Smart menu options

• US 20100082445A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Gloria, Rosenblatt, Michael, Hodge, Andrew, Nakajima, Taido L., Mikhak, Amir M.
• Application Number:
  US12/286,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20100082445A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• 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 20/40 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 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided that allow for a portable electronic device to provide smart menus to a user based on a context of a transaction. Specifically, the method of using a portable electronic device may include opening a near field communication (NFC) channel with a point-of-purchase device and providing a smart menu based on a determined context. The portable electronic device may be configured to determine the context based at least in part upon acquiring sales transaction information for the point-of-purchase device. Additionally, the portable electronic device may be configured to determine the context based at least in part upon acquiring vendor identification information.

Claims

1. A method of using a portable electronic device comprising:

opening a wireless communication channel with a point-of-purchase device;

determining a location of the device; and

providing a payment options based on the location of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to determine the location of the device based at least in part upon acquiring sales transaction information for the point-of-purchase device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to determine the location based at least in part upon acquiring vendor identification information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to determine the vendor identification information based on near field communications with the point-of-purchase device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to determine the vendor identification information based on information obtained from a positioning system of the device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to determine the vendor identification information based on communications with a vendor'"'"'s wireless network.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising prioritizing payment options stored on the portable electronic device based on sales transaction information.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein acquiring sales transaction information from the point-of-purchase device comprises acquiring information regarding a product or service that is the subject of the transaction.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein acquiring sales transaction information from the point-of-purchase device comprises an indication of acceptable payment methods.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the payment options are prioritized based on a set of user preferences stored on the device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the payment options are prioritized according to user preferences stored on a server communicatively coupled to the device.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the payment options are prioritized based on the terms of use for the payment methods.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the payment options are prioritized based on the on a type of product or service being purchased.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein the device is configured to prioritize a cash card associated with the identified vendor a higher priority than other payment options.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising verifying use of a second priority payment option if the cash card has insufficient funds.

16. A method of conducting a purchase transaction comprising:

opening a wireless communication channel between a user electronic device and a vendor electronic device;

prioritizing a listing of payment methods stored on the user electronic device based on information regarding vendor identification; and

providing the vendor electronic device with payment method information from the listing of payment options to complete the transaction.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless communication channel is a near filed communication channel.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless communication channel is opened based on the user electronic device and the vendor electronic device wirelessly broadcasting identification and capability information.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless communication channel comprises a personal area network communication channel.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless communication channel comprises a local area network communication channel.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the user electronic device is configured to obtain vendor identification information via the wireless communication channel.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the user electronic device is configured to determine the vendor identification based on a location of the user based device.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the user electronic device is configured to determine the vendor identification based on communications with a wireless vendor network.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the user electronic device is configured to determine location based on satellite communications.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the user electronic device is configured to determine location based on cellular communications.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the listing of payment methods stored on the user electronic device is prioritized at least in part based on user preferences stored on the device.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein the user electronic device is configured to provide payment method information to the vendor electronic device without user interaction.

38. The system of claim 23, comprising a server communicatively coupled to the point-of-purchase device, wherein the server is configured to obtain an authorization for payment for a selected payment method.

28. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a wireless communication device configured to open a communication channel to communicate information related to a purchase transaction;

a processor configured to prioritize methods of payment according to a context determined by the information obtained via the communication channel related to the purchase transaction.

29. The device of claim 28, comprising a network device configured to communicate with a wireless network to obtain vendor identification information.

30. The device of claim 28, comprising a positioning system configured to determine the location of the device and wherein the processor is configured to determine the identity of a vendor based on the location of the device.

31. The device of claim 28, wherein the wireless communication device is a near field communication device.

32. A system comprising:

a point-of-purchase device comprising a wireless communication device;

a portable media device comprising;

a memory configured to store user preferences related to purchase transactions;

a processor coupled to the memory; and

a plurality of wireless communication devices coupled to the processor,

wherein the portable media device is configured to receive data from the point-of-purchase device, determine a context of a sales transaction based on the received data and prioritize payment methods based on the stored user preferences.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the context of the sales transaction comprises vendor identification information.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the context of the sales transaction comprises product identification information.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of wireless communication devices comprises a near field communication device.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of wireless communication devices comprises a network device.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of wireless communication devices comprises a position system device.

39. A method of setting preferences on a portable device comprising:

completing a transaction using a selected payment method; and

setting a preference for the selected payment method for future transactions.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein setting a preference for the selected payment method comprises:

storing vendor identification information related to the completed transaction; and

associating the vendor identification information with the selected payment method, so that future transactions with the vendor prompt suggestion of the selected payment method.

41. A method of setting payment option preferences on a portable device comprising:

storing payment option information on the device;

associating context information with the stored payment option indicating preferences for use of the payment option, wherein the context information is related to at least one of the following categories;

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the context information comprises vendor identification information.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the context information comprises product information.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the context information comprises a price of goods or services.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the context information comprises an interest rate for the payment options.

46. A method for conducting a purchase transaction comprising:

initiating wireless communications between a portable device and a point-of-purchase terminal;

confirming items that are the subject of the purchase transaction;

suggesting a payment option based on user set preferences and a context of the transaction; and

confirming suggested payment option.

47. The method of claim 46 comprising:

setting preferences on the portable device based on the completed transaction.

48. The method of claim 46 comprising providing a listing of payment options if the suggested payment option is declined.

49. The method of claim 48 comprising:

confirming a selected payment option;

completing the transaction; and

setting preferences based on the completed transaction, wherein setting preferences comprises setting the selected payment method as a priority payment method for future transactions.