Consumer Device Based Point-Of-Sale

• US 20150046276A1
• Filed: 05/01/2013
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Groupon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Groupon Incorporated
• Inventors: Artman, Tuomas, Engestrom, Jyri, Schwekendiek, Ulf
• Granted Patent: US 9,852,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/21
• 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 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/38215 Use of certificates or encrypted proofs of transaction rights
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3825 Use of electronic signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3827 Use of message hashing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks

Abstract

Systems and related methods facilitating interactions between a merchant device, a central system and a consumer device are discussed herein. Wallet identifying data may be used to secure messages between the consumer device and the merchant device over a wireless link. For example, the merchant device may include circuitry configured to wirelessly receive the wallet identifying data from a consumer device and to transmit the wallet identifying data to the central system. In response, consumer identifying data associated with the wallet identifying data may be received by the merchant device from the central system. In some embodiments, the consumer identifying data may be associated with a unit of location, such as a dine-in location at a restaurant, to facilitate consumer service.

Claims

1. A merchant device comprising:

a display configured to present interactive displays;

communications circuitry configured to facilitate communications with a consumer device and a central system; and

processing circuitry configured to;

wirelessly receive wallet identifying data from the consumer device;

transmit the wallet identifying data to the central system;

receive, from the central system, consumer identifying data associated with the wallet identifying data; and

associate the consumer identifying data with a unit of location at a merchant shop.

2. The merchant device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

determine location data based on a wireless communication received from the consumer device; and

determine the unit of location based on the location data.

3. The merchant device of claim 2, wherein the wireless communication is based on one or more signals using near field communication (NFC), Quick Response (QR) code, radio frequency identification (RFID), triangulation, or received signal strength indication (RSSI).

4. The merchant device of claim 1, wherein the unit of location is a dine-in location at a restaurant associated with a table identifier.

5. The merchant device of claim 4, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, based on the location data, the table identifier from a plurality of table identifiers.

6. The merchant device of claim 4, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to provide a graphical representation a floor plan with at least some of the consumer identifying data associated with the dine-in location within the floor plan.

7. The merchant device of claim 6, wherein the graphical representation of the floor plan is part of a user interface that further includes a graphical layout of a plurality of tables within the restaurant.

8. The merchant device of claim 5, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

associate the consumer identifying data with a restaurant tab identifier;

associate menu item data indicating one or more menu items with the restaurant tab identifier;

determine a payment amount based on the menu item data;

wirelessly send the payment amount to the consumer device;

wirelessly receive consumer approval data indicating approval of a payment for at least the payment amount from the consumer device, the consumer approval data secured with a private key associated with the wallet identifying data; and

send secured payment approval data based on the consumer approval data to the central system.

9. The merchant device of claim 4, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive, from the central system, consumer information associated with the consumer identifying data; and

provide the consumer information to the display when the consumer device is in proximity to the dine-in location.

10. The merchant device of claim 9, wherein:

the consumer information includes dine-in location preference data; and

the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the dine-in location at the restaurant based on the dine-in location preference data.

11. The merchant device of claim 9, wherein the consumer information includes dine-in preference data configured to facilitate customized dining service.

13. The merchant device of claim 9, wherein the consumer information includes one or more promotional deals redeemable at the restaurant.

14. The merchant device of claim 9, wherein the consumer information includes profile information of a consumer associated with the wallet identifying data.

15. The merchant device of claim 4, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive consumer information entered via an interactive display presented on the display; and

send the consumer information to the central system.

17. The merchant device of claim 15, wherein the consumer information includes dine-in location preference data wirelessly received from the consumer device and configured to facilitate a determination of the dine-in location at the restaurant.

12. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

18. A consumer device comprising:

a display configured to present interactive displays;

communications circuitry configured to facilitate communications with a merchant device and a central system; and

processing circuitry configured to;

receive wallet identifying data from the central system, the wallet identifying data associated with consumer identifying data that identifies a consumer;

wirelessly send the wallet identifying data to a merchant device; and

wirelessly transmit one or more communications configured to indicate a unit of location at a merchant shop.

19. The consumer device of claim 18, wherein:

the unit of location is a dine-in location at a restaurant associated with a table identifier; and

the one or more communications includes dine-in location preference data configured to indicate the dine-location from a plurality of dine-in locations, the plurality of dine-in locations each associated with a different table identifier.

20. The consumer device of claim 18, wherein the one or more communication is based one or more signals using near field communication (NFC), Quick Response (QR) code, radio frequency identification (RFID), triangulation, or received signal strength indication (RSSI).

22. The central system of claim 20, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive second consumer information from the merchant device, the second consumer information determined by the merchant device after sending the wallet identifying data to the networked device; and

associate the second consumer information with consumer identifying data that identifies a consumer associated with the wallet identifying data.

21. A central system, comprising:

a networked device comprising;

communications circuitry configured to facilitate communications with a consumer device and a merchant device; and

processing circuitry configured to;

send wallet identifying data to the consumer device, the wallet identifying data associated with consumer identifying data that identifies a consumer;

receive the wallet identifying data sent to the consumer device from the merchant device; and

send the first consumer information to the merchant device.