Electronic product registration system with customizable return/warranty programs

• US 8,768,780 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc. (Nintendo Company Limited)
• Inventors: Junger, Peter J., Pedersen, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, III, Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US13/940,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

An electronic product registration (ER) system which enables a retailer, preferable in cooperation with its vendors, to provide a customized return/warranty program for customers on a product-by product basis. The original policy(ies) in the ER system can be modified for a particular product and the modified policy is stored in the ER system so that the modified policy can be accessed if the product is again presented for a return/warranty transaction.

Claims

1. An electronic product registration system operable to help implement a customizable return program, comprising:

a computer processor;

a storage medium tangibly storing a plurality of policies, including an original return policy defined for a set of serialized products in the electronic product registration system;

where the computer processor is programmed to at least;

receive, via a communication channel, a first serialized product of the set of serialized products presented for a first return request, the first serialized product having a first unique identifier associated with the predefined original return policy;

verify the first unique identifier and determine that the first serialized product does not qualify for return under the predefined original return policy or any other predefined return policy;

define a customized return policy for the first serialized product, the customized return policy being different from the original return policy and reflecting a planned course of action for the received first serialized product;

provide first instructions concerning how to handle the first return request based on the customized return policy;

store, in the storage medium, the customized return policy by overriding the predefined original return policy to create and store a modified return policy, wherein the modified return policy acts as a predefined return policy for future returns of other serialized products in the set of serialized products;

receive, over the communication channel, a second serialized product of the set of serialized products presented for a second return request, the second serialized product having a second unique identifier associated with the predefined original return policy;

access the modified return policy upon receiving the second return request; and

provide second instructions concerning how to handle the second return request based on the modified return policy.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein either the original return policy or the customized return policy allows returns for products purchased within 90 days.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of original return policies is defined for the serialized products.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of policies include vendor and retailer policies.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer processor is further configured to enable customization of the original return policy in accordance with preapproved modifications.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the preapproved modifications are defined by both the retailer and the vendor.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the computer processor is further configured to make the preapproved modifications available to a user through the electronic product registration system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer processor is further configured to require an authorized person to define the customized return policy in the electronic product registration system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the original return policy includes at least one original return policy term,

the customized return policy includes at least one customized return policy term, and

at least one said customized return policy term is inconsistent with at least one said original return policy term.

10. An electronic product registration system operable to help implement a customizable warranty program, comprising:

a computer processor;

a storage medium tangibly storing a plurality of policies, including an original warranty policy defined for a set of serialized products in the electronic product registration system;

where the computer processor is programmed to at least;

receive, via a communication channel, a first serialized product of the set of serialized products presented for a first warranty request, the first serialized product having a first unique identifier associated with the predefined original warranty policy;

verify the first unique identifier and determine that the first serialized product does not qualify for warranty under the predefined original warranty policy or any other predefined warranty policy;

define a customized warranty policy for the first serialized product, the customized warranty policy being different from the original warranty policy and reflecting a planned course of action for the received first serialized product;

provide first instructions concerning how to handle the first warranty request based on the customized warranty policy;

store, in the storage medium, the customized warranty policy by overriding the predefined original warranty policy to create and store a modified warranty policy, wherein the modified warranty policy acts as a predefined warranty policy for future warranty requests of other serialized products in the set of serialized products;

receive, over the communication channel, a second serialized product of the set of serialized products presented for a second warranty request, the second serialized product having a second unique identifier associated with the predefined original warranty policy;

access the modified warranty policy upon receiving the second warranty request; and

provide second instructions concerning how to handle the second warranty request based on the modified warranty policy.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein either the original warranty policy or the customized warranty policy allows warranty service for products purchased within 90 days.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein a plurality of original warranty policies is defined for the serialized products.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of policies include vendor and retailer policies.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer processor is further configured to enable customization of the original warranty policy in accordance with preapproved modifications.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the preapproved modifications are defined by both the retailer and the vendor.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer processor is further configured to make the preapproved modifications available to a user through the electronic product registration system.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer processor is further configured to require an authorized person to define the customized warranty policy in the electronic product registration system.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the original warranty policy includes at least one original warranty policy term,

the customized warranty policy includes at least one customized warranty policy term, and

at least one said customized warranty policy term is inconsistent with at least one said original warranty policy term.