Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems and methods for evaluating a device and presenting a price quote for the device by using an optical character recognition (OCR) system and/or other associated devices and systems. The system can utilize a wireless charger to obtain information about the device while charging the device. The information can include the make of the device. The system can guide the user to navigate the device to provide additional information such as model, memory capacity, unique identifier, and carrier associated with the device, which can be extracted from the device using OCR. Based on, e.g., the unique identifier, the system can determine whether the device has been stolen. If the device has not been stolen, the system can determine a price based on information obtained from the device and can present the price to the user. If the user accepts the price, the system can facilitate purchase of the device.

Abstract: Hardware and software application systems and associated methods for obtaining information from, evaluating, and pricing mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and/or other electronic devices for recycling and/or other processing are described herein. In various embodiments, the present technology includes systems and methods associated with a kiosk that can determine a condition of a screen of an electronic device. In some embodiments, the present technology includes displaying one or more test images on the screen of the electronic device, using one or more cameras of the kiosk to display the test images, evaluating the screen based on the as-displayed test images, etc. In some embodiments, the electronic device is place in a camera mode and one or more cameras of the electronic device are used to display the test images on the electronic device screen. Various other aspects of the present technology are described herein.

Abstract: Various embodiments of apparatuses to turn a mobile phone over in, for example, a kiosk, and associated embodiments of kiosks are disclosed herein. Embodiments of such apparatuses can enable the kiosk to visually inspect both the front and back sides of the mobile device on an inspection surface with an inspection system (e.g., one or more imaging devices, lighting devices, etc.) positioned above the inspection surface, and can eliminate the need to position a second inspection system below a transparent inspection surface to visually inspect, e.g., the back side of the mobile device through the transparent inspection surface.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods to verify the identity of an evaluated device that has been previously identified and evaluated remotely from a reader device. The reader device obtains from an evaluated device temporally changing information, where the temporally changing information includes a unique identifier associated with the evaluated device and a proximity indication. The reader device verifies the temporally changing information by verifying that the unique identifier is contained in the temporally changing information, that the unique identifier is stored in a database associated with the reader device, and that the temporally changing information includes the proximity indication indicating that the evaluated device and the reader device are proximate to each other. Upon verifying the temporally changing information, the reader device obtains the price of the evaluated device, based on the unique identifier associated with the evaluated device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for generating a price of a target device are disclosed herein. An evaluator device obtains technical properties associated with the target device. The technical properties include a make and a model of the target device. Physical properties associated with the target device are obtained. The physical properties include information related to wear and tear of the target device. Obtaining the physical properties includes indicating to a user that the user should position the target device in multiple predetermined positions and that the evaluator device records an image of the target device in each of the multiple predetermined positions. A video of the target device is recorded while the target device is positioned in the multiple predetermined positions. The obtained physical properties are evaluated to generate a condition metric value of the target device. Based on the generated condition metric value, the price of the target device is determined.

Abstract: Various embodiments of kiosks for purchasing and/or recycling mobile phones and other mobile electronic devices from users are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the kiosks are relatively small (e.g., less than 0.75 cubic feet) and/or are configured to mount to other kiosks or other suitable mounting structures in publicly accessible areas. The kiosks can include an inspection area having a transparent plate through which the mobile electronic device can be viewed by a camera in the kiosk. The transparent plate can be movable (e.g., tiltable) to direct the mobile electronic device to one or more bins below the inspection area. The kiosk can also include one or more deflecting plates configured to direct the mobile electronic device to a selected bin. One or more of the deflecting plates can be configured to move (e.g., tilt) between two or more configurations to direct mobile electronic device to the selected bin.

Abstract: Various embodiments of kiosks for purchasing mobile phones and other mobile electronic devices from users are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the kiosks include an apparatus to turn a mobile phone over on an inspection surface. This apparatus can enable the kiosk to visually inspect both the front and back sides of the mobile device on the inspection surface with an inspection system (e.g., imaging devices, lighting devices, etc.) positioned above the inspection surface, and can eliminate the need to position a second inspection system below a transparent inspection surface to visually inspect, e.g., the back side of the mobile device through the transparent inspection surface. In some embodiments, the kiosk also includes a wireless mobile phone charging device that can be used for, e.g., phone charging and identification.

Abstract: Various embodiments of kiosks for purchasing mobile phones and other mobile electronic devices from users are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the kiosks include an apparatus to position an electrical connector for connection to a mobile device. This apparatus enables the kiosk to connect to the mobile device to electrically inspect the mobile device, and the associated electrical connectors and cables are not subjected to repeated pulling and other rough handling that can lead to premature wear and tear. Accordingly, use of connector carriers configured in accordance with the present technology can lead to longer connector/cable service life, reduced maintenance, and greater kiosk up-time. In some embodiments, the apparatus can include a camshaft having one or more cam lobes positioned to act against one or more cam followers, e.g., carrying one or more electrical connectors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems and methods for evaluating a device and presenting a price quote for the device by using an optical character recognition (OCR) system and/or other associated devices and systems. The system can utilize a wireless charger to obtain information about the device while charging the device. The information can include the make of the device. The system can guide the user to navigate the device to provide additional information such as model, memory capacity, unique identifier, and carrier associated with the device, which can be extracted from the device using OCR. Based on, e.g., the unique identifier, the system can determine whether the device has been stolen. If the device has not been stolen, the system can determine a price based on information obtained from the device and can present the price to the user. If the user accepts the price, the system can facilitate purchase of the device.

Abstract: Disclosed here are various embodiments to evaluate a device and present a price quote to the user by detecting a presence of a device in proximity to a wireless charger. The system can utilize a wireless charger to obtain information about the device while charging the device. The information can include the make of the device. The system can guide the user to navigate the device to provide additional information such as model, memory capacity, unique identifier, and carrier associated with the device. Based on the unique identifier, the system can determine whether device has been stolen. If the device has not been stolen, the system can determine a price based on information obtained from the device and can facilitate presenting the price to the user. If the user accepts the price, the system can facilitate purchase of the device.

Abstract: Kiosk systems and methods for vending mobile phones and other electronic devices to, and/or for purchasing mobile phones and other electronic devices from, consumers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, such systems can include subsystems for preparing purchased mobile phones for resale, moving mobile phones between different processing stations, transferring data from, e.g., an old phone to a newly purchased phone, etc. In some embodiments, the kiosk systems disclosed herein can purchase a mobile phone from one consumer, process the mobile phone for resale (e.g., by removing personal data, etc.), and then sell the mobile phone to another consumer.

Abstract: Methods and devices for providing access to a wireless network through a network access point secured with a network password may include receiving a request to provide access to the wireless network for a device on the network access point. A virtual access point may be established to provide access to the wireless network for the device in response to receiving the request to provide access for the device on the network access point. A virtual access point password may be established for the device and associated with a unique identifier of the device. The virtual access point password may be different from the network password. The device may be provided with access to the network when an entered password matches the virtual access point password and the device identifier matches the unique identifier of the device associated with the virtual access point password.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for adjusting the manner in which haptic feedback is provided to the user based on physical characteristics of the user. Physical characteristics may include stable physical characteristics that are non-changing with respect to a level of physical activity of the user. Examples of such stable physical characteristics may include age, gender, race, visual impairments and/or other physical characteristics. In some embodiments, the mobile device may adjust the haptic feedback by adjusting the intensity of the haptic feedback, frequency of the haptic feedback, duration for which the haptic feedback is provided to the user and changing a type of haptic feedback provided to the user of the device.

Abstract: A biometric security method and apparatus for a capacitive sensor system is provided herein, where the method may include capturing a set of raw capacitive frames for a body part via the capacitive sensor system, wherein each raw capacitive frame includes a distribution of a plurality of capacitance levels measured from the body part; creating a capacitive profile based on the set of raw capacitive frames; comparing a first value in the capacitive profile to a second value in a biometric template generated from an enrolled body part, wherein the first value and the second value are located at a similar location with respect to the capacitive profile; and, generating an authentication signal based on a difference between the first value and the second value.

Abstract: A biometric security method and apparatus for a capacitive sensor system is provided herein, where the method may include capturing a set of raw capacitive frames for a body part via the capacitive sensor system, wherein each raw capacitive frame includes a distribution of a plurality of capacitance levels measured from the body part; creating a capacitive profile based on the set of raw capacitive frames; comparing a first value in the capacitive profile to a second value in a biometric template generated from an enrolled body part, wherein the first value and the second value are located at a similar location with respect to the capacitive profile; and, generating an authentication signal based on a difference between the first value and the second value.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for adjusting the manner in which haptic feedback is provided to the user based on physical characteristics of the user. Physical characteristics may include stable physical characteristics that are non-changing with respect to a level of physical activity of the user. Examples of such stable physical characteristics may include age, gender, race, visual impairments and/or other physical characteristics. In some embodiments, the mobile device may adjust the haptic feedback by adjusting the intensity of the haptic feedback, frequency of the haptic feedback, duration for which the haptic feedback is provided to the user and changing a type of haptic feedback provided to the user of the device.

Abstract: Methods and devices for providing access to a wireless network through a network access point secured with a network password may include receiving a request to provide access to the wireless network for a device on the network access point. A virtual access point may be established to provide access to the wireless network for the device in response to receiving the request to provide access for the device on the network access point. A virtual access point password may be established for the device and associated with a unique identifier of the device. The virtual access point password may be different from the network password. The device may be provided with access to the network when an entered password matches the virtual access point password and the device identifier matches the unique identifier of the device associated with the virtual access point password.