Electronic registration system for product transactions

• US 20040006514A1
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc. (Nintendo Company Limited)
• Inventors: Rogers, Philip Michael, Junger, Peter Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

An electronic registration system which facilitates authorized product returns and reduces the incidence of improper returns. A retailer sales associate is prompted to enter individual product identification information such as an individual serial number. This individual product identification information is then stored in a data base along with the date on which the product was sold and an appropriate UPC code, SKU number or manufacturer code. A check digit algorithm may be used to verify the serial number prior to storage. A sales receipt may be imprinted with at least the date of the transaction and the serial number. When a product is returned, the retailer may cross-reference the serial number on the product with that on the receipt to verify the sales receipt. Otherwise, the database may be searched for pertinent sales information.

Claims

1. A method for registering product transactions, comprising the steps of:

obtaining, at the location of the transaction, information which identified the individual product involved in said transaction;

storing said individual product identification information in a local transaction with additional information including at least the date of the transaction;

creating, at the location of the transaction, a transaction receipt which includes said individual product identification information and said date of transaction; and

communicating said individual product identification information and said date of transaction to a remote location for inclusion in general transaction database.

2. The method of claim 1, including the further steps, at said remote location, of receiving said product information and said date of transaction, and including said product information and said date of transaction in a general database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining product identification information obtains a product serial number.

4. The method of claim 3, including the additional step of verifying the validity of the serial number from said obtaining step at the location of the transaction.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said verifying step utilizes a check digit for said serial number.

6. The method of claim 4, including the additional step of rejecting the serial number from said obtaining step when said serial number is not validated and, subsequently, repeating said step of obtaining product identification information at the location of the transaction.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said serial number is obtained by scanning a serial number placed on packaging for said product.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said serial number is represented by a bar code.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein said serial number is obtained by scanning a serial number placed on said product.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining individual product information includes the steps of:

identifying the type of product involved in the transaction;

determining whether the product is of a type for which registration of individual product transactions is sought; and

obtaining an individual product serial number if the product type is that of a product for which registration of individual product transactions is sought.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said identifying step includes scanning a universal product code (UPC) symbol.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of creating a transaction receipt includes the step of printing a paper receipt which lists at least the transaction date and said individual product identification information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said individual product identification information is a product serial number.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of communicating, the individual product identification information and said date of transaction to a remote location includes establishing an electronic link with said remote location and transmitting said individual product identification information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said communicating step is performed periodically.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said communicating step is performed whenever a complete batch of transactions has been obtained.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said communicating step is performed at least at the end of each business day in which a registration occurs.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of communicating the individual product identification information and said date of transaction to a remote location includes recording said individual product identification information and said date of transaction on a recording medium, and delivering the recording medium to said remote location.

19. A system for registering product transactions, comprising:

an input device which, at the location of the transaction, obtains information that identifies the individual product involved in the transaction;

a memory which stores said individual product identification information with additional information including at least the date of the transaction in a local transaction database;

a recorder which creates a transaction receipt that identifies said individual product identification information and the date of transaction; and

a communication channel operable to communicate said individual product information and said date of transaction to a remote location for inclusion in a general transaction database.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said communication channel establishes an electronic link with said remote location.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said electronic link is established over commercial communications systems.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said electronic link is established over dedicated lines.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein said electronic link is established through electromagnetic transmissions.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein said communication channel includes a recorder which records said individual product identification information and the date of transaction on a recording medium for delivery to said remote location.

25. The system of claim 19, further including a memory for storing said general transaction database at said remote location.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein said input device is a scanner.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein said input device is a key entry device.

28. The system of claim 19, further including a display device controlled to prompt a system user to enter said individual product identification information with said input device.

29. The system of claim 28, further including a verification device which evaluates the individual product identification information from said input device and rejects invalid information.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein said individual product identification information is a serial number and wherein said verification device utilizes a check digit to evaluate the validity of the serial number obtained from said input device.

31. The system of claim 19, wherein said recorder is a printer operable to print a paper receipt that lists at least said individual product identification information and the transaction date.

32. A method for registering product transactions, comprising the steps of:

obtaining, at the location of the transaction, information which identifies the individual product involved in said transaction;

verifying the validity of the individual product identification information from said obtaining step;

creating a local transaction database including the valid individual product identification information and additional information including at least the date of the transaction; and

communicating at least said individual product identification information and said date of transaction to a remote location for inclusion in general transaction database.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said verifying step rejects invalid individual product identification information and wherein said obtaining step is repeated when said verifying step rejects the individual product identification information.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said individual product identification information is a serial number and wherein said obtaining step scans a bar code representation of said serial number.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said individual product identification information is obtained from a key entry device.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein said step of obtaining individual product information includes the steps of:

identifying the type of product involved in the transaction;

determining whether the identified product is of a type for which registration of individual product transactions is sought; and

obtaining an individual product serial number if the product type is that of a product for which registration of individual product transactions is sought.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said identifying step includes scanning a universal product code (UPC) symbol.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein said verifying step utilizes a check digit for said serial number.

39. The method of claim 32, including the further steps, at said remote location, of receiving said product information and said date of transaction, and including said product information and said date of transaction in a general transaction database.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said general transaction database includes at least said individual product identification information, the date of the transaction, and the location of the transaction.

41. A method for reducing the number of unauthorized returns to retailers of products sold under warranty by electronically registering data concerning the sale, comprising the steps of:

obtaining, at the point of sale, a serial number for the product being sold;

verifying the validity of said serial number and, if said serial number is not valid, repeating said obtaining step;

storing the serial number and the date of transaction in a retailer database; and

communicating at least said serial number, the sale date, and information identifying the retailer for storage in a general database.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said retailer database includes information from multiple individual stores in a chain of stores.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein said general database is a national manufacturer database and said retailer information includes the name of the retailer and the location of the store.

44. The method of claim 41, including the additional steps of:

identifying the type of product being sold; and

determining whether the sold product is of a type for which electronic registration is desired.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein said verifying step utilizes a check digit for said serial number.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein upon return of a product to a retailer, said method includes the additional steps of:

obtaining the serial number of the returned product;

searching said retailer database by serial number for sales information relating to the returned product;

if information relating to the returned product is not located in said retailer database, searching said general database for said sales information; and

displaying to the retail clerk any sales information located during the search(es).

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said step of searching the general database includes the step of establishing an electronic link with a remote location at which said general database is kept.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the general database returns sales information including the product serial number, the sale date, and the name and location of the retailer which sold the product.

49. The method of claim 41, including the further step of creating a customer sales receipt which identifies the product serial number and the sale date.