Patent ID: 8645232
Filing Date: 2014-02-04
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for billing a product vendor for returned items, comprising: establishing and storing in a computer memory a plurality of billing threshold rules, each of the plurality of billing threshold rules being associated with at least one of a plurality of returned items and being comprised of a billing threshold amount; identifying a returned item via a computer processor and storing in the memory an identity of the returned item; determining via the computer processor a billing threshold rule associated with the returned item; assigning via the processor the returned item to a container based on the billing threshold rule associated with the returned item; storing in the memory an indication of the container to which the returned item has been assigned; determining via the processor when the billing threshold amount for the returned item has been reached; when the billing threshold amount for the returned item has been reached, determining via the processor a status of the container to which the returned item has been assigned; after the billing threshold amount for the returned item has been reached, generating and transmitting to a reclamation facility via the processor a notification to physically close the container; and generating via the processor an invoice to the product vendor for the returned items for which the billing threshold amount has been reached.