POINT OF SALE VIRTUAL CUSTOMER SESSION

• US 20120030003A1
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Herwig, Nathaniel Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 10,504,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• 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 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A terminal and methods are presented for displaying customer information about a transaction occurring on a point of sale terminal on a customer'"'"'s portable computing device. Creating a virtual session on the portable computing device permits additional information to be presented to the customer. The invention allows the virtual session to be started and ended without the need for assistance by an operator for the point of sale terminal.

Claims

1. ) In a point of sale terminal, a computer implemented method for communicating with a customer using a portable computing device, the method comprising:

starting a purchase transaction on the point of sale terminal for the customer where one or more items are presented to the point of sale terminal for identification and purchase;

determining the presence of the portable computing device;

establishing wireless communications with the portable computing device;

receiving from the portable computing device a token that identifies the portable computing device and the customer;

authenticating the token and the identity of the portable computing device and the customer;

receiving from the portable computing device a request, initiated by the customer, to transmit transaction information being displayed on a customer display of the point of sale terminal to the portable computing device where the transaction information includes information that identifies each item presented for purchase; and

transmitting, in response to the request, the transaction information being displayed on the customer display and additional information about the transaction that is not part of the transaction information displayed on the customer display where the information is transmitted in real-time as the one or more items are presented for purchase.

2. ) The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an electronic coupon for one of the one or more items presented for purchase from the portable computing device;

adjusting the price of the item using information from the received electronic coupon; and

transmitting the updated transaction information for the item to the portable computing device.

3. ) The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting a total price of all presented items to the portable computing device; and

receiving from the portable computing device payment information for the total price of the presented items.

4. ) The method of claim 3, wherein the payment information includes information to confirm that a payment for the total price has been made by the portable computing device without involving the point of sale terminal.

5. ) The method of claim 3, wherein the payment information includes information used by the point of sale terminal to complete the payment without requiring additional input from the customer.

6. ) The method of claim 5, wherein the payment information includes credit card information.

7. ) The method of claim 5, wherein the payment information includes debit card and PIN information.

8. ) The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the transacting information further includes where the point of sale terminal provides only an electronic receipt for the purchase transaction.

9. ) The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the portable computing device a second request, initiated by the customer, to stop transmitting transaction information to the portable computing device; and

displaying, in response to the second request, the transaction information on the customer display of the point of sale terminal and stopping the transmitted of transaction information to the portable computing device.

10. ) The method of claim 1, wherein the point of sale terminal is an operator assisted terminal.

11. ) A point of sale terminal for conducting a transaction where items are presented to the terminal by a customer for purchase and a payment is received for the purchased items, the terminal comprising:

a scanner and scale operable to identify and weigh the items presented for purchase;

an operator display operable to display operator related information;

a customer display operable to display standard transaction information to the customer;

a magnetic stripe reader and PIN pad;

a cash drawer;

a network controller;

a wireless transceiver operable to wirelessly communicate with a portable computing device where the device is operated by a customer conducting the transaction at the point of sale terminal; and

a computer operable to execute code to control the point of sale terminal and the components attached to it and where executing the code causes the point to sale terminal to perform a plurality of functions, the functions comprising;

starting a purchase transaction on the point of sale terminal for the customer where one or more items are presented to the point of sale terminal for identification and purchase;

determining the presence of a portable computing device;

establishing wireless communications with the portable computing device;

receiving from the portable computing device a token that identifies the portable computing device and the customer;

authenticating the token and the identity of the portable computing device and the customer;

receiving from the portable computing device a request, initiated by the customer, to transmit transaction information being displayed on a customer display of the point of sale terminal to the portable computing device where the transaction information includes information that identifies each item presented for purchase; and

transmitting, in response to the request, the transaction information being displayed on the customer display and additional information about the transaction that is not part of the transaction information displayed on the customer display where the information is transmitted in real-time as the one or more items are presented for purchase.

12. ) The terminal of claim 11, wherein the functions further include:

receiving an electronic coupon for one of the one or more items presented for purchase from the portable computing device;

adjusting the price of the item using information from the received electronic coupon; and

transmitting the updated transaction information for the item to the portable computing device.

13. ) The terminal of claim 11, wherein the functions further include:

transmitting a total price of all presented items to the portable computing device; and

receiving from the portable computing device payment information for the total price of the presented items.

14. ) The terminal of claim 13, wherein the payment information includes information to confirm that payment has been made.

15. ) The terminal of claim 13, wherein the payment information includes information for the point of sale terminal to complete the payment without requiring additional input from the customer.

16. ) The terminal of claim 15, wherein the payment information includes credit or debit card information.

17. ) The terminal of claim 11, wherein transmitting the transacting information further includes where the point of sale terminal provides only an electronic receipt for the purchase transaction.

18. ) The terminal of claim 11, wherein the functions further include:

receiving from the portable computing device a second request, initiated by the customer, to stop transmitting transaction information to the portable computing device; and

displaying, in response to the second request, the transaction information on the customer display of the point of sale terminal and stopping the transmitted of transaction information to the portable computing device.

19. ) The terminal of claim 11, wherein the point of sale terminal is an operator assisted terminal.

20. ) In a point of sale system, a computer implemented method for a point of sale terminal to communicate transaction information to a customer using a portable computing device, the method comprising:

starting a purchase transaction on the point of sale terminal for the customer where one or more items are presented to the point of sale terminal for identification and purchase;

determining on the point of sale terminal the presence of the portable computing device;

establishing wireless communications between the point of sale terminal and the portable computing device;

receiving from the portable computing device a token that identifies the portable computing device and the customer;

authenticating the token and the identity of the portable computing device and the customer by the point of sale terminal;

receiving from the portable computing device a request, initiated by the customer, to transmit transaction information being displayed on a customer display of the point of sale terminal to the portable computing device where the transaction information includes information that identifies each item presented for purchase; and

transmitting, by the point of sale terminal in response to the request, the transaction information being displayed on the customer display and additional information about the transaction that is not part of the transaction information displayed on the customer display where the information is transmitted in real-time as items are presented for purchase.

21. ) The method of claim 20, further comprising:

displaying, after establishing wireless communications, an alert on the portable computing device signaling it is connected to the point of sale terminal.

22. ) The method of claim 20, further comprising saving in the portable computing device the transaction information received from the point of sale terminal.

23. ) The method of claim 20, further comprising:

storing one or more electronic coupons by the portable computing device; and

determining, by the portable computing device, that an item scanned by the point of sale terminal matches a stored electronic coupon and sending the stored electronic coupon to the point of sale terminal.

24. ) The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving an electronic coupon by the point of sale terminal;

adjusting, by the point of sale terminal, the price of the item using information from the received electronic coupon; and

transmitting the updated transaction information for the item to the portable computing device.

25. ) The method of claim 20, further comprising:

transmitting a total price of all presented items to the portable computing device; and

receiving from the portable computing device payment information.

26. ) The method of claim 25, wherein the payment information includes information to confirm that a payment for the total price has been made.

27. ) The method of claim 25, wherein the payment information includes information for the point of sale terminal to complete a payment without requiring additional input from the customer.

28. ) The method of claim 20, wherein transmitting the transacting information further includes where the point of sale terminal provides only an electronic receipt for the purchase transaction.