Method and apparatus for providing and processing installment plans at a terminal
First Claim
1. A method for providing installment plan options, comprising:
- generating a purchase price at a POS terminal;
generating a credit card number at the POS terminal;
transmitting the purchase price and the credit card number from the POS terminal to a central controller;
using the central controller to generate an installment plan for payment of the purchase price;
transmitting data concerning the installment plan from the central controller to the POS terminal;
generating at the POS terminal a selection signal to indicate whether the installment plan is accepted; and
transmitting the selection signal from the POS terminal to the central controller.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A central controller receives from a POS terminal a purchase price and a financial account identifier. The financial account identifier specifies a financial account, such as a credit card account. The central controller, in turn, generates one or more installment plan identifiers defining installment plans for payment of the purchase price. The installment plan identifiers are based on the purchase price and/or the financial account identifier. For example, certain accounts or certain high purchase prices may merit preferred installment plans. The installment plan identifiers are transmitted to the POS terminal. A purchaser at the POS terminal selects whether he would like to pay for his purchase in installments and, if so, using which installment plan. The POS terminal generates a selection signal indicative of whether to accept any of the installment plans, and transmits the selection signal to the central controller. The central controller receives the selection signal. If the selection signal indicates acceptance of any installment plan, use of the accepted installment plan for the financial account is authorized. Thereafter, bills are generated which reflect installment charges to be paid.
173 Citations
46 Claims
-
1. A method for providing installment plan options, comprising:
-
generating a purchase price at a POS terminal;
generating a credit card number at the POS terminal;
transmitting the purchase price and the credit card number from the POS terminal to a central controller;
using the central controller to generate an installment plan for payment of the purchase price;
transmitting data concerning the installment plan from the central controller to the POS terminal;
generating at the POS terminal a selection signal to indicate whether the installment plan is accepted; and
transmitting the selection signal from the POS terminal to the central controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A system for providing installment plan options, comprising:
-
a central controller; and
a POS terminal in data communication with the central controller;
the POS terminal being programmed to;
generate a purchase price and a credit card number; and
transmit the purchase price and the credit card number to the central controller;
the central controller being programmed to;
generate an installment plan for payment of the purchase price; and
transmit data concerning the installment plan to the POS terminal;
the POS terminal being further programmed to;
generate a selection signal to indicate whether the installment plan is accepted; and
transmit the selection signal to the central controller. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A system for providing installment plan options, comprising:
-
means for generating a purchase price at a POS terminal;
means for generating a credit card number at the POS terminal;
means for transmitting the purchase price and the credit card number from the POS terminal to a central controller;
means for using the central controller to generate an installment plan for payment of the purchase price;
means for transmitting data concerning the installment plan from the central controller to the POS terminal;
means for generating at the POS terminal a selection signal to indicate whether the installment plan is accepted; and
means for transmitting the selection signal from the POS terminal to the central controller. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. A method comprising:
-
generating a purchase price at a POS terminal;
generating a credit card number at the POS terminal;
transmitting the purchase price and the credit card number from the POS terminal to a central controller;
using the central controller to generate, in response to receiving at least one of the purchase price and the credit card number, an installment plan for payment of the purchase price;
transmitting data concerning the installment plan from the central controller to the POS terminal;
generating at the POS terminal a selection signal to indicate whether the installment plan is accepted; and
transmitting the selection signal from the POS terminal to the central controller.
-
Specification