HANDHELD ORDER UNIT AND CASH HANDLING DEVICE

• US 20110231309A1
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Johnson, Shane Anthony, Folk, Amy Baker, Sanders, William Thomas, Bohen, Daniel Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,909,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• 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 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

Methods and devices allow a handheld order unit to be used with a cash handling device. A handheld order unit may be used by a staff person to enter order information, to display an amount due for the meal or other transaction, to facilitate payment, to print receipts, and to communicate information about the transaction to a cash handling device. The cash handling device may identify the handheld order unit and the assigned user for the unit and determine what financial documents need to be inserted by the user for reconciliation purposes.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a cash handling device including;

a first processor for executing first computer-executable instructions;

first memory that stores the first computer-executable instructions;

a first display;

a first input means for receiving user input;

first communication means to communicate with a handheld order unit; and

an input mechanism to input payments received,

wherein the first computer executable instructions cause the cash handling device to;

identify a user of the handheld order unit,

receive order information from the handheld order unit,

receive payment information from the handheld order unit,

determine reconciliation information for the user of the handheld order unit, and

display said reconciliation information to the user; and

the handheld order unit including;

a second processor for executing second computer-executable instructions;

second memory that stores the second computer-executable instructions;

a second display;

a second input means for receiving user input; and

second communication means to communicate with the cash handling device,

wherein the second computer executable instructions cause the handheld order unit to;

select the user of the handheld order unit,

allow entry of the order information,

display billing information,

allow entry of the payment information, and

communicate the order information and the payment information to the cash handling device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computer executable instructions further cause the cash handling device to allow financial documents to be input to the input mechanism.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the cash handling device further includes a scanner, wherein the first computer executable instructions further cause the cash handling device to scan at least one financial document input into the cash handling device.

4. The system of claim 3, said at least one financial document includes at least one of:

paper currency, a credit card slip, a debit card slip, and a check.

5. The system of claim 3, the cash handling device further comprising a plurality of stackers to store said financial documents.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said at least one financial document is routed to an appropriate stacker of the plurality of stackers containing similar financial documents.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld order unit further includes a magnetic card reader for accepting payments made with a credit card.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said order information is reported to management.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the input mechanism to input payments received is configured to receive financial documents that are deposited into the cash recycler.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said financial documents include at least one of:

$1 bills, $5 bills, $10 bills, $20 bills, $100 bills, checks, credit card slips, and debit card slips.

11. A method comprising:

selecting, by a handheld order unit, a user of the handheld order unit;

identifying, by a cash handling device, the user of the handheld order unit;

receiving order information, entered by the user, into the handheld order unit;

receiving, by the cash handling device from the handheld order unit, the received order information;

displaying, on the handheld order unit, billing information;

receiving payment information, entered by the user, into the handheld order unit;

receiving, by the cash handling device from the handheld order unit, the received payment information;

determining, by the cash handling device, reconciliation information for the user of the handheld order unit; and

displaying, on the cash handling device, said reconciliation information to the user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, by the cash handling device, financial documents inputted to an input mechanism of the cash handling device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising scanning at least one financial document inputted into the cash handling device.

14. The method of claim 13, said at least one financial document includes at least one of:

paper currency, a credit card slip, a debit card slip, and a check.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising routing said at least one financial document to an appropriate stacker of a plurality of stackers containing similar financial documents.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said financial documents include at least one of:

$1 bills, $5 bills, $10 bills, $20 bills, $100 bills, checks, credit card slips, and debit card slips.

17. Non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one computer, cause the at least one computer to perform a method of:

selecting a user of a handheld order unit;

identifying the user of the handheld order unit;

receiving order information entered by the user;

displaying billing information;

receiving payment information entered by the user;

determining reconciliation information for the user of the handheld order unit; and

displaying said reconciliation information to the user.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17, the computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one computer, further causes the at least one computer to perform a method of:

receiving financial documents inputted to an input mechanism of a cash handling device; and

scanning at least one financial document inputted into the cash handling device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18, said at least one financial document includes at least one of:

paper currency, a credit card slip, a debit card slip, and a check.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18, the computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one computer, further causes the at least one computer to perform a method of routing said at least one financial document to an appropriate stacker of a plurality of stackers containing similar financial documents.