Low-cost apparatus and method for distributed remote collection of electronic devices for value

Abstract

A handheld-device imaging and collection apparatus, associated techniques and systems are described. An example apparatus may include a first container and a second container attached to each other. The first container includes a top panel arranged to enable acquiring a clear view of an inside of the first container, and one or more mirrors arranged facing inside of the first container, such that an image captured by a camera through the top panel captures reflections, in the one or more mirrors, of an handheld-device placed inside the first container. The second container includes a collection chamber configured to store the handheld-device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld-device imaging and collection booth, comprising:
 a first container and a second container attached to each other,   wherein the first container comprises:
 a top panel arranged to enable acquiring a clear view of an inside of the first container; and 
 one or more mirrors arranged facing inside of the first container, such that an image captured by a camera through the top panel captures reflections, in the one or more mirrors, of an handheld-device placed inside the first container, and 
   wherein the second container comprises a collection chamber configured to store the handheld-device.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 1 , wherein the first container further comprises an elevated platform on an inside of a bottom surface, for placing the handheld-device such that at least a portion of the bottom surface of the handheld-device is represented in said reflections. 
     
     
         3 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 1 , wherein the first container includes an opening in at least one of the sides, wherein a size of the opening is sufficient to accept the handheld-device into a center of the first container. 
     
     
         4 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 3 , wherein the opening is in a single side of the first container. 
     
     
         5 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 3 , wherein one side of the first container includes a door such that the opening is formed when only when the door is open. 
     
     
         6 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 5 , wherein the door includes at least one mirror of said one or more mirrors in its inside facing surface. 
     
     
         7 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 1 , wherein a height of the first container is configured in accordance with a focal length of a camera. 
     
     
         8 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 7 , wherein the height is adjustable. 
     
     
         9 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 1 , wherein the top panel includes an opening through which the camera captures the image. 
     
     
         10 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 1 , wherein the top panel is at least partially constructed from a transparent material such that the image is captured through the transparent material. 
     
     
         11 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 1 , wherein the first container is placed on top of the second container, and wherein at least a portion of the bottom of the first container and/or at least a portion of a top of the second container are configured to be operable to drop the handheld-device from the first container into the second container. 
     
     
         12 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 1 , wherein the second container includes an opening through which the handheld-device is deposited into the second container, and wherein the second container is configured to require at least two different keys or at least two different authentications in order to retrieve the handheld-device from the second container. 
     
     
         13 . The handheld-device imaging and collection booth according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first container and the second container is at least partially constructed in wood. 
     
     
         14 . A method for imaging and collecting a handheld-device, comprising:
 placing the handheld-device inside a first container of an imaging and collection booth by inserting the handheld-device through an opening in a side of the first container, wherein the first container comprises a top panel arranged to enable acquiring a clear view of an inside of the first container, and one or more mirrors arranged facing inside of the first container, such that an image captured by a camera through the top panel captures reflections, in the one or more mirrors, of the handheld-device placed inside the first container;   capturing an image from a camera facing inside of the first container from a top of the first container, wherein the captured image includes a view of the handheld-device within the first container and views of one or more sides of the handheld-device reflected in the one or more mirrors;   transmitting the image to a server;   receiving an instruction in response to the transmitted image, wherein the instruction is generated externally to the imaging and collection booth based upon a condition of the handheld-device determined in accordance with the transmitted image; and   based upon the instruction, transferring the handheld-device from the first container to an adjacent second container which is adjacent to the first container for storage.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the transferring includes operating an opening in a bottom of the first container, and/or a top of a second container in order to deposit the handheld-device in the second container. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising preventing access to the handheld-device within the second container until at least two different keys or at least two authentications are used to unlock the second container. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the camera is a smartphone camera operated by a sales-associated, and wherein the transmitting includes transmitting the image from the smartphone to the server. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the receiving includes receiving a message from the server, and displaying the received message on the smartphone. 
     
     
         19 . A distributed system of kiosks for collecting handheld devices, comprising:
 a central server;   a plurality of kiosks, wherein each kiosk includes a first container and a second container attached to each other,
 wherein the first container comprises:
 a top panel arranged to enable acquiring a clear view of an inside of the first container; and 
 one or more mirrors arranged facing inside of the first container, such that an image captured by a camera through the top panel captures reflections, in the one or more mirrors, of an handheld-device placed inside the first container, and 
 
 wherein the second container comprises a collection chamber configured to store the handheld-device; and 
   a plurality of interaction control devices, each interaction control device configures to capture an image of an inside of a first container and transmit the image to the central server.