Systems and methods for recycling consumer electronic devices

Abstract

Systems and associated methods for recycling and performing other processes with consumer electronic devices are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods for enabling, e.g., a retailer to identify and evaluate a used or pre-owned consumer electronic device, such as a mobile phone, laptop, etc. to facilitate purchasing the device from the consumer. In some embodiments, the present technology includes an evaluator input device and an evaluator hub device that together evaluate a device and facilitate its purchase and recycling. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A system for recycling electronic devices, the system comprising:
 a handheld evaluator input device comprising:
 a user interface configured to receive input associated with an electronic device; and 
 a first processor operably coupled to the user interface; 
   an evaluator hub device in electrical communication with the evaluator input device, the evaluator hub device comprising:
 an electrical connector configured to connect to the electronic device; and 
 a second processor operably coupled to the electrical connector, the second processor configured to:
 receive instructions from the evaluator input device to electrically inspect the electronic device; and 
 in response to the instructions, electrically inspect the electronic device when connected to the electronic device via the electrical connector; and 
 
   a remote evaluation server in electrical communication with the evaluator hub device, the remote evaluation server comprising a third processor, the third processor configured to:
 receive the electrical inspection data for the electronic device from the evaluator hub device; and 
 based at least on part on the electrical inspection data, determine a compensation value for the electronic device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the evaluator input device further comprises a camera operably coupled to the first processor,
 wherein the first processor is configured to receive images and/or video of the electronic device via the camera and transmit the images and/or video to the remote evaluation server, and   wherein the third processor is further configured to determine the compensation value for the electronic device based at least in part on the images and/or video of the electronic device.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the third processor is further configured to:
 cause the images of the electronic device to be displayed to a remote evaluator; 
 receive a grade from the remote evaluator based on the images of the electronic device; and 
 determine the compensation value for the electronic device based at least in part on the grade of the electronic device. 
 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the third processor is further configured to:
 automatically inspect the images of the electronic device for defects using machine vision; and 
 determine the compensation value for the electronic device based at least in part on the inspection of the images of the electronic device. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the electrical inspection data includes an identification of the electronic device, and wherein third processor is configured to determine the compensation value by:
 querying a database with the identification; and 
 in response to querying the database, receiving the compensation value for the electronic device. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first processor is configured to:
 cause the user interface to display instructions to verify an identification of a customer; and 
 receive, via the user interface, an indication that the customer's identification has been verified. 
 
     
     
         7 . A system for recycling electronic devices, the system comprising:
 an evaluator input device having a user interface configured to receive input associated with an electronic device; and   an evaluator hub device having:
 a processor; and 
 at least one electrical connector configured to connect to the electronic device, 
 wherein the processor is configured to:
 electrically interact with the electronic device via the electrical connector, and in response to instructions from the evaluator input device, facilitate determining a compensation value for the electronic device, wherein the compensation value is at least partially based on the electrical interaction with the electronic device. 
 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the evaluator input device comprises a camera for imaging the electronic device, wherein the camera is operably coupled to the processor, and wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate determining the compensation value by transmitting images obtained by camera to a remote computing device for evaluation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the evaluator input device comprises a mobile device, and wherein the evaluator hub device comprises a desktop device. 
     
     
         10 . A method in a computing system having at least one processor for pricing a consumer electronic device for recycling, the method comprising:
 electronically sending a request from a first evaluator device to the consumer electronic device for information associated with the consumer electronic device;   in response to sending the request, receiving, at the first evaluator device, the information associated with the consumer electronic device;   identifying the consumer electronic device with the at least one processor based on an evaluation of the information associated with the consumer electronic device;   determining a price for the consumer electronic device based at least in part on the identification of the consumer electronic device; and   causing the price to be presented to a user via a second evaluator device separate from the first evaluator device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first evaluator device is a stationary computer, wherein the consumer electronic device is a mobile telecommunications device, and wherein the second evaluator device is a mobile computer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the at least one processor includes one or more of a processor of the first evaluator device and a processor of a remote server computer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising prompting the user, via the second evaluation device, to electrically connect the first evaluator device to the consumer electronic device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein sending the request from the first evaluator device to the consumer electronic device includes communicating via USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein electronically sending a request for information associated with the consumer electronic device includes querying an operating system API of the first evaluator device for information from the consumer electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein electronically sending a request for information associated with the consumer electronic device includes configuring the first evaluator device as a USB mass storage device containing an auto-run file, wherein the auto-run file includes instructions prompting the consumer electronic device to provide identification information associated with the consumer electronic device to the first evaluator device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein sending the request from the first evaluator device to the consumer electronic device is sent via USB, and wherein receiving the information describing the second electronic device includes receiving device class, vendor ID, and product ID information from the second electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein determining a price for the consumer electronic device includes:
 transmitting information associated with the consumer electronic device from the first evaluator device to a server computer; and 
 transmitting pricing data remotely from the server computer to the first evaluator device. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method for purchasing electronic devices from consumers, the method comprising:
 receiving, at an evaluator input device, information associated with an electronic device;   directing a user to electrically connect the electronic device to an evaluator hub device separate from the evaluator input device;   receiving, from the evaluator hub device, results of an electrical inspection of the electronic device;   based on the electrical inspection, automatically determining a purchase price for the electronic device; and   presenting the purchase price to the user.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein determining the purchase price for the electronic device comprises determining a range of prices, and wherein presenting the purchase price to the user includes presenting the range of purchase prices for the electronic device to the user. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 directing the user to image the electronic device;   transmitting an image of the electronic device to a remote evaluator for visual inspection; and   receiving, from the remote evaluator, results of the visual inspection of the electronic device,   wherein automatically determining the purchase price for the electronic device is based at least in part on the visual inspection and the electrical inspection.