Point of sale payment terminal
First Claim
1. An integrated point of sale payment terminal for processing multiple payment types including payment by check, the payment terminal being located at the point of sale during use to allow a store merchant to accept multiple payment types, the payment terminal comprising:
- a compact housing having a base shaped to sit on a merchant counter and having a document slot for receiving a check, the housing defining a compact footprint and the document slot being arranged such that the presence of the document slot does not enlarge the housing footprint;
a processor disposed in the housing;
a memory in communication with the processor;
a magnetic ink character recognition device, for reading a string of magnetic ink characters on the check, affixed to the housing at the document slot and in communication with the processor; and
an imaging device, for capturing an image of the check, affixed to the housing at the document slot and in communication with the processor the imaging device being arranged such that the presence of the imaging device affixed to the housing does not enlarge the housing footprint, wherein the processor is programmed to process multiple payment types including processing a checking account transaction when the check is placed in the document slot.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated point of sale terminal for processing multiple payment types including payment by check includes a compact housing, a processor, and memory. The housing has a base shaped to sit on a merchant counter and has a document slot for receiving a check. The processor is disposed in the housing, and the memory is in communication with the processor. The payment terminal is located at the point of sale during use to allow a store merchant to accept multiple payment types. The payment terminal further includes a magnetic ink character recognition device for reading a string of magnetic ink characters on the check. The magnetic ink character recognition device is affixed to the housing at the document slot and is in communication with the processor. Further, the payment terminal includes an imaging device for capturing an image of the check. The imaging device is affixed to the housing at the document slot and is in communication with the processor. The processor is programed to process multiple payment types including processing a checking account transaction when the check is placed in a document slot.
66 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An integrated point of sale payment terminal for processing multiple payment types including payment by check, the payment terminal being located at the point of sale during use to allow a store merchant to accept multiple payment types, the payment terminal comprising:
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a compact housing having a base shaped to sit on a merchant counter and having a document slot for receiving a check, the housing defining a compact footprint and the document slot being arranged such that the presence of the document slot does not enlarge the housing footprint;
a processor disposed in the housing;
a memory in communication with the processor;
a magnetic ink character recognition device, for reading a string of magnetic ink characters on the check, affixed to the housing at the document slot and in communication with the processor; and
an imaging device, for capturing an image of the check, affixed to the housing at the document slot and in communication with the processor the imaging device being arranged such that the presence of the imaging device affixed to the housing does not enlarge the housing footprint, wherein the processor is programmed to process multiple payment types including processing a checking account transaction when the check is placed in the document slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11-12. -12. (canceled)
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13. An integrated point of sale payment terminal for processing multiple payment types including payment by debit, payment by credit, payment by smart card, and payment by check, the payment terminal being located at the point of sale during use to allow a store merchant to accept multiple payment types, the payment terminal comprising:
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a compact housing having a base shaped to sit on a merchant counter and having a first slot for receiving a payment card, a second slot for receiving a check, and a third slot for receiving a smart card, the housing defining a compact footprint and the second slot being arranged such that the presence of the second slot does not enlarge the housing footprint;
a processor disposed in the housing;
a random access memory in communication with the processor;
a display on the housing and in communication with the processor;
a keypad on the housing and in communication with the processor;
a magnetic stripe reader affixed to the housing at the first slot and in communication with the processor;
a magnetic ink character recognition device, for reading a string of magnetic ink characters on the check, affixed to the housing at the second slot and in communication with the processor;
an imaging device, for capturing an image of the check, affixed to the housing at the second slot and in communication with the processor the imaging device being arranged such that the presence of the imaging device affixed to the housing does not enlarge the housing footprint;
a smart card reader affixed to the housing at the third slot and in communication with the processor;
a printing device; and
a modem located in the housing and in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to process multiple payment types including processing a credit card when the credit card is passed through the first slot and printing a receipt, processing a debit card when the debit card is passed through the first slot and printing a receipt, processing a smart card when the smart card is passed through the third slot and printing a receipt, and further including processing a checking account transaction when a check is placed in the second slot. 14. (canceled) - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 24)
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18. The payment terminal of claim 24 further comprising:
a serial port in communication with the processor for connecting an external device to the payment terminal. 19-22. (canceled)
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23. A method of electronic check conversion for use with an integrated point of sale payment terminal for processing multiple payment types including payment by check, the payment terminal being located at the point of sale during use to allow a store merchant to accept multiple payment types, the payment terminal including a compact housing having a base shaped to sit on a merchant counter and having a document slot for receiving a check, a processor disposed in the housing, a memory in communication with the processor, a magnetic ink character recognition device for reading a string of magnetic ink characters on the check and affixed to the housing at the document slot and in communication with the processor, and an imaging device for capturing an image of the check and affixed to the housing at the document slot and in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to process multiple payment types including processing a checking account transaction when the check is placed in the document slot, the method comprising:
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capturing an image of the check at the payment terminal;
presenting a check transaction to a host;
converting the check transaction to an electronic check transaction at the host by sending the captured image of the check to the host.
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Specification