System and method for initiating returns over a network

• US 7,430,527 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US11/828,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20070282705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/37
• 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 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;

generating said shipping label based at least in part on said return service request;

formatting a label delivery link that is associated with said shipping label and includes a hypertext link to a uniform resource locator address;

providing said customer with said label delivery link; and

delivering said shipping label to a browser associated with said customer upon activation of said label delivery link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing said customer with a label delivery link comprises sending said label delivery link to said customer via electronic mail.