Non-serialized electronic product registration system and method of operating same
First Claim
1. An electronic product registration method for use with non-serialized products, comprising:
- periodically transmitting product information to a computerized electronic registration (ER) system including a database for registration, wherein the product information identifies at least one non-serialized product type that has been sold;
associating a registration date with the at least one non-serialized product type via the ER system;
determining, via a computer system of the ER system, based on the product information and applicable return criteria, a last date on which a non-serialized product belonging to the at least one non-serialized product type can be accepted for return under the applicable return criteria, said last date being determined in relation to the registration date associated with the non-serialized product type; and
providing, via the computer system, in response to an inquiry to the electronic registration system an indication as to whether or not it is possible for a non-serialized product belonging to the at least one non-serialized product type to qualify for return under the applicable return criteria when the inquiry is made.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A non-serialized electronic product registration (ER) system and method which enables return qualification information to be provided upon request for non-serialized products. Retailer specific return policies are enforced by providing the ER system with retailer return policies for UPCs, SKUs, model numbers and/or other non-unique product identifiers. The retailer periodically provides information to the ER system that indicates the last date on which products having a particular non-unique identifier have been sold. The ER system then determine the last date on which such products can be returned and provides non-serialized return qualification information to the retailer upon request.
130 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic product registration method for use with non-serialized products, comprising:
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periodically transmitting product information to a computerized electronic registration (ER) system including a database for registration, wherein the product information identifies at least one non-serialized product type that has been sold; associating a registration date with the at least one non-serialized product type via the ER system; determining, via a computer system of the ER system, based on the product information and applicable return criteria, a last date on which a non-serialized product belonging to the at least one non-serialized product type can be accepted for return under the applicable return criteria, said last date being determined in relation to the registration date associated with the non-serialized product type; and providing, via the computer system, in response to an inquiry to the electronic registration system an indication as to whether or not it is possible for a non-serialized product belonging to the at least one non-serialized product type to qualify for return under the applicable return criteria when the inquiry is made. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18)
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10. An electronic registration system for products, comprising:
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a first computer system that collects non-serialized product information from a product that is being presented for return; a database containing product identifiers for respective classes of products and associated return criteria, wherein the database includes information on at least non-serialized products that indicates, for a plurality of non-serialized product types, whether any product of a particular non-serialized product type was last purchased within an acceptable return period; a second computer system having access to the database and receiving non-serialized information collected by the first computer system, said second computer system being operable upon receipt of the non-serialized information to return information to the first computer system that indicates whether it is possible for the product being presented for return to qualify for return under an applicable return criteria. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19)
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16. An electronic product registration method for use with non-serialized products, comprising:
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periodically transmitting product information from a retailer to a computerized electronic registration (ER) system including a database for registration, wherein the product information identifies at least one non-serialized product type that has been sold by the retailer; associating a registration date with the at least one non-serialized product type via the ER system, the registration date being indicative of a latest sale of a non-serialized product matching a respective non-serialized product type; determining, via a computer system of the ER system, based on the product information and applicable return criteria, a last date on which a non-serialized product belonging to the at least one non-serialized product type can be accepted for return by the retailer under the applicable return criteria, said last date being determined in relation to the registration date associated with the non-serialized product type; and providing, via the computer system, in response to an inquiry to the electronic registration system an indication as to whether or not it is possible for a non-serialized product belonging to the at least one non-serialized product type to qualify for return under the applicable return criteria when the inquiry is made. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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17. An electronic registration system for products, comprising:
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a first computer system that collects non-serialized product information from a retailer for a product that is being presented for return; a database containing product identifiers for respective classes of products and associated return criteria, wherein the database includes information on at least non-serialized products that indicates, for a plurality of non-serialized product types, whether any product of a particular non-serialized product type was last purchased within an acceptable return period; a second computer system having access to the database and receiving non-serialized information collected by the first computer system, said second computer system being operable upon receipt of the non-serialized information to return information to the first computer system that indicates whether it is possible for the product being presented for return to qualify for return under the applicable return criteria, wherein the database further includes registration dates for the respective classes of products, the registration dates being indicative of a latest sale of a non-serialized product matching the respective non-serialized class of products.
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Specification