System and method to purchase applications by a point of sale terminal

• US 7,810,723 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2005
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hypercom Corporation (Verifone Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hypercom Corporation (Verifone Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Robert D., Boardman, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien Minh
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US11/282,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20070108274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 705/16, 705/64
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems

Abstract

A system and method to allow users to purchase software applications for point of sale (POS) terminals from an application server via a network (e.g., the Internet) utilizing the POS terminal itself. One or more menus providing portals to available applications and their respective demonstration applications are provided to users on POS terminals. The demonstration applications may be directly downloaded from the application server onto the POS terminals. In addition, the user is able to purchase the application via the POS terminal either before or after the user has viewed/downloaded the demonstration application. After purchase, the application may be downloaded directly from the application server onto the POS terminal.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to allow a user to download an application for a point of sale (POS) terminal utilizing said POS terminal, comprising the steps of:

storing said application on an application server;

receiving a purchase request for said application from said POS terminal;

allowing, by said application server, said POS terminal to download said application from said application server;

allowing, by said application server, said POS terminal to download a demonstration application of said application;

collecting information about a type of said demonstration application that is downloaded by said POS terminal; and

reporting said collected information to a manufacturer of said demonstration application.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing, by said application server, a first menu to said POS terminal, said first menu comprising a first portal to said application.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

providing, by said application server, a second menu to said POS terminal, said second menu comprising a plurality of portals to a plurality of applications, wherein one of said plurality of portals is said first portal.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the step of utilizing a client computer to configure access to said application by said POS terminal.

5. A computer-implemented method to allow a user to download at least one of an application for a point of sale (POS) terminal and a demonstration application of said application utilizing said POS terminal, comprising the steps of:

storing at least one of said application and said demonstration application on a computing device;

receiving a purchase request for said application from said POS terminal;

allowing, by an application server, said POS terminal to download one of said application and said demonstration application;

collecting information about a type of said demonstration application that is downloaded by said POS terminal; and

reporting said collected information to a manufacturer of said demonstration application.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

providing, by said application server, a first menu to said POS terminal, said first menu comprising a first portal to one of said application and said demonstration application.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

providing, by said application server, a second menu to said POS terminal, said second menu comprising a plurality of portals to a plurality of applications, wherein one of said plurality of portals is said first portal.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising the step of utilizing a client computer to configure access to at least one of said application and said demonstration application by said POS terminal.

9. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a processor cause said processor to perform a method comprising said steps of:

storing an application on an application server;

receiving a purchase request for said application from a POS terminal;

allowing, by said application server, said POS terminal to download said application from said application server;

allowing, by said application server, said POS terminal to download a demonstration application of said application;

collecting information about a type of said demonstration application that is downloaded by said POS terminal; and

reporting said collected information to a manufacturer of said demonstration application.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions to cause said processor to perform the further steps of:

providing, by said application server, a first menu to said POS terminal, said first menu comprising a first portal to said application.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions to cause said processor to perform the further steps of:

providing, by said application server, a second menu to said POS terminal, said second menu comprising a plurality of portals to a plurality of applications, wherein one of said plurality of portals is said first portal.

12. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a processor cause said processor to perform a method comprising said steps of:

storing at least one of an application and a demonstration application on a computing device;

receiving a purchase request for said application from a POS terminal;

allowing, by an application server, said POS terminal to download one of said application and said demonstration application;

collecting information about a type of said demonstration application that is downloaded by said POS terminal; and

reporting said collected information to a manufacturer of said demonstration application.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions to cause said processor to perform the further steps of:

providing, by said application server, a first menu to said POS terminal, said first menu comprising a first portal to one of said software application and said demonstration application.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions to cause said processor to perform the further steps of:

providing, by said application server, a second menu to said POS terminal, said second menu comprising a plurality of portals to a plurality of applications, wherein one of said plurality of portals is said first portal.

15. A computer system to allow a point of sale (POS) terminal to download an application, comprising:

an application server in communication with said POS terminal via a first network, said application server configured to;

store said application;

receive a purchase request for said application from said POS terminal;

allow said POS terminal to download said application from said application server via said first network;

allow said POS terminal to download a demonstration application of said application;

collect information about a type of said demonstration application that is downloaded by said POS terminal; and

report said collected information to a manufacturer of said demonstration application.

16. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising a client computer in communication with said POS terminal via a second network, wherein said client computer is configured to control access to said application by said POS terminal.