Reprint of a physical receipt and receipt history from an electronic receipt for reducing fraudulent returns

• US 9,595,024 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wal Mart Stores Inc (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Argue, Stuart, Marcar, Anthony Emile
• Primary Examiner(s): Obaid, Fateh M
• Application Number:
  US13/665,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20140122276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device

Abstract

A method is disclosed for reprinting a paper copy of a receipt at a physical store location. The receipt printing may be based off of an electronic receipt. A customer may provide receipt identification to a returns associate at a POS terminal in a store location. Information may be sent to a server or computer system to request that a receipt be reprinted. The server may then process the request and transmit receipt information to the POS terminal where a paper copy of the receipt is printed for the returns associate. A modified receipt may be printed which includes receipt information for additional transactions. A modified receipt may be printed which includes additional information regarding items on the receipt.

Claims

1. A method for reprinting a receipt comprising:

providing an application installed on a mobile electronic device, the mobile electronic device including a camera;

prompting, by the application, a customer to capture a barcode of an original receipt from a retailer, wherein the retailer stores a copy of the original receipt on a receipts management server, the receipts management server communicatively coupled to a sales terminal;

receiving, by the application from the receipts management server, a copy of the original receipt for storage on the mobile electronic device;

displaying, by the application, information identifying the original receipt on the mobile electronic device, the information encoded in a machine-readable code;

scanning, by a scanner of the sales terminal, the machine-readable code from the mobile electronic device;

transmitting, by the sales terminal to the receipts management server, the information identifying the original receipt;

processing, by the receipts management server, the information identifying the original receipt;

determining, by the receipts management server, that the information identifying the original receipt matches the stored copy of the original receipt;

in response to the determination that the original receipt matches the stored copy of the original receipt, preparing, by the receipts management server, a summary timeline including two or more transactions, the two or more transactions including at least one purchase and at least one return of a single item identified on the original receipt;

generating, by the receipts management server, a modified electronic receipt including the summary timeline;

transmitting, by the receipts management server, the modified electronic receipt from the receipts management server to the sales terminal;

printing a paper copy of the modified electronic receipt at a receipts printer associated with the sales terminal;

sending, by the receipts management server, the modified electronic receipt to the application;

rendering, by the application, an image of the modified receipt electronic receipt information and the summary timeline; and

displaying, by the application, the rendered image on the mobile electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the server identifying an additional receipt for an additional transaction which is related to the original receipt.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the modified receipt comprises multiple receipts including the additional receipt and the original receipt.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the modified receipt comprises a single receipt showing an original transaction related to the original receipt and showing the additional transaction.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the modified receipt comprises additional information for an item on the original receipt.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the modified receipt comprises returns policy information for an item on the original receipt.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the modified receipt indicates dates which are relevant to the return of an item on the original receipt.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a returns associate reviewing the modified receipt; and

the returns associate evaluating a proposed item return in light of the modified receipt.

9. A sales system for reprinting receipts, the sales system comprising:

a receipts management server of a retailer;

an application installed on a mobile electronic device, the mobile electronic device including a camera, wherein the application is configured to;

prompt a customer to capture a barcode of select an original receipt from a retailer, wherein the retailer stores a copy of the original receipt on the receipts management server,

receive, from the receipts management server a copy of the original receipt for storage on the mobile electronic device,

display information identifying the original receipt on the mobile electronic device, the information encoded in a machine-readable code;

a sales terminal of the retailer, the sales terminal communicatively coupled to the receipts management server and;

having a scanner configured to scan the machine-readable code from the mobile electronic device;

having a receipts printer configured to print paper copies of electronic receipts; and

being configured to transmit to the receipts management server the information identifying the original receipt;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices operably connected to the one or more processors, the one or more memory devices collectively storing;

a receipts management module configured to;

process the information identifying the original receipt,

determine that the information identifying the original receipt matches the stored copy of the original receipt;

in response to the determination that the original receipt matches the stored copy of the original receipt, preparing, by the receipts management server, a summary timeline including two or more transactions, the two or more transactions including at least one purchase and at least one return of a single item identified on the original receipt, generate a modified electronic receipt including the summary timeline;

transmit the modified electronic receipt from the receipts management server to the sales terminal; and

wherein the receipts printer of the sales terminal is further configured to print a paper copy of the modified electronic receipt; and

wherein the application is further configured to;

render an image of the modified electronic receipt, and

display the rendered image on the mobile electronic device.

10. The sales system of claim 9, wherein the machine-readable code comprises a barcode.

11. The sales system of claim 9, wherein the machine-readable code comprises a QR code.

12. The sales system of claim 9, wherein the machine-readable code encodes at least one unique transaction identifier.