Abstract:
A method of remotely performing a functional diagnostic and a cosmetic evaluation of a used electronic device, using an app installed on the device itself, and of using the evaluation data to determine a resale value for the device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application takes priority from Provisional Application No. 62/026,038, filed Jul. 18, 2014, and is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 14/477,794, filed Sep. 4, 2014, which takes priority from Provisional Application No. 61/992,160, filed May 12, 2014, and Provisional Application No. 62/024,462, filed Jul. 14, 2014. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates generally to determining the condition of used electronic devices, and more particularly to a method for evaluating insurance claims for used electronic devices. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    It is often desirable to determine the condition of a used electronic device. For example, an electronic device company or a reseller buying back a used electronic device may wish to determine whether or not it is in good working order, what&#39;s broken, what&#39;s working, and so on. A repair shop specializing in repairing electronic devices may wish to perform a diagnostic test on a malfunctioning device to determine what works and what doesn&#39;t. An insurance company wishing to verify a claim made by a customer may wish to perform a diagnostic test on the device they insured. 
         [0007]    Some of those diagnostic tests may need to be performed before a price quote is made. For example, a reseller may need to determine whether or not the device is in good working order before making an offer to the consumer. A repair shop may need to perform a diagnostic test before quoting a price for the repairs. 
         [0008]    A consumer wishing to file an insurance claim on their used electronic device would need to send it in to the insurance company. Typically, the consumer does not know whether their claim will get approved until the insurance company receives the device. 
         [0009]    A need therefore exists for a method of verifying the condition of an electronic device remotely and providing the consumer with information as to whether their insurance claim would actually get approved. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]    An object of the present invention is to perform a functional test on a used electronic device via an application installed on the device itself. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to perform a cosmetic evaluation of a used electronic device via an application installed on the device itself. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to evaluate an insurance claim for a used electronic device. 
         [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to perform a diagnostic for a problem with a used electronic device via an application installed on the device itself. 
         [0014]    For purposes of the present disclosure, a “used electronic device” may be a smartphone, mp3 player, tablet, laptop, gaming device, or any other device capable of running an application and transmitting data to a server. 
         [0015]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an application is installed on an electronic device. The application determines the identifying information for the electronic device, such as the device ID number, the manufacturer and model, user name, and so on. The application also performs a functional test on the electronic device. Such a functional test may include a battery test, a test of the cell phone function of the device, a test of the wi-fi transmission, a test of the touchscreen, a test of the buttons, and so on. The results of the functional test are then transmitted to an online server, which looks up pricing information for used electronic devices of the same type and in the same condition as the electronic device. 
         [0016]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the application also performs a cosmetic test on the electronic device. The object of the cosmetic test is to determine the cosmetic condition of the electronic device—i.e. to evaluate the number of scratches, cracks, scuff marks, and other cosmetic imperfections. The electronic device&#39;s own camera is preferably used to take photos of the electronic device in front of a mirror; the application preferably directs the user to hold the electronic device in the correct position and at the correct distance in front of the mirror for the photo or photos to be taken. If the electronic device has two or more cameras, the application can direct the user to turn the device in such a way that each camera can take a photo of the electronic device in the mirror. The application may also direct the user to hold a second mirror in such a way that at least one of the left side, right side, top side, or bottom side of the device are visible to at least one camera of the electronic device. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the application may display a rectangular frame on the device screen for the purpose of alignment of the device image prior to taking a photo of the device. In another embodiment, the photo is taken automatically when the user positions the used electronic device correctly and at the proper orientation. 
         [0018]    The photos are then analyzed to determine the cosmetic condition of the device. In the preferred embodiment, at least one or more visual parameters of the photo are changed to heighten the contrast level, luminence, or tonal range to make cosmetic imperfections more visible. The number, type, location, and size of cosmetic imperfections are then used to produce a cosmetic score for the device. The analysis may be performed on the device itself or on a server. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, information regarding the device is steganographically encoded in at least one of the photos taken during the cosmetic evaluation. The information may comprise the device ID, user name, device make and model, or some parameter of the photo itself (to prevent tampering). The information may also comprise the functional test results, cosmetic evaluation results, and pricing information. The information may be encrypted. 
         [0020]    The cosmetic and functional test results are then conveyed to a server. The server preferably comprises insurance policy information for the used electronic device. Such policy information may comprise information on what types of damage are covered by the policy. The server then evaluates the test results, compares the type of damage to the types of damage covered by the policy, and allows or denies an insurance claim for the customer. 
     
    
     
       LIST OF FIGURES 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows the first part of a flowchart of the method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  shows the second part of a flowchart of the method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a flowchart of the method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The user first installs an application on the used electronic device  100 . Then, the application queries the device  110  to determine its device ID number, manufacturer and model, operating system type, user name, and so on. In an embodiment, the application may also query the device to determine if security software such as Find My iPhone is turned on, and instruct the user to turn it off. 
         [0024]    The application then performs a functional test  120  on the used electronic device. In the preferred embodiment, the functions tested comprise the battery, telephone, wi-fi, buttons, touchscreen, camera or cameras, screen, Bluetooth, speaker, microphone, earphones, and so on. Some of the tests are conducted automatically, whereas some other tests may require the user to interact with the used electronic device (i.e. by pushing the buttons or touching the touchscreen). In an embodiment, the user is able to specify ahead of time which functions should be included in the functional test. In an embodiment, the functional test includes testing for intentional damage to the device. 
         [0025]    After the functional test is performed, the test results are summarized  130 . The application then performs a cosmetic test on the device. 
         [0026]    The first step of the cosmetic test is instructing the user to hold the used electronic device in front of a mirror and use one camera of the used electronic device to take a photo of the device  140 . The application preferably directs the user to hold the used electronic device in the correct position and at the correct distance from the mirror for the photo to be taken. In the preferred embodiment, a rectangular frame is shown on the screen of the device for the user to align the photo. The photo is then taken automatically when the device is at the correct distance and orientation with respect to the mirror. Preferably, the correct distance is the closest focal distance of the device camera, so the largest clear photo may be taken. 
         [0027]    In an embodiment, the next step of the cosmetic test is instructing the user to hold the used electronic device in front of a mirror and use another camera of the used electronic device to take a photo of the device  150 . The user may also be instructed to hold a second mirror up to the device in such a way as to take a photo of the right side, left side, top side, or bottom side of the device  160 . Any number of photos may be taken. The photos are preferably taken automatically when the device is positioned correctly, but they may also be taken manually by the user. In the preferred embodiment, the photos show all six sides of the used electronic device. 
         [0028]    The photos are then analyzed  170  to determine a cosmetic score for the used electronic device. Preferably, the photos are processed to heighten the visibility of any cosmetic imperfections, then analyzed to determine the number, type, and length of each cosmetic imperfection. The types of cosmetic imperfections are preferably cracks, scratches, scuffs, and other miscellaneous imperfections. In the preferred embodiment, in each category, the imperfections are sorted into length ranges—for example, 2-4 mm, 4-6 mm, 6-8 mm, and so on. The number of imperfections in each range is multiplied by the average length, and the numbers are added together to get a score for each category of imperfection. Then, the scores are weighted based on the type of imperfection and location—cracks are weighted heavier than scuffs, and scratches on the screen are weighted heavier than scratches on the case, for example. Finally, the weighted scores are added to get a cosmetic score. In an embodiment, the cosmetic score is also used to determine a cosmetic category such as “Like New”, “Used”, “Heavily Used”, and so on. In an embodiment, the cosmetic test may also include an evaluation of whether intentional damage to the device is likely. 
         [0029]    The cosmetic test results and the functional test results are then transmitted to a server  180 , along with information identifying the device. The server then looks up an insurance policy associated with the device  190 . The insurance policy preferably, but not necessarily, includes the type of damage that is covered by the policy and the type of damage that is excluded. 
         [0030]    The server then compares the types of damage covered by the insurance policy with the type of damage present in the electronic device  195 . If the only type of damage present in the electronic device is the types of damage covered by the insurance policy, the server approves the insurance claim for the device. If damage is present that is not covered by the insurance policy, the server denies the insurance claim. 
         [0031]    In an embodiment, the server may automatically generate an insurance claim form for the electronic device, and may also automatically submit it to the insurance company. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, once the insurance claim is approved, the app may erase all the data on the electronic device and provide the user with a certificate of erasure. 
         [0033]    While exemplary embodiments have been described above, those skilled in the art will readily realize that numerous changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.