Smart electronic receipt system

• US 6,341,353 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1999
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MasterCard International InCorporation (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Brodia Group
• Inventors: Martinez, Ronald G., Goldstein, Theodore Charles, Herman, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELISCA, PIERRE E
• Application Number:
  US09/467,545
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/39, 705/41, 705/35, 713/200-202, 380/233, 235/375
• US Class Current: 726/5
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/389 Keeping log of transactions for guaranteeing non-repudiation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A smart electronic receipt system that provides intelligent receipts, called Smart Receipts, that electronically document a transaction between two parties and maintains a persistent connection between the two parties following a successful online transaction. A Trusted Agent on the Buyer'"'"'s client system creates an order record which is stored in a database on a Trusted Agent Server and starts the transaction process with the merchant. A Smart Receipt is delivered by a Smart Receipt Agent over a secure connection from the merchant to the Trusted Agent Server upon successful completion of a purchase and reflects the details of the transaction. It is stored in a secure database on the Trusted Agent Server and is made available to the Buyer (user) through a Trusted Agent located on his machine. The Trusted Agent Server compares the order record Limited Edition Digital Objects (LEDOs) stored in database with the Smart Receipt'"'"'s LEDO to find the corresponding order record. The Smart Receipt provides the customer with detailed information about an online purchase in a standardized format. Hyperlinks embedded in the Smart Receipt enable the customer to access customer service and order status. The merchant may also embed addition-al services within the Smart Receipt, including special offers for future purchases. Offers provided in a Smart Receipt can be personalized to a user'"'"'s preferences which are stored on the Trusted Agent Server. Each Smart Receipt is comprised of a chain of LEDOs with each LEDO object having a unique owner. A Smart Receipt is a dynamic entity and is continuously updated until the Buyer deletes it from the Trusted Agent Server.

Claims

1. A process for creating and maintaining smart electronic receipts that document online transactions through a Trusted Agent Server in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

creating a Smart Receipt on a merchant site upon successful completion of a transaction;

sending said Smart Receipt to a Trusted Agent Server;

storing said Smart Receipt on a secure database on said server;

wherein said Smart Receipt is comprised of a chain of Limited Edition Digital Objects (LEDOs); and

wherein offers provided in a Smart Receipt can be personalized to a user'"'"'s preferences.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a Smart Receipt Agent on the merchant'"'"'s server; and

wherein said Smart Receipt Agent creates a representation of the purchase transaction in a Smart Receipt format.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the user can sort and browse his Smart Receipts through a Trusted Agent.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein a Trusted Agent creates an order record.

5. The process of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

storing said order record on a database on said Trusted Agent Server; and

comparing order record LEDOs in said database with said Smart Receipt'"'"'s LEDO to find the matching record pair.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein said Smart Receipt is a dynamic entity and is continuously updated until the Buyer deletes it from said Trusted Agent Server.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein each LEDO object has a unique owner.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein a merchant or manufacturer can track whether a user uses an offer provided in a Smart Receipt.

9. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending a merchant a return receipt when the user receives the associated Smart Receipt.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein said Smart Receipt contains a warranty registration card that is automatically filled out when the Buyer indicates that he has received the product.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein a merchant or manufacturer updates said Smart Receipt to notify a customer of new events.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein a merchant provides post-purchase services to a customer by embedding additional information within said Smart Receipt.

13. A process for implementing an electronic trusted intermediary between parties involved in a negotiation in a computer environment, comprising the steps of:

providing a Trusted Agent Server to act as the impartial trusted intermediary between said parties;

recording each step that occurs during the negotiations as a Limited Edition Digital Object (LEDO) in a Smart Receipt;

storing said Smart Receipt on a secure database on said Server;

wherein said Smart Receipt is comprised of a chain of LEDOs; and

wherein a Trusted Agent submits a party'"'"'s offer, counter-offer, or acceptance LEDO to said Server.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein a party can browse said Smart Receipt through a Trusted Agent.

15. An apparatus for creating and maintaining smart electronic receipts that document online transactions through a Trusted Agent Server in a computer environment, comprising:

a module for creating a Smart Receipt on a merchant site upon successful completion of a transaction;

a module for sending said Smart Receipt to a Trusted Agent Server;

a module for storing said Smart Receipt on a secure database on said server;

wherein said Smart Receipt is comprised of a chain of Limited Edition Digital Objects (LEDOs); and

wherein offers provided in a Smart Receipt can be personalized to a user'"'"'s preferences.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a Smart Receipt Agent on the merchant'"'"'s server; and

wherein said Smart Receipt Agent creates a representation of the purchase transaction in a Smart Receipt format.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user can sort and browse his Smart Receipts through a Trusted Agent.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a Trusted Agent creates an order record.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a module for storing said order record on a database on said Trusted Agent Server; and

a module for comparing order record LEDOs in said database with said Smart Receipt'"'"'s LEDO to find the matching record pair.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said Smart Receipt is a dynamic entity and is continuously updated until the Buyer deletes it from said Trusted Agent Server.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each LEDO object has a unique owner.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a merchant or manufacturer can track whether a user uses an offer provided in a Smart Receipt.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a module for sending a merchant a return receipt when the user receives the associated Smart Receipt.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said Smart Receipt contains a warranty registration card that is automatically filled out when the Buyer indicates that he has received the product.

25. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a merchant or manufacturer updates said Smart Receipt to notify a customer of new events.

26. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a merchant provides post-purchase services to a customer by embedding additional information within said Smart Receipt.

27. An apparatus for implementing an electronic trusted intermediary between parties involved in a negotiation in a computer environment, comprising:

a Trusted Agent Server to act as the impartial trusted intermediary between said parties;

a module for recording each step that occurs during the negotiations as a Limited Edition Digital Object (LEDO) in a Smart Receipt;

a module for storing said Smart Receipt on a secure database on said Server;

wherein said Smart Receipt is comprised of a chain of LEDOs; and

wherein a Trusted Agent submits a party'"'"'s offer, counter-offer, or acceptance LEDO to said Server.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein a party can browse said Smart Receipt through a Trusted Agent.