Patent Document

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/629,245, filed Sep. 27, 2012, entitled “AUTOMATIC MOBILE COMMUNICATOR DEPOT SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY,” which claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/577,112, entitled A RECEIVING MALFUNCTIONING MOBILE PHONE AND A DISPENSING FUNCTIONING CELLULAR TELEPHONE CONSOLE, filed Dec. 19, 2011, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to mobile communicator repair and replacement logistics generally. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, the number of mobile communicators in the hands of the public has increased greatly, thus creating a need for efficient logistics for handling repair and replacement thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention seeks to provide an automatic mobile communicator depot system and methodology. There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an automatic mobile communicator depot system including a mobile communicator acceptor for accepting mobile communicators and providing mobile communicator acceptance inputs, a mobile communicator dispenser for dispensing substitute mobile communicators in response to substitute mobile communicator dispensing instructions, a customer interface receiving customer inputs identifying a specific mobile communicator with a specific customer, and a depot controller responsive at least to the customer inputs and the acceptance inputs and including dispenser control functionality for providing dispensing instructions to the mobile communicator dispenser to dispense a specific substitute mobile communicator to a specific customer and automatic telephone number transfer functionality for transferring a telephone number from a mobile communicator received by the mobile communicator acceptor from a given customer to the substitute mobile communicator dispensed by the mobile communicator dispenser to the customer. 
     Preferably, the mobile communicator acceptor is operative to accept from a customer a mobile communicator to be repaired and the mobile communicator dispenser is operative to dispense to the customer a temporary replacement mobile communicator to be used until the customer&#39;s mobile communicator is returned in a repaired state to the customer. Additionally or alternatively, the mobile communicator acceptor is operative to accept from a customer a mobile communicator to be replaced and the mobile communicator dispenser is operative to dispense to the customer a permanent replacement mobile communicator. 
     Preferably, the mobile communicator acceptor is also operative to accept from the customer the temporary replacement mobile communicator and the mobile communicator dispenser is operative to dispense the mobile communicator earlier received by the mobile communicator acceptor from the customer, to the customer in a repaired state. Additionally or alternatively, the mobile communicator acceptor is operative to accept from the customer a temporary replacement mobile communicator dispensed to the customer by a mobile communicator dispenser which is not the a mobile communicator dispenser, and the mobile communicator dispenser is operative to dispense the mobile communicator earlier received from the customer by a mobile communicator acceptor which is not the mobile communicator acceptor, to the customer in a repaired state. 
     Preferably, the automatic telephone number transfer functionality is operative for transferring the telephone number from the temporary replacement mobile communicator received by the mobile communicator acceptor from the customer to the mobile communicator dispensed to the customer in a repaired state. 
     Preferably, the depot controller also includes automatic data transfer functionality operable for transferring of data stored in a mobile communicator received by the mobile communicator acceptor from a given customer to the temporary substitute mobile communicator dispensed by the mobile communicator dispenser to the customer. Preferably, the data includes at least part of a contact list. Preferably, the transferring of data is at least partly wireless. Preferably, the automatic data transfer functionality is also operable for transferring of data stored in the temporary substitute mobile communicator earlier received by the mobile communicator acceptor from a given customer to the mobile communicator dispensed to the customer in a repaired state. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the depot controller also includes automatic data transfer functionality operable for transferring of data of a given customer, the data stored in an internet accessible storage facility, to the temporary substitute mobile communicator dispensed by the mobile communicator dispenser to the customer. Preferably, the data includes at least part of a contact list. Preferably, the transferring of data is at least partly wireless. 
     Preferably, the depot system also includes a customer internet interface operable for receiving customer inputs identifying a specific mobile communicator with a specific customer via the internet. Preferably, the customer inputs include at least a telephone number of the specific mobile communicator. Preferably, the customer inputs include at least a description of a malfunction of the specific mobile communicator which needs to be repaired and a preferred future pickup location of the specific mobile communicator in a repaired state. 
     Preferably, the mobile communicator acceptor also includes imaging functionality for capturing an image of at least part of the specific mobile communicator. 
     Preferably, the mobile communicator acceptor also includes depot-service center communication functionality operative for communicating between the depot and at least one mobile communicator service center. Preferably, the depot-service center communication functionality is operable for communicating at least some of the customer inputs to the at least one mobile communicator service center. 
     Preferably, the mobile communicator acceptor is also operative to place the specific mobile communicator into a bin located within a mobile communicator storage and transport structure. Preferably, the depot-service center communication functionality is operable for communicating the identities of the bin and of the mobile communicator storage and transport structure to the at least one mobile communicator service center in association with a unique identifier of the specific mobile communicator. 
     Preferably, at least part of the identities of the bin and of the mobile communicator storage and transport structure are encoded in barcodes imprinted on respective ones of the bin and the mobile communicator storage and transport structure. Preferably, the depot system also includes barcode scanning functionality operable for reading the barcodes. 
     Preferably, the automatic telephone number transfer functionality is operative to employ the depot-service center communication functionality to employ the at least one mobile communicator service center for the transferring a telephone number. 
     Preferably, the mobile communicator dispenser is also operable for dispensing, to the customer, mobile communicator accessories suitable for use with the substitute mobile communicators to be used until the customer&#39;s mobile communicator is returned in a repaired state to the customer, and the mobile communicator acceptor is also operable for accepting, from the customer, the mobile communicator accessories earlier dispensed to the customer, upon return of the customer&#39;s mobile communicator in a repaired state to the customer. Preferably, the accessories include at least one of a mobile communicator charger and a data synchronizing cable. 
     Preferably, the mobile communicator storage and transport structure is operable for removal thereof from the depot and for transport between the depot and the mobile communicator service center. 
     Preferably, the depot also includes customer messaging functionality operative to notify the customer that his mobile communicator has been repaired and will be available for pickup at a specific automatic mobile communicator depot at a specific time. Additionally or alternatively, the depot also includes customer messaging functionality operative to notify the customer that his mobile communicator has been repaired and is available for pickup at a specific automatic mobile communicator depot. 
     There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for operating an automatic mobile communicator depot including accepting mobile communicators and providing mobile communicator acceptance inputs, dispensing substitute mobile communicators in response to substitute mobile communicator dispensing instructions, receiving customer inputs identifying a specific mobile communicator with a specific customer, and responsive at least to the customer inputs and the acceptance inputs, providing dispensing instructions to the mobile communicator dispenser to dispense a specific substitute mobile communicator to a specific customer, and automatically transferring a telephone number from a mobile communicator received by the mobile communicator acceptor from a given customer to the substitute mobile communicator dispensed by the mobile communicator dispenser to the customer. 
     Preferably, accepting mobile communicators includes accepting from a customer a mobile communicator to be repaired, and dispensing substitute mobile communicators includes dispensing to the customer a temporary replacement mobile communicator to be used until the customer&#39;s mobile communicator is returned in a repaired state to the customer. Additionally or alternatively, accepting mobile communicators includes accepting from a customer a mobile communicator to be replaced, and dispensing substitute mobile communicators includes dispensing to the customer a permanent replacement mobile communicator. 
     Preferably, accepting mobile communicators includes accepting from the customer the temporary replacement mobile communicator, and dispensing substitute mobile communicators includes dispensing the mobile communicator earlier received from the customer, to the customer in a repaired state. 
     Preferably, the transferring includes automatically transferring the telephone number from the temporary replacement mobile communicator received from the customer to the mobile communicator dispensed to the customer in a repaired state. 
     Preferably, the method also includes automatically transferring data stored in a mobile communicator received from a given customer to the temporary substitute mobile communicator dispensed to the customer. Preferably, the data includes at least part of a contact list. Preferably, the transferring of data is at least partly wireless. Preferably, the method also includes automatically transferring data stored in the temporary substitute mobile communicator earlier received from the given customer to the mobile communicator dispensed to the customer in a repaired state. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes automatically transferring data of a given customer, the data stored in an internet accessible storage facility, to the temporary substitute mobile communicator dispensed to the customer. Preferably, the data includes at least part of a contact list. Preferably, the transferring of data is at least partly wireless. 
     Preferably, the method also includes receiving customer inputs identifying a specific mobile communicator with a specific customer via the internet. 
     Preferably, the customer inputs include at least a telephone number of the specific mobile communicator. Preferably, the customer inputs include at least a description of a malfunction of the specific mobile communicator which needs to be repaired and a preferred future pickup location of the specific mobile communicator in a repaired state. 
     Preferably, the method also includes capturing an image of at least part of the specific mobile communicator. Preferably, the method also includes communicating between the depot and at least one mobile communicator service center. Preferably, the communicating includes communicating at least some of the customer inputs to the at least one mobile communicator service center. 
     Preferably, the method also includes placing the specific mobile communicator into a bin located within a mobile communicator storage and transport structure. Preferably, the communicating includes communicating the identities of the bin and of the mobile communicator storage and transport structure to the at least one mobile communicator service center in association with a unique identifier of the specific mobile communicator. 
     Preferably, at least part of the identities of the bin and of the mobile communicator storage and transport structure are encoded in barcodes imprinted on respective ones of the bin and the mobile communicator storage and transport structure. 
     Preferably, the method also includes dispensing, to the customer, mobile communicator accessories suitable for use with the substitute mobile communicators to be used until the customer&#39;s mobile communicator is returned in a repaired state to the customer, and accepting, from the customer, the mobile communicator accessories earlier dispensed to the customer, upon return of the customer&#39;s mobile communicator in a repaired state to the customer. Preferably, the accessories include at least one of a mobile communicator charger and a data synchronizing cable. 
     Preferably, the mobile communicator storage and transport structure is operable for removal thereof from the depot and for transport between the depot and the mobile communicator service center. 
     Preferably, the method also includes notifying the customer that his mobile communicator has been repaired and will be available for pickup at a specific automatic mobile communicator depot at a specific time. Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes notifying the customer that his mobile communicator has been repaired and is available for pickup at a specific automatic mobile communicator depot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C  are simplified illustrations of three examples of an initial stage of mobile communicator depot methodology in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C  together are a simplified illustration of an automatic acceptance processing of a customer&#39;s mobile communicator stage of mobile communicator depot methodology in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F and 3G  together are a simplified illustration of a replacement mobile communicator personalization and dispensing stage of mobile communicator depot methodology in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F  together are a simplified illustration of a back-end processing stage of mobile communicator depot methodology in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  together are a simplified illustration of a replacement mobile communicator return stage of mobile communicator depot methodology in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D  together are a simplified illustration of replacement mobile communicator acceptance, validation and depersonalization functionality and customer&#39;s mobile communicator repersonalization and dispensing functionality in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C , which are simplified illustrations of three examples of an initial stage of mobile communicator depot methodology in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Turning to  FIG. 1A , there is shown a scenario wherein a customer, whose mobile communicator  100 , here a smartphone, is broken, initiates a repair over the internet such as by using his home computer to access the customer service website of cellular telephone service provider. 
     Typically the customer identifies himself to the customer service website by entering his mobile communicator telephone number and a unique identifier, such as the last four digits of his credit card. The customer may then select the Automated Telephone Repair Service and is then prompted to describe the problem with his mobile communicator  100 , such as a broken screen. It is appreciated that once the customer enters the telephone number of mobile communicator  100 , the system already has information regarding the identity, type and functionality of mobile communicator  100 . 
     The customer is preferably directed to the nearest repair depot  102  and may be shown its location on a map. 
     Upon arrival at the repair depot  102 , the customer is prompted to identify himself and his mobile communicator  100  by entering his mobile communicator telephone number and a unique identifier, such as the last four digits of his credit card. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1B , there is shown an alternative scenario wherein a customer, whose mobile communicator  100 , here a smartphone, is broken, initiates a repair over the internet such as by using another mobile communicator  103 , such as an iPAD to access the customer service website of cellular telephone service provider. 
     Typically the customer identifies himself by entering his mobile communicator telephone number and a unique identifier, such as the last four digits of his credit card. The customer may then select the Automated Telephone Repair Service and is then prompted to describe the problem with his mobile communicator  100 , such as a broken screen. It is appreciated that once the customer enters the telephone number of mobile communicator  100 , the system already has information regarding the identity, type and functionality of mobile communicator  100 . 
     The customer is preferably directed to the nearest repair depot  102  and may be shown its location on a map. 
     Upon arrival at the repair depot  102 , the customer is prompted to identify himself and his mobile communicator by entering his mobile communicator telephone number and a unique identifier, such as the last four digits of his credit card. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1C , there is shown a scenario wherein a customer, whose mobile communicator  100 , here a smartphone, is broken, is unable to initiate a repair over the internet, since he does not have access to the internet. In such a case, the customer may go directly to a repair depot  102 . 
     Typically the repair depot  102  interacts directly with the customer and prompts the customer to identify himself by entering his mobile communicator telephone number and a unique identifier, such as the last four digits of his credit card. The customer is then prompted to describe the problem with his mobile communicator, such as a broken screen. It is appreciated that once the customer enters the telephone number of mobile communicator  100 , the system already has information regarding the identity, type and functionality of mobile communicator  100 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C , which together are a simplified illustration of an automatic acceptance processing of a customer&#39;s mobile communicator stage of mobile communicator depot methodology in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in  FIG. 2A , upon arrival at depot  102 , a customer is prompted to place his mobile communicator  100  in a receiving receptacle  104 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , depot  102  preferably includes functionality for confirming that mobile communicator  100  is placed in the receptacle  104  with its screen  106  facing upwards and also includes a camera  108  for photographing the top surface of mobile communicator  100 , the top surface including screen  106 . 
     A robotic mechanism  110  is preferably employed for initially repositioning the receptacle  104  containing mobile communicator  100  from its initial position, shown in  FIG. 2A , at which the customer placed mobile communicator  100  therein, to a second position, shown in  FIG. 2B  at which the top surface of mobile communicator  100  is photographed by camera  108 , to a third position in which mobile communicator is disposed within one of a multiplicity of bins  112 , each of which is preferably identified by a barcode  114  and which are located in a storage and transport structure  116 . 
     A barcode scanner  118  is preferably mounted on robotic mechanism  110  for reading barcode  114  of bin  112  in which the customer&#39;s mobile communicator  100  is placed, for recording the identity of bin  112  and for associating it with the identity of customer&#39;s mobile communicator  100  in a computerized database. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2C , a virtual repair ticket  120  is preferably generated. Virtual repair ticket  120  preferably includes the customer&#39;s mobile communicator telephone number, the bin number of the bin in which mobile communicator  100  is disposed, and a description of the required repair as provided by the customer. The virtual repair ticket  120  is preferably transmitted via the internet to a central server  122 , typically located at a site remote from depot  102 , which site may house a repair center. 
     The customer receives an acknowledgement of receipt of the deposited mobile communicator  102 , preferably in the form of an audio-visual message which is backed up by a virtual email message and preferably is prompted to select a preferred pick up location, which need not be the same depot  102 . Upon receipt of a user pick up location selection input, the depot  102  preferably provides an acknowledgement, preferably in the form of an audio-visual message which is backed up by a virtual email message. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F and 3G , which together are a simplified illustration of a replacement mobile communicator personalization and dispensing stage of mobile communicator depot methodology in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3G , it is a particular feature of the present invention that, upon request by the customer, a replacement mobile communicator is automatically provided to the customer by the depot. 
     As shown in particular in  FIG. 3A , depot  102  offers the customer a replacement mobile communicator to be used while his broken mobile communicator is being repaired. As further shown in  FIG. 3B , upon accepting the offer, the customer is then asked by depot  102  whether he would prefer that his contact list be transferred to the replacement mobile communicator. 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 3C , depot  102  selects a replacement communicator bin  130  which is located in a replacement communicator storage and transport structure  132  and which contains a replacement mobile communicator, and preferably employs barcode scanner  118  which is preferably mounted on robotic mechanism  110  to read the barcode  136  of bin  130 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 3C , a virtual mobile communicator activation instruction  140  is preferably generated by depot  102 , which instruction  140  preferably includes the customer&#39;s mobile communicator telephone number and the bin number of bin  130  retrieved from barcode  136 . Instruction  140  is preferably transmitted via the internet to a central server  122 , typically located at a site remote from depot  102 , which site may house a service center. It is appreciated that server  122  stores information for associating bin numbers of bins in replacement communicator storage and transport structure  132  with identifiers of mobile communicators stored therewithin. Therefore, server  122  may utilize the information in instruction  140  to associate the customer&#39;s mobile communicator telephone number with the identifier of the replacement mobile communicator located in bin  130 , and to store this information for ascertaining, upon return of repaired mobile communicator  100  to the customer, that the replacement mobile communicator dispensed to the customer is indeed returned. 
     Responsive to instruction  140 , server  122  preferably activates the replacement mobile communicator located in bin  130  in association with the customer&#39;s mobile communicator telephone number. 
     As yet further shown in  FIG. 3C , depot  102  then generates a virtual contact list synchronization instruction  150 , which instruction  150  preferably includes the customer&#39;s/mobile communicator&#39;s identifier and the bin number of bin  130  retrieved from barcode  136 . Instruction  150  is preferably transmitted via the internet to central server  122  and instructs server  122  to download the customer&#39;s contact list to depot  102 . It is appreciated that contact lists stored on mobile communicators are typically also stored on the internet on various backup facilities, such as, for example, on a central backup server of the cellular telephone service provider, and therefore may be accessible to server  122 . 
     As yet further shown in  FIG. 3C , upon receiving virtual contact list synchronization instruction  150 , server  122  preferably transmits the customer&#39;s contact list  160  to depot  102  where it is temporarily stored. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3D , it is shown that robotic mechanism  110  is preferably employed for retrieving replacement mobile communicator  162  from bin  130 . Preferably, after replacement mobile communicator  162  is retrieved, depot  102  loads contact list  160  onto mobile communicator  162  preferably by wirelessly communicating therewith. It is appreciated that communication between depot  102  and replacement mobile communicator  162  may alternatively be wired. 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 3E , robotic mechanism  110  preferably places replacement mobile communicator  162  into receptacle  104 , and also preferably places a compatible mobile communicator accessory kit  164  into a dispenser bin  166 . It is appreciated that mobile communicator accessory kit  164  may include, for example, a mobile communicator charger and data synchronizing cables. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3F , is shown that depot  102  thereafter notifies the customer that a replacement mobile communicator having his contact list loaded thereupon has been prepared for him, and prompts the customer to remove replacement mobile communicator  162  and mobile communicator accessory kit  164  from receptacle  104  and bin  166 , respectively. As further shown in  FIG. 3G , after retrieving replacement mobile communicator  162  and mobile communicator accessory kit  164 , the customer ascertains that replacement mobile communicator  162  is loaded with his contact list, and that replacement mobile communicator  162  is fully functional. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F , which together are a simplified illustration of a back-end processing stage of mobile communicator depot methodology in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4A , a mobile communicator depot service employee arrives at depot  102  and removes storage and transport structure  116  from depot  102 . As described hereinabove with regard to  FIG. 2A , storage and transport structure  116  preferably comprises bins  112 , each of bins  112  preferably containing a mobile communicator destined for repair. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 4A , after removing storage and transport structure  116  from depot  102 , the depot service employee inserts an alternative storage and transport structure  170  into depot  102 , transport structure  170  preferably having repaired mobile communicators disposed in bins therewithin. The method by which mobile communicators are repaired and disposed within transport structure  170  will be described in greater detail hereinbelow with regard to  FIGS. 4B-4E . 
     As yet further shown in  FIG. 4A , after inserting alternative storage and transport structure  170  into depot  102 , the depot service employee removes storage and transport structure  116  from the premises and, as shown in  FIG. 4B , delivers storage and transport structure  116  to a mobile communicator service center. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4B , it is shown that a mobile communicator service center employee receives storage and transport structure  116  from the depot service employee and preferably scans the barcode of each of bins  112  which contains a broken mobile communicator into a computer  172 . It is appreciated that computer  172  preferably communicates with server  122  and is operative to retrieve information associated with broken mobile communicator  100  which was submitted to server  122  via a virtual repair ticket, such as virtual repair ticket  120  of  FIG. 2C . As described hereinabove with regard to  FIG. 2C , this information may include, for example, a bin identification number of the bin  112  containing broken mobile communicator  100 , a mobile communicator customer identifier such as a telephone number, and a description of the required repair. The information also preferably includes an identifier of the particular depot at which mobile communicator was deposited and an identifier of the preferred pickup location of the repaired mobile communicator as, for example, specified by the customer in the illustration of  FIG. 2C . 
     As yet further shown in  FIG. 4B , after retrieving the information of virtual repair ticket  120  from computer  172 , the service center employee retrieves mobile communicator  100  from its bin  112  and repairs mobile communicator  100 . 
     It is appreciated that while being repaired, the contact list stored in mobile communicator  100  may be partially or completely deleted. The contact list may have also been partially or completely deleted upon breakage of mobile communicator  100 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 4C , the service center employee preferably utilizes computer  172  to access server  122  to download the customer&#39;s contact list  160  to computer  172  in preparation for reactivation of mobile communicator  100 . As described hereinabove with regard to the illustration of  FIG. 3C , it is appreciated that mobile communicator contact lists are typically also stored on the internet on various backup facilities, such as, for example, on a central backup server of the cellular telephone service provider, and therefore may be accessible to server  122 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 4C , the service center employee preferably loads contact list  160  onto mobile communicator  100  by wirelessly transmitting contact list  160  from computer  172  to mobile communicator  100 . Alternatively, transmission of the contact list from computer  172  to mobile communicator  100  may be wired. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4D , it is shown that after completing the repair of mobile communicator  100  and loading contact list  160  onto repaired mobile communicator  100 , the service center employee then preferably utilizes computer  172  to generate a virtual delivery ticket  176  for repaired mobile communicator  100 , which ticket  176  preferably includes a physical identifier of communicator  100 , such as an IMEI identifier. It is appreciated that the physical identifier may be retrieved from communicator  100 , for example, by scanning a barcode embedded in communicator  100  or by manually querying communicator  100  via its user interface. 
     Preferably, the service center employee also scans a barcode identifier  178  of bin  174  into computer  172  and adds identifier  178  to ticket  176 . The service center employee then preferably utilizes computer  172  to communicate with server  122 , where the identifier of communicator  100  as provided in ticket  176  is used to identify communicator  100  as that of the customer of  FIGS. 1A-3G . Server  122  is also preferably operative to associate the customer&#39;s identifier, such as his telephone number, and the preferred pickup location as originally specified by the customer, with ticket  176 . 
     It is appreciated that server  122  is also preferably operative to provide the service center employee with an identifier of a storage and transport structure  180  which is destined for delivery to the customer&#39;s preferred pickup location. Upon verifying that the details of ticket  176  are correct, the service center employee preferably submits the completed ticket  176  to server  122 . As shown in  FIG. 4E , the service center employee then places repaired mobile communicator into bin  174  and inserts bin  174  into storage and transport structure  180  which is destined for delivery to the customer&#39;s preferred pickup location. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 4E , server  122  then preferably sends a message  181  to the customer, notifying the customer that his mobile communicator has been repaired and will be available at the pickup location he originally specified on the following day at or after a particular time, such as 10:00 AM. It is appreciated that message  181  may be, for example, an email message or an SMS message sent to the customer&#39;s replacement mobile communicator  162 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4F , it is shown that a communicator depot service employee arrives at the mobile communicator service center on the following day at 6:00 AM, and retrieves storage and transport structure  180  for transport to a mobile communicator depot  182  located at the customer&#39;s preferred pickup location. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 4F , upon arriving at depot  182 , the communicator depot service employee preferably removes a storage and transport structure  184  from within depot  182  for transport to mobile communicator service center. Thereafter, the communicator depot service employee inserts storage and transport structure  180  into depot  182 , storage and transport structure  180  having repaired mobile communicators disposed therewithin. As yet further shown in  FIG. 4F , upon insertion of storage and transport structure  180  into depot  182 , depot  182  preferably sends a message to server  122 , notifying server  122  that storage and transport structure  180  having repaired mobile communicators disposed therewithin has been inserted into depot  182 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , which together are a simplified illustration of a replacement mobile communicator return stage of mobile communicator depot methodology in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5A , after storage and transport structure  180  containing repaired mobile communicator  100  has been deposited in depot  182 , such as at 8:00 AM, the customer preferably receives a message from server  122  that his repaired mobile communicator  100  is now available at his preferred pickup location. It is appreciated that the message may be, for example, an email message or an SMS message sent to the customer&#39;s replacement mobile communicator  162 . 
     Thereafter, such as at 10:00 AM, the customer arrives at depot  182  and identifies himself to depot  182  by entering his mobile communicator telephone number and a unique identifier, such as the last four digits of his credit card. The customer is then prompted to select a service option, and proceeds to select the Retrieve Repaired Telephone service. 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the customer is prompted by depot  182  to return replacement mobile communicator  162  and accessory kit  164 . The customer then preferably proceeds to place replacement mobile communicator  162  into receiving receptacle  104  and accessory kit  164  into bin  166 . Depot  182  then preferably notifies the customer that the returned equipment is being processed. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D , which together are a simplified illustration of replacement mobile communicator acceptance, validation and depersonalization functionality and customer&#39;s mobile communicator repersonalization and dispensing functionality in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6A , depot  182  preferably includes functionality for confirming that replacement mobile communicator  162  is placed in receptacle  104  with its screen  106  facing upwards, and also includes a camera  108  for photographing the top surface of mobile communicator  162 . It is appreciated that photographing of replacement mobile communicator  162  by camera  108  is operative to ascertain that mobile communicator  162  is not significantly damaged. 
     Robotic mechanism  110  is preferably employed for initially repositioning the receptacle  104  containing replacement mobile communicator  162  from its initial position, shown in  FIG. 5B , at which the customer placed replacement mobile communicator  162  therein, to a second position, shown in  FIG. 6A  at which the top surface of replacement mobile communicator  162  is photographed by camera  108 . Preferably, the replacement mobile communicator  162  is verified by depot  182  to be identical to the replacement mobile communicator originally dispensed to the customer in the illustrations of  FIGS. 3A-3G , for example by scanning the IMEI identifier of replacement mobile communicator  162  and comparing the scanned IMEI identifier to the IMEI identifier of the replacement mobile communicator originally dispensed to the customer, as stored on server  122 . 
     Robotic mechanism  110  then preferably removes replacement mobile communicator  162  from receptacle  104  and disposes replacement mobile communicator  162  into one of bins  186  located in a replacement communicator storage and transport structure  188 . Each of bins  186  is preferably identified by a barcode  190 . Barcode scanner  118  which is preferably mounted on robotic mechanism  110  is preferably employed for reading the barcode of bin  186  in which replacement mobile communicator  162  is disposed, for recording the identity of the bin  186  and for associating the identity of bin  186  with the identifier of replacement mobile communicator  162  in a computerized database. 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 6B , accessory kit  164  is preferably retrieved from bin  166  by a second robotic arm  190 . Upon completing the retrieval of replacement mobile communicator  162  and accessory kit  164  from receptacle  104  and bin  166 , depot  182  preferably communicates with server  122  and requests deactivation of replacement mobile communicator  162  and reactivation of mobile communicator  100  in association with the customer&#39;s mobile communicator telephone number. It is appreciated that, as described hereinabove with reference to  FIG. 4D , the customer&#39;s mobile communicator telephone number is associated by server  122  with mobile communicator  100  and is therefore sufficient to uniquely identify mobile communicator  100 . 
     As yet further shown in  FIG. 6B , responsive to the communication from depot  182 , server  122  deactivates replacement mobile communicator  162  and activates mobile communicator  100  in association with the customer&#39;s mobile communicator telephone number. Preferably, server  122  also provides the identifier of the specific bin  174  in storage and transport structure  180  which contains repaired mobile communicator  100 . It is appreciated that upon deactivation of replacement mobile communicator  162 , depot  182  may ascertain whether the customer has stored new data on replacement mobile communicator  162  during the period of time in which he was in possession of replacement mobile communicator  162 , and may transfer the new data to mobile communicator  100  upon activation of mobile communicator  100 . 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 6C , barcode scanner  118 , which is preferably mounted on robotic mechanism  110 , is employed to identify and locate bin  174  by its barcode identifier  178 , which identifier  178  was provided by server  122  to  182  as identifying the bin in which repaired mobile communicator  100  is disposed. 
     Upon locating bin  174 , robotic mechanism  110  is preferably employed to retrieve repaired mobile communicator  100  from bin  174  and to deposit repaired mobile communicator  100  into receptacle  104 , and to thereafter reposition receptacle  104  to a position which is accessible to the customer. As further shown in  FIG. 6C , the customer is then prompted by depot  182  to retrieve his repaired mobile communicator from receptacle  104 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6D , it is shown that upon retrieving his repaired mobile communicator  100  from receptacle  104 , the customer verifies that mobile communicator  100  is in working condition and that his contact list is present on communicator  100 . 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.

Technology Category: h