# US 2014/0195377 A1 · Combination Retailing System For Appraising Precious Stones And Metals And Dispensing Gift Cards, Coupons And The Like

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0195377 A1
- Document ID: US20140195377A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/210,315
- Filed: 2014-03-13
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2007-09-14
- Assignees: Ward Kraft, Inc.
- Applicants: Ward Kraft, Inc.
- Inventors: Roger E. Kraft; William R. Russell; Ashly Farmer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195377A1

## CPC

- G06Q 30/0609: {Qualifying participants for shopping transactions (payment transaction verification G06Q20/401)}
- G06K 7/10415: {the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM (banking machines in general G07F19/00)}
- G06Q 20/18: involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
- G06Q 20/20: Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
- G06Q 20/34: using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
- G06Q 20/4014: {Identity check for transactions}
- G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q 30/0208: Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
- G06Q 30/0278: {Product appraisal}
- G06Q 30/0282: Rating or review of business operators or products
- 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
- G07F 7/08: by coded identity card or credit card {or other personal identification means (without personal verification means G07F7/02)}
- G07F 9/105: {Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage (dispensers for food articles requiring a processing by temperature treatment or conditioning before they are ready for dispensing G07F17/0064)}
- G07F 11/00: Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
- 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
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- 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})

## Abstract

A computer implemented method for appraising and selling an item includes the step of using a kiosk to physically receive the item from a seller. The method comprises the step of appraising the item by determining a composition of the item using an evaluating device and associating an exchange value with the item using market data obtained over a network. A global positioning device determines a location of the kiosk. The method includes the step of using a legal database to ascertain a set of rules governing the sale of the item in the location. The set of rules comprise a holding requirement dictating that the item be retained for a fixed number of days before it is sold to a buyer. The method also includes the step of selling the item to the buyer at the kiosk in compliance with the set of rules.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system located in one of a first area and a second area; the system configured to appraise and retain an item physically received from a seller and to thereafter sell the item to a buyer; the item having at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a precious metal, and a semi-precious metal; the system comprising:
a transaction point computer configured to appraise the item; wherein appraising the item includes:
(1) determining a composition of the item using an evaluating device; and
(2) associating an exchange value with the item using data obtained by the evaluating device and market data obtained over a network;
a networking device;
a legal database for storing a first set of rules and a second set of rules; the first set of rules governing the sale of the item in the first area; the second set of rules governing the sale of the item in the second area; and
a global positioning device for determining a location of the system;
wherein the computer includes machine readable instructions to ensure that the sale of the item to the buyer is in compliance with the first set of rules when the location is the first area and the second set of rules when the location is the second area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the first set of rules includes a first holding requirement.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2 wherein the first holding requirement dictates that the item be retained for a fixed number of days after it is received from the seller and before it is sold to the buyer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 wherein the second set of rules prohibits the sale of the item to a minor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 wherein the computer is configured to dispense a certificate to the seller upon the reception of the item.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5 wherein the certificate includes an image of the item and an item code associated with the item.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6 wherein the item code is configured to enable the seller to track the exchange value of the item on a day to day basis.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 further comprising a vault for retaining the item for the fixed number of days.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8 wherein the computer is configured to cause the item to be shifted from the vault to a display case after the fixed number of days have passed.

### Claim 10

A system located in one of a first area and a second area; the system configured to appraise and retain an item physically received from a seller and to thereafter sell the item to a buyer; the item having at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a precious metal, and a semi-precious metal; the system comprising:
a transaction point computer configured to appraise the item; wherein appraising the item includes:
(1) determining a composition of the item using an evaluating device; and
(2) associating an exchange value with the item using data obtained by the evaluating device and market data obtained over a network;
a networking device;
a legal database for storing a first set of rules and a second set of rules; the first set of rules governing the sale of the item in the first area; the second set of rules governing the sale of the item in the second area;
a global positioning device for determining a location of the system;
a vault for retaining the item; and
a display case for displaying the item;
wherein the computer includes machine readable instructions to ensure that the sale of the item to the buyer is in compliance with the first set of rules when the location is the first area and the second set of rules when the location is the second area.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 further comprising a camera to capture an image of the seller.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11 wherein the evaluating device comprises an X-ray fluorescence tester.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12 wherein the first set of rules includes a first holding requirement dictating that the item be retained for a fixed number of days after it is received from the seller and before it is sold to the buyer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13 wherein the computer is configured to dispense a certificate to the seller after reception of the item.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14 wherein the certificate includes an item code for tracking the exchange value.

### Claim 16

A computer implemented method for appraising and selling an item; the item having at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a precious metal, and a semi-precious metal; the method comprising steps:
using a kiosk to physically receive the item from a seller;
appraising the item within the kiosk; wherein appraising the item includes:
(1) determining a composition of the item using an evaluating device; and
(2) associating an exchange value with the item using data obtained by the evaluating device and market data obtained over a network;
using a global positioning device to determine a location of the kiosk;
using a legal database stored in a non-transitory memory to ascertain a set of rules governing the sale of the item in the location; the set of rules comprising a holding requirement; the holding requirement dictating that the item be retained for a fixed number of days after it is received from the seller and before it is sold to a buyer;
allowing the buyer to purchase the item at the kiosk in compliance with the set of rules after the fixed number of days have elapsed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of using the kiosk to dispense a certificate to the seller after reception of the item.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 wherein the certificate includes an item code for enabling the seller to track the exchange value.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of using a camera in the kiosk to capture an image of the seller.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19 wherein the legal database includes a second set of rules governing the sale of the item in a second location.