FINANCIAL TRANSACTION APPROVAL SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A method of processing a retail sales transaction, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of items for purchase near a transaction approval system within a retail store operated by a retail merchant, wherein each item of the plurality of items for purchase was selected by a consumer from a larger plurality of items offered for sale at the retail store;
processing the plurality of items for purchase using the transaction approval system including determining associated price and quantity information for each item included in the plurality of items for purchase;
during processing of the plurality of items for purchase, electronically receiving via the transaction approval system an identification of a financial account that will be used by the consumer to pay for the plurality of items for purchase;
during processing of the plurality of items for purchase, providing the consumer with an option to provide an electronic signature via the transaction approval system, wherein the electronic signature serves as consumer approval to apply payment from the financial account toward a total cost of the plurality of items for purchase; and
determining the total cost of the plurality of items for purchase after processing of the plurality of items for purchase, receiving the identification of the financial account, and providing the consumer with the option to provide the electronic signature.
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Abstract
A method of sale including processing a plurality of purchases to be sold to a consumer, identifying a consumer financial account held by a financial institution, receiving authorization from the financial institution to enable payment for the plurality of purchases from the consumer financial account, and providing the consumer with an option to approve the payment from the consumer financial account. The option is provided during processing of the plurality of purchases. Transaction approval systems provide additional advantages.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of processing a retail sales transaction, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of items for purchase near a transaction approval system within a retail store operated by a retail merchant, wherein each item of the plurality of items for purchase was selected by a consumer from a larger plurality of items offered for sale at the retail store; processing the plurality of items for purchase using the transaction approval system including determining associated price and quantity information for each item included in the plurality of items for purchase; during processing of the plurality of items for purchase, electronically receiving via the transaction approval system an identification of a financial account that will be used by the consumer to pay for the plurality of items for purchase; during processing of the plurality of items for purchase, providing the consumer with an option to provide an electronic signature via the transaction approval system, wherein the electronic signature serves as consumer approval to apply payment from the financial account toward a total cost of the plurality of items for purchase; and determining the total cost of the plurality of items for purchase after processing of the plurality of items for purchase, receiving the identification of the financial account, and providing the consumer with the option to provide the electronic signature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of performing a retail sales transaction, the method comprising steps performed in the following order:
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receiving goods for purchase from a consumer at a point-of-sale terminal in a retail store; begin processing the goods for retail sale to the consumer, wherein processing the goods includes identifying and determining a current price for each one of the goods using the point-of-sale terminal; receiving a financial transaction card from the consumer via a financial transaction terminal in electrical communication with the point-of-sale terminal, wherein the financial transaction card includes identification of a financial account configured to facilitate consumer payment toward the goods; receiving an electronic confirmation of the retail sales transaction from the consumer via the financial transaction terminal, the electronic confirmation signifying agreement of the consumer to pay for all charges associated with the retail sales transaction via the financial account, wherein the electronic confirmation is received via the financial transaction terminal and is the only confirmation required from the consumer to complete the retail sales transaction; complete processing the goods for retail sale to the consumer including determining a total price for all of the goods received from the consumer at the point-of-sale terminal; and charging at least a portion of the total price for all the goods to the financial account. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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19. The method of claim 12, wherein:
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the financial transaction terminal includes a user interface, and the method further comprises; prior to determining the total price of the goods, visually indicating to the consumer via the user interface that the total price of the goods has not yet been determined, and after determining the total price of the goods, visually indicating the total price of the goods via the user interface of the financial transaction terminal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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19-1. A method of processing a retail sales transaction, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of items for purchase near a transaction approval system within a retail store operated by a retail merchant, wherein each item of the plurality of items for purchase was selected by a consumer from a larger plurality of items offered for sale at the retail store, and the transaction approval system includes a point-of-sale terminal electrically coupled with a financial transaction terminal; processing the plurality of items for purchase using the point-of-sale terminal including identifying and determining associated price and quantity information for each item included in the plurality of items for purchase; after beginning and before completing processing of the plurality of items for purchase, receiving a financial transaction card including determining an identification of a financial account that will be used by the consumer to pay for the plurality of items for purchase, wherein the identification is electronically received via the financial transaction terminal substantially free from intervention by an employee of the retail store; after beginning and before completing processing of the plurality of items for purchase, providing the consumer with an option to provide an electronic signature via the financial transaction terminal, wherein the electronic signature serves as consumer approval to apply payment from the financial account toward a total price of the plurality of items for purchase; after providing the consumer with the option and before completing processing of the plurality of items for retail sale, receiving the electronic signature from the consumer via the financial transaction terminal, wherein the electronic signature is the only signature required from the consumer to complete the retail sales transaction; after completing processing of the plurality of items for purchase, receiving the financial transaction card, and receiving the electronic signature, determining the total price of the plurality of items for purchase; charging at least a portion of the total price of the plurality of items for purchase to the financial account.
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Specification