Method and apparatus for recycling electronic devices

Abstract

A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of an electronic device is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with preferably two mirrored, domed hemispheres positioned about a transparent table and cameras for imaging an electronic device placed on the table. The recycling kiosk uses visual analysis to identify electronic devices, determine the condition of the electronic device and determine if the electronic device is authentic.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a kiosk for identifying and purchasing a used electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving the electronic device at the kiosk, wherein the kiosk includes an internal inspection area and an inspection camera operably associated with the inspection area;   capturing, via the inspection camera, a silhouette image of the electronic device in the inspection area;   analyzing the silhouette image to determine a characteristic of the electronic device;   identifying the electronic device based at least partially on the characteristic; and   providing, via the kiosk, compensation in exchange for the electronic device after identifying the electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the characteristic is a dimension of the electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the characteristic is a silhouette area of the electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the kiosk includes a transparent plate within the inspection area; and 
 capturing the silhouette image includes capturing the silhouette image while the transparent plate supports the electronic device within the inspection area. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 presenting, via a user interface of the kiosk, an offer to purchase the electronic device after identifying the electronic device; and 
 receiving, via the user interface, an acceptance of the offer, wherein providing the compensation includes providing the compensation in response to receiving the acceptance. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein:
 the kiosk includes a storage receptacle operably associated with the inspection area; and 
 the method further comprises moving the electronic device into the storage receptacle after receiving the acceptance. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein providing the compensation includes providing the compensation as cash. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein providing the compensation includes providing the compensation as an electronic deposit. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein analyzing the silhouette image includes:
 determining at least one dimension of the electronic device based at least partially on the silhouette image; and 
 comparing the dimension to dimensions of electronic devices in a database. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a compensation amount to provide in exchange for the electronic device based at least partially on a result of identifying the electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying the electronic device includes identifying a brand and a model of the electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying the electronic device includes determining that the electronic device belongs to a subset of electronic devices having the characteristic. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the characteristic is a size of the electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein identifying the electronic device includes distinguishing the electronic device from other electronic devices within the subset based at least partially on a secondary feature of the electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the secondary feature is a feature of a screen of the electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the secondary feature is a feature of a button of the electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the secondary feature is a feature of a port of the electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . A system for evaluating and purchasing a used electronic device, the system comprising:
 a kiosk including an internal inspection area and an inspection camera operably associated with the inspection area, wherein the inspection area is configured to receive the electronic device; and   one or more processors configured to—
 cause the inspection camera to capture a silhouette image of the electronic device in the inspection area, 
 analyze the silhouette image to determine a characteristic of the electronic device, 
 identify the electronic device based at least partially on the characteristic, and 
 cause the kiosk to provide compensation in exchange for the electronic device after identifying the electronic device. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the characteristic is a dimension of the electronic device. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the characteristic is a silhouette area of the electronic device. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19  wherein:
 the kiosk includes a transparent plate within the inspection area; and 
 the one or more processors is/are configured to cause the inspection camera to capture the silhouette image while the transparent plate supports the electronic device within the inspection area. 
 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the one or more processors is/are configured to:
 cause the kiosk to present an offer to purchase the electronic device after identifying the electronic device; 
 receive, via the kiosk, an acceptance of the offer; and 
 cause the kiosk to provide the compensation in exchange for the electronic device in response to receiving the acceptance. 
 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein:
 the kiosk includes a storage receptacle operably associated with the inspection area; and 
 the one or more processors is/are configured to cause the kiosk to transfer the electronic device from the inspection area to the storage receptacle after receiving the acceptance. 
 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the kiosk is configured to provide the compensation as cash. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the one or more processors is/are configured to determine a compensation amount to provide in exchange for the electronic device based at least partially on a result of identifying the electronic device. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the one or more processors is/are configured to identify a brand and a model of the electronic device. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the one or more processors is/are configured to identify the electronic device at least partially by determining that the electronic device belongs to a subset of electronic devices having the characteristic. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the one or more processors is/are configured to distinguish the electronic device from other electronic devices within the subset based at least partially on a secondary feature of the electronic device.