Methods and apparatuses for mobile returns

• US 10,229,413 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Home Depot Product Authority, LLC (The Home Depot, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Home Depot Product Authority, LLC (The Home Depot, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bolling, Heather, Dunn, Kenneth, Gerstenberger, Troy, Peregoy, Brenda L., Putman, Billy, Tomic, Say
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawley, Talia F
• Application Number:
  US14/726,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20160350757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/407 Cancellation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for performing mobile returns are disclosed. At least some versions of the disclosed systems enable a return transaction to be performed using a mobile device connected to a network of one or more servers. The disclosed mobile returns systems may increase return transaction efficiency and relieve congestion at conventional customer service registers. The mobile device may be configured to operate in a trained returns mode or an expedited returns mode.

Claims

1. A server-implemented method, comprising:

providing a session of an application for facilitating a mobile return of an item, the application comprising;

an expedited mode that enables a non-trained user of the application to provide receipt information and item information to the server, and to suspend a session of the application, but does not enable the non-trained user to perform an item return transaction; and

a trained mode that enables a trained user of the application to provide receipt information and item information to the server, to resume a suspended session of the application, and to perform an item return transaction;

wherein providing the session in the expedited mode comprises determining that a first user is a non-trained user and, in response, providing the expedited mode to the first user;

wherein providing the session in the trained mode comprises determining that a second user is a trained user and, in response, providing the trained mode to the second user;

receiving receipt information from the first user through the expedited mode of the application;

confirming that the receipt information is valid and, in response, transmitting a confirmation that the receipt information is valid to the first user;

receiving item information from the first user through the expedited mode of the application;

confirming that the item information is valid and, in response, transmitting a confirmation that the item information is valid to the first user;

receiving a request to suspend the session from the first user and, in response, suspending the session;

receiving a request from the second user to resume the session;

providing the received receipt information and item information to the second user through the trained mode; and

enabling the second user to perform an item transaction through the trained mode of the application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving login credentials from the first user;

determining that the first user is a non-trained user based on the login credentials and, in response, providing the expedited mode of the application to the first user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving login credentials from the second user;

determining that the second user is a trained user based on the login credentials and, in response, providing the trained mode of the application to the second user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the second user to perform an item transaction through the trained mode of the application comprises enabling the second user to tender a price compensation to a customer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the second user to perform an item transaction through the trained mode of the application comprises:

receiving information through the application that identifies a customer;

determining that the customer is a tax exempt customer; and

enabling the second user to tender a tax compensation to the tax exempt customer;

where the tendering may be performed separately from a tendering of a price compensation to the tax exempt customer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the second user to perform an item transaction through the trained mode of the application comprises:

receiving information through the application that identifies a customer;

determining that the customer is a rewards customer; and

tendering a rewards compensation to the rewards customer;

where the tendering may be performed separately from a tendering of a price compensation to the rewards customer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the second user to perform an item transaction through the trained mode of the application comprises:

receiving coupon information from the second user through the trained mode of the application;

determining a coupon compensation based on the coupon information; and

enabling the second user to tender the coupon compensation to a customer;

where the tendering may be performed separately from a tendering of a price compensation to the customer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the first user to enter the receipt information by scanning a receipt with a mobile device on which the application is provided.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the first user to enter the receipt information by inputting the receipt information using a keypad interface of a mobile device on which the application is provided.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the first user to enter the item information by scanning an item with a mobile device on which the application is provided.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the first user to enter the item information by inputting the item information using a keypad interface of a mobile device on which the application is provided.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a sorted list of items that match the item information, the list being sorted according to one or more headers included in the item information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more headers comprise one or more of identification numbers, quantity values, retail prices, item descriptions, or extended retail.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the item transaction is a return transaction.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein enabling the second user to perform the item transaction comprises enabling the second user to tender a price compensation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the price compensation is a store credit.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the price compensation is an electronic store credit.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the price compensation is a credit card refund.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

searching an inventory according to the item information to determine a list of items that match the item information; and

returning the list of items to the first user.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the item transaction is a return-to-vendor (RTV) transaction.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request, from the second user through the application, for a report of the item transaction; and

generating and transmitting a report of the item transaction to the second user.

22. A system for facilitating mobile returns, the system comprising:

a server configured to;

provide a session of an application for facilitating a mobile return of an item, the application comprising;

an expedited mode that enables a non-trained user of the application to provide receipt information and item information to the server, and to suspend a session of the application, but does not enable the non-trained user to perform an item return transaction; and

a trained mode that enables a trained user of the application to provide receipt information and item information to the server, to resume a suspended session of the application, and to perform an item return transaction;

wherein providing the session in the expedited mode comprises determining that a first user is a non-trained user and, in response, providing the expedited mode to the first user;

wherein providing the session in the trained mode comprises determining that a second user is a trained user and, in response, providing the trained mode to the second user;

receive receipt information from the first user through the expedited mode of the application;

confirm that the receipt information is valid and, in response, transmitting a confirmation that the receipt information is valid to the first user;

receive item information from the first user through the expedited mode of the application;

confirm that the item information is valid and, in response, transmitting a confirmation that the item information is valid to the first user;

receive a request to suspend the session from the first user and, in response, suspending the session;

receive a request from the second user to resume the session;

provide the received receipt information and item information to the second user through the trained mode; and

enable the second user to perform an item transaction through the trained mode of the application.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is further configured to:

receive login credentials from the first user; and

determine that the first user is a non-trained user based on the login credentials and, in response, providing the expedited mode of the application to the first user.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is further configured to:

receive login credentials from the second user; and

determine that the second user is a trained user based on the login credentials and, in response, providing the trained mode of the application to the second user.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein enabling the second user to perform an item transaction through the trained mode of the application comprises enabling the second user to tender a price compensation to a customer.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein enabling the second user to perform an item transaction through the trained mode of the application comprises:

receiving information through the application that identifies a customer;

determining that the customer is a tax exempt customer; and

enabling the second user to tender a tax compensation to the tax exempt customer;

where the tendering may be performed separately from a tendering of a price compensation to the tax exempt customer.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein enabling the second user to perform an item transaction through the trained mode of the application comprises:

receiving information through the application that identifies a customer;

determining that the customer is a rewards customer; and

tendering a rewards compensation to the rewards customer;

where the tendering may be performed separately from a tendering of a price compensation to the rewards customer.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein enabling the second user to perform an item transaction through the trained mode of the application comprises:

receiving coupon information from the second user through the trained mode of the application;

determining a coupon compensation based on the coupon information; and

enabling the second user to tender the coupon compensation to a customer;

where the tendering may be performed separately from a tendering of a price compensation to the customer.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is further configured to:

enable the first user to enter the receipt information by scanning a receipt with a mobile device on which the application is provided.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is further configured to:

enable the first user to enter the receipt information by inputting the receipt information using a keypad interface of a mobile device on which the application is provided.

31. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is further configured to:

enable the first user to enter the item information by scanning an item with a mobile device on which the application is provided.

32. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is further configured to:

enable the first user to enter the item information by inputting the item information using a keypad interface of a mobile device on which the application is provided.

33. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is further configured to:

provide a sorted list of items that match the item information, the list being sorted according to one or more headers included in the item information.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the one or more headers comprise one or more of identification numbers, quantity values, retail prices, item descriptions, or extended retail.

35. The system of claim 22, wherein the item transaction is a return transaction.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein enabling the second user to perform the item transaction comprises enabling the second user to tender a price compensation.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the price compensation is a store credit.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the price compensation is an electronic store credit.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the price compensation is a credit card refund.

40. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is further configured to:

search an inventory according to the item information to determine a list of items that match the item information; and

returning the list of items to the first user.

41. The system of claim 22, wherein the item transaction is a return-to-vendor (RTV) transaction.

42. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is further configured to:

receive a request, from the second user through the application, for a report of the item transaction; and

generate and transmit a report of the item transaction to the second user.

43. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a mobile device configured to be in electronic communication with the server to provide the application session for the first user.

44. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a mobile device configured to be in electronic communication with the server to provide the application session for the second user.

45. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a mobile device configured to be in electronic communication with the server to provide the application session for the first user and for the second user.