WO2016157137A1

WO2016157137A1 - Digital receipt management system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2016157137A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/051866
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francois Johannes Nel LIEBENBERG; Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich DITTRICH; Ryno COETZEE
Original assignee: Zamsure (Pty) Ltd
Priority date: 2015-04-01
Filing date: 2016-04-01
Publication date: 2016-10-06

Abstract

The invention discloses a digital receipt management system, which includes at least one financial transaction interface through which a financial transaction takes place between a user and a product/service provider and being adapted to process a financial transaction; at least one server means being in communication with the financial transaction interface and being adapted to receive financial data of the financial transaction; at least one cloud and/or digital or online storage device adapted to receive, interpret and store the financial data from the interface and/or server means and to create at least one digital receipt relating to the financial transaction; and at least one electronic and/or digital device of the user adapted to communicate with the cloud and/or digital or online storage device and being adapted to display the digital receipt.

Description

DIGITAL RECEIPT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a digital receipt management system and method.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a digital receipt management system and method for providing a user with a digital and/or electronic receipt when a financial transaction, communication and/or data exchange is made, for example, at a point-of- sale.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Business management requires careful tracking and recording of expenses incurred so that the information is available when required. In a number of transactions, consumers or buyers of goods or services typically receive printed receipts from their respective merchants or service providers as proof of existence of conducted transactions. Generally, receipts are issued by merchants and service providers for a number of reasons including, for example, regulatory or tax reasons and convenience purposes. The management of printed receipts is complex and invariably, receipts are lost or fade through handling so as to become illegible, thereby resulting in the purchaser undesirably having no proof of purchase.

US Patent 5,739,512 discloses digital receipts delivered over a proprietary or over an open network such as the Internet. They can be uploaded to a smart card. They can be standardized in format to facilitate automated processing. An e-mail address can be incorporated into a bank card or other machine readable and for automatic routing of the receipt to a payer's e-mailbox. US Patent 7,797,192 discloses systems, methods and program products for automatically generating authenticated electronic receipts at a point-of-sale terminal for both merchants and customers. These electronic receipts can then be used in place of paper receipts for expense accounting, for tax purposes, for routing to accounting and taxation departments, and for real-time analysis of cash-flow and budgeting. The invention prevents loss of paper receipts, always provides a legible receipt, removes employee subjectivity, provides extensive transaction details, removes entry errors, reduces physical storage requirements, promotes continuous expense tracking and eases expense-reporting procedures. In addition, the point-of-sale terminal can integrate the electronic receipt with other available coded data and information about the method of payment such as an image of the check, or the serial number of the paper currency bills used. The other available coded data can make categorization of the data for separation into budget, accounting, or tax categories easier.

US Patent 8,738,454 discloses methods, systems, and computer program products fOr transferring digital receipt data to mobile devices. A point-of-sale ("POS") system generates digital receipt data as part of a sales transaction. The point-of-sale ("POS") system and a mobile device, possibly also along with a receipt data server, interoperate with one another to transfer digital receipt data generated to the mobile device. In some embodiments, the point-of-sale ("POS") system transfers digital receipt data for a sales transaction to the receipt data server. An identifier, such as, for example, an application identifier or transaction identifier, is stored along with the digital receipt data to match the digital receipt data with the mobile device. The mobile device subsequently uses the identifier to access the digital receipt data from the receipt data server. In other embodiments, the point-of-sale ("POS") system transfers digital receipt data directly to the mobile device.

US Patent Application 2004/0064373 discloses a system and method for providing a receipt for a transaction involving electronic payment includes accessing electronic point of sale transaction data, generating a receipt in text format from the transaction data, storing the generated receipt in an indexed database, and making the receipt accessible via one or more electronic communications networks. In an exemplary embodiment, the receipt can be accessed subsequent to the transaction at any time via an ATM, or other electronic banking network or via the Internet from a bank web portal, and viewed, emailed, stored and/or printed out as may be desired. In an exemplary embodiment, the receipt comprises an ASCII text file that can be transmitted quickly even at low data transfer rates and has a low storage cost.

WO 2007134378 discloses a receipt storage system is provided as shown. The system is arranged to systematically store in a receipt database, electronic (or software) receipts that correspond to purchases made by a user. The user can remotely access the receipt database using a networked personal computer at a later stage, and in doing so obtain copies of their receipts or manage their receipts as required. The electronic receipt can be retained as a proof of purchase, and can be used at a later stage when returning faulty goods or when claiming purchases as tax deductions.

In WO 1999022327 a card holder's credit card (or the like) is programmed to store the holder's electronic e-mail address and preferably an encryption key, in addition to normal credit card account data. During or after the time of a transaction, the e-mail information is read and a processor at the point of transaction transmits preferably encrypted transaction data automatically to the e-mail address, for example, via the internet. The e-mailed data is thus available to the card holder's computer system and/or a receipt server system. The data, which may be retrieved using push-pull internet technology, may be incorporated into an accounting type program. Such program can automatically provide the card holder with an up-to-date record of credit card transactions, without requiring the card holder to manually enter transaction data or to archive paper receipts documenting the transaction.

The known digital receipt methods and systems have various drawbacks as they are outdated and incorporate technology and systems which make them inefficient, unsafe and expensive to implement.

It is an object of the invention to suggest a digital receipt management system and method, which will assist in overcoming these problems and shortcomings.

Hereinafter a "Digital Receipt" includes any form of a receipt displayed in a non- conventional or digitalized way, on any digital or mobile device, online/cloud or web based platform.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a digital receipt management system, includes

(a) at least one financial transaction interface through which a financial transaction takes place between a user and a product/service provider and being adapted to process a financial transaction;

(b) at least one server means being in communication with the financial transaction interface and being adapted to receive financial data of the financial transaction;

(c) at least one cloud and/or digital or online storage device adapted to receive, interpret and store the financial data from the interface and/or server means and to create at least one digital receipt relating to the financial transaction; and

(d) at least one electronic and/or digital device of the user adapted to communicate with the cloud and/or digital or online storage device and being adapted to display the digital receipt.

The digital receipt may be adapted to display, amongst other things but not limited to, at least one of the following: the date of purchase, name, address, of seller or supplier, a full description of goods and or services, the vendors business number, VAT registration number, liquor and/or any other relevant license numbers and/or the tax amount reflected on the goods or services rendered.

The financial transaction interface may include a Point of Sale (POS) terminal and/or any interface through which a transaction takes place between a customer and product/service provider. The financial transaction may take physically (face to face), in the cloud and/or online (not face to face) to process a sales transaction.

The POS terminal may be in communication with a POS and/or any other type of server.

The POS terminal may be arranged to extract and/or compile sales data.

The POS terminal may run any software application that is adapted to allow a user to request a digital receipt, in response to which the software application may prompt the user to enter a unique identifier.

The unique identifier may be a combination of letters and/or numbers and/or any physical device.

The physical device may be a magnetic strip card and/or an existing store and/or loyalty card or a digital verification technology.

The digital verification technology may be Near Field Communication (NFC) of which purpose is to identify the user to which the digital receipt is to be sent.

The system may include an interface adapted to receive the sales data from the POS server and/or the POS terminal and/or any system processing payment information between a business or seller of a product or service whether a physical system, cloud based solution or a system using the web or any other connection between digital devices, upon a digital receipt being requested.

The cloud and/or digital or online storage device may be adapted to receive, interpret and store the sales data from the interface and to create a digital receipt. The electronic and/or digital device of the user may be at least one computer and/or mobile device(s) associated with the user.

The electronic and/or digital device may be adapted to be in communication with the digital and/or cloud storage device.

The electronic and/or digital device may be adapted to run a software application that is adapted to notify the user when a digital receipt has been received.

The electronic and/or digital device may be adapted to extract the digital receipt and related information from the digital and/or cloud storage device in response to a request from the user either storing it on the user's device or accessing it in the data form from the digital and/or cloud storage device.

The software application on the electronic and/or digital device may be arranged to display a list of transactions and/or receipts, the list of transactions and/or receipts being configurable to display a list of transactions over a predefined period of time and/or for a particular shop.

The software application on the electronic and/or digital device may be adapted to allow the user to select and view a digital receipt for any of his or her transactions.

The software application on the electronic and/or digital device may be adapted to retrieve and display a copy of a physical receipt the POS terminal or any device whether physical of nature or in a digital form would have provided the user at the conclusion of the transaction. In this regard, the interface may be arranged to receive or transmit data of an image of the physical receipt and to transmit this to the cloud storage device for subsequent retrieval by the user's mobile device. The software application on the electronic and/or digital device may be adapted to provide a search function to enable the user to search for specific receipts, the search for receipts being selectable based on the shop/partner and/or the item purchased and/or the amount spent and/or the Date of the purchase

The software application on the electronic and/or digital device may be adapted to allows the users list of all shops/partners either physical or digital in their nature that have the digital receipt system of the present invention in place through business affairs with the company as well as a search on a product/service and subsequent list of all shops/partners who offer this said product/service to the user.

The software application on the electronic and/or digital device may be adapted to extract and provide various reports of interest to the user, including where the user is/has spending/spent his or her money, what products and/or services the user is/has purchasing/purchased and/or when is the user's money being spent.

The software application on the electronic and/or digital device may be adapted to be used as a medium through which to offer the user, through the application, any information such as, but not limited to, promotions or information pertaining to events or special offers that any shop/partner on the application is to offer the user. Furthermore the user can be directed-, guided- or navigated to or informed of the location of such shop/partner through location based services which may include, but is not limited to a GPS functionality, geo mapping or any geographically mapped service such as Google Maps which may be integrated into the application.

The software application may be adapted to be used to provide a geographical map of the location of the user at any time of which this geographical information may be used by the application or any digital device processing the information on behalf of the application, whether cloud based, physical or digital in nature to store the geographical information for later use or to use the data as it is received in order to pass it on to a third party or provide notifications through the application to the user based on a trigger through the geographical location of the device on which the application exists.

The software application of the electronic and/or digital device may be adapted to be used to capture an image of a physical receipt, which the user can save onto the cloud storage device and can tag to include information such as the place of purchase, the total value of purchase, the payment method, the category of products etc.

The information associated with the physical receipt may then be stored and retrievable as with any of the digital receipts used by the invention.

The system may be adapted to perform optical character recognition (OCR) of the physical receipt.

The system may be adapted to identify a customer by means of at least of the following means, namely biometric identification, iris scans, fingerprint readers and other biometric embodiments.

The system may be adapted to require minimal/limited or no actual intervention by the cashier to instantiate a digital receipt management system enabled transaction.

The system may be adapted to identify the customer in a number of ways not requiring any actual cashier intervention.

If the customer swipes a loyalty card, credit/debit card, and is in the vicinity of a NFC device, Beacon or any other "thing" that is adapted to identify a customer by any autonomous means, the digital receipt management system API may be called to do the verification beforehand.

If the customer is verified beforehand the POS terminal may be adapted to automatically send the digital receipt management systems digital receipt and notify the cashier after the transaction that the customer received his/her slip via the digital receipt management system.

The system may be adapted to make provision for a completely autonomous means of sending the digital receipt (PocketSlip) from the POS device whereby no cashier interaction required.

The software application on the electronic and/or digital device may be adapted to be arranged to optically recognize the contents of the physical receipt, and to automatically categorize the various elements of the physical receipt in a digital manner.

The interface may be adapted to encrypt the sales data prior to sending it to the cloud, physical or digital storage device.

Also according to the invention, a digital receipt management method includes the steps:

(a) of providing at least one financial transaction interface through which a financial transaction takes place between a user and a product/service provider and being adapted to process a financial transaction;

(b) of transmitting financial data of the financial transaction to a server; (c) of receiving, interpreting and storing the financial data on at least one cloud and/or digital or online storage device;

(d) of creating at least one digital receipt relating to the financial transaction; and

(e) of displaying the digital receipt on at least one electronic and/or digital device adapted to communicate with the cloud and/or digital or online storage device.

Also according to the invention, a digital receipt management method includes the steps

(a) of receiving sales data from a point of sale (POS) terminal in respect of a sales transaction or any interface through which a transaction takes place between a customer and product/service provider;

(b) of transmitting the sales data to a cloud storage device adapted to store the sales data and create a digital receipt; and

(c) of pushing the digital receipt to a computer, digital and/or mobile device associated with the user, the computer, digital or mobile device being in communication with the cloud storage device, the computer, digital or mobile device running a software application that is arranged to notify the user when a digital receipt has been received, and to extract the digital receipt and related information from the cloud storage device in response to a request from the user.

Also according to the invention, a digital receipt management method includes the steps (a) of receiving sales data from a point of sale (POS) terminal in respect of a sales transaction or any interface through which a transaction takes place between a customer and product/service provider whether physically, in the cloud or online, the POS terminal being in communication with a POS server or any other type of and being arranged to extract and/or compile sales data, the POS terminal running a software application that is arranged to allow a user to request a digital receipt, in response to which the software application prompts the user to enter a unique identifier which may be a combination of letters and/or numbers or any physical device such as but not limited to a magnetic strip card or an existing store and/or loyalty card or a digital verification technology such as but not limited to Near Field Communication (NFC) of which purpose is to identify the user to which the digital receipt is to be sent;

(b) transmitting the sales data to a cloud storage device that can store the sales data and create a digital receipt; and

(c) pushing the digital receipt to a computer, digital or mobile device associated with the user, the computer, digital or mobile device being in communication with the cloud storage device, the computer, digital or mobile device running a software application that is arranged to notify the user when a digital receipt has been received, and to extract the digital receipt and related information from the cloud storage device in response to a request from the user.

The electronic and/or digital device of the user may include wearable technology (e.g. the Apple watch or Android watch) to receive receipts. The system may include wearable technology adapted to identify a customer at the point of sale, either through an image on the wearable device or through communication between the device and the point of sale, including Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and any other wireless means of submitting data.

The system may be adapted to allow the electronic receipt to be used as legal tender i.e. to function as a form and/or proof of payment.

As an example, the receipt may serve as verification of payment made to an institution and may then be used to facilitate activities, for example: someone paying to use a train.

The digital receipt may be adapted to be used as a verification between the user and the turn style at a train station and/or concert and/or sports stadium instead of a magnetic strip card and/or physical ticket.

The system may include rating means adapted to enable clients rating their transaction with a ratings system.

The user may be prompted to rate a transaction from 1 -5 by clicking on a star, which will come up every time a new electronic receipt is received

The system may include receipt exporting means adapted to produce an export of the digital receipts into an electronic format for which the purpose will be of an accounting nature.

The digital receipts may be adapted to be used in accounting and/or tax returns. The system may include processing means in which the sales data is stored on the database of a retailer and from which the data database is accessed.

The server means may be located at the retailer.

The digital receipt may include the following information:

(a) the supplier's full name, or registered business name, and VAT registration number, if any;

(b) the address of the premises at which, or from which, the goods or services were supplied;

(c) the date on which the transaction occurred;

(d) a name or description of any goods or services supplied or to be supplied;

(e) the unit price of any particular goods or services supplied or to be supplied;

(f) the quantity of any particular goods or services supplied or to be supplied;

(g) the total price of the transaction, before any applicable taxes;

(h) the amount of any applicable taxes; and

(i) the total price of the transaction, including any applicable taxes. The digital receipt may include the following information:

(a) the words "tax invoice" in a prominent place;

(b) the name, address and VAT registration number of the supplier; (c) an individual serialized number and the date upon which the tax invoice is issued;

(d) a description of the goods (indicating, where applicable, that the goods are second-hand goods) or services supplied;

(e) either—

(i) the value of the supply, the amount of tax charged and the consideration for the supply; or

(ii) where the amount of tax charged is calculated by applying the tax fraction to the consideration, the consideration for the supply and either the amount of the tax charged, or a statement that it includes a charge in respect of the tax and the rate at which the tax was charged

In the drawings and the description the digital receipt management system according to the invention is sometimes referred to as "Pocketslip".

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in:

Figure 1 : schematic process flow diagram of the digital receipt management system according to the invention; Figure 2: POS software system that has the API of the digital receipt management system attached to it. On the POS a sales transaction is taking place.

Figure 3: Once the transaction is in a cash off state there is a button that can be pressed to tell the POS system that this transaction will be a transaction of the digital receipt management system. The transactions receipt would thus not be printed but instead the receipt or sales data will be sent VIA the API to the digital receipt management system's cloud where the necessary processing takes place to generate the receipt digitally and sent to the user's device.

Figure 4: Once the action to send the receipt digitally is selected the customer needs to be identified, this also happens by calling the API of the digital receipt management system to ascertain the user's registration status. The user can be identified in a verity of ways - Cell phone number, ID number or any other unique customer identifier predefined by the POS system and the API of the digital receipt management system.

Figure 5: Once the customer is identified the POS system can display a valid customer by any means appropriate, in this case the digital receipt management system's icon is highlighted. If a failure to identify occurs a prompt can be displayed notifying the cashier of the inadequate identification details.

Figure 6: When the API successfully processes the transaction and the digital receipt is saved on the digital receipt management system's cloud the user who owns the receipt will be notified by means of a push notification to the users mobile device/devices.

Figure 7: the menu options of the App Overview of the digital receipt management system;

Figure 8: A searchable list of all the digital receipts received by the user;

Figure 9: A carbon copy of the receipt digitally stored;

Figure 10: Functionality to rate your experience at the respective outlet/retailer;

Figure 1 1 : Ability to share the digital receipt VIA a number of channels (Social/EMail/Wireless Print, etc.);

Figure 12: Receipt Meta data;

Figure 13: Ability to add a physical receipt to your digital receipt library (camera, optical character recognition (OCR) or locally stored);

Figure 14: General Meta data of the physical receipt;

Figure 15: Items purchased on the physical receipt;

Figure 16: Search function enables the user to search the Meta data of the receipt

(Outlet purchase took place, when purchase took place, what was purchased, etc.);

Figure 17: All nearby outlets/Retailers that are "digital receipt management system enabled" (that can create a digital receipt VIA the digital receipt management system's API); Figure 18: Detailed general information on the nearby Outlet/Retailer; Figure 19: Map offering location/distance and directions to Outlet/Retailer; and Figure 20: General settings pertaining to the user and the Application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, a digital receipt management system according to the invention, is shown.

Figure 1 shows the schematic process flow diagram of the digital receipt management system according to the invention.

Figures 2 to 6 shows the process overview of the digital receipt management system according to the invention.

Figure 7 to 20 shows the App overview of the digital receipt management system according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows POS software system that has the API of the digital receipt management system attached to it. On the POS a sales transaction is taking place.

Figure 3 shows how once the transaction is in a cash off state there is a button that can be pressed to tell the POS system that this transaction will be a transaction of the digital receipt management system. The transactions receipt would thus not be printed but instead the receipt or sales data will be sent VIA the API to the digital receipt management system's cloud where the necessary processing takes place to generate the receipt digitally and sent to the user's device. Figure 4 shows how once the action to send the receipt digitally is selected the customer needs to be identified, this also happens by calling the API of the digital receipt management system to ascertain the user's registration status. The user can be identified in a verity of ways - Cell phone number, ID number or any other unique customer identifier predefined by the POS system and the API of the digital receipt management system.

Figure 5 shows how once the customer is identified the POS system can display a valid customer by any means appropriate, in this case the digital receipt management system's icon is highlighted. If a failure to identify occurs a prompt can be displayed notifying the cashier of the inadequate identification details.

Figure 6 shows when the API successfully processes the transaction and the digital receipt is saved on the digital receipt management system's cloud the user who owns the receipt will be notified by means of a push notification to the users mobile device/devices.

Figure 7 shows the menu options of the App Overview of the digital receipt management system. The menu options include the following:

(a) My receipts - All of the users digital receipts

(b) Add receipt - Manually add a receipt to your digital library

(c) Search - search a receipt (can also search meta data)

(d) Nearby outlets - Nearby outlets/retailers that are "digital receipt management system enabled" (can do a digital receipt VIA digital receipt management system)

(e) Settings - Users personal and application general settings Figure 8 shows a searchable list of all the digital receipts received by the user. Figure 9 shows a carbon copy of the receipt digitally stored.

Figure 10 shows the functionality to rate your experience at the respective outlet/retailer.

Figure 1 1 shows the ability to share the digital receipt VIA a number of channels (Social/E-Mail/Wireless Print, etc.).

Figure 12 shows the receipt of Meta data.

Figure 13 shows ability to add a physical receipt to your digital receipt library (camera, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) or locally stored).

Figure 14 shows the general Meta data of the physical receipt.

Figure 15 shows items purchased on the physical receipt.

Figure 16 shows search function enables the user to search the Meta data of the receipt (Outlet purchase took place, when purchase took place, what was purchased, etc.).

Figure 17 shows all nearby outlets/Retailers that are "digital receipt management system enabled" (that can create a digital receipt VIA the digital receipt management system's API).

Figure 18 shows detailed general information on the nearby Outlet/Retailer. Figure 19 shows map offering location/distance and directions to Outlet/Retailer. Figure 20 shows general settings pertaining to the user and the Application.

Referring first to Figure 1 , a digital receipt management system 10 comprises a point of sale (POS) terminal 12 to process a sales transaction 14. The POS terminal 12 is typically in communication with a POS server 14 and is arranged to extract and/or compile sales data 16, which is used in the ordinary course to create a printable physical receipt for the purchase of the goods or service, which includes information such as the item/s purchased, amount paid, payment type, date and time of purchase, cashier, total due etc.).

As shown in Figures 2 to 7, the POS terminal 12 runs a software application, a typical screen shot 18 of which is shown in Figure 2. In use, when the transaction is being finalized, a function is provided, in the form of a selectable button 20 shown in Figure 3, to allow a user 22 to request a digital receipt. In one version, this request instructs the POS terminal that the receipt generated should not print to a printer but that is going to be sent digitally to a mobile device 24 (shown in Figure 1 ) associated with the user 22. In response to this selection, the software application on the POS terminal 12 prompts the user 18 to enter a mobile phone number 26, as shown in Figure 4, of the user to which the digital receipt is to be sent.

The software application has a built in function to validate that the user 22 is registered to use the system 10 of the present invention. This can be done by validating the mobile phone number, as shown in Figure 4, but clearly any other unique customer identifier, such as an ID number, could be used. Upon successful validation, the sales data 16 may be sent. The POS software can display a successful validation in one of many ways; in Figure 5, for example, the button 20 is highlighted in a particular colour. Referring back to Figure 1 , the digital receipt management system 10 further comprises an interface 28, in the form of an application programming interface (API), which acts as a bridge between the POS terminal 12 and a cloud storage device 30 to receive the pushed sales data (typically after being encrypted by the interface 28) from the POS server 14 and/or the POS terminal 12, upon a digital receipt being requested by the user. The cloud storage device 30 receives, interprets and stores the sales data 16 from the interface 28 and to create a digital receipt.

The mobile device 24 communicates with the cloud storage device 30, and runs a software application that is arranged to notify the user 18 when a digital receipt has been received. Thus, as shown in Figure 6, after the transaction is finalized or "cashed off", the user's device 24 (or range of devices) receives a push notification 32 informing them that a new digital receipt has been generated and received.

Upon pressing the notification 32, the software application on the user's mobile device 24 launches, with a home page 34 of the software application on the user's mobile device 24 being shown in Figure 7. Upon selecting the "My Receipt" 36, a complete list 38 of all the user's digital receipts will be retrieved from the cloud storage device 30 and displayed, as shown in Figure 8. The "unread" or "unseen" digital receipts will be distinguished from those that have been viewed, in any number of known ways. This list 38 will also show if the receipt was digitally sent via the API enabled POS terminal 12 or created by the user 22 (the latter being explained in more detail further below). The software application on the mobile device 24 thus allows the user 18 to extract the digital receipt and related information from the cloud storage device 30 in response to a request from the user 18. The list 38 of transactions is configurable to display a list of transactions over a predefined period of time and/or for a particular shop, with the default being to display the list 38 by date order, as shown in Figure 8.

Upon selecting any one of the digital receipts in the list 38 in Figure 8, the digital receipt 40 for the particular transaction will be retrieved and displayed, as shown in Figure 9. Thus, at any time, the user 22 can select one of the digital receipts to view its details. In the details screen in Figure 9, the user 22 will see the layout and data of the digital receipt. The user 22 will also be able to send the digital receipt to him- or herself as an e mail or share it with an instant messenger app by selecting the Share icon 42.

Thus, the software application on the mobile device 24 can retrieve and display a copy of a physical receipt the POS terminal 12 would have provided the user 22 at the conclusion of the transaction. In this regard, the interface 28 is arranged also to receive an image of the physical receipt 40 and to transmit this to the cloud storage device 30 for subsequent retrieval by the user's mobile device 24.

Turning back to Figure 7, a Search icon 46 is shown to provide a search function to enable the user 22 to search for specific receipts, the search for receipts being selectable based on the shop and/or the item purchased and/or the amount spent. A results screen 38, of the type shown in Figure 8, is retrieved and displayed.

Turning back to Figure 7, an Outlet Search icon 50 is also shown to provide a search function to enable the user 22 to search for shops that have the digital receipt system 10 of the present invention in place. A results screen 52, of the type shown in Figure 9, with a list 56 of shops, is retrieved and displayed. Alternatively, the user 22 can search for a shop that uses the digital receipt system 10 of the present invention, using information such as the name of the shop, the name of the shop's parent company and the shop that is closest to the user 22 etc.

By selecting any of the shops in the list 52 shown in Figure 17, a results screen 54, of the type shown in Figure 10, typically displaying information such as the name, description, contact details, address, etc. The user 22 will even be able to request directions to the shop, based on the user's current location as shown in Figures 18 and 19.

Turning back to Figure 7, an Insight icon is shown to enable the user 22 to request various reports 60, 62 (two examples of which are shown in Figure 1 1 ) of interest to the user 22, including where the user 22 is spending his or her money, what products and/or services the user is purchasing and/or when is the user's money being spent. This enables the user 22 to track and compare his/her spend, check budgets, plan his/her spend and check on his/her spending patterns.

Turning back to Figure 7, a User Settings icon 64 is shown, which, upon selection, displays a screen (shown in Figure 12) to enable the user 22 to modify his/her personal settings, such as notification settings and password protection levels etc.

Turning back to Figure 7, an "Add receipt" icon 68 is shown, which the user 22 can use to capture paper receipts, tag these receipts digitally and add these tagged digital receipts to the cloud storage device 30 for subsequent retrieval by the user's mobile device 24. Upon selecting the "Add receipt" icon 68 a series of steps, are initiated to capture the receipt as shown in Figure 13. Firstly, with reference to Figure 13, the user 22 takes a picture of the paper receipt 70 that is to be added to the cloud storage device 30. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) can also be used to fulfil this step.

Secondly, a template is provided to enable the user 22 to capture header details for the receipt (i.e. the high level details of the transaction), such as the shop, total value of purchase, cashier name, taxable purchase, payment method etc.

Thirdly, a template is provided to enable the user to add details of the items purchased.

Thus, using this feature, the software application on the mobile device 24 can be used to capture an image of a physical receipt 70, which the user can save onto the cloud storage 30 and can tag to include information such as the place of purchase, the total value of purchase, the payment method, etc. The information associated with the physical receipt 70 is then stored and retrievable as with any of the digital receipts used by the invention.

In an embodiment, the software application on the mobile device 24 may be arranged to optically recognize the contents of the physical receipt 70 and/or to perform optical character recognition (OCR), and to automatically categorize the various elements of the physical receipt 70, for subsequent storage on the cloud storage device 30.

The system may be adapted to require minimal/limited or no actual intervention by the cashier to instantiate a digital receipt management system enabled transaction. The system may be adapted to identify the customer in a number of ways not requiring any actual cashier intervention.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1 . A digital receipt management system, which includes

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the digital receipt is adapted to display, amongst other things but not limited to, at least one of the following: the date of purchase, name, address, of seller or supplier, a full description of goods and or services, the vendors business number, VAT registration number, liquor and/or any other relevant license numbers and/or the tax amount reflected on the goods or services rendered.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the financial transaction interface includes a Point of Sale (POS) terminal and/or any interface through which a transaction takes place between a customer and product/service provider.

4. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the financial transaction takes place physically (face to face), in the cloud and/or online (not face to face) to process a sales transaction.

5. A system as claimed in claim 3, in which the POS terminal is in communication with a POS and/or any other type of server.

6. A system as claimed in claim 3, in which the POS terminal is arranged to extract and/or compile sales data.

7. A system as claimed in any one of claims 3, 5 or 6, in which the POS terminal runs any software application that is adapted to allow a user to request a digital receipt, in response to which the software application may prompt the user to enter a unique identifier.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, in which the unique identifier is a combination of letters and/or numbers and/or any physical device.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, in which the physical device is a magnetic strip card and/or an existing store and/or loyalty card or a digital verification technology.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, in which the digital verification technology includes Near Field Communication (NFC) of which purpose is to identify the user to which the digital receipt is to be sent.

1 1 . A system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 10, which includes an interface adapted to receive the sales data from the POS server and/or the POS terminal and/or any system processing payment information between a business or seller of a product or service whether a physical system, cloud based solution or a system using the web or any other connection between digital devices, upon a digital receipt being requested.

12. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the cloud and/or digital or online storage device is adapted to receive, interpret and store the sales data from the interface and to create a digital receipt.

13. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the electronic and/or digital device of the user is at least one computer and/or mobile device(s) associated with the user.

14. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the electronic and/or digital device is adapted to be in communication with the digital and/or cloud storage device.

15. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the electronic and/or digital device is adapted to run a software application that is adapted to notify the user when a digital receipt has been received.

16. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the electronic and/or digital device is adapted to extract the digital receipt and related information from the digital and/or cloud storage device in response to a request from the user either storing it on the user's device or accessing it in the data form from the digital and/or cloud storage device.

17. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the software application on the electronic and/or digital device is arranged to display a list of transactions and/or receipts, the list of transactions and/or receipts being configurable to display a list of transactions over a predefined period of time and/or for a particular shop.

18. A system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, in which the software application on the electronic and/or digital device is adapted to allow the user to select and view a digital receipt for any of his or her transactions.

19. A system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18, in which the software application on the electronic and/or digital device is adapted to retrieve and display a copy of a physical receipt from a POS terminal or any device whether physical of nature or in a digital form would have provided the user at the conclusion of the transaction.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, in which the interface is arranged to receive or transmit data of an image of the physical receipt and to transmit this to the cloud storage device for subsequent retrieval by the user's mobile device.

21 . A system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 20, in which the software application on the electronic and/or digital device is adapted to provide a search function to enable the user to search for specific receipts, the search for receipts being selectable based on the shop/partner and/or the item purchased and/or the amount spent and/or the Date of the purchase.

22. A system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 21 , in which the software application on the electronic and/or digital device is adapted to allows the users list of all shops/partners either physical or digital in their nature that have the digital receipt system of the present invention in place through business affairs with the company as well as a search on a product/service and subsequent list of all shops/partners who offer this said product/service to the user.

23. A system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 22, in which the software application on the electronic and/or digital device is adapted to extract and provide various reports of interest to the user, including where the user is/has spending/spent his or her money, what products and/or services the user is/has purchasing/purchased and/or when is the user's money being spent.

24. A system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 23, in which the software application on the electronic and/or digital device is adapted to be used as a medium through which to offer the user, through the application, any information such as, but not limited to, promotions or information pertaining to events or special offers that any shop/partner on the application is to offer the user.

25. A system as claimed in claim 24, in which the user is directed-, guided- or navigated to or informed of the location of such shop/partner through location based services which may include, but is not limited to a GPS functionality, geo mapping or any geographically mapped service such as Google Maps which may be integrated into the application.

26. A system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 25, in which the software application is adapted to be used to provide a geographical map of the location of the user at any time of which this geographical information may be used by the application or any digital device processing the information on behalf of the application, whether cloud based, physical or digital in nature to store the geographical information for later use or to use the data as it is received in order to pass it on to a third party or provide notifications through the application to the user based on a trigger through the geographical location of the device on which the application exists.

27. A system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 27, in which the software application of the electronic and/or digital device is adapted to be used to capture an image of a physical receipt, which the user can save onto the cloud storage device and can tag to include information such as the place of purchase, the total value of purchase, the payment method, the category of products etc.

28. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the information associated with the physical receipt is stored and retrievable as with any of the digital receipts used by the system.

29. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to perform optical character recognition (OCR) of the physical receipt.

30. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to identify a customer by means of at least of the following means, namely biometric identification, iris scans, fingerprint readers and other biometric embodiments.

31 . A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to require minimal/limited or no actual intervention by the cashier to instantiate a digital receipt management system enabled transaction.

32. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to identify the customer in a number of ways not requiring any actual cashier intervention.

33. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which if the customer swipes a loyalty card, credit/debit card, and is in the vicinity of a NFC device, Beacon or any other "thing" that is adapted to identify a customer by any autonomous means, the digital receipt management system API is called to do the verification beforehand.

34. A system as claimed in claim 33, in which if the customer is verified beforehand the POS terminal is adapted to automatically send the digital receipt management systems digital receipt and notify the cashier after the transaction that the customer received his/her slip via the digital receipt management system.

35. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to make provision for a completely autonomous means of sending the digital receipt (PocketSlip) from a POS device whereby no cashier interaction required.

36. A system as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 35, in which the software application on the electronic and/or digital device is adapted to be arranged to optically recognize the contents of the physical receipt, and to automatically categorize the various elements of the physical receipt in a digital manner.

37. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the interface is adapted to encrypt the sales data prior to sending it to the cloud, physical or digital storage device.

38. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the electronic and/or digital device of the user includes wearable technology (e.g. the Apple watch or Android watch) to receive receipts.

39. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes wearable technology adapted to identify a customer at the point of sale, either through an image on the wearable device or through communication between the device and the point of sale, including Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and any other wireless means of submitting data.

40. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to allow the electronic receipt to be used as legal tender i.e. to function as a form and/or proof of payment.

41 . A system as claimed in claim 40, in which the receipt serves as verification of payment made to an institution and may then be used to facilitate activities, for example: someone paying to use a train.

42. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the digital receipt is adapted to be used as a verification between the user and the turn style at a train station and/or concert and/or sports stadium instead of a magnetic strip card and/or physical ticket.

43. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes rating means adapted to enable clients rating their transaction with a ratings system.

44. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the user is prompted to rate a transaction from 1 -5 by clicking on a star, which will come up every time a new electronic receipt is received

45. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes receipt exporting means adapted to produce an export of the digital receipts into an electronic format for which the purpose will be of an accounting nature.

46. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the digital receipts are adapted to be used in accounting and/or tax returns.

47. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes processing means in which the sales data is stored on the database of a retailer and from which the data database is accessed.

48. A system as claimed in claim 47, in which the server means is located at the retailer.

49. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the digital receipt includes the following information:

(b) the address of the premises at which, or from which, the goods or services were supplied; (c) the date on which the transaction occurred;

(d) a name or description of any goods or services supplied or to be supplied;

(g) the total price of the transaction, before any applicable taxes;

(h) the amount of any applicable taxes; and/or

(i) the total price of the transaction, including any applicable taxes.

50. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the digital receipt includes the following information:

(a) the words "tax invoice" in a prominent place;

(b) the name, address and VAT registration number of the supplier;

(c) an individual serialized number and the date upon which the tax invoice is issued;

(d) a description of the goods (indicating, where applicable, that the goods are second-hand goods) or services supplied; and/or

(e) either—

51 . A digital receipt management method, which includes the steps:

(b) of transmitting financial data of the financial transaction to a server;

(c) of receiving, interpreting and storing the financial data on at least one cloud and/or digital or online storage device;

52. A digital receipt management method, which includes the steps

53. A digital receipt management method, which includes the steps

(a) of receiving sales data from a point of sale (POS) terminal in respect of a sales transaction or any interface through which a transaction takes place between a customer and product/service provider whether physically, in the cloud or online, the POS terminal being in communication with a POS server or any other type of and being arranged to extract and/or compile sales data, the POS terminal running a software application that is arranged to allow a user to request a digital receipt, in response to which the software application prompts the user to enter a unique identifier which may be a combination of letters and/or numbers or any physical device such as but not limited to a magnetic strip card or an existing store and/or loyalty card or a digital verification technology such as but not limited to Near Field Communication (NFC) of which purpose is to identify the user to which the digital receipt is to be sent;

54. A digital receipt management system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

55. A digital receipt management method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.