System and method for systematically removing customer personal information from an electronic device

Abstract

A system for flashing one or more electronic devices includes a network device that executes a flashing program. The system also includes a computing device that communicates with the network device through a secure connection. The computing device executes an application for communicating with the flashing program, and the application displays a user interface for displaying information and receiving user input. The computing device includes an interface of a wireless connection or a wired connection for communicating with the electronic device. The network device identifies a communications service provider, make, model, and software versions associated with the electronic device in response to the application sending information retrieved through the interface to the flashing program. The network device configures the flashing program in response to identifying the electronic device. The computing device flashes the electronic device to remove customer private information (CPI) in response to instructions received from the flashing program.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for flashing an electronic device, the system comprising:
 a network device configured to execute a flashing program; and   a computing device configured to communicate with the network device through a secure connection, the computing device executes an application for communicating with the flashing program, the application displays a user interface for displaying information and receiving user input, the computing device includes an interface for communicating with electronic device, wherein the interface is one of a wireless connection and a wired connection, wherein the network device identifies a communications service provider, make, model, and software versions associated with the electronic device in response to the application sending information retrieved through the interface to the flashing program, wherein the network device configures the flashing program in response to identifying the electronic device, and wherein the computing device flashes the electronic device to remove customer private information (CPI) in response to instructions received from the flashing program.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is a personal computer. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the application is a web browser. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the flashing program loads one or more drivers associated with the flashing of the electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the flashing program automatically removes the CPI from the electronic device, and wherein the user interface provides instructions for the user to manually remove any remaining CPI that is not removed automatically from the electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computing device documents a location and type of the CPI removed from the electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computing device verifies that the electronic device is clear of the CPI. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device was previously processed for removal of the customer private information. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computing device reports removal or non-removal of the customer private information on electronic devices that are processed by the computing device to provide an audit trail. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the flashing program is accessible through a web browser utilizing a secured connection. 
     
     
         11 . A computing device operable to configure an electronic device, comprising:
 a processor configured to execute a set of instructions;   a memory configured to store the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed to:
 access a flashing program executed by a network device through a network connection; 
 send information about the electronic device to the flashing program to identify the electronic device, wherein the information includes identifies a communications service provider, make, model, and software versions associated with the electronic device; and 
 flashing the electronic device to remove customer private information as instructed by the flashing program. 
   
     
     
         12 . The computing device according to  claim 11 , wherein the flashing program is configured to flash the electronic device, and wherein the set of instructions displays a user interface for a user to control the flashing program and the electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . A method for flashing an electronic device, the method comprising:
 establishing communication, by a computing device, with an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is in communication with the computing device using at least one of a wireless connection and a wired connection;   identifying, by the computing device, a communications service provider, make, model, and software versions associated with the electronic device;   accessing, by a computing device, a flashing program stored on a network device;   sending information about the electronic device to the flashing program to identify the electronic device, wherein the information includes the communications service provider, the make, the model, and the software versions associated with the electronic device; and   flashing, by the computing device, as instructed by the flashing program, the electronic device, wherein the flashing removes customer private information from the electronic device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the flashing program is accessible through a web browser utilizing a secured connection. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising reporting removal or non-removal of the customer private information on electronic devices that are processed by the computing device to provide an audit trail. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the electronic device was previously processed for removal of the customer private information. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the network device configures the flashing program in response to identifying the communications service provider, make, model, and software versions associated with the electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein flashing the electronic device comprises automatically removing the customer private information from the electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising verifying that the electronic device is clear of the customer private information. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising documenting a location and type of the customer private information removed from the electronic device.