# US 12,217,221 B2 · Wireless-enabled kiosk for recycling consumer devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,217,221 B2 - Document ID: US12217221B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/346,618 - Filed: 2023-07-03 - Published: 2024-01-04 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-02 - Assignees: ecoATM, LLC - Applicants: ecoATM, LLC - Inventors: John Silva; Jeffrey Ploetner; Mark Vincent Bowles; John Andrew Beane; Michael Librizzi; Randal Erman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12217221B2 ## CPC - G06Q 10/30: Administration of product recycling or disposal - G06Q 20/18: involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals - G06Q 20/202: {Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR} - G06Q 20/208: {Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing} - G06Q 30/0201: Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data - G06Q 30/0206: {Price or cost determination based on market factors} - G07F 7/06: 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 - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management - G06Q 20/20: Point-of-sale [POS] network systems - Y02W 30/82: Recycling of waste of electrical or electronic equipment [WEEE] - Y02W 90/00: Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Wireless-enabled kiosk systems and associated methods for recycling and performing other processes with mobile phones and other electronic devices are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods for wirelessly connecting a consumer-operated kiosk with an electronic device to facilitate processing (e.g., purchasing) the device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes using a wireless link to identify a device, evaluate a device, resolve device issues to enable purchase of the device, locate a device, etc. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for evaluating and purchasing an electronic device, the method comprising: displaying a machine-readable code at a kiosk; instructing a user to scan, with the electronic device, the machine-readable code displayed at the kiosk; receiving, at a first computer remote from the kiosk, and via a software application operating on the electronic device, information about the electronic device, wherein operation of the software application is facilitated by the scanning of the machine-readable code; instructing the user to place the electronic device in an inspection area of the kiosk; receiving, at the first computer and/or a second computer remote from the kiosk, and via one or more cameras operably associated with the inspection area, one or more images of the electronic device; determining a price for the electronic device based at least in part on the information and the one or more images, and offering to purchase the electronic device for the price. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the machine-readable code is configured to, when scanned by the electronic device, facilitate downloading the software application onto the electronic device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the machine-readable code is configured to, when scanned by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to automatically download the software application onto the electronic device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the machine-readable code is configured to, when scanned by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to prompt and/or guide the user to download the software application onto the electronic device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the machine-readable code is configured to, when scanned by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to run the software application. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the machine-readable code is configured to, when scanned by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to send a request for the software application to one or more of the first computer, the second computer, and/or a third computer remote from the kiosk, and wherein the method further comprises: receiving, by the one or more of the first, the second, and/or the third computer, the request from the electronic device for the software application; and sending, by the one or more of the first, the second, and/or the third computer, in response to receiving the request, the software application to the electronic device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein determining the price includes determining the price by the first computer and/or the second computer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the machine-readable code at the kiosk includes presenting the machine-readable code on a display screen of the kiosk. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the machine-readable code at the kiosk includes displaying a QR code, a barcode, or other machine-readable indicia at the kiosk. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein instructing a user to scan, with the electronic device, the machine-readable code includes providing instructions to the user via a display screen of the kiosk. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein— receiving, via the software application, information about the electronic device includes receiving first information about the electronic device, receiving, via one or more cameras, one or more images of the electronic device includes receiving second information about the electronic device, and the method further comprises comparing the first information to the second information, wherein offering to purchase the electronic device for a price includes offering to purchase the electronic device for the price when the first information matches the second information. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the first information and the second information include a make, a model, a serial number, and/or an IMEI number of the electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein comparing the first information to the second information includes verifying a condition of the electronic device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising visually inspecting the one or more images of the electronic device to determine a condition of the electronic device, wherein offering to purchase the electronic device for a price includes offering to purchase the electronic device for a price based at least in part on the information and the condition of the electronic device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein offering to purchase the electronic device for a price includes presenting the offer via a display screen of the kiosk, and/or presenting the offer via a display screen of the electronic device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: prompting the user to cause a display screen of the electronic device to display a unique identifier associated with the electronic device before the user places the electronic device in the inspection area; and visually inspecting the one or more images to read the unique identifier from the display screen. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the unique identifier includes a make, a model, a serial number, and/or an IMEI number of the electronic device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone. ### Claim 19 A system for evaluating and purchasing electronic devices, the system comprising: a kiosk having— a housing; an inspection area within the housing and configured to receive an electronic device from a user; and one or more cameras operably associated with the inspection area and configured to image the electronic device; and one or more computers remote from the kiosk; wherein the kiosk is configured to— prompt the user to scan, with the electronic device, a machine-readable code displayed at the kiosk, prompt the user to place the electronic device in the inspection area, and obtain, via the one or more cameras, one or more images of the electronic device; wherein the one or more computers are configured to— receive information about the electronic device from the electronic device via a software application operating on the electronic device, wherein operation of the software application is facilitated by scanning the machine-readable code, and receive the one or more images obtained by the kiosk via the one or more cameras; and wherein the kiosk and/or the one or more computers are further configured to— determine a price for the electronic device based at least in part on the information and the one or more images, and facilitate an offer to purchase the electronic device from the user for the price. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the kiosk includes a display screen, and wherein prompting the user to scan, with the electronic device, the machine-readable code includes prompting the user to scan, with the electronic device, a QR code, a barcode, or other machine-readable indicia displayed by the display screen. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the one or more computers are configured to— receive a request from the electronic device for the software application, wherein the request is facilitated by scanning the machine-readable code by the electronic device, and provide the software application to the electronic device in response to receiving the request from the electronic device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the information about the electronic device includes a make, a model, a serial number, and/or an IMEI number of the electronic device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the kiosk further includes a storage bin within the housing, and wherein the kiosk is further configured to move the electronic device from the inspection area to the storage bin upon acceptance of the offer by the user. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the software application is configured to cause a display screen of the electronic device to display a unique identifier associated with the electronic device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24 wherein the unique identifier includes a make, a model, a serial number, and/or an IMEI number of the electronic device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the software application is configured to prompt the user to provide input regarding a condition of the electronic device. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.