Non-serialized electronic product registration system and method of operating same
AssigneeNintendo of America Inc.
InventorsBrian Cheney, Peter J. Junger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A non-serialized electronic product registration (ER) system and method which enables return qualification information to be provided upon request for non-serialized products. Retailer specific return policies are enforced by providing the ER system with retailer return policies for UPCs, SKUs, model numbers and/or other non-unique product identifiers. The retailer periodically provides information to the ER system that indicates the last date on which products having a particular non-unique identifier have been sold. The ER system then determine the last date on which such products can be returned and provides non-serialized return qualification information to the retailer upon request.
Claims20
An electronic product registration method for use with non-serialized products, comprising:
- receiving product information at a computerized electronic registration (ER) system including a database for registration, the product information identifying at least one non-serialized product type that has been sold;
- associating a registration date with the at least one non-serialized product type via the ER system;
- determining, via a computer system of the ER system and based on the product information and applicable return criteria, a last date on which a non-serialized product belonging to the at least one non-serialized product type can be accepted for return under the applicable return criteria, said last date being determined in relation to the registration date associated with the non-serialized product type;
- and
- providing, via the computer system and in response to an inquiry to the electronic registration system, an indication as to whether a non-serialized product belonging to at least one of the non-serialized product types might qualify for return under the applicable return criteria when the inquiry is made.
An electronic product registration method for use with non-serialized products, comprising:
- transmitting product information to a computerized electronic registration (ER) system including a database for registration, the product information identifying at least one non-serialized product type that has been sold;
- causing a registration date to be associated with the at least one non-serialized product type via the ER system;
- sending an inquiry to the electronic registration system when a non-serialized product belonging to at least one of the non-serialized product types is presented in connection with a post-sale return and/or warranty request;
- causing a determination to be made, in connection with a computer system of the ER system and based on the product information and applicable return criteria, as to a last date on which the non-serialized can be accepted for return under the applicable return criteria
- receiving, from the computer system and in response to the inquiry, an indication as to whether the non-serialized product might qualify for return under applicable return criteria when the inquiry is made.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.