Electronic transaction receipt system and method

• US 7,552,087 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Afterbot Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Afterbot Incorporated
• Inventors: Hylton, Duane A., Galanis, Peter, Nadler, James G., Greene, James D., Schultz, R. Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Havan, Thu Thao
• Application Number:
  US09/776,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20010029483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,063 Days
• Field of Search: 705 38- 39, 705/24
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0457 the tickets being sent electronically
• 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 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

In connection with a sales transaction, an electronic receipt is issued to the buyer that includes hyperlinks. A hyperlink can be associated with post-sale interaction with the product seller, the product manufacturer or parties acting on their behalf that involves the product itself, such as a product return procedure, a product warranty procedure, receiving rebate notices and recall notices, product registration procedures and similar functions.

Claims

1. A system for generating de-identified electronic receipts, comprising:

a. a database for storing a plurality of sales transactions between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers, wherein each of the plurality of sales transactions includes an identity of one of the plurality of buyers;

b. an electronic receipt generator for;

i. generating an electronic receipt for each of the plurality of sales transactions, wherein each electronic receipt comprises detailed data describing the sales transaction, including sale price, total transaction amount, item description, and information indicating completion of the sales transaction; and

ii. generating de-identified data from each of the electronic receipts, wherein the de-identified data describes each of the plurality of sales transactions, but does not personally identify any one of the plurality of buyers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic receipt generator stores the de-identified data in the database.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic receipt generator stores the de-identified data in a second database.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor for generating market analysis data using the de-identified data generated from the plurality of electronic receipts.