TRANSACTION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20080257958A1
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eagle Eye Solutions Limited (Eagle Eye Solutions Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: Eagle Eye Solutions Limited (Eagle Eye Solutions Group Plc)
• Inventors: Rothwell, Stephen, Pippin, Edward James
• Granted Patent: US 8,353,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/34 using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/50 using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees

Abstract

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention relate to alternative kinds of transactions, which do not involve payment using only cash or a token device such as a smart card or chip and PIN card. In some embodiments, transactions involve a customer providing token-less transaction authentication information using customer interface means (150) that is adapted to receive, from a customer, in a first mode of operation, PIN or other token device authentication information, for use in a token device transaction, and token-less transaction authentication information, when operating in another mode of operation. In some embodiments, the customer interface means may be a specially-adapted chip and PIN card reader apparatus. Accordingly, such a customer input means facilitates manual input by a customer of voucher, coupon, accrued loyalty points, Air Miles, ticket or pass authentication information, without the need for a retailer to install new equipment or IT infrastructure.

Claims

1. A transaction apparatus comprising:

a token device interface arrangement;

a customer input device; and

a communications network configured to communicate with one or more transaction servers,

the transaction servers configured to enact a plurality of different kinds of transactions,

wherein the apparatus is configured to operate selectively;

according to a first mode, to receive token device authentication information from a customer via the customer input device, to transmit the authentication information to an authentication processor, and to receive from the authentication processor a validation signal, in order to validate a transaction involving payment using a customer-provided token device; and

according to a second mode, to receive token-less transaction authentication information from a customer via the customer input device, to facilitate a transaction, without involving a customer-provided token device in the validation of the transaction authentication information.

2. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the customer input device comprises an input device that is used for customer input during both modes of operation.

3. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the customer input device comprises a keypad.

4. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction apparatus comprises a smart card reader.

5. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction apparatus comprises a chip and PIN card reader.

6. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a selector configured to selectively enable the transaction apparatus to operate in the first mode or the second mode.

7. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the authentication processor comprises the customer-provided token device.

8. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the authentication processor comprises an independent authentication system or apparatus.

9. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a customer display device for displaying customer-related transaction information to the customer.

10. The transaction apparatus of claim 9, wherein the customer display device is in addition to any other display device of the apparatus.

11. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, comprising an operator input device, which is in addition to the customer input device.

12. The transaction apparatus of claim 11, wherein the operator input device comprises at least one of a keyboard, a swipe card reader and a touch-screen device.

13. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an operator display device configured to display operator-related transaction information to an operator.

14. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction apparatus comprises a single physical unit, for use by a customer.

15. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction apparatus comprises a hand-holdable unit, for use by a customer.

16. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, comprising a transaction terminal, adapted for use by an operator, and a separate customer interface comprising a customer input device and a customer display device.

17. The transaction apparatus of claim 16, wherein the transaction terminal and customer interface are arranged to be in communication with one another at least intermittently.

18. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, comprising an interface for communicating with a token device via contacts, which correspond to contacts on or in the associated token device.

19. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, arranged to communicate with a token device via a contact-less transceiver, which communicates with a contact-less transceiver of an associated token device.

20. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction apparatus is further configured to receive, from a customer, token-less transaction authentication information relating to at least one of a voucher, a coupon, accrued loyalty points, air miles, a ticket or a pass.

21. A transaction system, comprising:

a transaction server configured to store information relating to token-less transactions,

a transaction apparatus configured to;

operate selectively according to a first mode, to receive token device authentication information from a customer via the customer input device, to transmit the authentication information to an authentication processor, and to receive from the authentication processor a validation signal, in order to validate a transaction involving payment using a customer-provided token device; and

configured to operate according to a second mode, to receive token-less transaction authentication information from a customer via the customer input device, to facilitate a transaction, without involving a customer-provided token device in the validation of the transaction authentication information; and

a transaction process configured to enable completion of token-less transactions between the transaction server and the transaction apparatus.

22. A transaction system according to claim 21, wherein the information relating to token-less transactions is stored as a number of individual transaction entries, and wherein each entry relates to one item of customer-provided token-less transaction authentication information.

23. A transaction system according to claim 21, wherein the information relating to token-less transactions is stored as a number of individual transaction entries, at least some of which are associated with a customer identifier, and wherein one item of customer-provided token-less transaction authentication information identifies a customer and, thereby, identifies respective plural individual transaction entries that are associated with the customer.

24. A method of enacting a token-less customer transaction by interacting with a transaction apparatus, the method comprising:

inputting, into a customer input device of the apparatus, token-less transaction authentication information for identifying a token-less transaction, wherein the customer input device is adapted also to receive, via the customer input device and when operating in a different mode, token device authentication information relating to authentication of a customer-provided token device, for use in authenticating the token device and validating a transaction involving payment using the token device;

communicating at least some of the information to a token-less transaction server in order to verify the token-less transaction;

verifying the token-less transaction; and

completing the token-less transaction.