Self-service checkout during item purchase via videophone
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- (a) operating a phone of a customer during a customer purchase of an item located in a merchant store, to capture an image of an identifier of the item, wherein the phone includes a camera, a display screen, and programmable memory, wherein the memory includes an account number corresponding to a financial account of the customer;
(b) operating the phone responsive to phone number input to cause communication between the phone and a transaction host of a transaction payment system to be established, wherein the host is remotely located from the merchant store;
(c) operating the phone to cause data corresponding to the image captured in (a) to be transmitted to the host;
(d) operating the phone to receive a purchase price sent from the host responsive to the data transmitted in (c), wherein the purchase price corresponds to the item;
(e) operating the phone to cause the purchase price to be displayed on the display screen;
(f) subsequent to (e), operating the phone to cause the account number to be transmitted to the host during customer authorization of the financial account being used in payment of the purchase price;
wherein during steps (a)-(f) the phone is in the merchant store,wherein steps (a)-(f) occur during a self-service customer checkout during purchase of the item, wherein the purchase is carried out without communication between the phone and a device in the merchant store.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for purchasing an item via a self-service checkout at a merchant store. The item is associated with a bar code and an anti-theft device. A customer uses their phone to establish communication with the store'"'"'s transaction host. The phone includes a camera and a programmable memory. The memory includes customer account data. The camera is used to capture and transmit an image of the bar code to the host. The host determines the item'"'"'s cost from the received bar code image. The customer can wirelessly transmit their account data from the phone to an in-store terminal. The terminal can transmit the account data to the host. The host can accept and use the account data in payment for the item. After customer payment for the item, the host causes the anti-theft device to be neutralized.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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(a) operating a phone of a customer during a customer purchase of an item located in a merchant store, to capture an image of an identifier of the item, wherein the phone includes a camera, a display screen, and programmable memory, wherein the memory includes an account number corresponding to a financial account of the customer; (b) operating the phone responsive to phone number input to cause communication between the phone and a transaction host of a transaction payment system to be established, wherein the host is remotely located from the merchant store; (c) operating the phone to cause data corresponding to the image captured in (a) to be transmitted to the host; (d) operating the phone to receive a purchase price sent from the host responsive to the data transmitted in (c), wherein the purchase price corresponds to the item; (e) operating the phone to cause the purchase price to be displayed on the display screen; (f) subsequent to (e), operating the phone to cause the account number to be transmitted to the host during customer authorization of the financial account being used in payment of the purchase price; wherein during steps (a)-(f) the phone is in the merchant store, wherein steps (a)-(f) occur during a self-service customer checkout during purchase of the item, wherein the purchase is carried out without communication between the phone and a device in the merchant store. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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(a) operating an automated transaction host affiliated with a plurality of merchant stores to receive data originating from a wireless camera phone of a customer located in a merchant store of the plurality of merchant stores, wherein the data corresponds to a digital image captured by the phone of an identification code of an item located in the merchant store, which item is subject to being purchased by the customer during a purchase transaction, wherein the transaction host is remotely located from the plurality of merchant stores, wherein the transaction host includes at least one computer; (b) responsive to the data received in step (a), operating the transaction host to cause a price assigned to the item to be obtained from at least one data store respectively linking prices to items located in the plurality of merchant stores; (c) operating the transaction host to cause the price obtained in step (b) to be sent to the phone; (d) subsequent to step (c), operating the transaction host to receive price agreement data originating from the phone, wherein the price agreement data corresponds to an agreement by the customer to purchase the item at the price; (e) operating the transaction host during a self-service checkout portion of the purchase transaction to receive an account number originating from the phone, wherein the account number corresponds to a financial account of the customer, wherein the financial account comprises a charge account or a debit account; (f) responsive to the account number received in step (e), operating the transaction host to cause the price to be associated with the financial account as payment by the customer for purchase of the item; and (g) responsive to the payment in step (f), operating the transaction host to cause at least one communication to be sent to the merchant store that allows the customer to leave the merchant store with the item. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification