Systems and methods for electronically processing pickup of return items from a customer

US11694153B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Walmart Apollo, LLC · US

Inventors

• Austin Lee Smith · Burlingame, US
• Vidyanand Krishnan · Sunnyvale, US
• Michael Gilbert Ebener · San Francisco, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 14, 2017
• Grant date: Jul 4, 2023
• Expiry date: May 18, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/0837
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods including one or more processing modules and one or more non-transitory storage modules storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processing modules and perform acts of receiving a return request for an item from a customer electronic device of a customer, determining that the return request is available for a pickup return option for (1) pickup, by a driver, of the item at an address associated with the customer and (2) transportation, by the driver, of the item from the address to the store, and, if the customer selects a pickup return option: assigning the driver to pick up the item from the address and transport the item to the store, receiving a return scan for the item from a store electronic device at the store or from a driver electronic device, and initiating a refund to the customer for the item.