Voice recognition method and apparatus using model number lookup

• US 8,126,724 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc. (Nintendo Company Limited)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOSEPH, TONYA S
• Application Number:
  US12/659,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• 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 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00

Abstract

A voice response system for use in obtaining return qualification information for a product using a non-unique product identifier, including: a dial-in voice system operable to prompt a caller for the non-unique product identifier, wherein the non-unique product identifies the product as a member of a defined product group; a product registration database including a plurality of different, non-unique product identifiers; a return policy storage that defines return policies for each of the non-unique product identifiers; and an arrangement that looks up a specific return policy for the non-unique product identified entered by the caller and provides information to the caller regarding return qualification for the product identified by the non-unique product identifier.

Claims

1. A system for use in obtaining return qualification information for a consumer-type product on behalf of a consumer using a non-unique product identifier, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

a subsystem operable to prompt a user for the non-unique product identifier, wherein the non-unique product identifier identifies the product as a member of a defined product group;

a product registration database including a plurality of different, non-unique product identifiers;

a return policy storage location including return policies for each of the non-unique product identifiers, one or more of said return policies being at least partially dependent on a last date associated with at least one of the products identified by the non-unique product identifier; and

an arrangement operable to look up a specific return policy for the non-unique product identifier entered by the user and provide information to the user regarding return qualification for the product identified by the non-unique product identifier,

wherein the at least one processor of the system is configured to make a return qualification of a first product having a non-unique identifier based at least in part on a last date for accepting a return by the consumer associated with a second product having the same non- unique identifier.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-unique product identifier is a product model number.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-unique product identifier is a Universal Product Code (UPC).

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-unique identifier is a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU).

5. The system of claim 1, further including a watchdog process that periodically tests the operation of the system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the last date is a last ship date from a manufacturer to a retailer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the last date is a last sell-through date at a retailer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the database includes return qualification information for purchased products.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first product is different from the second product.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second products are sold at different times.

9. A method of operating a computer system, the method comprising:

storing different non-unique product identifiers into the computer system;

storing a return policy in the computer system for each of the non-unique product identifiers, wherein the return policy defines criteria under which products having the non-unique product identifier associated with the policy are returnable by consumers;

prompting a user for a non-unique identifier associated with a product for which a return is desired;

determining, via the computer system, whether the entered non-unique identifier corresponds to one of the stored non-unique identifiers in the computer system;

obtaining a stored return policy for the non-unique product identifier based on the determination that the entered non-unique identifier corresponds to one of the stored non-unique identifiers in the computer system, wherein the computer system is configured to qualify a first product having a non-unique identifier for return based at least in part on a last date for accepting a return by the consumer associated with a second product having the same non-unique identifier; and

communicating return qualification information based on the stored return policy back to the user through the computer system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the system prompts the user for a product model number as the non-unique product identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the system includes a product registration database.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the last date is a last ship date from a manufacturer to a retailer for product having a particular non-unique product identifier.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the last date is a last sell-through date at a retailer for products having a particular non-unique product identifier.

14. The method of claim 13, further including using a watchdog process that periodically tests the operation of the system.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the first product is different from the second product.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second products are sold at different times.