Approximating Alternate Currency Equivalents In Digital Receipts

• US 20140156432A1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores Texas LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Argue, Stuart, Marcar, Anthony Emile
• Granted Patent: US 9,043,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for approximating alternate currency equivalents in digital receipts. In response to a user request, item prices in one currency in a digital receipts (e.g., for retail sales transactions) can be approximated in a second different currency. Digital receipts with approximated item prices can be presented on a display at a mobile device. Currency conversion can be handled at a receipt data server or at the mobile device. Currency conversion can be performed locally or can be referred to a conversion server. Item prices in digital receipts can be converted from and/or to any of a variety of different currencies.

Claims

1. At a receipt database server for a merchant, the receipt database server including one or more processors and system memory, the receipt database server connected to one or more Point-Of-Sale (POS) systems at each of one or more store locations for the merchant, the receipt database server configured to manage a receipt database for the merchant, a method for transferring a digital receipt to a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving digital receipt data for a sales transaction conducted at a Point-Of-Sale (POS) system, the Point-Of-Sale (POS) system at a store location selected from among the one or more store locations, the digital receipt data containing a receipt entry for each of one or more items purchased by a customer in the sales transaction, each receipt entry indicating an item price in a currency used at the store location;

generating a digital receipt for the sales transaction, the digital receipt generated from the digital receipt data, the digital receipt providing proof of the sales transaction, the digital receipt indicating item prices in the currency, the digital receipt for delivery to a customer mobile device associated with the customer;

storing the digital receipt for subsequent access by a mobile device;

receiving a request from a mobile device for digital receipts associated with the mobile device, the request requesting that item prices be indicated in a specified second currency;

in response to the received request, converting item prices in the digital receipt from the currency to the specified second currency; and

sending the converted digital receipt to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receipt database server receiving a request for a digital receipts comprises receiving a request from a receipt management application resident at a mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for digital receipts comprises receiving a request for digital receipts that expressly indicates that item prices are to be converted into the specified second currency.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving the request, receiving specified currency settings for the mobile device, the specified currency settings indicating that item prices are to be sent to the mobile device in the specified second currency.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising referring to the specified currency settings for the mobile device to determine that the items prices are to be converted into the specified second currency.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request for digital receipts comprises receiving a request that includes a unique customer identifier corresponding to the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the digital receipt to the mobile device in the first currency.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein converting item prices from the currency to the second specified currency comprises a conversion module at the receipt database server converting item prices from the currency to the second specified currency.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein converting items prices from the currency to the second specified currency comprises:

sending an indication of the currency and the second specified currency to a currency rate server; and

receiving an exchange rate back from the currency conversion server, the exchange rate for converting from the currency to the second specified currency.

10. At a mobile device for a customer, the mobile device including one or more processors and system memory, the mobile device containing a receipt management application, the receipt management application configured to store and manage digital receipts for the customer, the mobile device able to communicate with a receipt data server, a method for converting item prices in a digital receipt between currencies, the method comprising:

sending a request for digital receipts to the receipt data server, the request including an application id for the receipt management application.

receiving a digital receipt from the receipt data server for a sales transaction conducted at a Point-Of-Sale (POS) system, the digital receipt containing a receipt item for each of one or more items purchased by a customer in the sales transaction, item prices for purchased items indicated in a currency;

receiving a request to convert item prices into a specified second currency;

in response to the received request, converting item prices in the received digital receipt from the currency to the specified second currency.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein sending a request for a digital receipt comprises sending a request for a digital receipt resident at a receipt data server.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein sending a request for digital receipts comprises sending a request for digital receipts that expressly indicates that item prices are to be indicated in the second specified currency.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising, prior to sending the request, setting specified currency settings in the receipt management application resident on the mobile device, the specified currency settings indicating item prices are to be indicated in the second specified currency for viewing at the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising referring to the specified currency settings in the receipt management application to determine that the item prices are to be converted to the second specified currency.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein sending a request for digital receipts comprises sending a request that includes a unique customer identifier corresponding to the receipt management application resident on the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein converting item prices in the received digital receipt from the currency to the specified second currency comprises a conversion module resident on the mobile device converting item prices in the received digital receipt from the currency to the specified second currency.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein converting item prices in the received digital receipt from the currency to the specified second currency comprises:

sending an indication of the currency and the second specified currency to a currency rate server; and

receiving an exchange rate back from the currency conversion server, the exchange rate for converting from the currency to the second specified currency.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein converting item prices in the received digital receipt from the currency to the specified second currency comprises:

sending the digital receipt along with an indication of the second specified currency to a currency conversion server; and

receiving a converted digital receipt back from the currency conversion server, the converted digital receipt indicating item prices in the specified second currency.

19. A system for converting item prices in a digital receipt from a first currency to a second different currency, the system comprising:

a mobile device and a receipt data server,

the mobile device comprising;

one or more processors;

system memory;

a network adapter;

one or more computer storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the mobile device to;

send a request for digital receipts to the receipt data server, the request including an application id for the receipt management application, the request indicating that item prices in returned digital receipts are to be indicated in the second different currency;

receive a digital receipt from the receipt data server for a sales transaction conducted at a Point-Of-Sale (POS) system, the digital receipt containing a receipt item for each of one or more items purchased by a customer in the sales transaction, item prices for purchased items indicated in the second different currency;

display the item prices in the second different currency by displaying the digital receipt at a display device; and

the data receipt server comprising;

one or more processors;

system memory;

a network adapter;

one or more computer storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the data receipt server to;

store the digital receipts for subsequent access by a mobile device, item prices in the digital receipts indicated in the first currency;

receive the request from the mobile device;

in response to the received request, locate any digital receipts corresponding to the mobile device base on the application id;

convert item prices in located digital receipts from the first currency to the second different currency; and

send the converted digital receipts to the mobile device.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause the receipt data server to refer to currency settings for the mobile device to determine that item prices are to be indicated in the second different currency for digital receipts returned to the mobile device.