CONSUMER RECEIPT INFORMATION METHODOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A method for a consumer to submit documents to a host system, the method comprising:
- converting a first consumer document into a digitized format with an electronic device system of the consumer; and
transmitting the converted consumer document to the host system using the electronic device system, wherein the host system;
stores the converted consumer document;
extracts purchasing information from the converted consumer document; and
produces a report based at least in part on the extracted purchasing information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This is generally related to techniques for collecting and processing consumer document information. Consumers can transmit documents, such as receipts, to a host system. To transmit the documents, the documents can be scanned with a desktop scanner and transmitted via a web interface, forwarded via e-mail, photographed and transmitted via a mobile phone'"'"'s e-mail or MMS capability, transmitted via a dedicated smart phone application, etc. Images of the document can be stored in a central archive, such that the consumer can access online images of their documents at any time and from any place. Submitted receipts can be interpreted by the host system to determine receipt information such as merchant, payment method, date, price, coupons, items purchased and/or returned, and the like. The interpreted information can be used to produce a wide range of reports that can be of value to the consumer, the host system, and/or merchants.
79 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for a consumer to submit documents to a host system, the method comprising:
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converting a first consumer document into a digitized format with an electronic device system of the consumer; and transmitting the converted consumer document to the host system using the electronic device system, wherein the host system; stores the converted consumer document; extracts purchasing information from the converted consumer document; and produces a report based at least in part on the extracted purchasing information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for a host system to process receipts received from a consumer, the method comprising:
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receiving a first receipt from the consumer, wherein the first receipt is in a digital format and is received by communications circuitry of the host system; converting the first receipt into text and metadata with a processor of the host system; identifying final receipt data of the first receipt by processing at least the text and metadata with the processor, wherein the final receipt data includes at least one of merchant information of the first receipt, transaction information of the first receipt, and payment information of the first receipt; analyzing the final receipt data with the processor to determine market trends that are based at least partially on the final receipt data; and generating, with the processor, at least one host report indicating the determined market trends. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A host system for processing consumer receipts, the host system comprising:
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an image archive operable to store images of a plurality of receipts received from a plurality of consumers; a receipt constructs library including receipt constructs data for determining a meaning of text located on a receipt; a data dictionary including transaction data for interpreting transactions of a receipt; and a processor operable to; extract text and metadata from each receipt of the plurality of receipts; identify receipt components from each receipt using the extracted text, the extracted metadata, and the receipt constructs data; interpret transactions of each receipt using the transaction data of the data dictionary; and generate reports using the identified receipts components of the plurality of receipts and the interpreted transactions of the plurality of receipts. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for a host system to receive receipts from consumers, the method comprising:
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monitoring, with a processor of the host system, an e-mail inbox to determine whether a new e-mail has been received; in response to determining a new e-mail has been received, extracting an e-mail source from the new e-mail with the processor; comparing, with the processor, the e-mail source to a database of registered e-mail addresses to determine whether the e-mail source matches a registered e-mail address; in response to determining the e-mail source matches, extracting e-mail content of the new e-mail with the processor; and storing the e-mail content in an online archive associated with the e-mail source. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification