System and method for wireless transactions
First Claim
1. A system for wireless point-of-sale transactions for use with frequencies licensed for wide-area networks, the system comprising:
- a plurality of retail facilities open to consumers;
a transmitter associated with each of the plurality of retail facilities and located proximate the respective retail facility, the transmitter configured to have a limited transmission range on licensed frequencies and to transmit data communications to a consumer wireless device;
a receiver associated with each of the plurality of retail facilities and configured to receive data communications from the consumer wireless device;
an antenna operatively coupled to each respective transmitter and receiver; and
a controller associated with each of the plurality of retail facilities and operatively coupled to the respective transmitter and receiver, each controller being configured to detect when the consumer wireless device is within range of the associated transmitter, and upon detection that the consumer wireless device is within range of the associated transmitter, the controller being configured to communicate with the consumer wireless device in a base station registration process between the consumer wireless device and the controller, the controller being configured to receive identification data associated with the consumer wireless device that uniquely identifies the consumer wireless device and to use the received identification data to complete a transaction within the retail facility.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for using a consumer wireless device in retail transactions utilizes a fixed communication device that functions as a base station for the consumer wireless device. The fixed communication device has a limited coverage zone. When a consumer wireless device comes within the coverage zone of the fixed communication device, the consumer wireless device selects the fixed communication device as the preferred base station and initiates a registration with that base station. The consumer wireless device is uniquely identified with ID data transmitted by the consumer wireless device to the fixed communication device. The unique identification is subsequently used in the process of completing a transaction.
13 Citations
60 Claims
-
1. A system for wireless point-of-sale transactions for use with frequencies licensed for wide-area networks, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of retail facilities open to consumers; a transmitter associated with each of the plurality of retail facilities and located proximate the respective retail facility, the transmitter configured to have a limited transmission range on licensed frequencies and to transmit data communications to a consumer wireless device; a receiver associated with each of the plurality of retail facilities and configured to receive data communications from the consumer wireless device; an antenna operatively coupled to each respective transmitter and receiver; and a controller associated with each of the plurality of retail facilities and operatively coupled to the respective transmitter and receiver, each controller being configured to detect when the consumer wireless device is within range of the associated transmitter, and upon detection that the consumer wireless device is within range of the associated transmitter, the controller being configured to communicate with the consumer wireless device in a base station registration process between the consumer wireless device and the controller, the controller being configured to receive identification data associated with the consumer wireless device that uniquely identifies the consumer wireless device and to use the received identification data to complete a transaction within the retail facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for wireless transactions for use with frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless communication networks, the method comprising:
-
configuring a fixed location base station for short-range communication with a consumer wireless device, the base station associated with a retail facility and operable to communicate on the licensed frequencies in a manner consistent with normal operation of the consumer wireless device operating at the licensed frequencies; communicating with a consumer wireless device that comes with range of the base station, the communication including data transmitted from the consumer wireless device to the base station; based on the data received from the consumer wireless device, obtaining identification data that uniquely identifies a consumer associated with the consumer wireless device; and using the identification data to complete a transaction between the retail facility and the consumer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A method for conducting a transaction using a consumer wireless device operable with frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless communication networks, the method comprising:
-
configuring a two-way communication station for short-range communication, the communication station functioning as a base station associated with a retail facility and having a transmitter and a receiver operable to communicate with one or more consumer wireless devices on the licensed frequencies in a manner consistent with normal operation of consumer wireless devices operating at the licensed frequencies; detecting the communication station by the consumer wireless device; selecting the communication station as a base station; registering with the selected base station in a manner consistent with normal operation of consumer wireless devices operating at the licensed frequencies to thereby establish a wireless communication link between the consumer wireless device and the selected base station; receiving data from the consumer wireless device via the wireless communication link; based on the data received from the consumer wireless device, obtaining identification data that uniquely identifies a consumer associated with the consumer wireless device; and using the identification data to complete a transaction between the retail facility and the consumer. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A computer-readable medium containing instructions to control a computer for wireless transactions using a fixed location base station for short-range communication with a consumer wireless device, the base station associated with a retail facility and operable to communicate on frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless communication networks, the computer-readable medium having instructions that cause the computer to:
-
communicate with a consumer wireless device that comes within range of the base station in a manner consistent with normal operation of consumer wireless devices operating at the licensed frequencies, the communication including data transmitted from the consumer wireless device to the base station; based on the data received from the consumer wireless device, obtain identification data that uniquely identifies a consumer associated with the consumer wireless device; and use the identification data to complete a transaction between the retail facility and the consumer. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
-
-
57. A method for wireless transactions for use with frequencies licensed for wide-area wireless communication networks, the method comprising:
-
configuring a plurality of fixed-location base stations for short-range communication with a consumer wireless device in a manner consistent with normal operation of a consumer wireless device operating at the licensed frequencies, each of the plurality of base stations associated with a retail facility and operable to communicate on the licensed frequencies; the consumer wireless device automatically selecting one of the plurality of base stations with which to communicate; performing a registration process with the selected base station to thereby establish a communication link between the consumer wireless device and the selected base station; based on the data received from the consumer wireless device, obtaining identification data that uniquely identifies a consumer associated with the consumer wireless device; and using the identification data to complete a transaction between the consumer and the retail facility associated with the selected base station. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60)
-
Specification