Patent Publication Number: US-11663866-B2

Title: Service kiosk access

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/481,350, filed on Jul. 26, 2019, which claims priority to International Application No. PCT/US2018/030290, filed on Apr. 30, 2018, the disclosure of each being incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Computing devices today have become a fundamental part of the way we live and work, as well as smaller and more mobile. Individuals, for example, use computers and mobile devices for entertainment, communication, shopping, and so forth. Further, businesses often provide computers for their employees so that the employees can efficiently carry out their duties across a wide variety of functions. While some businesses take on ownership and maintenance of devices provided to their users, other companies may opt to offload certain information technology costs using a variety of techniques. For example, some companies may rely on a device-as-a-service (DAAS) offering. A DAAS offering may involve periodic payments to a device provider in exchange for user devices and service guarantees for the hardware, software, and so forth, of the devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present application may be more fully appreciated in connection with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an example service kiosk associated with service kiosk access. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a flowchart of example operations associated with service kiosk access. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates another service kiosk associated with service kiosk access. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates an example computing device in which example systems, and methods, and equivalents, may operate. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Examples associated with service kiosk access are described. As will be more fully described herein, a service kiosk is an apparatus that is meant to store a set of devices for supporting a device-as-a-service model. The service kiosk includes a set of compartments each fitted with connectors to provide a connection between a device stored within the compartment and various control modules embedded in the service kiosk. The service kiosk may be physically installed in a location accessible to employees of a company relying on a device-as-a-service model to provide electronic devices to its employees. When service events associated with devices occur, the employees may visit the kiosk to have their device repaired by the kiosk and/or replaced by backup devices stored in the kiosk. This may increase the uptime of devices assigned to the employees. The backup devices may also reduce support costs associated with sending out technicians to provide support as a device failure can be at least temporarily mitigated by replacing the failed device with a new device in the kiosk, until eventually, a technician can be sent out to efficiently service or replace many devices stored in the kiosk in a single visit. 
     This description covers the process by which the contents of a kiosk may be monitored for the purposes of determining when to send out a technician to perform in-person service on the kiosk itself, devices stored in the kiosk, and/or to adjust the number or types of devices in the kiosk. Over time, depending on a variety of factors related to a business in which the service kiosk is embedded, the kiosk may become empty as new employees join the business, full as employees leave the business, and so forth. Similarly, devices may benefit from in person service or replacement as a result of devices in the service kiosk being used to replace devices in use by the business that have encountered a hardware or other failure. Consequently, when a condition is met that indicates desirability of an in person visit by a technician to service the kiosk, a message may be transmitted (e.g., from the kiosk) to schedule such a visit. When the technician arrives, the technician may be authenticated by the service kiosk, and then granted physical access to compartments of the service kiosk storing devices to be removed and/or repaired, as well as compartments of the service kiosk that should have a new device added in the case that the service kiosk was low on devices. The service kiosk may guide the technician through the process through an interface on the kiosk, such as a display that describes what action to take with respect to individual compartments and the device(s) therein, as well as, for example, indicators on individual compartments themselves. 
     It is appreciated that, in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the examples. However, it is appreciated that the examples may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, methods and structures may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the examples. Also, the examples may be used in combination with each other. 
     “Module,” as used herein, includes but is not limited to hardware, firmware, software stored on a computer-readable medium or in execution on a machine, and/or combinations of each to perform a function(s) or an action(s), and/or to cause a function or action from another module, method, and/or system. A module may include a software controlled microprocessor, a discrete module, an analog circuit, a digital circuit, a programmed module device, a memory device containing instructions, and so on. Modules may include gates, combinations of gates, or other circuit components. Where multiple logical modules are described, it may be possible to incorporate the multiple logical modules into one physical module. Similarly, where a single logical module is described, it may be possible to distribute that single logical module between multiple physical modules. 
     As used herein a service kiosk is intended to broadly describe a category of apparatuses used to securely store electronic devices in a manner that allows the devices to be configured while stored in the service kiosk. The service kiosk may have one or more compartments having data and/or power connectors. Devices that are attached to the data connectors may be configured either directly by the service kiosk or remotely by a remote service. Depending on where the devices are in their life cycle, the configuration may include setting up a device for a new user, modifying the device on behalf of a current user (e.g., reconfiguring the device, repairing the device), deprovisioning a device, and so forth. The service kiosk may also include an interface for communicating with and/or authenticating users. Once authenticated, the service kiosk may grant the user access to devices and or compartments to allow the user to perform a task related to a device assigned to the user. The task may involve obtaining a device from the kiosk, storing a device in the kiosk, and so forth. In various examples, the service kiosk may resemble, for example, a vending machine, a set of lockers, a chest of drawers, and so forth. Various structural components of a service kiosk may be made from wood, metal, plastic, or other suitable materials. The service kiosk may include structural elements such as legs, supports, wall fasteners, and so forth. 
     Consequently, the service kiosk may facilitate fulfilling service guarantees of a device-as-a-service (DAAS) offering. In a DAAS offering, a user or business may periodically pay a device provider for a device and a promise to service the device in the event the device fails. The service guarantee may include a variety of terms and in various examples may cover firmware, software, hardware, device data, user data, periodic lifecycle upgrades, and so forth. In this example, ownership of the device may remain with the device provider. In the event of a failure of the device or some other technical issue related to the device, a service kiosk stationed in a location accessible to the user may allow the device provider to more easily provide technical support for the device, up to and including replacing the device with a working device. For businesses that are relying on several devices at any given time, it may be cost effective for the business to have an on-site service kiosk to be able to quickly provision a new device for a new user, deprovision a device when that device&#39;s user leaves the business, and so forth, in addition to the technical support features that may be facilitated by the service kiosk itself. Eventually, when it is determined that the state of the devices in the service kiosk make it likely the service kiosk will begin failing to fulfil the service guarantee to the business (e.g., because the service kiosk is full, empty, has a number of devices in need of repair, or a combination of factors) a technician may be called to service the kiosk and/or devices stored within. This may be less expensive to the business and/or the device provider than having a technician on site, or having a technician called to service each malfunctioning device. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an example service kiosk  100  associated with receptacle isolation. Service kiosk  100  includes a set of receptacles  110 . While 18 receptacles are shown, in other examples, service kiosk  100  may include a greater or lesser number of receptacles. The receptacles  110  may be adapted for storing electronic devices  199 . Different receptacles may be adapted to store different types of electronic devices  199 . Here for example, receptacles  112  may be adapted to store a first type of device (e.g., laptops), and receptacles  114  may be adapted to store a second type of device (e.g., cell phones). In other examples, receptacles may be configured to store different types, models, and/or brands of laptops, phones, tablets, or other device types. Receptacles  110  may be adapted to store different types of devices based on a variety of attributes. For example, receptacles  110  for storing phones may be smaller than receptacles  110  for storing laptops. 
     One receptacle  140  is illustrated in additional detail to further illustrate features of receptacles  110 . In this example, receptacle  140  is adapted for storing cellular phones  199 . This may affect the size of receptacle  140 , connectors  160  installed in receptacle  140 , and so forth. Here, receptacle  140  is shown as having a universal serial bus (USB) connector  160 . USB connector  160  may provide power to device  199  as well a data connection between device  199  and other components of service kiosk  100 . For laptops, receptacles  110  may use a different configuration of connectors  160  for providing power and/or data to a device  199 . For example, a regional power adaptor may be used for providing power to devices. The data connection for a laptop may be provided using, for example, an ethernet port, a universal serial bus port, or other types of ports. 
     It is also worth observing that in other examples, connector  160  may take different physical forms. Here, connector  160  is illustrated as a USB port in the rear wall of receptacle  140 . This may mean that to connect device  199  to connector  160 , an appropriate cable would also need to be provided. In other examples, connectors  160  may be cables or retractable cables of the appropriate type for connecting to a device type for which receptacle  140  is configured, a docking port of the appropriate type for connecting to a device type for which receptacle  140  is configured, a wireless communication transmitter (e.g., WIFI, Bluetooth) and so forth. The different connector types may have different tradeoffs. For example, a USB port as illustrated may ensure that a device appropriate cable is provided to a user who obtains a device from receptacle  140 , but would also mean that a user inserting a device  199  would have to bring or be provided such a cable. Alternatively, a connector that involves an installed cable or docking port may ensure that a person inserting a device into receptacle  140  would be able to insert the device without providing an additional cable, but would mean that a user retrieving a device from receptacle  140  would have to be provided an appropriate cable through an alternative method. 
     Receptacle  140  also includes a locking mechanism  155 . In this example, locking mechanism  155  is illustrated as being attached to a door  150  of receptacle  140 . However, locking mechanism  155  may take a variety of forms and its form may depend on the form by which door  150  is designed to give access to users. Here for example, door  150  is illustrated as opening outwards, though in other examples, a sliding, rotating, or retracting door may be appropriate. Locking mechanism  155  may be controllable by other components of service kiosk  100  to grant and restrict access to receptacle  140 . These other components and the situations in which access to receptacle  140  may be controlled are more fully discussed below. In some examples, it may also be desirable for locking mechanism  155  to be controllable via a physical mechanism (e.g., a service key). This may allow receptacle  140  to be serviced by a technician to, for example, modify the contents of receptacle  140 , repair a component of receptacle  140 , and so forth, even when service kiosk  100  is unpowered. 
     In this example, receptacle  140  is illustrated as incorporating a digital isolator  170 . Here, digital isolator  170  is illustrated as a faraday cage  170  that is built into the structure of receptacle  140 . Faraday cage  170  may prevent wireless electronic signals from being transmitted by device  199  to devices external to receptacle  140 , as well as preventing device  199  from receiving wireless signals from devices external to receptacle  140 . In this example, faraday cage  140  is illustrated as being grounded  175 , though in other examples, the ground may be excluded. Other digital isolation techniques may also be employed. For example, digital isolation may also be achieved via the port  160  providing a data connection between device  199  and other components of service kiosk  100 . By way of illustration service kiosk  100  may implement individualized networks to prevent direct transmission of wired signals between devices in members of the set of receptacles  110 . This may also prevent devices  199  from detecting whether other devices are connected to service kiosk  100 . Digital isolation may also include signal isolation to ensure secure communication between devices in the receptacles  110  and other components of service kiosk  100 . In some examples, digital isolation may also incorporate power isolation. 
     Service kiosk  100  also includes an interface  120 . Interface  120  may include several components. Here interface  120  includes a display  122 , a keyboard  128 , a keypad  126 , and a radio frequency identification (RFID) scanner  124 . Interface  120  may use these components to facilitate communicating with user interacting with service kiosk  100 . Interface  120  may also include additional components including for example, cameras, touch input devices, external device connectors (e.g., to provide power and/or data to devices not in receptacles  110 ), and so forth. Interface  120  may also make use of lights  180  associated with individual receptacles  110 . These lights  180  may allow the interface to direct a user to a specific receptacle  110  of service kiosk  100 . For example, when service kiosk  100  seeks to direct a user to a specific receptacle  110 , service kiosk  100  may control a light on that receptacle to turn on, blink, and so forth. 
     Service kiosk  100  may also include a variety of modules  130  for performing various functions associated with service kiosk  100  and/or configuring devices  199  stored in compartments  110  of service kiosk  100 . Modules  130  may be, for example, performed by a processor of a computer embedded in service kiosk  130 . In other examples, modules  130  may act as a communication pass through for communications between a remote information technology module (e.g., a device-as-a-service operation) and devices  199  stored in compartments  110  of service kiosk  100 . 
     In various examples, the modules  130  may interact with a user via interface  120 , with devices  199  in compartments  110 , with other modules  130 , and with remote servers and/or devices. For example, modules  130  may include an authentication module. The authentication module may receive a credential from a user and authenticate the credential based on authentication data associated with the user. The authentication data may have been received from a remote information technology module. When the user is successfully authenticated, the authentication module or another module  130  of service kiosk  100  may grant the user access to one or more receptacles  110  of service kiosk  100 . The user may provide the credential via user interface  120 . The credential may be, for example, a username and password pair that identifies the user that the user inputs via keyboard  128 . In another example, the credential may be an RFID signal the user provides via RFID scanner  124 . In another example, the user may authenticate themselves by attaching the mobile device  199  to a data connector of service kiosk  100 . Multi-factor authentication may also be appropriate involving a combination of the above and/or other authentication techniques. 
     In various examples, service kiosk  100  may be selective about granting user access to receptacles  110 . How service kiosk  100  determines which receptacles  110  to which a user is granted access may depend on what function service kiosk  100  is performing for the user. In various examples, the user may be picking up a device from service kiosk  100 , storing a device in service kiosk  100 , having a device repaired or configured by service kiosk  100 , diagnosing a technical issue with a device with the help of service kiosk  100 , and so forth. In these examples, service kiosk  100  may grant such a user access only to receptacles associated with the task being performed by service kiosk  100 . The user may be granted access to these receptacles  110  by service kiosk  100  controlling locking mechanisms  155  on the respective receptacles  110 . In cases where the user is a technician responsible for servicing service kiosk  100 , the user may be granted access to specific receptacles, or in some cases general access to all receptacles  110 . This may allow the technician to adjust the contents of the receptacles and/or perform physical maintenance on devices stored within service kiosk  100  or on service kiosk  100  itself. 
     Service kiosk  100  may also include a variety of other components  195 . For example, component  195  may be a compartment storing additional supplies that support the purpose of service kiosk  100 . By way of illustration, component  195  may store spare parts, extra data and/or power cables, and so forth that may be used by users interacting with service kiosk  100 . In other examples, component  195  may also store, for example, packaging and mailing supplies for shipping devices  199  for service. Other potential components  195  may also be contemplated. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an example method  200 . Method  200  may be embodied on a non-transitory processor-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions. The instructions, when executed by a processor, may cause the processor to perform method  200 . In other examples, method  200  may exist within logic gates and/or RAM of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). 
     Method  200  may perform various tasks associated with service kiosk access. Method  200  includes monitoring the contents of a set of compartments of a service kiosk at  210 . The compartments may each be capable of storing at least one electronic device in a manner that provides power to the electronic device and a data connection to the electronic device. 
     Method  200  also includes generating a request for a technician at  220 . Generating the request for the technician may occur upon reaching a specified condition. The specified condition may relate to, for example, contents of compartments of the service kiosk, a status of the service kiosk, a status of a content of a compartment of the service kiosk, and so forth. In some examples, the request may identify components and/or devices that will facilitate resolving the specified condition. 
     Method  200  also includes authenticating the technician is physically present at the service kiosk at  230 . The technician may be authenticated via an interface of the service kiosk. The interface may include a display, input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, keypad), radio frequency identification readers, and so forth. The technician may be authenticated based on a credential provided by the technician. The credential may include, for example, a password, a radio frequency identifier, a biometric, and so forth. Authenticating the user may include transmitting the credential to a remote device and receiving a signal from the remote device signaling that the credential belongs to the technician. 
     Method  200  also includes granting the technician physical access to compartments of the service kiosk at  240 . The compartments the technician is granted access to may be compartments associated with the specified condition. For example, the specified condition may relate to the compartments of the service kiosk reaching a predefined capacity threshold. In this example, the technician may be granted physical access to compartments to adjust the number of devices stored in the compartments (e.g., removing devices from the compartments, adding devices to the compartments). In another example, the specified condition may relate to a quantity of devices in the compartments that have reached a certain life cycle status. Here the technician may be granted physical access to compartments to replace out of life cycle devices. 
     In another example, the specified condition may relate to a quantity of devices that have a malfunction flagged for physical repair. In this example, the technician may be granted physical access to compartments to perform the physical repairs on the devices. The physical repairs may involve for example, replacing components of devices, replacing devices, and so forth. In another example, the specified condition may relate to a quantity of devices that have been requested at a site at which the kiosk is located. The devices may have been requested by an administrator in association with an upcoming service event. Here, the technician may be granted access to compartments in support of fulfilling the upcoming service event. 
     In another example, the specified condition may relate to a physical property of a component of the service kiosk itself. Here the technician may be granted access to the component of the service kiosk to, for example, repair the component of the service kiosk. In another example, the specified condition may relate to a combination of factors. These combined factors may indicate that current statuses of devices in the service kiosk indicates that a likelihood of being able to fulfil a quality of service guarantee has achieved a specified threshold level. 
     In some examples, method  200  may also include providing the technician instructions on a compartment by compartment basis for resolving the specified condition (not shown). The instructions may be provided via an interface on the service kiosk. By way of illustration, a display on the service kiosk may identify compartments by location and/or number, as well as an action to take with respect to the compartments. Alternatively, lights or other indicators built into individual compartment may be lit, flashed, or otherwise activated to indicate compartments that the technician should access to resolve the specified condition. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an example service kiosk  300  associated with service kiosk provisioning. Service kiosk  300  includes a set of receptacles  310 . An example receptacle  340  is illustrated in additional detail. Each member of the set of receptacles  310  includes an adaptor  360 . Adaptor  360  may provide power to an electronic device  399 , a data connection between electronic device  399  and components of service kiosk  300 , and so forth. Members of the set of receptacles  310  may also include a locking mechanism  355  to secure the contents of the receptacles  310  (e.g., electronic device  399 ). In this example, locking mechanism  355  is attached to a door  350  of example receptacle  340 . Here the locking mechanism may be able to rotate in a manner that prevents door  355  from opening. 
     Service kiosk  300  also includes a monitor module  330 . Monitor module  330  may monitor statuses of the contents of the receptacles  310 . Monitor module  330  may monitor the contents via the data connections in the receptacles  310 . When a specified condition is reached, monitor module may transmit a signal requesting a technician provide physical service for service kiosk  300 . The specified condition may relate to, for example, a status of service kiosk  300 , contents of compartments  310  of service kiosk  300 , and statuses of contents of compartments  310  of service kiosk  300 . In some examples, the signal requesting the technician may specify components, devices, and so forth, that the technician should bring to resolve the specified condition. 
     Service kiosk  300  also includes an authentication module  332 . Authentication module  332  may authenticate the physical presence of the technician based on a credential provided by the technician. When the technician is authenticated, authentication module  332  may provide the technician physical access to receptacles  310  associated with the specified condition. Physical access may be granted using locking mechanisms corresponding to the receptacles associated with the specified condition. 
     In some examples, service kiosk  300  may include a user interface (not shown). The user interface may provide the technician instructions for resolving the specified condition on a receptacle by receptacle basis. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates an example computing device in which example systems and methods, and equivalents, may operate. The example computing device may be a computer  400  that includes a processor  410  and a memory  420  connected by a bus  430 . Computer  400  includes a service kiosk access module  440 . Service kiosk access module  440  may perform, alone or in combination, various functions described above with reference to the example systems, methods, and so forth. In different examples, service kiosk access module  440  may be implemented as a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions, in hardware, software, firmware, an application specific integrated circuit, and/or combinations thereof. 
     The instructions may also be presented to computer  400  as data  450  and/or process  460  that are temporarily stored in memory  420  and then executed by processor  410 . The processor  410  may be a variety of processors including dual microprocessor and other multi-processor architectures. Memory  420  may include non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory, flash memory, memristor) and/or volatile memory (e.g., random access memory). Memory  420  may also be, for example, a magnetic disk drive, a solid state disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a tape drive, a flash memory card, an optical disk, and so on. Thus, memory  420  may store process  460  and/or data  450 . Computer  400  may also be associated with other devices including other computers, devices, peripherals, and so forth in numerous configurations (not shown). 
     It is appreciated that the previous description of the disclosed examples is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.