System and method for initiating returns over a network

• US 7,266,513 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hoffmann, Thomas V., Chalmers, Geoff S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US10/098,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20020152093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for processing return transactions over a network. An embodiment of the invention discloses an online return application that generates an electronic return shipping label that can be delivered to a browser of a customer that wishes to make a return. Also, disclosed is the creation and transmission of label delivery links, which provide for dynamic generation and delivery of shipping labels.

Claims

1. A method of electronically providing a shipping label to a customer that wishes to return a good that was previously purchased from a merchant, said method comprising the steps of:

initiating a return transaction upon receipt of a return service request, wherein said return service request contains shipping information, said shipping information comprising an address of said customer and an address of said merchant;

assigning a package tracking identifier by a carrier server to said return transaction, wherein said package tracking identifier is readable by a carrier shipment tracking system associated with a carrier for tracking shipment of said good to be returned;

generating said shipping label in electronic form by said carrier server based at least in part on said shipping information, said shipping label being acceptable by said carrier to deliver said good to said merchant according to said return transaction and including said package tracking identifier for tracking shipment of said good during return delivery to said merchant; and

providing said shipping label to said customer in electronic form.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing said shipping label to said customer in electronic form, comprises the steps of:

storing an electronic image of said shipping label, and

sending to said customer a label delivery link through which said customer obtain access to said electronic image on the carrier server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said electronic image of said shipping label is stored on a carrier server.