TACTILE OVERLAY FOR POINT OF SALE TERMINAL

• US 20110184824A1
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: George, Maile, Armstrong, Robert Fleetwood, Ackiss, Jason Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/39 Scanning a visible indication of the measured value and reproducing this indication at the remote place, e.g. on the screen of a cathode ray tube mechanical adjustment G01D5/264
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

Systems and methods provide tactile assistance to a consumer completing a transaction at a point of sale terminal. A tactile overlay, either permanent or removable, couples with a consumer interface such as a touch screen of the point of sale terminal. The tactile overlay includes one or more overlay inputs that provide a distinct tactile impression in comparison with the remainder of the overlay. For example, the overlay inputs can be depressions, apertures, protrusions, dimples, or the like, or provide a different texture such as a rougher or smoother texture than the surrounding overlay. The overlay inputs are configured to correspond with underlying touch screen inputs such that the consumer using the tactile overlay can discern the proper location on the touch screen for providing the desired input.

Claims

1. A tactile overlay configured for assisting a consumer engaging in a transaction at a vendor'"'"'s point of sale terminal, the terminal including a consumer interface having a touch screen display, the tactile overlay comprising:

a front portion configured for coupling with a front side of the touch screen display comprising a touch screen, the front portion of the tactile overlay having a front portion tactile characteristic; and

one or more overlay inputs disposed on the front portion of the tactile overlay, the one or more overlay inputs configured for corresponding with one or more touch screen inputs displayed on the touch screen display and also configured for providing the consumer an overlay input tactile characteristic distinct from the front portion tactile characteristic.

2. The tactile overlay of claim 1 wherein the tactile overlay is configured for permanent attachment to the consumer interface of the point of sale terminal.

3. The tactile overlay of claim 1 wherein the tactile overlay is configured for removable attachment to the consumer interface of the point of sale terminal.

4. The tactile overlay of claim 1 wherein the tactile overlay is at least partially transparent, thereby providing visual perception of the underlying touch screen display.

5. The tactile overlay of claim 1 wherein the front portion tactile characteristic comprises a front portion texture and the overlay input tactile characteristic comprises an input texture, the front portion texture and the input texture being distinguishable from each other by tactile feel.

6. The tactile overlay of claim 5 wherein the front portion texture is relatively more smooth than the input texture.

7. The tactile overlay of claim 5 wherein the front portion texture is relatively more rough than the input texture.

8. The tactile overlay of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more overlay inputs comprise a depression in the front portion such that the front portion tactile characteristic comprises a relatively higher surface than the depression of the one or more overlay inputs and the overlay input tactile characteristic comprises a relatively lower surface than the front portion.

9. The tactile overlay of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more overlay inputs comprise a raised portion such that the front portion tactile characteristic comprises a relatively lower surface than the raised portion of the one or more overlay inputs and the overlay input tactile characteristic comprises a relatively higher surface than the front portion.

10. The tactile overlay of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the one or more overlay inputs comprise an aperture defined by the front portion, and wherein the front portion tactile characteristic comprises a relatively higher tactile overlay surface than the one or more overlay inputs and the overlay input tactile characteristic comprises a relatively lower touch screen surface.

11. The tactile overlay of claim 1 wherein the front portion comprises one or more tactile instructions each corresponding to one or more overlay inputs and configured for providing the consumer information regarding the function of the one or more touch screen inputs corresponding to the one or more overlay inputs.

12. The tactile overlay of claim 11 wherein at least one of the one or more overlay inputs comprises one or more tactile instructions.

13. The tactile overlay of claim 11 wherein at least one or more of the tactile instructions comprises Braille instructions.

14. The tactile overlay of claim 1 further comprising a variable Braille tool configured for providing variable Braille tactile instructions to the consumer, the variable Braille tool configured for receiving control commands from a processing device of the terminal, the variable Braille tactile instructions providing information related to at least one of the one or more touch screen inputs corresponding to at least one of the one or more overlay inputs.

15. The tactile overlay of claim 2 wherein the permanently attached tactile overlay is configured for moving between at least two positions comprising a tactile assistance position and a non-assistance position;

wherein the tactile assistance position, the tactile overlay is positioned such that the one or more overlay inputs are positioned proximate the corresponding one or more touch screen inputs for assisting the consumer during the transaction;

and wherein the non-assistance position, the tactile overlay is positioned such that the one or more overlay inputs are not positioned proximate the corresponding one or more touch screen inputs and therefore do not assist the consumer during the transaction.

16. A point of sale system for providing tactile assistance to a consumer completing a transaction at a point of sale of a vendor, the system comprising:

a point of sale terminal comprising;

a consumer interface comprising;

a touch screen display configured for providing a visual representation corresponding to one or more touch screen inputs and for receiving consumer input when the consumer touches a portion of the display corresponding to the one or more touch screen inputs; and

a tactile overlay configured for assisting a consumer engaging in a transaction at the point of sale terminal, the tactile overlay comprising;

a front portion configured for coupling with a front side of the touch screen display, the front portion of the tactile overlay having a front portion tactile characteristic; and

one or more overlay inputs disposed on the front portion of the tactile overlay, the one or more overlay inputs configured for corresponding with one or more touch screen inputs displayed on the touch screen display and also configured for providing the consumer an overlay input tactile characteristic distinct from the front portion tactile characteristic.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a tactile overlay instruction kiosk connected with the point of sale and configured for providing tutorial information to the consumer regarding use of the tactile overlay before or during the point of sale transaction.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a consumer device configured for assisting the consumer during the transaction, and wherein;

the point of sale terminal is configured for connecting with the consumer device and communicating transaction information to the consumer device, the transaction information including information instructing the consumer regarding use of the tactile overlay during the transaction,

wherein the consumer device is configured for processing the transaction information to create an audible transaction information signal based at least in part on some or all of the transaction information, and wherein the consumer device is further configured for communicating the audible transaction information signal.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a listening device configured for communicating with the consumer device and receiving the audible transaction information signal and for producing sound waves audible to the consumer using the audible transaction information signal, thereby instructing the consumer using the tactile overlay during the transaction.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the consumer device comprises a listening device for receiving the audible transaction information signal and producing the sound waves audible to the consumer based at least in part on the audible transaction information signal, thereby instructing the consumer using the tactile overlay during the transaction.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the tactile overlay is further configured for permanent attachment to the consumer interface of the point of sale terminal.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the tactile overlay is further configured for removable attachment to the consumer interface of the point of sale terminal.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein the tactile overlay is at least partially transparent, thereby providing visual perception of the underlying touch screen display.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein the front portion tactile characteristic comprises a front portion texture and the overlay input tactile characteristic comprises an input texture, the front portion texture and the input texture being distinguishable from each other by tactile feel.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the front portion texture is relatively more smooth than the input texture.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the front portion texture is relatively more rough than the input texture.

27. The system of claim 16 wherein at least one of the one or more overlay inputs comprise a depression in the front portion such that the front portion tactile characteristic comprises a relatively higher surface than the depression of the one or more overlay inputs and the overlay input tactile characteristic comprises a relatively lower surface than the front portion.

28. The system of claim 16 wherein at least one of the one or more overlay inputs comprise a raised portion such that the front portion tactile characteristic comprises a relatively lower surface than the raised portion of the one or more overlay inputs and the overlay input tactile characteristic comprises a relatively higher surface than the front portion.

29. The system of claim 16 wherein the at least one of the one or more overlay inputs comprise an aperture defined by the front portion, and wherein the front portion tactile characteristic comprises a relatively higher tactile overlay surface than the one or more overlay inputs and the overlay input tactile characteristic comprises a relatively lower touch screen surface.

30. The system of claim 16 wherein the front portion of the tactile overlay comprises one or more tactile instructions each corresponding to one or more overlay inputs and configured for providing the consumer information regarding the function of the one or more touch screen inputs corresponding to the one or more overlay inputs.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein at least one of the one or more overlay inputs of the tactile overlay comprises one or more tactile instructions.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein at least one or more of the tactile instructions comprises Braille instructions.

33. The system of claim 16 wherein the tactile overlay further comprises a variable Braille tool configured for providing variable Braille tactile instructions to the consumer, the variable Braille tool configured for receiving control commands from a processing device of the terminal, the variable Braille tactile instructions providing information related to at least one of the one or more touch screen inputs corresponding to at least one of the one or more overlay inputs.

34. The system of claim 21 wherein the permanently attached tactile overlay is configured for moving between at least two positions comprising a tactile assistance position and a non-assistance position;

wherein the tactile assistance position, the tactile overlay is positioned such that the one or more overlay inputs are positioned proximate the corresponding one or more touch screen inputs for assisting the consumer during the transaction;

and wherein the non-assistance position, the tactile overlay is positioned such that the one or more overlay inputs are not positioned proximate the corresponding one or more touch screen inputs and therefore do not assist the consumer during the transaction.

35. A method for providing a consumer tactile assistance in completing a transaction at a point of sale terminal, the method comprising:

receiving consumer input regarding the consumer'"'"'s preference for a tactile overlay transaction modification before or during the point of sale transaction;

coupling a tactile overlay with a consumer interface having a touch screen display for receiving consumer input regarding the transaction; and

receiving consumer input regarding the transaction with the touch screen display.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the coupling comprises automatically installing the tactile overlay on the consumer interface based at least in part on the received consumer input.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the method further comprises performing, in conjunction with the method, at least one of an audible transaction process, a mobile device consumer interface transaction process, and a modified transaction process.

38. A system for providing a consumer tactile assistance in completing a transaction at a point of sale terminal, the system comprising:

means for receiving consumer input regarding the consumer'"'"'s preference for a tactile overlay transaction modification before or during the point of sale transaction;

means for coupling a tactile overlay with a consumer interface having a touch screen display for receiving consumer input regarding the transaction; and

means for receiving consumer input regarding the transaction with the touch screen display.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the means for coupling comprises means for automatically installing the tactile overlay on the consumer interface based at least in part on the received consumer input.

40. The system of claim 38 further comprising:

means for performing at least one of an audible transaction process, a mobile device consumer interface transaction process, and a modified transaction process.