System and method of directly providing electronic receipts

Abstract

A method and program product for providing paperless receipts for conducting business transactions. Biometric data and product specific identification information is collected with each purchase and included with an electronic receipt generated for each purchase. The collected product specific information may include product serial numbers for some products, all products or product valued above a minimum threshold cost. The biometric data may include a digital image of each purchaser. The electronic receipt may be passed directly to the customer.

1 . A method of conducting business transactions, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) presenting items for purchase;    b) collecting identification data for purchase;    c) generating an electronic receipt for purchase of said items; and    d) passing said electronic receipt to personal storage.    
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the step (b) of collecting identification data comprises collecting personal data for a person presenting said item.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein personal data comprises biometric data for said person.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein personal data comprises a digital image of said person.  
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said electronic receipt includes purchaser personal data collected when said electronic receipt was generated.  
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the step (b) of collecting identification data comprises retrieving a serial number from said item.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the step (b) of collecting identification data comprises identifying ones of said purchase items above a threshold value, said serial numbers being collected for said ones.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said generated electronic receipt includes purchaser biometric data and one or more serial numbers of purchased items.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the step (d) of passing said electronic receipt comprises wirelessly transmitting said electronic receipt to a handheld device.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 9 , wherein said handheld device is a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a paper receipt is generated in step (c) with each said electronic receipt, said paper receipt reflecting information contained in the said electronic receipt.  
     
     
         11 . A method of conducting business transactions, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) presenting items for purchase;    b) collecting identification data for purchase;    c) generating an electronic receipt for purchase of said items;    d) passing said electronic receipt to personal storage;    e) presenting one or more of said items for return with said electronic receipt, presented said items being accepted for return based on said electronic receipt.    
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein the step (b) of collecting identification data respectively comprises collecting personal data for a purchaser.  
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein personal data comprises biometric data for said purchaser.  
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein personal data comprises a digital image of said purchaser.  
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein serial numbers are collected for one or more purchase items in step (b).  
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein the step (b) of collecting identification data comprises identifying ones of said purchase items above a threshold value, said serial numbers being collected for said ones.  
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein the step (d) of passing said electronic receipt comprises wirelessly transmitting said electronic receipt to a handheld device.  
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 17 , wherein said handheld device is a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a paper receipt is presented in step (d) with passing each said electronic receipt, said paper receipt reflecting information contained in the said electronic receipt.  
     
     
         19 . A computer program product for conducting business transactions, said computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, said computer readable program code comprising: 
 computer program code means for recording information about goods for sale;    computer program code means for generating electronic receipts for each purchase, said electronic receipts including selected recorded information; and    computer program code means for passing generated said electronic receipts.    
     
     
         20 . A computer program product for conducting business transactions as in  claim 19 , wherein said computer program code means for recording information comprises computer program code means for receiving biometric information about purchasers, received purchaser biometric information being included on each said electronic receipt.