Transaction apparatus, systems and methods

• US 8,353,451 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eagle Eye Solutions Limited (Eagle Eye Solutions Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: Eagle Eye Solutions Limited (Eagle Eye Solutions Group Plc)
• Inventors: Rothwell, Stephen, Pippin, Edward James
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US12/050,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20080257958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 235/383, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/34 using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/50 using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees

Abstract

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention relate to alternative kinds of transactions, which do not involve payment using only cash or a token device such as a smart card or chip and PIN card. In some embodiments, transactions involve a customer providing token-less transaction authentication information using customer interface means (150) that is adapted to receive, from a customer, in a first mode of operation, PIN or other token device authentication information, for use in a token device transaction, and token-less transaction authentication information, when operating in another mode of operation. In some embodiments, the customer interface means may be a specially-adapted chip and PIN card reader apparatus. Accordingly, such a customer input means facilitates manual input by a customer of voucher, coupon, accrued loyalty points, Air Miles, ticket or pass authentication information, without the need for a retailer to install new equipment or IT infrastructure.

Claims

1. A transaction apparatus comprising:

a token device interface arrangement;

a customer input; and

a program component configured to control communication with one or more transaction servers, including a redemption transaction server, for enacting different kinds of transactions,

wherein the customer input is operable to receive first and second kinds of information;

the first kind of information being authentication information for enacting a first kind of payment transaction using a token device that uses authentication information stored thereon to authenticate a said first kind of payment transaction; and

the second kind of information being for use in enacting a second kind of payment transaction without using a token device, the second kind of payment transaction comprising a redemption transaction relating to a one or more goods and/or services,

wherein the apparatus is configured to;

determine whether the first kind of information matches the stored authentication information and, in the case that it does, authenticate the token device, and thereby enact a respective first kind of transaction by communicating with a said transaction server;

use the second kind of information to enact a said second kind of payment transaction by sending said second kind of authentication information to the redemption transaction server, and thereby obtaining information from said redemption transaction server without using a token device, the information obtained from the redemption transaction server identifying one or more specific goods and/or services in relation to which a transaction may be enacted for the customer; and

use the information obtained from the redemption transaction server to identify said one or more goods and/or services in relation to which a redemption transaction may be enacted for the customer, and a redemption value for redemption in relation to the identified one or more goods and/or services.

2. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction apparatus comprises a smart card reader.

3. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction apparatus comprises a chip and PIN card reader, wherein the first kind of authentication information comprises a PIN.

4. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a selector configured to selectively enable the transaction apparatus to operate in a first mode or a second mode and wherein the first kind of payment transaction is enacted in the first mode of the apparatus and the second kind of payment transaction is enacted in the second mode of the apparatus.

5. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine whether the first kind of information matches with the stored authentication information based at least in part on sending the first kind of information to the token device.

6. The transaction apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine whether the first kind of information matches with the stored authentication information based at least in part on the token device comparing the first kind of information with the stored authentication information.

7. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a customer display device for displaying customer-related transaction information to the customer.

8. The transaction apparatus of claim 7, wherein the customer display device is in addition to any other display device of the apparatus.

9. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, comprising an operator input device, which is in addition to the keypad.

10. The transaction apparatus of claim 9, wherein the operator input device comprises at least one of a keyboard, a swipe card reader and a touch-screen device.

11. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an operator display device configured to display operator-related transaction information to an operator.

12. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction apparatus comprises a hand-holdable unit, for use by a customer.

13. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, comprising a transaction terminal, adapted for use by an operator, and a separate customer interface comprising the keypad and a customer display device.

14. The transaction apparatus of claim 13, wherein the transaction terminal and customer interface are arranged to be in communication with one another at least intermittently.

15. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, comprising an interface for communicating with a token device via contacts, which correspond to contacts on or in the associated token device.

16. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, arranged to communicate with a token device via a contact-less transceiver, which communicates with a contact-less transceiver of an associated token device.

17. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction apparatus is further configured to receive, from a customer, token-less transaction authentication information relating to at least one of a voucher, a coupon, accrued loyalty points, air miles, a ticket or a pass.

18. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction apparatus comprises an Electronic Point Of Sales (EPOS) apparatus.

19. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information indicating a redemption value obtained from the redemption transaction server specifies one or more goods and/or services to which it relates.

20. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more goods and/or services relate to a payment service.

21. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identified one or goods and/or services comprises a payment service, and enacting the second kind of payment transaction comprises redeeming a monetary value.

22. The transaction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the customer input comprises a keypad.

23. A transaction system, comprising:

a redemption transaction server configured to store information relating to token-less transactions,

a transaction apparatus comprising a program component configured to control communication with the transaction server,

the transaction apparatus being configured to receive first and second kinds of information via a customer input, the first kind of information being authentication information for enacting a first kind of payment transaction using a token device that uses authentication information stored thereon to authenticate the first kind of payment transaction and the second kind of information being for enacting a second kind of payment transaction without using a token device, the second kind of payment transaction comprising a redemption transaction relating to one or more goods and/or services, wherein the transaction apparatus is configured to;

determine whether the first kind of information matches the stored authentication information and, in the case that it does, authenticate the token device, and thereby enact a respective first kind of transaction by communicating with a transaction server; and

use the second kind of information to enact a said second kind of payment transaction by sending a said second kind of authentication information to the transaction server, and thereby obtain information from said redemption transaction server without using a token device, the information obtained from the redemption transaction server identifying one or more specific goods and/or services in relation to which a transaction may be enacted for the customer;

use the information obtained from the redemption transaction server to identify said one or more goods and/or services in relation to which a redemption transaction may be enacted for the customer, and a redemption value for redemption in relation to the identified one or more goods and/or services.

24. A transaction system according to claim 23, wherein the information relating to token-less transactions is stored as a number of individual transaction entries, and wherein each entry relates to one item of customer-provided token-less transaction authentication information.

25. A transaction system according to claim 23, wherein the information relating to token-less transactions is stored as a number of individual transaction entries, at least some of which are associated with the customer identifier, and wherein one item of customer-provided token-less transaction authentication information identifies the customer and, thereby, identifies respective plural individual transaction entries that are associated with the customer.

26. The transaction system of claim 23, wherein the identified one or more goods and/or services comprises a payment service, and enacting the second kind of payment transaction comprises redeeming a monetary value.

27. A method of transacting payment, the method comprising:

receiving a token device storing authentication information;

receiving, via a customer input, a first kind of information, the first kind of information comprising authentication information,

comparing the first kind of information with the stored authentication information;

determining that the first kind of information corresponds to the stored authentication information, thereby authenticating the token device;

enacting a first kind of payment transaction in response to said authentication by communicating with a transaction server;

receiving, via the customer input, a second kind of information for enacting a second kind of payment transaction involving transmission of the second kind of information to a redemption transaction server, the second kind of information comprising an identifier associated with a customer and the second kind of payment transaction comprising a redemption transaction relating to one or more goods and/or services;

sending the received second kind of information to the redemption transaction server, so as to obtain information from the redemption transaction server, the information obtained from the redemption transaction server identifying one or more specific goods and/or services in relation to which a transaction may be enacted for the customer;

using the information obtained from the server to identify said one or more goods and/or services in relation to which a redemption transaction may be enacted for the customer, and indicating a redemption value for redemption in relation to the identified one or more goods and/or services,

thereby enacting the second kind of payment transaction without using a token device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the identified one or more goods and/or services comprises a payment service, and enacting the second kind of payment transaction comprises redeeming a monetary value.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions when executed by a transaction apparatus causing the transaction apparatus to perform a token-less payment transaction method, the transaction apparatus comprising:

a token device interface arrangement; and

a customer input operable to receive a first kind of information from a customer, the first kind of information comprising authentication information for enacting a first kind of payment transaction using a token device that uses authentication information stored thereon to authenticate a said first kind of payment transaction,

the transaction apparatus being configured to determine whether the first kind of information matches the stored authentication information and, in the case that it does, authenticate the token device, and thereby enact a respective first kind of transaction,

wherein the token-less payment transaction method comprises;

receiving, via the customer input, a second kind of information, the second kind of information being for enacting a second kind of payment transaction comprising a redemption transaction relating to one or more goods and/or services;

sending the received second kind of information to a redemption transaction server, so as to obtain information from the redemption transaction server, the information obtained from the redemption transaction server identifying one or more specific goods and/or services in relation to which a transaction may be enacted for the customer;

using the information obtained from the redemption transaction server to identify said one or more goods and/or services in relation to which a redemption transaction may be enacted for the customer, and a redemption value for redemption in relation to the identified one or more goods and services,

thereby enacting a said second kind of payment transaction without using a token device.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the transaction apparatus comprises a smart card reader.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the transaction apparatus comprises a chip and PIN card reader, and wherein the first kind of information comprises a PIN.

32. A method of claim 29, wherein the identified one or more goods and/or services comprises a payment service, and enacting the second kind of payment transaction comprises redeeming a monetary value.