Patent Application
20070272740
Embodiments of the present invention provide for the delivery of electronic receipts evidencing a transaction. In particular, embodiments of the present invention provide for delivering a receipt to an address presented by a user or consumer who is party to or otherwise involved in a transaction contemporaneously with or immediately following the transaction. Furthermore, because the delivery address itself is presented, pre-registration of a delivery address and/or searching a database for address information is avoided.
With reference to
If the consumer 104 chooses to receive an electronic receipt 116, the consumer 104 provides or presents data 118 comprising a delivery address to a receipt processing system 120. The delivery address may be provided by the consumer 104 manually, for example by entering the delivery address into the receipt processing system 120 using an associated keyboard or other consumer input. As an alternative, and as shown in
The receipt processing system 120 associates information related to or evidencing the transaction with the delivery address provided by the consumer for that transaction, and sends the resulting electronic receipt 116 to the delivery address. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the electronic receipt 116 is sent as an email. Accordingly, the electronic receipt 116 with the associated delivery address may be provided to an email server 128, and transmitted as an email message and/or an attachment 132 across a network 136 such as the Internet to the indicated address. In accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, the delivery address may comprise a network address, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address. Moreover, the electronic receipt 116 may comprise data file (such as a file that can be read and used by an application), an image file (such as a .pdf), or a data file and an image file.
As can be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the electronic receipt 116 can then be stored and/or processed using a computer or other device 140 associated with or capable of retrieving information from the delivery address. In particular, the consumer may store the electronic receipt 116 and can use it in connection with a consumer application program 144. Examples of consumer application programs 144 include personal finance applications 148, business finance applications 152, and tax preparation applications 156. Accordingly, the information comprising the electronic receipt may include information that can be read by and incorporated into an application program 144. The electronic receipt can also be used in connection with the reconciliation of accounts, for example a bank account 160. Reconciliation may be performed in connection with a consumer application program 144, or a remotely accessed program 164, such as a web-based program provided through a bank website. A printer 168 associated with the computer 140 may be used to create a hard copy of the receipt or information included.
A receipt processing system 120 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may comprise a computing device capable of placing information related to an event or other transaction into an electronic message and/or collecting a delivery address from a consumer associated with the transaction. Accordingly, examples of a receipt processing system 120 include a cash register, automatic teller machine, automated kiosk, self-service gasoline pump or general purpose computer.
With reference to
A receipt processing system 120 may additionally include memory 208 for use in connection with the execution of programming by the processor 204, and for the temporary or long term storage of data or program instructions. The memory 208 may comprise solid state memory, such as DRAM and SDRAM. Where the processor 204 comprises a controller, the memory 208 may be integral to the processor 204.
In addition, various user input devices 212 and user output devices 216 may be provided. Examples of input devices 212 include a microphone, keyboard, numeric keypad and pointing device combined with a screen or other position encoder. In general, an input device 212 may be used by a consumer to enter commands or data related to a transaction. Alternatively or in addition, an input device 212 can be used by a consumer to enter a delivery address to be used in connection with the delivery of an electronic receipt related to a transaction. Examples of user output devices 216 include a printer, speaker, alpha-numeric display or a graphic display or monitor.
A receipt processing system 120 may also include data storage 220 for the storage of application programming and/or data. For example, operating system software 224 may be stored in data storage 220. In addition, an electronic receipt application or means for associating information related to the terms of a transaction with a delivery address 228 can be stored in data storage 220. Examples of other applications that can be stored in data storage 220 include a transaction application or means for memorializing the terms of a transaction 232, and a communication application 236. The electronic receipt application 228 can provide functions related to the collection of receipt information from a transaction application 232 or some other application, and the collection of address data information from a consumer to be used to deliver an electronic receipt to the consumer as a file and/or an image file. The transaction application 232 generally comprises an application to create and/or collect information related to a transaction. Accordingly, examples of a transaction application 232 include a cash register application, self-service gas pump or other self service device application, automatic teller machine operating instructions, an application for obtaining transaction information from another system or device. The communication application 236 can comprise a program capable of composing messages and at least initiating the delivery of such messages to an electronic address. Accordingly, examples of a communication application 236 include an email program or a text messaging program. Although examples of separate electronic receipt 228, transaction 232, and communication 236 applications have been described, functions of some or all of these applications can be combined into a lesser number of applications. In addition, although described as applications that comprise programming stored in data storage, other arrangements are possible. For instance, some or all of the functions described in connection with the applications 228-236 can be performed in connection with hard wired logic circuits or the execution of firmware.
A receipt processing system 120 may additionally include a card reader and/or a scanner 124. In general, a card reader or scanner 124 is operable to read a delivery address from a card, chip or other item presented by a consumer in connection with a transaction. Accordingly, the card reader or scanner 124 may comprise a bar code reader, optical scanner, magnetic card reader, radio frequency identification device scanner or any other device capable of reading a delivery address carried by a consumer in a machine readable format. Moreover, the card reader or scanner may comprise a means for reading a delivery address.
A receipt processing system 120 also generally includes a communication network interface 240 for interconnecting the receipt processing system 120 to a communication bus, link or network, such as the Internet 136. The communication network interface 240 may operate in connection with one or more communication protocols. For example, the communication interface 240 may support communications according to a wired or wireless Ethernet protocol.
With reference to
At step 308, a determination is made as to whether a hardcopy receipt 112 of the transaction is requested by the consumer who is party to the transaction. If a hardcopy receipt 112 is requested, it may be printed or otherwise created (step 312) and provided to the consumer.
A determination may then be made as to whether an electronic receipt 116 has been requested by the consumer (step 316). If an electronic receipt 116 has been requested, a delivery address is obtained from the consumer (step 320). The consumer 104 may provide the delivery address to the receipt processing system 120 in a number of ways. For example, the consumer 104 may manually enter a delivery address using a keyboard or other user input 212 associated or in communication with the receipt processing system 120. The consumer 104 may also provide the delivery address using an automated or partially automated procedure. For instance, an item carried by the consumer 104, such as a card, containing a machine-readable version of the delivery address may be presented. Examples of machine readable versions of the delivery address include: bar codes, optically or magnetically read alpha-numeric characters, magnetic stripes, and RFID chips. Obtaining a delivery address using a process incorporating an item carried by a consumer 104 comprising a machine-readable version of the delivery address (i.e. an item having a machine-readable code) may be partially automated in that it may require that the consumer present the item to an appropriate reader or scanner 124. The process for obtaining a delivery address may be fully automated if, for example, the machine-readable code for presenting the delivery address on an item carried by the consumer can be read by a reader or scanner 124 without requiring that the consumer take specific action to present the item to the reader or scanner 124, for example by waving a card carrying a bar code in front of a bar code scanner or by sliding a card having a magnetic stripe through a magnetic card reader. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the machine-readable code presenting the delivery address may be stored with consumer payment or account information, such as a credit card number and expiration date, and delivered at the same time such account information is delivered to the second party. For example, by swiping a credit card with both the delivery address and credit card information encoded on a magnetic stripe through a card reader 124, the consumer can simultaneously provide the delivery address and payment information to the second party. Accordingly, the delivery address and consumer payment information can be provided during a single read operation, such as through a single swipe of a magnetic stripe on a card through the card reader.
Although the delivery address is in machine-readable form or code, no conversion other than a possible translation is required in order to use the provided address to deliver an electronic receipt to the specified address. For example, a delivery address comprising an email address may be provided to the receipt processing system 120 as a machine readable binary code, and thus may require only a translation from the binary code to alpha-numeric characters in order to be used to deliver an electronic receipt 116 to the specified address or to signify the delivery address in a form that is readily comprehendible by a human. Accordingly, there is no need to perform a search of a customer or other database in order to associate the consumer who is a party to the transaction with a delivery address. Instead, the provided address may be used directly.
At step 324, the receipt processing system 120 composes a message comprising the requested electronic receipt 116. Composing the message may include creating an email or text message containing details related to the transaction that is addressed to the delivery address obtained from the consumer. The message may also include graphical elements. For example, the message may include an image that mimics a hard-copy receipt for the transaction. Such an image may be provided as an image file. Composing the message may also include appending a file to an email or text message addressed to the delivery address provided by the consumer, or otherwise associating a file with the delivery address obtained from the consumer. The electronic receipt may then be delivered to the delivery address 328. After delivering the electronic receipt, or if the consumer chooses not to receive an electronic receipt, the process may end.
Embodiments of the present invention are capable of providing an electronic proof of purchase or transaction, or other type of receipt in an accurate, simple, and standardized manner via electronic mail or other electronic delivery methods. Standards for automatically identifying and reading information, such as barcode, magnetic stripe, chip and PIN, optical character recognition, keyboard/touchscreen and RFID can be used to provide the delivery address information to the receipt processing system. Furthermore, because automated processes can be used, it is easy for a consumer to provide several email addresses that can each serve as recipient addresses for an electronic receipt. Where multiple addresses are provided through an automated means, the user may be given the opportunity to select one or more of the addresses for delivery of the electronic receipt.
Because an electronic receipt is provided, it can include data that can be read or processed by various application programs. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention can facilitate consumer record keeping.
The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Further, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain the best mode presently known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such or in other embodiments and with the various modifications required by the particular application or use of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/803,324, filed May 26, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60803324 | May 2006 | US |
