Electronic transaction receipt system and method

• US 20010029483A1
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Published: 10/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Afterbot Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Afterbot Incorporated
• Inventors: Nadler, James G., Galanis, Peter, Greene, James D., Hylton, Duane A., Schultz, R. Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,552,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0457 the tickets being sent electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

In connection with a sales transaction, an electronic receipt is issued to the buyer that includes hyperlinks. A hyperlink can be associated with post-sale interaction with the product seller, the product manufacturer or parties acting on their behalf that involves the product itself, such as a product return procedure, a product warranty procedure, receiving rebate notices and recall notices, product registration procedures and similar functions.

Claims

1. A method for providing an electronic receipt for facilitating product return, comprising the steps of:

conducting a sales transaction relating to a product between a buyer and a seller;

generating an electronic receipt including information describing the product, including information indicating completion of the transaction, and including a hyperlink having associated with it a product return procedure; and

transmitting the receipt via a computer network to a computing device operated by the buyer, the buyer being presented via a hypermedia user interface of the device with a representation of the information describing the product, a representation of the information indicating completion of the transaction, and a representation associated with the hyperlink.

2. The method claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of:

a buyer activating the hyperlink using the computing device; and

in response to activation of the hyperlink, transmitting information to the computing device including a presentation to the buyer via the hypermedia user interface of steps for returning a product to the seller.

3. The method claimed in

claim 2

, wherein the steps for returning a product include:

transmitting a return shipping label to the computing device; and

the buyer producing a hard copy of the return shipping label.

4. The method claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of:

a buyer activating the hyperlink using the computing device; and

in response to activation of the hyperlink, transmitting information to the computing device including a presentation to the buyer via the hypermedia user interface of steps for obtaining warranty service for a defective product.

5. The method claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of:

a buyer activating the hyperlink using the computing device; and

in response to activation of the hyperlink, transmitting information to the computing device including a presentation to the buyer via the hypermedia user interface text of a product warranty.

6. The method claimed in

claim 5

, wherein the steps for obtaining warranty service include:

transmitting a return shipping label to the computing device; and

the buyer producing a hard copy of the return shipping label.

7. A system for providing an electronic receipt for facilitating product return, comprising:

a server computer coupled to a hypermedia computer network and responsive to an indication of the completion of a sales transaction between a buyer and a seller, the server computer having a receipt generator generating an electronic receipt including information describing the product, including information indicating completion of the transaction, and including a hyperlink having associated with it a product return procedure, the receipt generator transmitting the receipt via the network to a computing device operated by the buyer, the buyer being presented via a hypermedia user interface of the device with a representation of the information describing the product, a representation of the information indicating completion of the transaction, and a representation associated with the hyperlink.

8. The system claimed in

claim 7

, wherein the receipt generator encrypts the receipt before transmitting the receipt.

9. The system claimed in

claim 7

, wherein the server computer is operated by an originating party who is neither the seller nor the buyer.

10. The system claimed in

claim 9

, wherein the receipt generator initiates transmission of a return shipping label to the buyer.

11. A computer program product for providing an electronic receipt for facilitating product return, the computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium carrying thereon:

means for conducting a sales transaction relating to a product between a buyer and a seller;

means for generating an electronic receipt including information describing the product, including information indicating completion of the transaction, and including a hyperlink having associated with it a product return procedure; and

means for transmitting the receipt via a hypermedia computer network to the computing device operated by the buyer, the buyer being presented via a hypermedia user interface of the device with a representation of the information describing the product, a representation of the information indicating completion of the transaction, and a representation associated with the hyperlink.

12. The computer program product claimed in

claim 11

, further comprising returns processor means responsive to activation of the hyperlink for transmitting information to the computing device including a presentation to the buyer via the hypermedia user interface of steps for returning a product to the seller.

13. The computer program product claimed in

claim 12

, wherein the returns processor means includes means for transmitting a return shipping label to the computing device.

14. The computer program product claimed in

claim 11

, further comprising warranty processor means response to a buyer activating the hyperlink using the computing device for transmitting information to the computing device including a presentation to the buyer via the hypermedia user interface of steps for obtaining warranty service for a defective product.

15. The computer program product claimed in

claim 11

, further comprising warranty presentation means responsive to a buyer activating the hyperlink using the computing device for transmitting information to the computing device including a presentation to the buyer via the hypermedia user interface text of a product warranty.

16. The computer program product claimed in

claim 15

, wherein the warranty presentation means includes means for transmitting a return shipping label to the computing device.