Integrated portable device for point of sale transactions
First Claim
1. 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 user, comprising:
- housing means for carrying the components, said housing means having an operational orientation relative to the user;
reader means carried by said housing for reading credit card information;
scanner means for generating a scanning beam and scanning product identification information with said beam, said scanner means carried by said housing at a location such that 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 by 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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld, portable device for processing point of sale transactions includes a housing, a magnetic card reader for reading credit card information, the reader carried within the housing substantially adjacent to the first end of the housing, a numeric keyboard and an alphabetic keyboard for entering customer information, and a barcode scanner for scanning product identification information, the barcode scanner carried within the housing substantially adjacent to a second end of the housing. Also included is a display for displaying selected information, a printer for printing a customer receipt, a communications assembly for furnishing the information needed to obtain transaction approval, and a processor for receiving the information, and controlling the display, the printer and the communications assembly. Device furnishes all functions necessary to facilitate and complete a point of sale credit card transaction. The housing configuration allows handsfree operation for most functions. The arrangement of components within device provides a uniform distribution of weight and makes supporting device with one hand comfortable and relatively effortless.
194 Citations
20 Claims
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1. 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 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 carried by said housing for reading credit card information; scanner means for generating a scanning beam and scanning product identification information with said beam, said scanner means carried by said housing at a location such that 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 by 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 (2)
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3. A portable device for processing point of sale transactions, the portable device having a plurality of components carried and oriented to facilitate hands-free operation by a user, comprising:
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housing for carrying the components, said housing means having an operational orientation relative to the user; display means for displaying product and customer identification information, said display means carried by said housing at a location such that when said housing is in the said operational orientation said display means is visible to the user and said housing is substantially balanced for hands-free operation; data entry means for entering customer and product information, said data entry means carried by the housing; and printer means for printing a customer receipt, said printer means carried by said housing such that the printer receipt is visible to the user when the housing is in said operational orientation. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A portable device for processing point of sale transactions having a plurality of components, said portable device comprising:
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a housing for carrying by the user having an operational orientation which when carried by the user is hands-free, said housing including a first end and a second end; a printer for printing a customer receipt, said printer carried by 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 hands-free operation; printer paper holder means for holding a supply of paper adjacent said printer matingly engaging said second end of the housing; and data input means carried by the housing and adjacent both the second end of the housing and the printer paper holder means whereby the data input means is accessible to the user when said housing is balanced for hands-free operation.
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12. A portable device for processing point of sale transactions having a plurality of components, said portable device comprising:
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a housing for carrying by the user having an operational orientation which when carried by the user is hands-free, said housing including a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end; the second end having a first portion and a second portion; a printer for printing a customer receipt, said printer carried by the housing adjacent the first portion of the second end and 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 hands-free operation; data input means carried by the housing accessible to the user when said housing is balanced for hands-free operation and adjacent the second portion of the second end; and printer paper holder means carried by the housing adjacent the printer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A portable device for processing point of sale transactions, the portable device having a plurality of components carried and oriented to facilitate hands-free operation by a 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 carried by said housing for reading credit card information; scanner means for generating a scanning beam and scanning product identification information with said beam, said scanner means carried by said housing at a location such that when said housing is in said operational orientation said scanner beam is projected substantially away from the eyes of the user; and display means for displaying product and customer identification information, said display means carried by said housing at a location such that when said housing is in the said operational orientation said display means is visible to the user and said housing is substantially balanced for hands-free operation. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification