Integrated portable device for point of sale transactions
First Claim
1. A portable device for processing point of sale transactions by a user, comprising:
- a housing for carrying by the user having an operational orientation which when carried by the user is handsfree, said housing including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end;
reader means for reading credit card information, said reader means carried within said housing substantially adjacent to said first end of said housing;
first data entry means for entering customer information, said first data entry means carried by said housing;
scanner means for scanning product identification information, said scanner means carried within said housing substantially adjacent said second end of said housing such that when said housing is in said operational orientation the device is operable handsfree;
display means for displaying selected of said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information, said display means carried within said housing so as to allow display at said top surface of said housing substantially adjacent said scanner means;
printer means for printing a customer receipt, said printer means carried within said housing closer to said second end of said housing than said first end of said housing;
means for furnishing at least selected of said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information to obtain transaction approval, said means for furnishing carried within said housing; and
,processor means within said housing for receiving said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information, and controlling said display means, said printer means and said means for furnishing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld, portable device (10) for processing point of sale transactions includes a housing (20), a magnetic card reader (40) for reading credit card information, the reader (40) carried within the housing (20) substantially adjacent to the first end (23) of the housing (20), a numeric keyboard (50) and an alphabetic keyboard (60) for entering customer information, and a barcode scanner (70) for scanning product identification information, the barcode scanner (70) carried within the housing (20) substantially adjacent to a second end (24) of the housing (20). Also included is a display (80) for displaying selected information, a printer (90) for printing a customer receipt, a communications assembly (110) for furnishing the information needed to obtain transaction approval, and a processor (130) for receiving the information, and controlling the display (80), the printer (90) and the communications assembly (110). Device (10) furnishes all functions necessary to facilitate and complete a point of sale credit card transaction. The housing (20) configuration allows handsfree operation for most functions. The arrangement of components within device (10) provides a uniform distribution of weight and makes supporting device (10) with one hand comfortable and relatively effortless.
355 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A portable device for processing point of sale transactions by a user, comprising:
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a housing for carrying by the user having an operational orientation which when carried by the user is handsfree, said housing including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end; reader means for reading credit card information, said reader means carried within said housing substantially adjacent to said first end of said housing; first data entry means for entering customer information, said first data entry means carried by said housing; scanner means for scanning product identification information, said scanner means carried within said housing substantially adjacent said second end of said housing such that when said housing is in said operational orientation the device is operable handsfree; display means for displaying selected of said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information, said display means carried within said housing so as to allow display at said top surface of said housing substantially adjacent said scanner means; printer means for printing a customer receipt, said printer means carried within said housing closer to said second end of said housing than said first end of said housing; means for furnishing at least selected of said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information to obtain transaction approval, said means for furnishing carried within said housing; and
,processor means within said housing for receiving said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information, and controlling said display means, said printer means and said means for furnishing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A portable device for processing point of sale transactions, comprising:
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a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end; reader means for reading credit card information, said reader means carried within said housing substantially adjacent to said first end of said housing; first data entry means for entering customer information, said first data entry means carried by said housing; scanner means for scanning product identification information, said scanner means carried within said housing substantially adjacent said second end of said housing; display means for displaying selected of said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information, said display means carried within said housing so as to allow display at said top surface of said housing substantially adjacent said scanner means; printer means for printing a customer receipt which is signed, said printer means carried within said housing closer to said second end of said housing than said first end of said housing; means for furnishing at least selected of said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information to obtain transaction approval, said means for furnishing carried within said housing; processor means within said housing for receiving said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information, and controlling said display means, said printer means and said means for furnishing; and
,receipt holder means for securing said customer receipt during signature and temporarily storing at least a portion of said customer receipt after signature, wherein said receipt holder means is a substantially rectangular caddy demountably secured to said bottom surface of said housing, said caddy including a recessed flange for removably securing one end of said customer receipt during signature, a chamber for receiving and temporarily storing at least a portion of said customer receipt after signature, and an aperture in said caddy through which said customer receipt is passed for insertion into said chamber.
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19. A portable device for processing point of sale transactions, comprising:
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a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end; reader means for reading credit card information, said reader means carried within said housing substantially adjacent to said first end of said housing; first data entry means for entering customer information, said first data entry means carried by said housing; scanner means for scanning product identification information, said scanner means carried within said housing substantially adjacent said second end of said housing; display means for displaying selected of said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information, said display means carried within said housing so as to allow display at said top surface of said housing substantially adjacent said scanner means; printer means for printing a customer receipt which is signed, said printer means carried within said housing closer to said second end of said housing than said first end of said housing; means for furnishing at least selected of said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information to obtain transaction approval, said means for furnishing carried within said housing; processor means within said housing for receiving said credit card information, said customer information and said product identification information, and controlling said display means, said printer means and said means for furnishing; and
,second data entry means having a substantially flat external surface atop which said customer receipt is signed, and receipt holder means for securing said customer receipt during signature, said receipt holder means including a flange mounted to said housing in proximity to at least one edge of said second data entry means for removably securing at least one end of said customer receipt during signature.
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20. A portable device for processing point of sale transactions, the portable device having a plurality of components carried and oriented to facilitate handsfree operation by a human user, comprising:
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housing means for carrying the components, said housing means having an operational orientation relative to the user; reader means for reading credit card information, said reader means carried within said housing at a location substantially as close to the user'"'"'s eyes when said housing is in said operational orientation as any other component; scanner means for generating a scanning beam and scanning product identification information with said beam, said scanner means carried within said housing at a location such that said when said housing is in said operational orientation said scanner beam is projected substantially away from the eyes of the user; and
,printer means for printing a customer receipt, said printer means carried within said housing at a location such that when said housing is in said operational orientation said printer receipt is visible to the user and said housing is substantially balanced for handsfree operation. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification