Transaction monitor

• US 20110166967A1
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bernstein
• Original Assignee: Robert Bernstein
• Inventors: Bernstein, Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/655,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20110166967A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A transaction monitor of an apparatus in one example is configured to determine an occurrence of a transaction between a vendor and a customer at a point of service location. The point of service location comprises a drive-up service location and is operated by the vendor. The transaction monitor comprises a camera component configured to record one or more images of the point of service location prior to, during, and/or after the occurrence of the transaction. The vendor collects a transaction tax for the transaction from the customer for payment to a tax authority. The transaction monitor is configured to maintain a record of the transaction tax that is separate from one or more records maintained by the vendor and/or the tax authority. The transaction monitor is configured to maintain the one or more images with the record of the transaction.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a transaction monitor configured to determine an occurrence of a transaction between a vendor and a customer at a point of service location, wherein the point of service location is operated by the vendor;

wherein the point of service location comprises a drive-up service location;

wherein the transaction monitor comprises a camera component;

wherein the camera component is configured to record one or more images of the point of service location prior to, during, and/or after the occurrence of the transaction;

wherein the vendor collects a transaction tax for the transaction from the customer for payment to a tax authority;

wherein the transaction monitor is configured to maintain a record of the transaction tax that is separate from one or more records maintained by the vendor and/or the tax authority;

wherein the transaction monitor is configured to maintain the one or more images with the record of the transaction tax.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction monitor comprises a local transaction monitor and a remote record manager;

wherein the local transaction monitor is configured to determine the occurrence of the transaction;

wherein the remote record manager is located remotely from the local transaction monitor and configured to maintain the one or more images and the record of the transaction tax.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction monitor is configured to securely maintain the record of the transaction from interference or tampering.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the transaction monitor is shielded from communications or interference.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the transaction monitor is shielded from communications or interference from one or more of:

the point of service location,

the customer,

the vendor, and

equipment or personnel associated with the vendor.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the transaction monitor comprises a tamper sensor configured to provide an alert upon an occurrence of suspected interference or tampering with the transaction monitor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction monitor comprises a local transaction monitor and a remote record manager in a distributed configuration.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction monitor comprises a trusted third party between the vendor and the tax authority.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction monitor comprises a transaction tax database;

wherein the transaction monitor stores a plurality of records in the transaction tax database;

wherein the plurality of records comprise the record of the transaction tax.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the transaction monitor is configured to generate a report for the tax authority based on the transaction tax database.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the drive up service location is a drive-up restaurant window and the vendor is a drive-up restaurant operator.

12. A method, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a point of service location for a transaction between a customer and a vendor that operates the point of service location, wherein the transaction comprises a transaction tax for payment to a tax authority, wherein the point of service location comprises a drive-up service location;

recording one or more images of the point of service location prior to, during, and/or after an occurrence of the transaction;

creating a record of the transaction with the one or more images;

storing the record of the transaction separately from one or more records maintained by the vendor and/or the tax authority.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of storing the record comprises the step of:

securely storing the record in a transaction tax database.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

monitoring the transaction tax database for interference or suspected tampering.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

generating a report for the tax authority based on the transaction tax database.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

collecting the transaction tax from the vendor that operates the point of service location.

17. An article, comprising:

one or more computer-readable signal-bearing media; and

means in the one or more media for monitoring a point of service location for a transaction between a customer and a vendor that operates the point of service location, wherein the transaction comprises a transaction tax for payment to a tax authority, wherein the point of service location comprises a drive-up service location;

means in the one or more media for recording one or more images of the point of service location prior to, during, and/or after an occurrence of the transaction;

means in the one or more media for creating a record of the transaction with the one or more images; and

means in the one or more media for storing the record of the transaction separately from one or more records maintained by the vendor and/or the tax authority.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein the means in the one or more media for storing the record comprises:

means in the one or more media for securely storing the record in a transaction tax database.

19. The article of claim 18, further comprising:

means in the one or more media for monitoring the transaction tax database for interference or suspected tampering.

20. The article of claim 18, further comprising:

means in the one or more media for generating a report for the tax authority based on the transaction tax database.