Method and apparatus for verifying product sale transactions and processing product returns
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a computer-based system that provides a method for real time data storage and retrieval for the purpose of verifying and validating sales transactions and product return/warranty repair eligibility. An electronic product registration system is provided which stores information on purchased products and which enables a retail store or the like to verify compliance with return policies prior to accepting a product for return or replacement, thereby reducing improper or fraudulent product returns under warranty, while also providing related functionality to third parties such as law enforcement agencies and the like.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1-47. -47. (canceled)
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48. A product registration system, comprising:
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a database, storing at least return criteria for types of products and individual product registration information, wherein at least one the individual products is a specific product of a type of one of the stored types of products;
at least one update routine, operable to add information about an individual product, the information being sent to the database from a point of sale location;
at least one retailer access routine, operable to provide a retailer with access to the database, wherein one of the at least one retailer access routines is operable to provide the retailer with a list of individually registered products sold by that retailer;
at least one manufacturer access routine, operable to provide a manufacturer with access to the database, wherein one of the at least one manufacturer access routines is operable to store at least one of customer service and customer installation advice associated with a type of product stored in the database;
at least one customer access routine, operable to provide a customer with access to the database, wherein one of the at least one access routines is operable to provide the customer with any customer service and customer installation advice stored with respect to the type of product to which the individual product purchased by the customer belongs; and
at least one verification routine, operable to verify that a customer attempting to log onto the database has purchased a product for which information is sought. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A product registration and return verification system, comprising:
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a database, storing at least return criteria for types of products and individual product registration information, wherein at least one the individual products is a specific product of a type of one of the stored types of products;
at least one update routine, operable to add information about an individual product, the information being sent to the database from a point of sale location;
at least one retailer access routine, operable to provide a retailer with access to the database, wherein one of the at least one retailer access routines is operable to provide the retailer with a list of individually registered products sold by that retailer;
at least one manufacturer access routine, operable to provide a manufacturer with access to the database, wherein one of the at least one manufacturer access routines is operable to store at least one of customer service and customer installation advice associated with a type of product stored in the database;
at least one customer access routine, operable to provide a customer with access to the database, wherein one of the at least one access routines is operable to provide the customer with any customer service and customer installation advice stored with respect to the type of product to which the individual product purchased by the customer belongs;
at least one verification routine, operable to verify that a customer attempting to log onto the database has purchased a product for which information is sought; and
at least one return processing routine, operable to receive information from a retailer or manufacturer corresponding to a specific product, to search the database for the specific product corresponding to the received material, and to return at least a portion of the information stored in the database and associated with the specific product to the retailer or manufacturer sending the received information.
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55. A method of registering and maintaining records about purchased products, using a database, storing at least return criteria for types of products and associating the stored criteria with at least one of the types of products and individual product registration information, wherein at least one the individual products is a specific product of a type of one of the stored types of products, accessible by manufacturers, retailers and customers, comprising:
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processing updates sent from retailers to add information about an individual product, the information being sent to the database from a point of sale location;
processing retailer accesses to provide the retailer with a list of individually registered products sold by that retailer;
processing manufacturer accesses to store at least one of customer service and customer installation advice associated with a type of product stored in the database;
processing customer accesses to provide the customer with any customer service and customer installation advice stored with respect to the type of product to which the individual product purchased by the customer belongs;
verifying that a customer attempting to log onto the database has purchased a product for which information is sought; and
processing returns, including receiving information from a retailer or manufacturer corresponding to a specific product, searching the database for the specific product corresponding to the received material, and transmitting at least a portion of the information stored in the database and associated with the specific product to the retailer or manufacturer sending the received information. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification