System and method for biometrically-initiated refund transactions

• US 7,533,066 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: YT Acquisition Corp.
• Inventors: Corwin, Daniel J., Robinson, Timothy L., Goff, Tennille V., Schildt, Bradford R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/284,156
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 705/76, 705/50, 705/51, 713/186
• US Class Current: 705/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3678 e-cash details, e.g. blinded, divisible or detecting double spending
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method of conducting refund transactions via electronic transaction records. System user transaction information entered into the system is stored in association with user biometric information. Transaction information is retrieved via user biometric recognition/verification for conducting refund transactions.

Claims

1. A method for completing a receiptless refund transaction by accessing purchase transaction information via a user record stored at a database, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user, a refund pre-approval request, said request including first biometric data from said user and information pertaining to a product the user desires to return;

locating a user record associated with said first biometric data;

locating, at said user record, previously stored purchase transaction information associated with said product information;

determining whether or not said product is eligible for return;

if said product is determined eligible for return, pre-approving said request;

receiving, via a refund station, user second biometric data, said product information and said product presented for return, wherein at least said user second biometric data is used to located a user record;

determining the condition of said product;

if said product condition meets return parameters, crediting a monetary amount associated with said product return to a financial account associated with said user record; and

storing said product return transaction information in said user record.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said user refund request is received via one or more of the Internet or telephone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said refund station is automated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said user biometric data is accompanied by a user system identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein product eligibility for return is determined by one or more of said product'"'"'s inclusion in a user transaction history and the date of said purchase transaction.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the user if said product does not meet return parameters.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising disqualifying the return if said product if it does not meet return parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said return parameters are configured by one or more of a system operator and the system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said user refund request includes a plurality of products from one or more of a single purchase transaction or a plurality of purchase transactions.

10. A method for a user to complete a refund pre-approval transaction by accessing a user record stored at a database, the method comprising:

receiving a request to complete a refund pre-approval transaction, said request at least including first biometric data;

retrieving said pre-approved refund transaction request from a user record associated with second biometric data if said first biometric data matches said second biometric data;

receiving, from the user, an item associated with said refund pre-approval transaction;

determining whether said item meets return parameters; and

if said item meets return parameters, completing said refund pre-approval transaction by providing the user a value associated with said return.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said item is one or more of a product and a service agreement.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said value is provided by crediting one or more financial accounts associated with said user record.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising prompting the user to indicate said one or more financial accounts from a plurality of financial accounts.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said value is one or more of cash, credit and a stored value.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the value of said return is not equal to its purchase value.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said value is provided by crediting one or more financial accounts associated with said purchase transaction.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said refund pre-approval completion occurs at an automated refund station.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising inputting, at said automated refund station, one or more identifiers associated with said one or more products and services presented for return.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said identifiers include one or more of a universal product code and a radio frequency identification code.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the request further comprises a user system identifier.