Application for device evaluation and other processes associated with device recycling

Abstract

Software application systems and associated methods for recycling, purchasing, and/or performing other processes with mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and/or other electronic devices at a kiosk are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods associated with an electronic device to facilitate a consumer-operated kiosk processing (e.g., purchasing) the electronic device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes using a mobile app to identify an electronic device, evaluate the electronic device, resolve device issues to enable purchase of the electronic device, etc. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein.

1 . A method for recycling a used electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving, via execution of a software application on the electronic device, characteristic information about the electronic device, wherein the characteristic information includes at least one of a make, a model, a hardware configuration, or an identifier of the electronic device;   receiving the electronic device in an inspection area of a kiosk, wherein the kiosk includes a camera operably associated with the inspection area;   receiving, via the camera, an image of the electronic device after receiving the electronic device in the inspection area;   determining, remote from the kiosk, a price for the electronic device based at least in part on the characteristic information and the image; and   offering, via at least one of the kiosk or the electronic device, to purchase the electronic device for the price.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from the electronic device for the software application; and   in response to receiving the request, providing the software application to the electronic device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein receiving a request for the software application includes receiving the request at a computer remote from the kiosk. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving the characteristic information includes receiving the characteristic information at a computer remote from the kiosk. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving the image of the electronic device includes receiving the image at a computer remote from the kiosk. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein offering to purchase the electronic device includes offering to provide a monetary credit in exchange for the electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein offering to purchase the electronic device includes offering to provide a monetary deposit to an account in exchange for the electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein offering to purchase the electronic device includes offering to provide cash via the kiosk in exchange for the electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prompting a user of the electronic device to interact with a display screen of the electronic device; and   detecting interaction with the display screen.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the price for the electronic device includes determining the price based at least in part on condition information about the electronic device obtained from the image. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the price for the electronic device includes determining the price based at least in part on identification information about the electronic device obtained from the image. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving condition information about the electronic device, wherein the condition information is based at least in part on a response from a user of the electronic device to a question about the electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, via execution of the software application, condition information about the electronic device, wherein the condition information is based at least in part on a test performed on the electronic device by the software application, and wherein determining the price for the electronic device includes determining the price based at least in part on the characteristic information, the image, and the condition information. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the test includes a test of at least one of processor performance or battery charging and/or capacity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the test includes an interactive test that includes user feedback. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the test includes prompting a user of the electronic device to respond to at least one of a question or an instruction via the electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the test includes:
 prompting a user of the electronic device to operate a feature of the electronic device; and 
 detecting operation of the feature. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the feature is a camera of the electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the condition information includes at least one of an image taken by a camera of the electronic device, information from a charge-discharge log of the electronic device, or information from a call log of the electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing, via the software application, the electronic device to display graphical information, wherein the image is an image of the electronic device displaying the graphical information. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the image is an image of a display of the electronic device, and wherein the image is configured to indicate defects in the display of the electronic device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by a computer remote from the kiosk, the price based at least in part on the characteristic information before receiving the electronic device in the inspection area,   wherein determining the price based at least in part on the characteristic information and the image includes confirming the price after receiving the electronic device in the inspection area.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising presenting, via at least one of the kiosk or the electronic device, the price to a user of the electronic device before receiving the electronic device in the inspection area. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising purchasing the electronic device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an acceptance of the price; and   moving the electronic device into a receptacle in the kiosk after receiving the acceptance.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising interrogating, via the software application, the electronic device to obtain the characteristic information. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the characteristic information includes at least one of an international mobile equipment identity number, a media access control address, or a serial number of the electronic device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving the characteristic information includes receiving the characteristic information at a computer remote from the kiosk, wherein receiving the image of the electronic device includes receiving the image at a processor of the kiosk, and wherein the method further comprises:
 transmitting the image from the processor of the kiosk to the computer remote from the kiosk or to another computer remote from the kiosk. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a price for the electronic device based at least in part on the characteristic information and the image includes determining the price via a server computer operably connectable to the kiosk. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.