System and method for providing consumer access to a stored digital receipt generated as a result of a purchase transaction and to business/consumer applications related to the stored digital receipt

• US 20020109007A1
• Filed: 02/12/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Hoffman, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,543,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus provides a consumer means to access a digital receipt generated as a result of a purchase transaction and stored in a storage device. Additionally, the consumer is provided the means to access various applications, features, and/or functions related to the stored digital receipt. An address of the stored digital receipt is provided to the consumer in machine-readable form, preferably on a paper receipt for the purchase transaction that corresponds to the digital receipt for the particular purchase transaction. The address in machine-readable form allows the consumer to access the stored digital receipt by a machine operable to read the machine-readable form and connectable to the storage device. The address also allows the consumer to access applications, programs, features, and/or functions related to the stored digital receipt. Such applications include, without being exhaustive, verification for purchases, verification for credits (return of merchandise), and frequent shopper points.

Claims

1. A retail terminal comprising:

a processing unit;

a printer in communication with said processing unit;

memory in communication with said processing unit and containing a plurality of program instructions, which, when executed by said processing unit, causes said processing unit to;

(i) generate a digital receipt corresponding to a purchase transaction;

(ii) obtain an address of a storage location for the digital receipt; and

(iii) cause said printer to print the address of the storage location for the digital receipt.

2. The retail terminal of claim 1, wherein said printer prints the address of the storage location for the digital receipt in a machine-readable form.

3. The retail terminal of claim 2, wherein the machine-readable form is a scannable bar code.

4. The retail terminal of claim 1, wherein said memory contains further instructions which, when executed by said processing unit, causes said processing unit to cause the digital receipt to be stored in a storage medium at the storage address.

5. The retail terminal of claim 4, wherein the storage medium is a data warehouse.

6. The retail terminal of claim 1, wherein said printer prints the address of the storage location of the digital receipt on a paper receipt corresponding to the purchase transaction.

7. The retail terminal of claim 1, wherein the address of the storage location of the digital receipt provides a gateway to applications related to the digital receipt.

8. The retail terminal of claim 7, wherein the applications include at least one of purchase item verification, purchase item credit verification, and frequent shopper points verification.

9. A method of providing consumer access to a stored digital receipt corresponding to a purchase transaction between the consumer and a purchase transaction entity, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a digital receipt in connection with a purchase transaction;

obtaining an address of a storage location in an addressable storage medium for the digital receipt;

storing the digital receipt in the addressable storage medium at the storage location address; and

printing the storage location address during the purchase transaction in a machine-readable form, wherein the storage location address in machine-readable form provides the consumer access to the digital receipt and/or an application related to the digital receipt upon the storage location address being read by a machine operable to read such machine-readable form and be in communication with the storage medium.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the application is at least one of purchase item verification, purchase item credit verification, and frequent shopper points verification.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the addressable storage medium is a data warehouse.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the printing step includes printing the storage location address in a machine-readable bar code form.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of obtaining an address of a storage location in an addressable storage medium for the digital receipt, includes generating an address for the storage of the digital receipt in the addressable storage medium during the purchase transaction.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of obtaining an address of a storage location in an addressable storage medium for the digital receipt, includes obtaining the address from the addressable storage medium during the purchase transaction.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said addressable storage medium comprises a data warehouse.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the electronic network comprises the Internet.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the machine-readable form comprises a bar code.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said printer is operable to print the network address in the machine-readable form on a paper receipt corresponding to the purchase transaction.

15. A system for allowing a party to a purchase transaction access to a stored digital receipt and/or applications relating to the purchase transaction comprising:

a retail terminal in communication with an electronic network;

a printer associated with said retail terminal and operable to print a network address in a machine readable form; and

an addressable storage medium in communication with the electronic network;

the retail terminal operable to;

(i) produce a digital receipt corresponding to a purchase transaction;

(ii) obtain a network address corresponding to a storage location of the digital receipt in the addressable storage medium;

(iii) store the digital receipt at the network address in the addressable storage medium;

(iv) provide the network address to the printer; and

(v) cause the printer to print the network address in the machine-readable form.