System and methods to effect return of a consumer product

• US 7,076,449 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon USA, Inc. (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon USA, Inc. (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsunenari, Tomoo, Larkey, Ben, Futagami, Ryotaro, Saks, Arkady
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US09/792,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27, 705/24, 705/13, 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A network server is provided which effects the return of a consumer product. The network server is adapted to present to a client located on the network one or more form pages adapted to elicit consumer information including an identification of the consumer product to be returned and an identification of the present location of the consumer product. The server can receive the consumer information and transmit to the client shipping label data which includes an identification of a destination for the consumer product and of a carrier service. The destination is selected in accordance with the consumer information and without regard to where the consumer product was purchased.

Claims

1. A network server, for effecting the return of a consumer product for recycling, the network server comprising:

(a) hardware operating under the control of software that presents to a client located on the network one or more form pages adapted to elicit consumer information including an identification of the consumer product to be returned and an identification of the present location of the consumer product;

(b) hardware operating under the control of software that receives the consumer information; and

(c) hardware operating under the control of software that transmits to the client shipping label data which includes an identification of a destination recycling facility for the consumer product and of a carrier service, the destination recycling facility being automatically chosen from among plural possible recycling facilities based upon the received identity of the consumer product and the received present location of the consumer product and the carrier service being automatically chosen from among plural possible carrier services based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically chosen destination recycling facility,

wherein both automatic choices are made without regard to where the consumer product was purchased.

2. The network server according to claim 1, the network server automatically choosing the carrier service shortly before transmitting the client shipping label, based on factors including current carrier rates.

3. The network server according to claim 1, the network server causing the received consumer information to be stored in a database server.

4. The network server according to claim 3, wherein the consumer information includes product serial number data.

5. The network server according to claim 3, the network server receiving, as components of consumer information, consumer name and address information.

6. The network server according to claim 1 wherein the network server is a Web server, the client is a Web browser, and the network is the Internet.

7. The network server according to claim 1, the network server receiving, as components of the consumer information, information concerning use of the consumer product.

8. The network server according to claim 1, wherein the consumer product is a laser printer toner cartridge.

9. A method of effecting, in a network environment, the return of a consumer product for recycling, the method comprising a network server carrying out the steps of:

(a) presenting to a client located on the network one or more form pages adapted to elicit consumer information including an identification of the consumer product to be returned and an identification of the present location of the consumer product;

(b) receiving the consumer information; and

(c) transmitting to the client shipping label data which includes an identification of a destination recycling facility for the consumer product and of a carrier service, the destination recycling facility being automatically chosen from among plural possible recycling facilities based upon the received identity of the consumer product and the received present location of the consumer product and the carrier service being automatically chosen from among plural possible carrier services based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically determined destination recycling facility,

wherein both automatic choices are made without regard to where the consumer product was purchased.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the network server automatically choosing the carrier service shortly before transmitting the client shipping label, based on factors including current carrier rates.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the network server to cause the received consumer information to be stored in a database server.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the consumer information includes product serial number data.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the network server receiving as components of consumer information consumer name and address information.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the network server is a Web server, the client is a Web browser, and the network is the Internet.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the network server receiving, as components of the consumer information, information concerning use of the consumer product.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the consumer product is a laser printer toner cartridge.

17. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and executable on a network server, for effecting the return of a consumer product for recycling, including:

(a) code for presenting to a client located on the network one or more form pages adapted to elicit consumer information including an identification of the consumer product to be returned and an identification of the present location of the consumer product;

(b) code for receiving the consumer information;

(c) code for transmitting to the client shipping label data which includes an identification of a destination recycling facility for the consumer product and of a carrier service, the destination recycling facility being automatically chosen from among a plurality of possible recycling facilities based upon the received identity of the consumer product and the received present location of the consumer product and the carrier service being automatically chosen from among plural possible carrier services based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically determined destination recycling facility,

wherein both automatic choices are made without regard to where the consumer product was purchased.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17, further comprising code for automatically choosing the carrier service shortly before transmitting the client shipping label, based on factors including current carrier rates.

19. The computer program product according to claim 17, further comprising code for storing the received consumer information in a database server.

20. The computer program product according to claim 19, wherein the consumer information includes product serial number data.

21. The computer code according to claim 19, further comprising code for receiving as components of consumer information consumer name and address information.

22. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the network server is a Web server, the client is a Web browser, and the network is the Internet.

23. The computer program product according to claim 17, further comprising code for receiving, as components of the consumer information, information concerning use of the consumer product.

24. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the consumer product is a laser printer toner cartridge.

25. An apparatus, operating in a network environment, for effecting the return of a consumer product for recycling, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for presenting to a client located on the network one or more form pages adapted to elicit consumer information including an identification of the consumer product to be returned and an identification of the present location of the consumer product;

(b) means for receiving the consumer information; and

(c) means for transmitting to the client shipping label data which includes an identification of a destination recycling facility for the consumer product and of a carrier service, the destination recycling facility being automatically chosen from among plural possible recycling facilities based upon the received identity of the consumer product and the received present location of the consumer product and the carrier service being automatically chosen from among plural possible carrier services based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically determined destination recycling facility,

wherein both automatic choices are made without regard to where the consumer product was purchased.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising means for automatically choosing the carrier service shortly before transmitting the client shipping label, based on factors including current carrier rates.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising means for storing received consumer information in a database server.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the consumer information includes product serial number data.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising means for receiving as components of consumer information consumer name and address information.

30. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the apparatus is a Web server, the client is a Web browser, and the network is the Internet.

31. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising means for receiving, as components of the consumer information, information concerning use of the consumer product.

32. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the consumer product is a laser printer toner cartridge.

33. A network client operatively connected to a printer, the client located on a network linking the client with a network server, the network client comprising:

(a) hardware operating under the control of software that transmits to the server consumer information including information including an identification of a consumer product to be returned and an identification of the present location of the consumer product; and

(b) hardware operating under the control of software that receives from the server shipping label data including an identification of a destination recycling facility for the consumer product and of a carrier service, the destination recycling facility being automatically chosen from among plural possible recycling facilities based upon the received identity of the consumer product and the received present location of the consumer product and the carrier service being automatically chosen from among plural possible carrier services based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically determined destination recycling facility,

wherein both automatic choices are made without regard to where the consumer product was purchased.

34. A network client according to claim 33, the network client transmitting shipping label data to the printer to cause the printer to print a shipping label.

35. A network server, for effecting the return of a consumer product for recycling, the network server comprising:

(a) hardware operating under the control of software that presents to a client located on the network one or more form pages adapted to elicit consumer information including an identification of the consumer product to be returned, an identification of the present location of the consumer product, and whether or not the consumer requires packing materials for return of the product;

(b) hardware operating under the control of software that receives the consumer information;

(c) hardware operating under the control of software that, if the received consumer information indicates that the consumer requires packing materials, initiates shipping of packing materials in accordance with the received consumer information, and present to the client a page requesting the consumer contact the network server again when the packing materials are filled to request a shipping label at that time; and

(d) hardware operating under the control of software that, if the received consumer information indicates that the consumer does not require packing materials, immediately transmits to the client shipping label data which includes an identification of a destination recycling facility for the consumer product and of a carrier service, the destination recycling facility being automatically chosen from among plural possible recycling facilities based upon the received identity of the consumer product and the received present location of the consumer product and the carrier service being automatically chosen from among plural possible carrier services based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically determined destination recycling facility,

wherein both automatic choices are made without regard to where the consumer product was purchased.

36. A method of effecting, in a network environment, the return of a consumer product for recycling, the method comprising a network server:

(a) presenting to a client located on the network one or more form pages adapted to elicit from a consumer information including an identification of the consumer product to be returned and an identification of the present location of the consumer product;

(b) receiving the consumer information; and

(c) transmitting to the client shipping label data which includes an identification of a destination recycling facility for the consumer product and of a carrier service, the destination recycling facility being automatically chosen from among plural possible recycling facilities based upon the received identity of the consumer product and the received present location of the consumer product and the carrier service being automatically chosen from among plural carrier services based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically determined destination recycling facility,

wherein both automatic choices are made without regard to where the consumer product was purchased,

and wherein the consumer is presented with a incentive to induce the consumer to use the shipping label to return multiple consumer products.