Method and apparatus for controlling the performance of a supplementary process at a point of sale terminal

• US 7,717,784 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew S., Walker, Jay S., Alderucci, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US11/934,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 705/20, 705/24, 463/17, 463/25, 273/269
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/22 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/04 Means for returning surplus or unused coins
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

According to some embodiments of the present invention, methods and apparatus are described for performing a supplementary process. In one embodiment, a method is provided for receiving an override signal. If the override signal indicates performance of a supplementary process, the method further provides for determining an upsell in dependence on a purchase, determining an upsell price in dependence on the purchase, and offering to exchange the upsell price for the upsell.

Claims

1. A method for controlling performance of a supplementary process at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

receiving an override signal; and

if the override signal indicates performance of a supplementary process,

determining, by a point-of-sale terminal, an upsell in dependence on a purchase,

determining, by the point-of-sale terminal, an upsell price in dependence on the purchase,

offering to exchange the upsell price for the upsell,

in which the upsell comprises an entry in a lottery in which a prize for winning the lottery is proportional to the upsell price, and

outputting the entry.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the override signal, disabling a system for providing the supplementary process.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

enabling the system for providing a supplementary process if the override signal indicates performance of the supplementary process.

4. An apparatus for controlling performance of a supplementary process at a point-of-sale terminal, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

receive an override signal; and

if the override signal indicates performance of a supplementary process,

determine an upsell in dependence on a purchase,

determine an upsell price in dependence on the purchase, and

offer to exchange the upsell price for the upsell,

in which the upsell comprises an entry in a lottery in which a prize for winning the lottery is proportional to the upsell price, and outputting the entry.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

prior to receiving the override signal, disable a system for providing the supplementary process.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, in which the processor is further operative with the program to:

enable the system for providing a supplementary process if the override signal indicates performance of the supplementary process.

7. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a computing device to:

receive an override signal; and

if the override signal indicates performance of a supplementary process,

determine an upsell in dependence on a purchase,

determine an upsell price in dependence on the purchase, and

offer to exchange the upsell price for the upsell,

in which the upsell comprises an entry in a lottery in which a prize for winning the lottery is proportional to the upsell price, and outputting the entry.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, the instructions being further configured to direct the computing device to:

prior to receiving the override signal, disable a system for providing the supplementary process.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, the instructions being further configured to direct the computing device to:

enable the system for providing the supplementary process if the override signal indicates performance of the supplementary process.