Method and Apparatus for Repurchasing Items

• US 20140164158A1
• Filed: 12/07/2012
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Nevada, Giselle Katrina
• Granted Patent: US 10,169,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

The present disclosure involves a system. The system includes a computer memory storage module configured to store executable computer programming code. The system includes a computer processor module operatively coupled to the computer memory storage module. The computer processor module is configured to execute the computer programming code to perform the following operations: associating a digital identifier with a merchandise item; receiving notification that the merchandise item has been sent to a buyer; thereafter detecting a submission of the digital identifier from the buyer; and initiating, in response to the detecting, a reorder of the merchandise item for the buyer.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a computer memory storage module configured to store executable computer programming code; and

a computer processor module operatively coupled to the computer memory storage module, wherein the computer processor module is configured to execute the computer programming code to perform the following operations;

associating a digital identifier with a merchandise item;

receiving notification that the merchandise item has been sent to a buyer;

thereafter detecting a submission of the digital identifier from the buyer; and

initiating, in response to the detecting, a reorder of the merchandise item for the buyer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital identifier is visible on at least one of:

the merchandise item and a packaging of the merchandise item.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein digital identifier includes one of:

a barcode and a Quick Response (QR) code.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital identifier is unique to the merchandise item and the buyer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the programming code for performing the detecting comprises programming code for detecting an electronic scan of the digital identifier by a portable computing device from the buyer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the programming code for performing the detecting comprises programming code for detecting a manual entry of the digital identifier through a web site.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the programming code for performing the initiating is free of programming code for requiring the buyer to enter its payment information and its address information.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising programming code for:

allowing the buyer to customize a reorder of the merchandise item; and

fulfilling the reorder of the merchandise item according to the manner customized by the buyer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the merchandise item includes a plurality of products, wherein the allowing comprises allowing the buyer to specify a quantity of each of the products for the reorder.

10. A method of conducting an electronic transaction, comprising:

associating a digital identifier with a merchandise item;

receiving notification that the merchandise item has been sent to a buyer;

thereafter detecting a submission of the digital identifier from the buyer; and

initiating, in response to the detecting, a reorder of the merchandise item for the buyer;

wherein at least one of the associating, the receiving, the detecting, and the initiating is performed at least in part by one or more electronic processors.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the associating is performed so that the digital identifier is visible on at least one of:

the merchandise item and a packaging of the merchandise item.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein digital identifier includes one of:

a barcode and a Quick Response (QR) code.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the digital identifier is unique to the merchandise item and the buyer.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the detecting comprises detecting an electronic scan of the digital identifier by a portable computing device from the buyer.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the detecting comprises detecting a manual entry of the digital identifier on a web site.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the initiating is performed without requiring the buyer to enter its payment information and its address information.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

allowing the buyer to customize a reorder of the merchandise item; and

fulfilling the reorder of the merchandise item according to the manner customized by the buyer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the merchandise item includes a plurality of products, wherein the allowing comprises allowing the buyer to specify a quantity of each of the products for the reorder.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the associating, the receiving, the detecting, and the initiating are performed by a third party payment provider.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the associating, the receiving, the detecting, and the initiating are performed by a merchant offering the merchandise item for sale.

21. A method of conducting an electronic transaction, comprising:

receiving notification that a unique digital identifier has been associated with a product;

receiving confirmation that an advertisement containing depictions of the product and its associated unique digital identifier has been sent to a prospective purchaser;

detecting a submission of the unique digital identifier from the prospective purchaser;

prompting the prospective purchaser to confirm the submission; and

performing, in response to receiving a confirmation of the submission from the prospective purchaser, one of the two following actions;

placing, for the prospective purchaser, an order of the product associated with the unique digital identifier; and

reserving, for the prospective purchaser, an instance of the product associated with the unique digital identifier at a physical store;

wherein at least one of the receiving the notification, the receiving the confirmation, the detecting, the prompting, and the performing is executed at least in part using one or more electronic processors.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein unique digital identifier includes one of:

a barcode and a Quick Response (QR) code.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the detecting comprises one of:

detecting an electronic scan of the unique digital identifier by a portable computing device from the buyer; and

detecting a manual entry of the digital identifier on a web site.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

obtaining, before the detecting, payment and address information of the prospective purchaser;

and wherein the placing or the reserving is performed without requiring the prospective purchaser to enter its payment and address information.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the receiving the notification, the receiving the confirmation, the detecting, the prompting, and the performing are performed by a third party payment provider.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the receiving the notification, the receiving the confirmation, the detecting, the prompting, and the performing are performed by a merchant selling the product.