Systems methods and computer program products for directing consumer from digital receipt to source of specific item for repeat item purchase

• US 8,527,367 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Blank, Bennett R., Lieberman, Jonathan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen, Nicholas D
• Application Number:
  US13/014,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20120191565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.61, 705/26.8, 705/26.81, 705/26.9, 705/27.1
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

Systems, computer-implemented methods and computer program products for directing a consumer to a source offering for sale a specific item previously purchased by the consumer. Electronic receipt data generated for a consumer purchase of a specifically identified item is generated by a merchant transaction processing device, and an electronic representation of a receipt is generated based on that data. The electronic representation identifies the specific item and includes an input element or button that can be selected, clicked on, executed or activated by a consumer to allow the consumer to be directed to a website of a merchant who offers the same item for sale and from which the consumer can buy the same item again.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting a digital receipt for a specific item purchased by a consumer to the consumer to allow the consumer to repurchase the specific item from a different merchant, the method comprising:

a computer generating a digital receipt comprising a first input element and a second input element, the first input element being selectable by the consumer to direct the consumer from the digital receipt to a first merchant offering the specific item for sale, the second input element being selectable by the consumer to direct the consumer from the digital receipt to a second merchant offering the specific item for sale, the second merchant being different from the first merchant; and

the computer providing access to the digital receipt in response to a request by a computing device of the consumer, the digital receipt being displayable on a screen of the computing device to allow the consumer to select the first input element to be directed to the first merchant offering the specific item for sale and to select the second input element to be directed to the second merchant offering the specific item for sale.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the first input element and the second input element being displayable within the digital receipt.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the first input element and the second input element being displayable adjacent to data identifying the specific item.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, generating the digital receipt comprising encoding the first and second input elements to refer to respective addresses of respective websites of respective first and second merchants selling the specific item such that when the consumer selects an input element, the consumer is directed to the website of that corresponding merchant.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, at least one of the first and second input elements being encoded to direct the consumer to a page of a website displaying the specific item.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, at least one of the first and second input elements being encoded to direct the consumer to a page of a website in which the specific item has been added to an electronic order or electronic shopping cart.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, at least one of the first and second input elements being encoded to direct the consumer to a website of the same merchant from whom the consumer purchased the specific item.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the consumer purchased the specific item from the first merchant, the second input element being encoded to direct the consumer to a website of the second merchant that offers the specific item.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the digital receipt comprising respective data identifying a plurality of specific items previously purchased by the consumer, wherein each of the first and second input elements is associated with at least one specific item.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the digital receipt comprising data identifying a plurality of specific items previously purchased by the consumer, wherein at least one specific item is associated with one of the first and second input elements and at least one specific item is not associated with an input element.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second input elements is a graphic image, a button, a banner or a merchant logo.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the specific item being identified by at least one type of item-level data selected from the group consisting of a serial number, a Stock Keeping Unit number, an inventory or identification number assigned to the specific item by the merchant, a model or part number, and an item description.

13. A computer-implemented method for directing a consumer to a source offering for sale a specific item previously purchased by the consumer, the method being performed by a computer, and comprising:

a first computer receiving electronic receipt data from a transaction processing device of a merchant, the electronic receipt data identifying the specific item purchased by the consumer from the merchant; and

the first computer generating an electronic representation of a receipt, the electronic representation comprising data identifying the specific item, a first input element associated with the specific item and a second input element associated with the specific item, the electronic representation being displayable on a screen of a second computer of the consumer in communication with the first computer through a network such that the first computer directs the consumer to a first source offering the specific item for sale when the consumer selects the first input element and directs the consumer to a second source offering the specific item for sale when the consumer selects the second input element.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, the electronic representation being configured such that the first input element and the second input element are displayable within the electronic representation.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, the electronic representation being configured such that the first and second input elements are displayable adjacent to data identifying the specific item.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, generating the electronic representation comprising programming or encoding the first and second input elements such that the first and second input elements embody or refer to respective addresses of respective websites or databases of respective sources offering the specific item for sale.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, at least one of the first and second input elements being programmed or encoded to direct the consumer to a page of a website displaying the specific item.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, at least one of the first and second input elements being programmed or encoded to direct the consumer to a page of a website in which the specific item has been added to an electronic order or electronic shopping cart.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, at least one of the first and second sources comprising the same merchant from whom the consumer purchased the specific item.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the consumer purchased the specific item from a first merchant, the second source comprising a second merchant different from the first merchant.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, the electronic representation comprising respective data identifying a plurality of specific items purchased by the consumer, wherein each of the first and second input elements is associated with at least one specific item.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, the electronic representation comprising data identifying a plurality of specific items purchased by the consumer, wherein at least one specific item is associated with one of the first and second input elements ad at least one specific item is not associated with an input element.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, at least one of the first and second input elements being a graphic image, a button, a banner or a merchant logo.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising the first computer identifying the first and second sources offering the specific item for sale, generating the electronic representation comprising the first computer programming or encoding the respective first and second data input elements with respective addresses of respective websites of respective first and second identified sources.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, at least one of the first and second sources being identified by the first computer searching for the specific item within a website or database of the at least one of the first and second sources.

26. A system for directing a consumer to a source of a specific item purchased by a consumer, the system comprising;

a first computer in communication with a second computer of the consumer through a first network;

and a receipt program executing on the first computer,

the receipt program being configured to receive electronic receipt data from a transaction processing device of a merchant through a second network, the electronic receipt data identifying the specific item purchased by the consumer from the merchant, the receipt program being configured to generate an electronic representation of a receipt, the electronic representation comprising;

data identifying the specific item,

a first input element associated with the specific item, and

a second input element associated with the specific item,

the electronic representation being displayable on a screen of the second computer of the consumer such that the receipt program is configured to direct the consumer to a first source offering the specific item for sale when the consumer selects the first input element, and to direct the consumer to a second source offering the specific item for sale when the consumer selects the second input element.

27. The system of claim 26, the electronic representation being configured such that the first and second input elements are displayed within the electronic representation.

28. The system of claim 26, the electronic representation being configured such that the first and second input elements are displayed adjacent to data identifying the specific item.

29. The system of claim 26, the receipt program being further configured to program or encode respective first and second input elements with respective addresses of respective websites or databases of respective first and second sources offering the specific item for sale, wherein when the consumer selects an input element, the receipt program is configured to direct the consumer to that corresponding website or database.

30. The system of claim 26, at least one of the first and second input elements being programmed or encoded to direct the consumer to a page of a website displaying the specific item.

31. The system of claim 26, at least one of the first and second input elements being programed or encoded to direct the consumer to a page of a website in which the specific item has been added to an electronic order or electronic shopping cart.

32. The system of claim 26, the at least one of the first and second sources comprising the same merchant from whom the consumer purchased the specific item.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the consumer purchased the specific item from a first merchant, the second source comprising a second merchant different from the first merchant.

34. The system of claim 26, the electronic representation comprising respective data identifying a plurality of specific items purchased by the consumer, wherein each of the first and second input elements is associated with at least one specific item.

35. The system of claim 26, the electronic representation comprising data identifying a plurality of specific items purchased by the consumer, wherein at least one specific item is associated with one of the first and second input elements and at least one specific item is not associated with an input element.

36. The system of claim 26, at least one of the first and second data input elements being a graphic image, button, banner or merchant logo.

37. The system of claim 26, the receipt program being further configured to identify at least one of the first and second sources offering the specific item for sale, and program or encode the at least one of the first and second data input elements with an address of a website of the at least one of the first and second sources.

38. The system of claim 37, the receipt program being configured to identify at least one of the first and second sources by connecting to a source computer and identifying at least one of the first and second sources by searching for the specific item within a website or database of the at least one of the first and second sources.

39. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium embodying one or more instructions executable by a computer to perform a process for directing a consumer to a source offering for sale a specific item purchased by the consumer, the process comprising:

receiving, at a first computer, electronic receipt data from a transaction processing device of a merchant, the electronic receipt data identifying the specific item purchased by the consumer from the merchant, and generating an electronic representation of a receipt, the electronic representation comprising data identifying the specific item, a first input element associated with the specific item and a second input element associated with the specific item, the electronic representation being displayed on a screen of a second computer of the consumer in communication with the first computer through a network such that when the consumer selects the first input element, the consumer is directed to a first source offering the specific item for sale, and when the consumer selects the second input element, the consumer is directed to a second source offering the specific item for sale.

40. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium embodying one or more instructions executable by a computer to perform a process for presenting a digital receipt for a specific item purchased by a consumer to the consumer to allow the consumer to repurchase the specific item from a different merchant, the process comprising:

generating a digital receipt comprising a first input element and a second input element, the first input element being selectable by the consumer to direct the consumer from the digital receipt to a first merchant offering the specific item for sale, the second input element being selectable by the consumer to direct the consumer from the digital receipt to a second merchant offering the specific item for sale, the second merchant being different from the first merchant; and

providing access to the digital receipt in response to a request by computing device of the consumer, the digital receipt being displayable on a screen of the computing device to allow the consumer to select the first input element to be directed to the first merchant offering the specific item for sale and to select the second input element to be directed to the second merchant offering the specific item for sale.