TOUCH SCREEN SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR MULTIPLE CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS

• US 20140025513A1
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alan Cooke
• Inventors: Cooke, Alan, Blythe, Simon, Elder, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,767,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards

Abstract

Systems and methods for operating a touch screen for contactless payments are described. In an embodiment, a process includes detecting the presence of multiple proximity payment devices in contact with a touchable surface of a touch screen, displaying a payment option menu for multiple consumers associated with the proximity payment devices, and detecting selection of payment amounts. The process includes reading payment account data from the multiple proximity payment devices, providing the payment account data to a processor, and transmitting the payment account data and the payment amounts associated with the multiple proximity payment devices to a payment server computer. The process may also include receiving one or more payment authorization messages associated with the proximity payment devices, and displaying the payment authorization message(s).

Claims

1. A method of operating a touch screen system comprising:

detecting the presence of at least two proximity payment devices in contact with a touchable surface of a touch screen;

displaying on the touch screen a payment option menu for each of at least two consumers associated with the at least two proximity payment devices;

detecting selection of pay indications and associated payment amounts;

reading, by at least one proximity reader, payment account data from the at least two proximity payment devices;

providing, by the at least one proximity reader, the payment account data to a processor; and

transmitting, by the processor, the payment account data and the payment amounts associated with the at least two proximity payment devices to a payment server computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, at least one payment authorization message associated with at least one of the proximity payment devices; and

displaying, by the processor, the at least one payment authorization message to at least one consumer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to detecting selection of pay indications:

providing a personal identification number (PIN) entry screen to each of the at least two consumers; and

detecting entry of a PIN for each consumer.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting, by the processor, the PIN along with the payment account data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to detecting selection of the payment indications, displaying a total payment amount on the touch screen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of the at least two proximity payment devices comprises receiving data regarding each proximity payment device from sensors in separate payment areas of the touchable surface.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to detecting the presence of the at least two proximity payment devices, pre-authorizing the at least two consumers.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein pre-authorizing comprises:

prompting, by a processor of a touch screen system, the at least two consumers to provide a proximity payment device so as to authorize a charge as collateral for purchases, the charge equal to a predetermined amount;

detecting the presence of at least two proximity payment devices;

providing a personal identification number (PIN) entry screen to each of the at least two consumers associated with the proximity payment devices;

receiving a PIN from each consumer to authorize the charge; and

permitting each consumer to utilize a touch screen system to purchase items and to conduct payment transactions.

9. A computer readable medium storing non-transitory instructions configured to cause a processor to:

receive an indication of detection of at least two proximity payment devices in contact with a touchable surface of a touch screen;

display on the touch screen a payment option menu for each of at least two consumers associated with the at least two proximity payment devices;

detect selection of pay indications and associated payment amounts;

receive payment account data from the at least two proximity payment devices; and

transmit the payment account data and the payment amounts associated with the at least two proximity payment devices to a payment server computer.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to:

receive at least one payment authorization message associated with at least one of the proximity payment devices; and

transmit the at least one payment authorization message for display on the touch screen.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising, subsequent to the instructions for detecting selection of pay indications, instructions configured to cause the processor to:

provide a personal identification number (PIN) entry screen to each of the at least two consumers; and

detect entry of a PIN for each consumer.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to transmit the PIN along with the payment account data to a payment server computer.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising, prior to the instructions for detecting selection of the payment indications, instructions configured to cause the processor to display a total payment amount on the touch screen.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to receive detection data regarding the presence of the at least two proximity payment devices from sensors in separate payment areas of the touchable surface.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising, prior to the instructions for detecting the presence of the at least two proximity payment devices, instructions configured to cause the processor to pre-authorize the at least two consumers.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions for pre-authorizing comprise instructions configured to cause the processor to:

prompt the at least two consumers to provide a proximity payment device so as to authorize a charge as collateral for purchases, the charge equal to a predetermined amount;

receive an indication of the presence of at least two proximity payment devices;

provide a personal identification number (PIN) entry screen to each of the at least two consumers associated with the proximity payment devices;

receive a PIN from each consumer to authorize the charge; and

permit each consumer to utilize a touch screen system to purchase items and to conduct payment transactions.

17. A touch screen system comprising:

a touch screen comprising a touchable surface and at least two antenna arrays parallel to the touchable surface, the at least two antenna arrays configured to read data from at least two proximity payment devices on the touchable surface;

at least one multiplexer operably connected to the at least two antenna arrays;

at least one near field communications (NFC) reader operably connected to the at least one multiplexer; and

a processor operably connected to the touch screen, to the at least one NFC reader, and to a communications component, the processor configured to;

receive an indication of the presence of at least two proximity payment devices on the touchable surface;

display a payment option menu on the touch screen for each of the at least two proximity payment devices;

receive selection of a pay indication and a payment amount for each of the at least two proximity payment devices; and

transmit payment card account data and the payment amount associated with each of the at least two proximity payment devices to a payment server computer.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a backlight below the touch screen comprising at least one light source configured to illuminate objects through the touchable surface.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the locations of the at least two antenna arrays define at least two payment areas on the touchable surface.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to display at least one payment authorization message associated with at least one of the proximity payment devices.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a sensor layer below the touch screen for detecting objects contacting the touch screen surface, the sensor layer comprising a plurality of integrated infrared sensors and a plurality of integrated filters positioned between the touchable surface and the integrated sensors.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a light source layer below the sensor layer, the light source layer comprising at least one infrared light source.