# US 2013/0085889 A1 · Systems and methods for managing returns or exchanges made via a computer network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0085889 A1 - Document ID: US20130085889A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/248,513 - Filed: 2011-09-29 - Published: 2013-04-04 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-29 - Assignees: Sears Brands, L.L.C. - Inventors: Samuel Stephen Fitting; Anil Kumar Gorre; Scott David Houston; Michael Yakimisky; Jerry Ray Buchanan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130085889A1 ## CPC - G06Q 30/06: Buying, selling or leasing transactions - G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders - G06Q 10/08728: {of returned inventory} - G06Q 10/0874: {Inventory fulfillment (shipping G06Q10/083)} - G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method for allowing a user to manage at least one of a return or exchange of an ordered item. The method includes hosting an electronic database of information regarding item purchases, providing a user interface to allow a user to specify at least one return/exchange item, performing an authorization verification against the return/exchange of the item, providing to the user an identifier reflective of the authorization, and receiving and accepting the item(s) at the physical location within a predefined time limit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions perform steps for allowing a user to manage at least one of a return or exchange of an ordered item, comprising: hosting a database of information regarding item purchases; providing a user interface comprising user interface elements for allowing a user to specify an item which is to be at least one of returned to or exchanged at a physical location, wherein the user interface provides the user the ability to provide identifying information regarding at least one of the user or the item; receiving the identifying information from the user interface; matching the identifying information with information in the database; performing an authorization verification against at least one of a predefined accounting or policy rule to provide authorization for the return or exchange of the item; providing to the user an identifier reflective of the authorization; receiving at the physical location the item and the identifier; and accepting the item, wherein the steps of receiving the item and accepting the item are performed within a predefined time limit, and wherein the user is provided with a reward if the steps are not performed within the predefined time limit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A computer readable media as defined in claim 1, further comprising providing to the user an item in exchange for the item received at the physical location. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A computer readable media as defined in claim 2, further comprising: hosting a database of information regarding inventory; and placing a hold on inventory reflective of the item in exchange at the physical location prior to receiving item at the physical location. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A computer readable media as defined in claim 2, further comprising providing the user with the ability to inspect and approve the item in exchange. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A computer readable media as defined in claim 2, further comprising: hosting a database of information regarding inventory; and providing a user interface comprising user interface elements for allowing the user to view inventory and select the item for exchange. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A computer readable media as defined in claim 5, wherein the database of information regarding inventory includes information regarding the physical location of the inventory, and wherein the user interface provide user interface elements for allowing the user to change the physical location based upon inventory availability. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A computer readable media as defined in claim 5, wherein performing the authorization verification includes the step of determining any cost differential between the item and the item for exchange. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A computer readable media as defined in claim 7, wherein the cost differential is at least one of created or debited to an account associated with the user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A computer readable media as defined in claim 1, further comprising receiving information reflective of the location of the user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A computer readable media as defined in claim 9, wherein the information reflective of the location of the user allows for the prediction of the arrival time of the item at the physical location. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A computer readable media as defined in claim 9, wherein the information reflective of the location of the user is provided by at least one of Global Positioning System tracking, cell phone location, mobile application, status updates, direct calling, or short message service. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A computer readable media as defined in claim 1, wherein the predefined time limit is approximately five minutes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A computer readable media as defined in claim 1, wherein receiving the item and the identifier, and accepting of the item are performed without use of a point-of-sale terminal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A computer readable media as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of performing the authorization includes a credit reflective of the value of the item to an account associated with the user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A computer readable media as defined in claim 1, further comprising: hosting a database regarding user account information; and updating the user account information to reflect the return or exchange of the item. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A computer readable media as defined in claim 1, further comprising: hosting a database regarding user account information and reward information regarding the user account; and at least one of crediting or debiting the reward information based upon the return or exchange of the item. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A computer readable media as defined in claim 1, further comprising providing a location within the physical location purposed to receive the item and the identifier and to accept the item. ### Claim 18 A method for allowing a user to manage at least one of a return or exchange of an ordered item, comprising: hosting an electronic database of information regarding item purchases; providing a user interface comprising user interface elements for allowing a user to specify an item which is to be at least one of returned to or exchanged at a physical location, wherein the user interface provides the user the ability to provide identifying information regarding at least one of the user or the item; receiving the identifying information from the user interface; matching the identifying information with information in the database; performing an authorization verification against at least one of a predefined accounting or policy rule to provide authorization for the return or exchange of the item; providing to the user an identifier to identify the authorization; receiving at the physical location the item and the identifier; and accepting the item, wherein the steps of receiving the item and accepting the item are performed within a predefined time limit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the user is provided with a reward if the steps receiving the item and accepting the item are not performed within the predefined time limit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising providing to the user an item in exchange for the item received at the physical location. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising: hosting an electronic database of information regarding inventory; and placing a hold on inventory reflective of the item in exchange at the physical location prior to receiving item at the physical location. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A method as defined in claim 21, further comprising providing the user with the ability to inspect and approve the item in exchange. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A method as defined in claim 21, further comprising: hosting a database of information regarding inventory; and providing a user interface comprising user interface elements for allowing the user to view inventory and select the item for exchange. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A method as defined in claim 23, wherein the database of information regarding inventory includes information regarding the physical location of the inventory, and wherein the user interface provide user interface elements for allowing the user to change the physical location based upon inventory availability. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) A method as defined in claim 23, wherein performing the authorization verification includes the step of determining any cost differential between the item and the item for exchange. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the cost differential is at least one of created or debited to an account associated with the user. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising receiving information reflective of the location of the user. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the information reflective of the location of the user allows for the prediction of the arrival time of the item at the physical location. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the information reflective of the location of the user is provided by at least one of Global Positioning System tracking, cell phone location, mobile application, status updates, direct calling, or short message service. ### Claim 30 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the predefined time limit is approximately five minutes. ### Claim 31 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, wherein receiving the item and the identifier, and accepting of the item are performed without use of a point-of-sale terminal. ### Claim 32 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the step of performing the authorization includes a credit reflective of the value of the item to an account associated with the user. ### Claim 33 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising: hosting a database regarding user account information; and updating the user account information to reflect the return or exchange of the item. ### Claim 34 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising: hosting a database regarding user account information and reward information regarding the user account; and at least one of crediting or debiting the reward information based upon the return or exchange of the item. ### Claim 35 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising providing a location within the physical location purposed to receive the item and the identifier and to accept the item. ### Claim 36 A computer-readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions perform steps for allowing a user to manage at least one of a return or exchange of at least one item, comprising: hosting a database of information regarding item purchases; providing a user interface comprising user interface elements for allowing a user to specify at least one of the at least one item which is to be at least one of returned to or exchanged at a physical location, wherein the user interface provides the user the ability to provide identifying information regarding at least one of the user or the at least one of the at least one item, and wherein the user interface further provides the user the ability to at least one schedule or estimate a time for conducting the return or exchange; receiving the identifying information from the user interface; matching the identifying information with information in the database; performing an authorization verification against at least one of a predefined accounting or policy rule to provide authorization for the return or exchange of the item; providing to the user an identifier reflective of the authorization; receiving at the physical location the item, the identifier and the at least one of the scheduled or estimated time for conducting the return or exchange; and accepting the item, wherein the steps of receiving the item and accepting the item are performed at the scheduled or estimated time for conducting the return or exchange.