Non-serialized electronic product registration system and method of operating same

• US 10,445,743 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Cheney, Brian, Junger, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ade, Garcia
• Application Number:
  US14/223,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20140207690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 705 30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A non-serialized electronic product registration (ER) system and method which enables return qualification information to be provided upon request for non-serialized products. Retailer specific return policies are enforced by providing the ER system with retailer return policies for UPCs, SKUs, model numbers and/or other non-unique product identifiers. The retailer periodically provides information to the ER system that indicates the last date on which products having a particular non-unique identifier have been sold. The ER system then determine the last date on which such products can be returned and provides non-serialized return qualification information to the retailer upon request.

Claims

1. A method for use with non-uniquely identified products, the method comprising:

transmitting an inquiry to an electronic registration (ER) system when a non-uniquely identified product having a non-uniquely identified product type is presented in connection with a post-sale return and/or warranty request,

the ER system including at least one processor and a database storing associations between registration dates and non-uniquely identified product types,

the ER system, including the at least one processor, being configured to at least (a) make determinations as to last dates on which non-uniquely identified products can be accepted for return/warranty service using the database and based at least in part on the respective types of those products and the registration dates associated therewith, and (b) issue return/warranty service qualifications using the determinations and applicable return/warranty criteria; and

receiving, from the ER system and in response to the inquiry, an issued qualification as to whether the presented non-uniquely identified product might qualify for return/warranty service under the applicable return/warranty criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein product information used in making the associations is transmitted to the ER system on a daily basis.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the product information is received from a plurality of different sources.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein products of the same type share a common non-unique identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the common non-unique identifier is a UPC.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein qualifications are based on comparisons between last dates associated with inquired about product types, dates inquiries are made, and applicable return/warranty criteria.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ER system is configured to accept and respond to requests regarding uniquely identified products.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting serialized registration data if possible, and then transmitting collected serialized registration data to the ER system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ER system is located remotely from where the non-uniquely identified product is presented for return.