Portable point of purchase user interfaces

• US 20100082444A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mikhak, Amir Mahmood, Lin, Gloria, Rosenblatt, Michael, Nakajima, Taido Lantz, Mayo, Sean Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 9,026,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• 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 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0081 the reader being a portable scanner or data reader G07G1/009 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for conducting sales transactions are provided. Embodiments include handheld, portable, electronic, point of purchase devices configured to acquire identification information from articles to be purchased, to determine a purchase price, and to acquire payment information for the purchase price. The point of purchase devices may include one or more input devices such as a near field communication device, a camera, a scanner, and a biometric sensor for acquiring the identification information and/or the payment information. In some embodiments, the near field communication device may be detachable from the point of purchase device. The point of purchase devices also may contain communication interfaces, such as a near field communication interface, a local area network interface, a short message service interface, and a personal area network interface, for transmitting the information to an external server.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a first input configured to scan identification information for an article;

a processor configured to create a sales order based on the identification information;

a graphical user interface configured to display the sales order and to facilitate user selection of a payment type from a plurality of displayed payment types available to pay for the sales order;

a second input configured acquire payment information corresponding to the payment type; and

a communication interface configured to transmit the payment information to a financial institution to obtain authorization for processing a payment for the sales order.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first input comprises a near field communication device or a bar code scanner.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first input and the second input are the same.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises one or more screens for editing the sales order.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises one or more screens for selecting the second input from a plurality of inputs including a camera, a biometric sensor, and a near field communication device.

6. The device of claim 1, comprising a storage configured to store the sales order with a corresponding order identifier, wherein the user interface includes a screen for assigning the corresponding order identifier to the sales order.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the order identifier comprises a picture of a customer, a biometric feature of the customer, or a financial account number for the customer.

8. The device of claim 6, comprising a near field communication device configured to receive the order identifier by reading a near field communication tag of the article.

9. A method for conducting a sales transaction with a handheld point of purchase device, the method comprising:

displaying on the device an acquisition screen to facilitate scanning of identification information for an article;

scanning the identification information through the handheld point of purchase device;

displaying on the device a payment type selection screen that presents a plurality of payment types for purchasing the article;

receiving a user input that selects a payment type from the plurality of payment types;

acquiring payment information corresponding to the payment type through the handheld point of purchase device; and

obtaining an authorization for the payment information to complete a payment for purchasing the article.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising:

creating a sales order based on the identification information;

scanning an order identifier for the sales order, wherein the order identifier identifies a customer purchasing the article or identifies the article;

assigning the order identifier to the sales order;

storing the sales order; and

retrieving the sales order in response to entry of the order identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the scanning an order identifier comprises at least one of capturing a picture of the customer using a camera of the device, scanning a fingerprint of the customer using a biometric sensor of the device, or receiving an e-mail address for the customer through a near field communication interface of the device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the acquiring payment information comprises displaying a screen identifying a default input of the point of purchase device for acquiring the payment information and presenting user selectable graphical elements for selecting an alternate input for acquiring the payment information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the default input comprises a near field communication device included in the point of purchase device and the alternate input comprises a camera included in the point of purchase device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the acquiring payment information comprises:

determining a purchase price for the article using the identification information;

displaying one or more screens for entering an amount of cash received;

calculating a change amount based on the amount of cash received and the purchase price;

displaying a plurality of change types on a display of the point of purchase device;

receiving a user input selecting a change type from the plurality of change types; and

transmitting a payment for the change amount to an account corresponding to the selected change type.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising verifying that the amount of cash received is equal to or greater than the purchase price.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the change type comprises at least one of a store credit, a charity, a gift card, or a customer'"'"'s account.

17. A method of conducting a sales transaction, the method comprising:

scanning identification information for an article through a handheld point of purchase device;

determining a purchase price for the article using the identification information;

acquiring payment information for the purchase price through the handheld point of purchase device;

displaying a user interface for acquiring delivery information, receipt information, financing information, or rewards information; and

receiving customer contact information through the user interface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the customer contact information comprises at least one of a mailing address, an e-mail address, or a rewards account number.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving customer contact information comprises reading the customer contact information using a near field communication device included in the point of purchase device.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising:

determining one or more rewards using at least one of the identification information or the payment information;

displaying the one or more rewards on a screen of the user interface;

receiving a user input selecting a reward from the one or more rewards; and

issuing the reward using the customer contact information.

21. The method of claim 18, comprising logging the reward to receive a fee for issuing the reward.

22. The method of claim 17, comprising:

receiving customer authorization through the user interface to apply for financing for the purchase price;

obtaining approval for the financing based on the customer information; and

determining alternate financing options based on the customer information.

23. The method of claim 17, comprising scheduling delivery of the article based on the customer contact information.

24. The method of claim 17, comprising transmitting a receipt to a purchaser of the article based on the customer contact information.

25. A portable point of purchase device, comprising:

a near field communication reader configured to be disposed in or on a shopping container and to acquire identification information from an article disposed in the shopping container;

an input configured to receive payment information for an amount calculated based on the identification information; and

a communication interface configured to transmit the payment information to an external device and configured to receive a payment authorization based on the payment information.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the input comprises at least one of a near field communication device, a camera, a bar code scanner, or a biometric sensor.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the reader is detachable from the portable point of purchase device.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein the reader includes a memory configured to store the identification information.

29. The device of claim 25, comprising control logic for selecting the communication interface from a plurality of communication interfaces, wherein the selection is based on a preference stored within the portable point of purchase device.

30. The device of claim 25, comprising a near field communication writer configured to disable a security feature of the article in response to receiving the payment authorization.