Digital receipt generation from information electronically read from product

• US 20020188561A1
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Afterbot Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Afterbot Incorporated
• Inventors: Schultz, Roger Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,742,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0837 Return transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0457 the tickets being sent electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

In connection with a sales transaction, product information is directly collected from the product provided with a label or tag that can be electronically scanned by, for example, optical scanning technology or radio-frequency scanning technology. The product information is electronically provided to the buyer in the form of an electronic receipt.

Claims

1. A method for generating an electronic receipt relating to a sales transaction of a product between a buyer and a seller, the method comprising the steps of:

conducting a product sales transaction between a buyer and a seller;

electronically collecting product information directly from the product or packaging;

generating an electronic receipt comprising the product information; and

transmitting the electronic receipt to a computing device associated with the buyer.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of collecting product information comprises optically scanning the product or its packaging.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of collecting product information comprises sensing a radio frequency signal.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the product information comprises a unique serial number.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising storing the electronic receipt in a database in which a plurality of other electronic receipts is storable

7. The method claimed in claim 6, further comprising receiving a request from the buyer to transmit the electronic receipt, and retrieving the electronic receipt from the database.

8. The method claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of storing the electronic receipt comprises storing in the database a plurality of electronic receipts related to transactions associated with the buyer.

9. The method claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of transmitting the electronic receipt comprises transmitting to the computing device associated with the buyer the plurality of electronic receipts related to transactions associated with the buyer.

4. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the sensing step comprises reading an electronic tag attached to the product or its packaging.

10. A system for providing to a third party an electronic receipt relating to a transaction for sale of a product between a buyer and a seller, the system comprising:

a collector which electronically collects product information directly from the product;

an electronic-receipt generator which, in response to the completion of the transaction, generates an electronic receipt comprising information describing the transaction; and

a receipt handler which transmits the electronic receipt to a computing device associated with the buyer.

11. The system claimed in claim 10, wherein the collector comprises an optical scanner.

12. The system claimed in claim 10, wherein the collector comprises a radio-frequency receiver.

13. The system claimed in claim 12, wherein the collector further comprises a radio-frequency transmitter.

14. The system claimed in claim 10, further comprising a storage device which stores the electronic receipt in a database in which a plurality of other electronic receipts is storable.

15. The system claimed in claim 14, wherein the receipt handler receives from the buyer a request to transmit the electronic receipt, and retrieves the electronic receipt from the database.