System and methods to effect return of a consumer product
AssigneeCanon U.S.A., Inc.
InventorTomoo Tsunenari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed that utilize computers and a network to effect the return of consumer products. In one preferred embodiment, the invention is directed to a system and method for facilitating the return of spent, recyclable products from a consumer to a destination preselected by the manufacturer for recycling. The system uses a computer, located on a network, and adapted to: (a) receive from another computer located on the network consumer information which includes an identification of the consumer product to be returned; and (b) transmit to the other computer shipping label data which includes an identification of a destination for the consumer product, selected in accordance with the consumer information, and an identification of a carrier service.
Claims27
A computer, located on a network, for effecting the return of a consumer product for recycling, the computer comprising:
- (a) hardware operating under the control of software that receives from another computer located on the network consumer information which includes an identification of a consumer product to be returned for recycling and a present location of the consumer product;
- (b) hardware operating under the control of software that automatically determines a destination for the consumer product, based upon the received identity of the consumer product and the received present location of the consumer product;
- (c) hardware operating under the control of software that automatically determines a carrier service that will deliver the consumer product to the destination based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically determined destination;
- and
- (d) hardware operating under the control of software that transmits to the other computer shipping label data which includes an identification of the automatically determined destination and an identification of the automatically determined carrier service.
A method of effecting consumer product returns for recycling over a network comprising:
- (a) receiving consumer information from a first computer over a network, said consumer information including product type information and present location information for the consumer product being returned for recycling;
- (b) storing the consumer information in a database server;
- (c) automatically determining a destination for the consumer product based upon the received product type information and the received present location of the consumer product;
- (d) automatically determining a carrier service that will deliver the consumer product to the destination based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically determined destination;
- (e) transmitting to said first computer shipping label data including an identification of the automatically determined destination and an identification of the automatically determined carrier service.
A first computer operatively connected to a printer, said first computer located on a network linking said first computer with a second computer, the first computer comprising:
- (a) hardware operating under the control of software that transmits to a second computer consumer information including at least product type information and present location information for a consumer product to be returned for recycling;
- (b) hardware operating under the control of software that receives from the second computer shipping label data including an identification of an automatically determined destination for the consumer product and an identification of an automatically determined carrier service that will deliver the consumer product to the destination, the destination having been automatically determined by the second computer based upon the received product type information and the received present location of the consumer product, and the carrier service having been automatically determined by the second computer based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically determined destination;
- and
- (c) hardware operating under the control of software that transmits the shipping label data to the printer to enable the printer to print a shipping label.
A system for effecting return of a consumer product for recycling, comprising:
- (a) a first computer;
- (b) a second computer;
- (c) a network linking the first computer to the second computer, the second computer receiving consumer information from said first computer over the network and to transmit shipping label data to said first computer, said consumer information including an identification of a consumer product to be returned for recycling and a present location of the consumer product, said shipping label data including an automatically determined destination for the consumer product and an identification of an automatically determined carrier service that will deliver the consumer product to the destination, the destination having been automatically determined by the second computer based upon the received identity of the consumer product and the received present location of the consumer product, and the carrier service having been automatically determined by the second computer based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically determined destination;
- and
- (d) a printer operatively connected to said first computer that prints a shipping label from the shipping label data.
A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and executable on a computer located on a network, for effecting the return of a consumer product for recycling, including:
- (a) code for receiving from another computer located on the network consumer information which includes an identification of the consumer product to be returned for recycling and a present location of the consumer product;
- (b) code for automatically determining a destination for the consumer product based upon the received identity of the consumer product and the received present location of the consumer product;
- (c) code for automatically determining a carrier service that will deliver the consumer product to the destination based upon the received present location of the consumer product and the location of the automatically determined destination;
- (d) code for generating shipping label data which includes an identification of the automatically determined destination and an identification of the automatically determined carrier service;
- and
- (e) code for transmitting the shipping label data to the other computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.