Wireless point-of-sale transaction system and method
First Claim
1. A wireless consumer transaction system, comprising:
- a wireless interface for communicating with wireless cellular devices, for conveying a menu of user options to the wireless cellular devices, and for receiving user selections from the wireless cellular devices;
a computer comprising local storage for retaining user selections received via the wireless interface, said computer configured to determine a point-of-sale transaction price based upon said user selections;
a remote interface for communicating with a remote processing center, whereby said computer sends a request for point-of-sale transaction approval to said remote processing center and receives a point-of-sale transaction approval response from said remote processing center in response to a request by a user to carry out a point-of-sale transaction; and
a point-of-sale terminal coupled to said computer, wherein said computer conveys a point-of-sale transaction approval indication to said point-of-sale terminal in response to said point-of-sale transaction approval response.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless consumer transaction system and method includes wireless equipment coupled to a point-of-sale system, whereby consumers are enabled to set up and carry out point-of-sale transactions in an automated or semi-automated manner using a wireless device. Users entering within the coverage area of the wireless equipment are prompted to conduct a point-of-sale transaction. The point-of-sale system transmits menu options to the user'"'"'s wireless device. The user selects from the options provided, and is given the ability to purchase the desired goods or services in an automated manner using the wireless device. The wireless equipment of the point-of-sale system is preferably coupled to a point-of-sale computer, which is in turn coupled to a remote processing center. An automated purchase transaction may be conducted by obtaining approval and/or automatically withdrawing funds from the remote processing center in response to user-initiated activity.
135 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A wireless consumer transaction system, comprising:
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a wireless interface for communicating with wireless cellular devices, for conveying a menu of user options to the wireless cellular devices, and for receiving user selections from the wireless cellular devices;
a computer comprising local storage for retaining user selections received via the wireless interface, said computer configured to determine a point-of-sale transaction price based upon said user selections;
a remote interface for communicating with a remote processing center, whereby said computer sends a request for point-of-sale transaction approval to said remote processing center and receives a point-of-sale transaction approval response from said remote processing center in response to a request by a user to carry out a point-of-sale transaction; and
a point-of-sale terminal coupled to said computer, wherein said computer conveys a point-of-sale transaction approval indication to said point-of-sale terminal in response to said point-of-sale transaction approval response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for carrying out consumer transactions, comprising the steps of:
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detecting, at a wireless station, the presence of a wireless cellular device within proximity of the wireless station, said wireless station located within a coverage area of a cellular network and configured to provide point-of-sale information to wireless cellular devices;
establishing communication with a wireless cellular device by way of the wireless station;
receiving, via the wireless station, an indication from the wireless cellular device to proceed with a point-of-sale transaction;
conveying a menu of user options to the wireless cellular device via the wireless station;
receiving and storing user selections from the wireless cellular devices via the wireless station;
determining a point-of-sale transaction price based upon said user selections;
sending a request for point-of-sale transaction approval to a remote processing center, said point-of-sale transaction approval including said transaction price;
receiving a point-of-sale transaction approval response from said remote processing center; and
displaying an indication of the point-of-sale transaction approval response on a point-of-sale terminal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A wireless consumer transaction system, comprising:
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a wireless station located within a region of coverage of a cellular network, said wireless station configured to detect the presence of a wireless handheld device within a microcellular region and to convey a menu of user options to the wireless handheld device;
a local computer configured to receive, via the wireless station, user selections entered using the wireless handheld device, and to determine a point-of-sale transaction price based upon said user selections;
a remote interface for communicating with a remote processing center to obtain approval for a point-of-sale transaction; and
a point-of-sale terminal coupled to said computer, said point-of-sale terminal displaying an indication of whether the point-of-sale transaction was approved by the remote processing center. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for facilitating consumer transactions at a point-of-sale system, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting, at a wireless station associated with the point-of-sale system, the presence of the wireless handheld device;
establishing communication between the wireless station and the wireless handheld device;
transmitting a menu of options for presentation on a display portion of the wireless handheld device;
receiving from the wireless handheld device, via the wireless station, one or more user selections;
determining a transaction price based upon the user selections;
triggering an automated transaction with a remote processing center, whereby funds in a user account associated with the remote processing center are utilized to purchase the user selections;
receiving, at the point-of-sale system, a point-of-sale transaction approval from the remote processing center;
displaying an indication of the point-of-sale transaction approval at a point-of-sale terminal; and
storing a record of the point-of-sale transaction for later access. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification