (30)

1. At least one computer-readable memory carrying computer-executable instructions for causing one or more processors to facilitate purchasing an electronic device at a consumer-operated kiosk, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

instructions that, when executed by a processor of the electronic device:

automatically obtain characteristic information about the electronic device;

determine a price for the electronic device factoring in the characteristic information; and

present the price to a user of the electronic device; and

instructions that, when executed by a processor of the kiosk:

identify the price presented to the user; and

offer to purchase the electronic device for the price.

2. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the instructions that automatically obtain characteristic information about the electronic device include instructions that obtain at least a unique identifier for the electronic device, and further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the kiosk:

receive the unique identifier for the electronic device; and

identify the electronic device and the price based on the unique identifier for the electronic device.

3. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , further comprising:

instructions that, when executed by the processor of the electronic device:

associate an identifier with the electronic device; and

instructions that, when executed by the processor of the kiosk:

receive the identifier associated with the electronic device; and

identify the electronic device and the price based on the identifier associated with the electronic device.

4. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein automatically obtaining characteristic information about the electronic device includes identifying a make, model or hardware configuration of the electronic device.

5. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone having a make, model, storage capacity, and carrier, and wherein automatically obtaining characteristic information about the electronic device includes identifying at least one of the make, model, storage capacity, and carrier of the electronic device.

6. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone having a make, model, storage capacity, and carrier, and wherein automatically obtaining characteristic information about the electronic device includes identifying each of the make, model, storage capacity, and carrier of the electronic device.

7. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein automatically obtaining characteristic information about the electronic device includes obtaining a unique identifier for the electronic device and parsing the unique identifier of the electronic device to determine a make or model of the electronic device.

8. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, evaluate the condition of the electronic device based on the characteristic information, and wherein determining the price is based at least in part on the evaluation.

9. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, determine whether the characteristic information is sufficient to identify the presence or absence of an issue affecting the electronic device's operation, value, or ability to be resold.

10. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, determine whether the electronic device is associated with a remote user account.

11. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, determine whether the characteristic information is sufficient to identify whether the electronic device is associated with a remote user account.

12. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the electronic device, determine whether the characteristic information is sufficient to identify whether the electronic device is associated with a remote user account that includes a device control feature.

13. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein determining the price for the electronic device includes:

transmitting the characteristic information to a remote server; and

receiving the price for the electronic device from the remote server.

14. The computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein determining the price for the electronic device includes determining a price that is contingent on a visual analysis of the electronic device at the kiosk.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 8, 2020
From: ECOATM, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 051504/0383 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2019
From: BOWLES, MARK VINCENT; ERMAN, RANDAL; HAMMES, JARROD; PLOETNER, JEFFREY; SILVA, JOHN; SEGIL, RICK
To: ECOATM, INC.
Reel/Frame 050217/0337 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 29, 2019
From: ECOATM, INC.
To: ECOATM, LLC
Reel/Frame 051179/0231 →
Continuity (3)
Division 14873145 · Oct 1, 2015
Provisional Application 62059132 · Oct 2, 2014
Related Publication 20200090137A1 · Mar 19, 2020
Cited By (7)
US 12,340,425 US 12,373,801 US 12,536,643 US 12,597,004 US 12,608,687 US 12,646,041 US 12,676,045