ELECTRONIC RECEIPT SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A system for facilitating in-person purchases and returns of products at a plurality of points-of-purchase, the system comprising:
- a registration interface at a location remote from the points-of-purchase, the registration interface being configured to remotely receive identification information to register a user in the system and associate the registered user with a user account; and
a server at a location remote from the points-of-purchase and configured to communicate with a point-of-sale electronic payment systems resident at each point-of-purchase,wherein the server is configured to receive and store a plurality of electronic receipts from the point-of-sale electronic payment systems, each electronic receipt being representative of one or more purchases made by a registered user at a point-of-purchase and including identification information provided by the registered user at the time of purchase,wherein the server is configured to associate each electronic receipt with a single user account based on the identification information included with each electronic receipt, andwherein, when a product return is initiated by a registered user at a point-of-purchase, the server is configured to receive the identification information of the registered user initiating the product return from the point-of-sale electronic payment system, identify the user account associated with the identification information, retrieve one or more electronic receipts associated with the user account, and transmit the retrieved electronic receipts to the point-of-sale electronic payment system to facilitate the product return.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for generating and storing electronic receipts from any type of public facing business having a live point-of-purchase and utilizing electronic payment systems, namely, a point-of-sale (POS) system having a credit card terminal or electronic cash register (ECR). A user can associate with his or her account one or more identifiers such as a credit or debit card or phone number, and the system and method can be used to facilitate a product return, accept coupons online and redeem them in-store, generate and transmit a gift receipt, and participate in retailer loyalty programs. The system and method further include account interfaces for registered merchants and users to view and manage their account information.
439 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for facilitating in-person purchases and returns of products at a plurality of points-of-purchase, the system comprising:
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a registration interface at a location remote from the points-of-purchase, the registration interface being configured to remotely receive identification information to register a user in the system and associate the registered user with a user account; and a server at a location remote from the points-of-purchase and configured to communicate with a point-of-sale electronic payment systems resident at each point-of-purchase, wherein the server is configured to receive and store a plurality of electronic receipts from the point-of-sale electronic payment systems, each electronic receipt being representative of one or more purchases made by a registered user at a point-of-purchase and including identification information provided by the registered user at the time of purchase, wherein the server is configured to associate each electronic receipt with a single user account based on the identification information included with each electronic receipt, and wherein, when a product return is initiated by a registered user at a point-of-purchase, the server is configured to receive the identification information of the registered user initiating the product return from the point-of-sale electronic payment system, identify the user account associated with the identification information, retrieve one or more electronic receipts associated with the user account, and transmit the retrieved electronic receipts to the point-of-sale electronic payment system to facilitate the product return. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An enrollment system for pre-registering merchants and users to facilitate purchases and returns of products at a plurality of points-of-purchase, the system comprising:
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one or more enrollment interfaces located remotely from the points-of-purchase, the enrollment interfaces being configured to remotely receive registration information from a plurality of merchants and a plurality of users to register the merchants and users in the system, the enrollment interfaces associating one or more unique merchant account numbers with each registered merchant and one or more unique user account numbers with each registered user; and a server located remotely from the points-of-purchase and accessible to the registered merchants and registered users through one or more communication networks, wherein the server is configured to receive and store a plurality of electronic receipts, each electronic receipt being representative of an in-person sale of one or more products by a registered merchant to a registered user at a point-of-purchase operated by the registered merchant, wherein each electronic receipt includes the unique user account number, the unique merchant account number, and a receipt number associated with the purchase made by the registered user at the point-of-purchase, and wherein, when a product return is initiated by a registered user at a point-of-purchase of a registered merchant, the server is configured to receive the unique user account number of the registered user initiating the product return and provide the registered merchant with an electronic copy of at least one electronic receipt that includes both the unique user account number of the registered user and the unique merchant account number of the registered merchant. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for generating and storing electronic receipt information to facilitate in-person purchases and returns of products at a plurality of points-of-purchase, the method comprising:
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registering a plurality of users with a plurality of respective user accounts; associating a unique user identifier with each user account; registering a plurality of merchants with a plurality of respective merchant accounts; associating a unique merchant identifier with each merchant account; receiving a plurality of electronic receipts from registered merchants at a remote server, each electronic receipt being representative of one or more in-person purchases made by a registered user at a point-of-purchase associated with a registered merchant; storing the plurality of electronic receipts at the remote server; receiving a request from a registered merchant for an electronic receipt stored at the remote server, the request including at least the unique user identifier and the unique merchant identifier; identifying one or more electronic receipts stored at the remote server and associated with both the unique user identifier and the unique merchant identifier; and transmitting the identified electronic receipt to the registered merchant so that the registered merchant can receive the electronic receipt and process a product return. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
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registering a plurality of users with a plurality of respective user accounts; associating a unique user identifier with each user account; registering a plurality of merchants with a plurality of respective merchant accounts; associating a unique merchant identifier with each merchant account; receiving a plurality of electronic receipts from registered merchants, each electronic receipt being representative of one or more in-person purchases made by a registered user at a point-of-purchase associated with a registered merchant; storing the plurality of electronic receipts; receiving a request from a registered merchant for an electronic receipt, the request including at least the unique user identifier and the unique merchant identifier; identifying one or more electronic receipts associated with both the unique user identifier and the unique merchant identifier; and transmitting the identified electronic receipt to the registered merchant.
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Specification