Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8112356?dq=5,890,152
Timestamp: 2014-12-18 00:39:20
Document Index: 463485530

Matched Legal Cases: ['arty 32', 'arty 32', 'arty 32', 'arty 32', 'arty 32', 'arty 32', 'arty 32', 'arty 32']

Patent US8112356 - System and method for providing automated secondary purchase opportunities ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA database is provided for storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between buyers and sellers. An electronic receipt is generated for one of the sales transactions, the electronic receipt is transmitted to a device associated with a user, and a signal is received from the user whereby a sales...http://www.google.com/patents/US8112356?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8112356 - System and method for providing automated secondary purchase opportunities to consumersAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8112356 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/686,786Publication dateFeb 7, 2012Filing dateJan 13, 2010Priority dateFeb 3, 2000Also published asUS7742989, US8001046, US8165960, US8515866, US20020188561, US20100121708, US20100121732, US20100121771, US20120323715, US20140122281Publication number12686786, 686786, US 8112356 B2, US 8112356B2, US-B2-8112356, US8112356 B2, US8112356B2InventorsRoger Stephen SchultzOriginal AssigneeAfterbot, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (66), Non-Patent Citations (67), Referenced by (4), Classifications (47), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSystem and method for providing automated secondary purchase opportunities to consumersUS 8112356 B2Abstract A database is provided for storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between buyers and sellers. An electronic receipt is generated for one of the sales transactions, the electronic receipt is transmitted to a device associated with a user, and a signal is received from the user whereby a sales transaction is initiated relating to a secondary purchase.
1. A system for providing an automated secondary purchase opportunity to a user, comprising:
a. a database for storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers;
b. an electronic receipt generator for:
i. generating an electronic receipt for a selected one of the plurality of primary sales transactions associated with the user, wherein the electronic receipt comprises data describing the selected primary sales transaction, and the electronic receipt further includes a hyperlink associated with an inducement for a secondary purchase, the secondary purchase being commercially related to the selected primary sales transaction;
ii. transmitting the electronic receipt to a computing device operated by the user;
iii. receiving from the computer device a signal that the user has activated the hyperlink within the electronic receipt; and
iv. in response to the activation of the hyperlink, initiating a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary purchase is made by the user from a third-party seller.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary purchase is made by the user from one of the plurality of sellers.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the initiating step comprises completing a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the initiating step comprises:
transmitting to the computing device a page presenting an offer regarding the secondary purchase;
receiving on the computing device a second signal from the user, indicating that the user has accepted the offer; and
completing a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected primary sales transaction corresponds to the sale of a first product, and the secondary purchase corresponds to a second product usable as an accessory to the first product.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected primary sales transaction corresponds to the sale of a first product, and the secondary purchase corresponds to a second product in the same field as the first product.
8. A method for providing an automated secondary purchase opportunity to a user, comprising the steps of:
a. storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a database;
b. generating an electronic receipt for a selected one of the plurality of primary sales transactions associated with the user, wherein the electronic receipt comprises data describing the selected primary sales transaction, and the electronic receipt further includes a hyperlink associated with an inducement for a secondary purchase, the secondary purchase being commercially related to the selected primary sales transaction;
c. transmitting the electronic receipt to a computing device operated by the user;
d. receiving from the computer device a signal that the user has activated the hyperlink within the electronic receipt; and
e. in response to the activation of the hyperlink, initiating a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary purchase is made by the user from a third-party seller.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary purchase is made by the user from one of the plurality of sellers.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the initiating step comprises completing a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the initiating step comprises:
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected primary sales transaction corresponds to the sale of a first product, and the secondary purchase corresponds to a second product usable as an accessory to the first product.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected primary sales transaction corresponds to the sale of a first product, and the secondary purchase corresponds to a second product in the same field as the first product.
15. A computer program product having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for providing an automated secondary purchase opportunity to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
16. A system for providing an automated secondary purchase opportunity to a user, comprising:
c. a database for storing a plurality of primary sales transactions between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers;
d. an electronic receipt generator for:
i. generating an electronic receipt for a selected one of the plurality of primary sales transactions associated with the user, wherein the electronic receipt comprises data describing the selected primary sales transaction, and the electronic receipt further includes a link associated with an inducement for a secondary purchase, the secondary purchase being commercially related to the selected primary sales transaction;
iii. receiving from the computer device a signal that the user has activated the link within the electronic receipt; and
iv. in response to the activation of the link, initiating a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase. ,
17. A method for providing an automated secondary purchase opportunity to a user, comprising the steps of:
b. generating an electronic receipt for a selected one of the plurality of primary sales transactions associated with the user, wherein the electronic receipt comprises data describing the selected primary sales transaction, and the electronic receipt further includes a link associated with an inducement for a secondary purchase, the secondary purchase being commercially related to the selected primary sales transaction;
d. receiving from the computer device a signal that the user has activated the link within the electronic receipt; and
e. in response to the activation of the link, initiating a sales transaction relating to the secondary purchase.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/153,146, filed May 22, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,742,989, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/776,412, filed Feb. 2, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,552,087, entitled �Electronic Transaction Receipt System and Method,� and the benefit of the filing dates of that application and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/180,102, filed Feb. 3, 2000, entitled �Network-Based Purchase Receipt Confirmation and Organization Application with Functional Facilitating Ancillary Merchant and Service Links,� U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/236,007, filed Sep. 27, 2000, entitled �System and Method for Compiling, Storing and Retrieving Digital Receipts,� U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 09/776,420, filed Feb. 2, 2001, entitled �Electronic Transaction Receipt System and Method,� and U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 09/776,567, filed Feb. 2, 2001, entitled �Electronic Transaction Receipt System and Method,� is hereby claimed, and the specifications thereof are incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference.
Receipts are issued to participants in transactions to provide evidence that the transaction has been completed. Merchants, banks and others have long issued paper printed receipts to customers. The advent of electronic transactions has led to the issuance of receipts in electronic or computer-readable format. For example, in electronic commerce (�e-commerce�) transactions conducted via the global super-network referred to as the Internet, receipts are typically issued in the form in of an electronic mail (�e-mail�) message to the buyer. Such electronic receipts can be stored, organized, transmitted, searched, and generally managed with considerable convenience over physical printed receipts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to methods and systems for recording, storing, and transmitting information regarding a product exchanged between a buyer and seller in a sales transaction. Product information is directly collected electronically from the product having a label or tag that can be scanned. A receipt is electronically provided to the buyer.
FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate a screen display representing further information regarding one of the buyer's receipts;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION As illustrated in FIG. 1, in a transaction of any suitable type an originator 10 issues an electronic receipt 12 to a user. The transaction can be any type of transaction in which it is known to issue receipts. Originator 10 can be, for example, among other types of entities, a seller of goods or services. Accordingly, user 14 can be, for example, a buyer of the goods or services. Receipt 12 has a link 16 that associates it with additional functionality. It is such an embodiment of the invention that is described in further detail below.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transaction can be a sales transaction conducted between a seller 18 and a remotely located buyer 20 via a hypermedia computer network 22 such as that which is presently known as the World Wide Web or simply �Web.� The Web is part of the global super-network presently referred to as the Internet. Nevertheless, network 22 can be any sub-network of the Internet or any other suitable wide-area network through which potential buyers and potential sellers can conduct transactions. Although other network environments may be suitable, the hypermedia environment of the Web provides a number of advantages that will become apparent from the descriptions below. In accordance with the hypermedia environment of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, link 16 of FIG. 1 can be a hyperlink. As well known in the art, the Web is a client-server environment in which computers denominated as clients can communicate with other computers denominated as servers. Servers transmit to client's documents known as Web pages. Hyperlinks may be embedded in a Web page document to link it to another document or to invoke an applet or other executable code that performs some functional processing, i.e., more than merely retrieving another predetermined Web page. The term �document� includes files and other items of any suitable medium, including graphical imagery, still and moving images, and sound.
As described below in further detail, in response to a sales transaction between seller 18 and buyer 20, an originator 24 issues or transmits a sales transaction receipt 26 to buyer 20 via network 22 on behalf of seller 18. Although in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, originator 24 and seller 18 are separate entities, in other embodiments they can be the same entity or otherwise integrated with one another. In other words, in such alternative embodiments the same entity that sells the goods or services also issues receipt 26. Also, note that although FIG. 2 illustrates only the relationships between a single seller 18, a single buyer 20 and a single originator 24 for purposes of clarity, there may be many more of such entities, i.e., plural entities, as indicated in FIG. 3 by the additional buyer 28 and additional seller 30 and the ellipses (� . . . �). Either of buyers 20 and 28 can conduct a sales transaction with either of sellers 18 and 30, and the exemplary descriptions below apply equally to all such transactions.
There are embodiments of the invention in which a third party 32 can also be involved. As described below in further detail, third party 32 may, in some such embodiments, be an entity that sells goods or services that are commercially related to those that are the subject of the primary transaction between seller 18 and buyer 20. An example of a commercially related product is one that is used as an accessory to the product sold in the primary transaction. A straightforward example of an �accessory,� as that term is used in the consumer products field, is a battery charger for a battery-operated radio. Likewise, a drill bit is commonly considered an accessory for a drill. Another example of a commercially related product is one that is used as in the same field as the product sold in the primary transaction. For example, it is well recognized that a drill and a saw are both used in the field of woodworking.
As further described below, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention receipt 26 includes hyperlinks 34, 36 and 38. As well known in the art, a hyperlink is a reference or link from some point in one hypermedia document to another document or point in a document. Hyperlink 34 is a link to (something stored on the server operated by) seller 18; hyperlink 36 is a link to (something stored on the server operated by) originator 24; and hyperlink 38 is a link to (something stored on the server operated by) third party 32. Although in the illustrated embodiment of the invention three hyperlinks 34, 36 and 38 are included in receipt 26 for purposes of illustration and clarity, any number of such links can be included, and they can link to any other suitable entity. Indeed, receipts having multiple links to multiple documents, applets or other suitable items stored on a server or on different servers are very much contemplated, as illustrated by the examples described below.
Although in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the computing device on which the buyer receives receipts is described as a conventional personal computer such as desktop or laptop computer, in other embodiments of the invention the device can be any suitable type of device that has a hypermedia user interface, i.e., that allows a user to interact with documents through the use of hyperlinks. Also, note that the network can be wired, wireless or any suitable combination or hybrid of such media. Examples of suitable computing devices include those commonly referred to as personal digital assistants (PDAs), palmtop computers, and digital cellular telephones and other hybrid voice/data communication devices.
The software elements of the programmed computer include an e-commerce engine 74, a receipt generator 76, and a receipt organizer or handler 78. Receipt handler 78 can use application program interfaces (APIs) 80 to interface with configuration reference tables 82, described in further detail below, which can be stored locally on disk storage device 70 as in the illustrated embodiment of the invention or, in other embodiments, can be stored remotely, e.g., on a server operated by another entity. APIs 80 also interface receipt handler 78 with applications that are part of e-commerce engine 74. In other words, e-commerce engine 74, which has overall control of the sales transaction with buyer 20, including controlling the exchange of appropriate Web forms with buyer 20, can invoice APIs 80 at the point in the transaction at which receipt 26 (FIG. 2) is to be generated. This, in turn, causes receipt generator 76 to generate receipt 26 using tables 82 as described in further detail below. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, generated receipts are not only transmitted to the buyers that participated in the transaction but also copies are also stored in a receipt datebase 84. Note that software elements can be loaded into this server computer via a CD-ROM 86 or similar medium readable by read/write storage device 72 or can be loaded via network 22 from a remote source. Receipt handler 78 is similar to receipt handler 62 of FIG. 4 but can be used remotely via network 22 by more persons than buyer 20; anyone who completed a sales transaction with seller 18 can remotely access receipts pertaining to the transaction. Furthermore, others who did not participate in any transactions, such as market research firms and manufacturers of products offered by seller 18, may be permitted access to aggregate information generated by receipt handler 78 using data gleaned from the stored receipts, such as statistics and raw numbers without any information identifying the buyers. Because buyer privacy may be important, such other parties may not be permitted access to the receipts themselves.
The methods described above perhaps can be more readily understood with reference to the flow diagram of FIG. 7A. At step 106 seller 18 and buyer 20 conduct a sales transaction. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, buyer 20 shops a Web site operated by seller 18. In other words, the Web site presents pages (not shown) to buyer 20 in the conventional manner that illustrate or describe the products or services available for sale or otherwise induce buyer 20 to make a purchase. Browser 40 (FIG. 4) transmits requests for Web pages to seller 18, which in response transmits the requested pages to buyer 20, where they are presented to buyer 20 in the conventional manner on display 42. As an example, the Web site may be operated by a seller of consumer products such as consumer electronics, kitchen items and other household items. In the conventional manner, buyer 20 selects an item such as a stereo as a purchase. Buyer 20 may select other items before indicating he is finished shopping. A metaphor to shopping in a physical retail store that is sometimes used on e-commerce Web sites for this step of the transaction is �proceeding to checkout.� In the checkout step of the transaction, buyer 20 submits payment information, such as a credit card number, and shipping address information. The transaction concludes in a conventional manner with buyer 20 receiving a Web page setting forth the purchases, the payment information and other information and asking buyer 20 to confirm by, for example, clicking on a �confirm� button. In response, receipt 26 is generated at step 108 and transmitted to buyer 20 at step 110. As noted above, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention (see FIG. 2) these steps are performed by seller 18 transmitting an instruction to originator 24 to issue receipt 26, and originator 24 generating and transmitting receipt 26. In other embodiments, seller 18 itself can perform steps 108 and 110 without assistance from originator 24. In addition to transmitting receipt 26, originator 24 maintains a copy in database 89 (FIG. 6).
At step 112 buyer 20 receives and opens receipt 26. Like other Web documents received under control of browser 40, the opened receipt 26 is presented to buyer 20 on display 42 in hypertext format. (gee FIG. 4.) Accordingly, buyer 20 can click on and otherwise interact with hyperlinks and other elements of receipt 26 using mouse 44 and keyboard 46.
Receipt 26 can have, for example, an appearance along the lines of that shown in FIG. 9 when opened and displayed in a browser window 114. This representation of receipt 26 includes, among other elements, representations of: the name or logo 116 and address 118 of seller 18, the name of buyer 120, the date of the sale, a list 124 of the purchases, a corresponding list of their sales prices 126, and the subtotals and total price paid 128. Note that these elements represent information that is essentially the information included in any conventional sales receipt. In addition to these elements are representations of the name or logo 130 of third party 32 and some products 132 offered for sale by third party 32. Also represented are a �check warranty� button 134, a �register product(s)� button 136, a �check rebates� button 138 and a �customer survey� button 140.
Products 132 are selected for inclusion by originator 24 when receipt 26 is generated. In the illustrated example, the products 132, a television and a stereo component, are commercially related to one of the items in list 124, the �Wavphonica Stereo�[item number] 342567,� by virtue of all being used in the field of consumer entertainment electronics. Products 132 are selected in response to configuration reference tables 91 (FIG. 6), which in essence relates each product offered for sale by each seller to products that that seller deems to be commercially related to that product. In addition to products that are used in the same field, other suitable commercially related products 132 are accessory items for the stereo system, such as cables. Receipt generator 88 inputs to tables 91 the product that is the subject of the sales transaction or primary purchase. In response, tables 91 output one or more products 132 that are commercially related to the primary purchase. Receipt generator 88 then inserts representations of these products 132 into receipt 26. Buyer 20, in viewing the generated receipt 26, is thus induced by the representations of the selected products 132 to purchase one or more of them as secondary purchases.
For example, as indicated by step 142 in FIG. 7B, in response to buyer 20 clicking on button 134 and selecting a product, an associated hyperlink in receipt 26 causes browser 40 to transmit a request for a Web page (not shown) that depicts the text of a warranty for the selected product. For example, buyer 20 could choose to view the manufacturer's warranty for the �Wavphonica stereo.� As indicated by step 144 in FIG. 7B, buyer 20 views the warranty. The Web page can be located at a site operated by, for example, the manufacturer. With regard to FIG. 2, in such an example third party 32 is the manufacturer. As indicated by further step 146, if buyer 20 believes he is entitled to some action under the warranty, such as having the manufacturer service or replace the product, buyer 20 can interact with the warranty page to request initiation of such a warranty service procedure. The procedure may include returning the product to the manufacturer or an authorized service center. In such an instance, the procedure includes transmitting a label (not shown) to buyer 20 that he can print on a suitable printer attached to the computer and affix to the packaging in which the product is returned. The label includes all information necessary for the shipper to route the package and may contain additional information, such as a return authorization number, that is useful to the manufacturer.
In addition, the page includes a representation of an �accessories� hyperlink 165. In response to selecting or clicking on hyperlink 165, browser 40 is directed to a process provided by originator 24 that selects accessory products that are related to the selected product. Accessories are selected using configuration reference tables (FIG. 6) in the same manner described above with regard to selection of products 132. Buyer 20 is presented with an opportunity to purchase such accessories in the manner described above.
The page further includes a �return to digital receipt� button 166, a �users manual� button 168, a �shipping status� button 170, a �video instructions� button 172, a �categorize product� button 174, a �warranty� button 176, a �product returns� button 178, a �write review� button 180, and a �recalls� button 182. Some of these buttons initiate functions duplicative of those described above, such as �warranty� button 176 and �recalls� button 182. The returns procedure under button 178 includes, as described above, transmitting a label (not shown) to buyer 20 that buyer 20 can print and affix to the packaging in which the product is returned. Button 166, as the name implies, returns browser 40 to receipt 26 as represented in, for example, FIG. 9.
In response to clicking on button 168, an associated hyperlink causes browser 40 to transmit a request for a page (not shown) that depicts the text of a user's manual for the selected product. The hyperlink may be directed to the manufacturer's web site or another entity's web site. It is sometimes the case that an entity separate from the manufacturer of a product publishes manuals for the product. In either case, a third party 32 (i.e., neither seller 18 nor originator 24) supplies the manual to buyer 20. Note that a representation of a �product specifications� hyperlink 169 can provide a similar function. In response to clicking on hyperlink 169, specifications for the selected product are retrieved from a suitable, e.g., the manufacturer's, Web site.
In response to clicking on button 174, an associated hyperlink causes browser 40 to transmit a request for a page (not shown) that allows buyer 20 to associate a category with the purchased item. The hyperlink may be directed to the web site of either originator 24 or seller 18, depending on which entity's receipt organizer service buyer 20 is using. The receipt organizer is described in further detail below. The category aids buyer 20 in searching and organizing receipts. For example, buyer 20 can associate the selected item with a �gift� category. Then, using the organizer service, buyer 20 can search for all receipts of the category �gift.�
�Product returns� button functions similarly to �warranty� button 134 but does not include a step whereby buyer 20 can view a warranty. (See FIG. 7B, steps 184 and 186.) Rather, buyer 20 uses button 134 to initiate a procedure to return the selected product for reasons other than warranty service. For example, seller 18 may have a policy that allows buyers to return merchandise with which buyers are unsatisfied. Alternatively to seller 18, the return procedure can be provided by third party 32.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, buyer 20 can participate in a receipt organizer service operated by an entity such as originator 24. The service is accessed via the Web using the computer and its browser 40 in the conventional manner described above. Receipt handler 92 (FIG. 6) of originator 24 controls the receipt organizer functions described below. At step 188 buyer 20 accesses a Web site of originator 24 and interacts with a home page (not shown) that includes, among other options, registering for the organizer service. In essentially the same manner in which one registers for conventional Web-based services, buyer 20 completes a form in which he provides personal information such as his name and address and selects a user name and password. In response to submitting this form, originator 24 sets up an account for buyer 20. Thereafter, upon accessing the Web site home page, buyer 20 can select the option of logging in to the receipt organizer service by providing his user name and password, as indicated by step 190. After logging in, buyer 20 is presented with a page that provides several options, such as �receipts� and �reports.� At step 192 buyer 20 can, for example, select the �receipts� option. In response, originator 24 searches for and retrieves receipts for purchases made by buyer 20 and provides them in a suitable format, such as a chronological listing.
FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary browser window 194 in which such a chronological receipt listing is displayed in response to selecting the �receipts� option. Each line in the listing represents a transaction for which a receipt was issued. A column labeled �merchant� identifies the seller by name. A column labeled �purchase date� identifies the date of the transaction. A column labeled �shipping info� provides information indicating the status of the shipment for that transaction. A column labeled �total price� indicates the price paid for the goods or services. A column labeled �receipt type� indicates manually input receipts or automatically generated receipts. Buyer 20 can select any transaction by clicking on one of the lines.
In response to selecting one of the lines, an associated hyperlink causes browser 40 to request a page providing further information with regard to the corresponding product or service purchased. Such a page can have an appearance along the lines of that illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B. Among other information, this page includes identifying information 196 such as manufacturer and model number, Universal Product Code (UPC), SKU and serial number. It further includes a group 198 of buttons that allow buyer 20 to categorize the purchase as described above. Using these buttons, at step 200 buyer 20 can select not only a category (e.g. �Appliance�) but also a sub-category (e.g., �Kitchen�). Buyer 20 can further select an event to associate with the purchase (e.g., �Personal�) and a sub-event (e.g., �Gift�). In addition, buyer 20 can select a recipient and sub-recipient to associate with the purchase. Another group 202 of buttons are included for the similar purpose of adding an indication whether the purchase is tax-deductible or otherwise tax-related and whether the purchase is to be considered part of the inventory of items owned by buyer 20 (for example, for purposes of substantiating claims under a homeowner's personal property insurance policy). The categorization and other information added by buyer 20 is added or attached to the record of the transaction in database 89. The page also can include buttons 204 that initiate the functions described above for obtaining warranty service, user manuals, returns, and the like. The page can further include an inducement 206 to purchase accessories for the product. The accessories are determined using product reference tables 91 in the same manner described above.
Another option that buyer 20 can select from the options presented on the receipt organizer service home page is �reports.� In response to selecting �reports� originator 24 transmits to buyer 20 a page such as that illustrated in FIG. 13. Button 208 allows buyer 20 to query how much he spent at a selectable group of sellers or individual seller. Button 210 allows buyer 20 to query how much he spent during a selectable time period, such as the current month, current week or current year. Button 212 allows buyer 20 to query how much he spent in a selectable product category (e.g., �electronics�). Button 214 allows buyer 20 to query what was his biggest expense. Button 216 allows buyer 20 to query what he purchased for a selectable recipient. Button 218 allows buyer 20 to query what are his tax-related expenses. Similarly, two input boxes 220 and 222 allow buyer 20 to enter starting and ending dates to query how much he spent during the time interval between them. In response to clicking one of buttons 208-218 and making a selection, browser 40 transmits a request to originator 24 that indicates the query. In response, originator 24 queries database 89 and tallies the information requested by buyer 20.
Originator 24 transmits the information back to buyer 20, where it is presented in a suitable Web page. For example, if buyer 20 clicks on button 216 and selects from the displayed options a recipient named �Susan,� buyer 20 receives in response a Web page such as that illustrated in FIG. 14. Records of all purchased items to which buyer 20 attached a recipient categorization of �Susan� are displayed. For each listed item, the purchase date, quantity, receipt number, description, price, seller or vendor, category, event, recipient (in this example, �Susan�), tax-related status, and home (or business) inventory status are displayed. Note that these are some of the categorizations that buyer 20 added in accordance with the procedure described above with regard to FIGS. 12A and 12B.
Note that the page listing the items purchased for the selected recipient (in this example, �Susan�) has an �Export to EXCEL� button 224. In response to clicking button 224, browser 40 transmits a request to download or export the displayed data to the well-known spreadsheet program MICROSOFT EXCEL. As persons skilled in the art will recognize, a similar button can be included to export the data to any suitable application software, such as a personal finance program. An example of such a program is QUICKEN from Intuit, Inc. In FIG. 8, step 226 indicates this procedure.
Product 290 can comprise an item exchanged from a seller to a buyer. Product 290 can further comprise packaging enclosing, attached to, enclosed within, or associated with an item exchanged. Thus, the term �product,� as used in this patent specification, means the product itself or its packaging or both. Furthermore, product 290 can comprise an item indicative of a product or service exchanged or to be exchanged. For example, product 290 can comprise a purchase value certificate or voucher for purchase or rental of an item, property, or service already selected or to be selected later by a holder of product 290.
Product 344 can comprise an item exchanged from a seller to a buyer. Product 344 can further comprise packaging enclosing, attached to, enclosed within, or associated with an item exchanged. Thus, the term �product,� as used in this patent specification, means the product itself or its packaging or both. Furthermore, product 344 can comprise an item indicative of a product or service exchanged or to be exchanged. For example, product 344 can comprise a purchase value certificate or voucher for purchase or rental of items already selected or to be selected later by a holder of product 344.
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