Multi-point transaction system

• US 7,971,782 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shams, Khawaja
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US12/719,814
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 235/383, 705/15, 705/16, 705/75
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/223 based on the use of peer-to-peer networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

Computer implemented systems and methods for conducting transactions are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes receiving transaction information corresponding to a transaction initiated with one of a plurality of handheld computing devices. The handheld computing device is associated with one of a plurality of payment terminals. The transaction is completed and the association between the handheld computing device and the payment terminal is terminated.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving a request to temporarily pair a roaming point-of-sale system and a payment terminal, the request to pair identifying the specific roaming point-of-sale system and specific payment terminal on a network;

sending a pairing code to the roaming point-of-sale system for display;

receiving a verification that the pairing code that was sent to the roaming point-of-sale system was entered into the payment terminal; and

creating an association between the roaming point-of-sale system and the payment terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the roaming point-of-sale system is one of plurality of roaming point-of-sale systems and the payment terminal is one of a plurality of payment terminals.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

disassociating the roaming point-of-sale system from the payment terminal after a transaction has been completed.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the pairing code is a randomly generated code.

5. A product comprising:

a machine-readable medium; and

machine-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the method comprising

receiving data, by a roaming point-of-sale system, identifying a selected payment terminal chosen from a plurality of payment terminals;

sending a request to pair with the selected payment terminal, the request including data identifying the selected payment terminal;

receiving a communication verifying that the roaming point-of-sale system is paired with the payment terminal;

sending purchase price data associated with a product to the payment terminal;

concluding a sale of the product; and

terminating the paired relationship between the roaming point-of-sale system and the payment terminal.

6. The product of claim 5, wherein the receiving data identifying a selected payment terminal is data received by decoding a barcode associated with the payment terminal.

7. The product of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a pairing code; and

displaying the pairing code on a display, whereby a user can read the pairing code and enter it into the selected payment terminal to confirm that the payment terminal is properly identified before receiving the confirmation verifying the pairing.

8. The product of claim 5, wherein the concluding a sale includes receiving payment confirmation data.

9. The product of claim 5, wherein the concluding a sale includes sending the product data and payment confirmation data to an in-store server.

10. A system comprising:

a plurality of roaming point-of-sale systems, each configured to pair with any one of a plurality of payment terminals;

the plurality of payment terminals, each configured to pair with any one of the plurality of handheld computing devices;

an in-store server including a processor; and

a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for causing the processor of the in-store server to perform a method comprising;

associating one of the plurality of roaming point-of-sale systems with one of the plurality of payment terminals;

routing communications between the associated roaming point-of-sale system and the associated payment terminal to facilitate a sales transaction; and

terminating the association between the roaming point-of-sale system and the payment terminal upon completion of the sales transaction.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of roaming point-of-sale systems includes a barcode scanner, and each of the plurality of roaming point-of-sale systems are configured to scan product identifying information using the barcode scanner.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the associating one of the plurality of roaming point-of-sale systems with one of the plurality of payment terminals includes receiving data identifying a payment terminal.

13. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the associating one of the plurality of roaming point-of-sale systems with one of the plurality of payment terminals includes issuing a pairing code to the one of the plurality of roaming point-of-sale systems.

14. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the plurality of payment terminals are configured to accept instructions from the server to display a form to receive a pairing code, and is further configured to accept the pairing code.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the server receives confirmation that the pairing code has been properly entered into one of the plurality of payment terminals, and as directed by the computer executable instructions stored on the server, performing the associating.

16. A method of completing a retail sales transaction comprising:

scanning a barcode on a product package to identify product information using a roaming point-of-sale system, wherein the roaming point-of-sale system is one of a plurality of such systems on a network;

receiving data identifying a payment terminal, wherein the payment terminal is one of a plurality of such terminals on the network;

pairing the roaming point-of-sale system with the payment terminal as a result of a pairing code being entered into the payment terminal, the pair code first having been received at the roaming point-of-sale system and displayed thereon;

sending the product information to the payment terminal;

receiving a payment processed message from the payment terminal which signals that the sales transaction is complete; and

unpairing the roaming point-of-sale system from the payment terminal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sending a record of the sales transaction to an in-store server.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein a record of the pairing is recorded by an in-store server.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein an in-store server facilitates the pairing by transmitting the pairing code.