Method and device for retrofitting an offline-payment operated machine to accept electronic payments

• US 9,256,873 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayRange, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PayRange, Inc.
• Inventors: Patel, Paresh K., Doan, Chau M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZARE, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US14/456,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20150170130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 700/232
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3823 combining multiple encryption tools for a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• 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 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/023 Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/50 using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees

Abstract

A payment module includes: one or more processors, memory, a first interface module configured to couple the payment module with a control unit of an offline-payment operated machine, and a short-range communication capability for communicating with one or more mobile devices each including a complimentary short-range communication capability and a long-range communication capability. The payment module receives a transaction request via the short-range communication capability from a mobile device to perform a transaction with the offline-payment operated machine. The payment module validates the transaction request to verify that the mobile device is authorized to initiate payment for the transaction by a remote server via the long-range communication capability. In accordance with a determination that the transaction request is valid, the payment module causes the offline-payment operated machine to perform the requested transaction by issuing a signal, via the first interface module, to the control unit to perform the transaction.

Claims

1. An electronic payment module for retrofitting a payment accepting unit to accept electronic payments, wherein the payment accepting unit at least includes a control unit, the electronic payment module comprising:

a first interface configured to couple the electronic payment module with the control unit of the payment accepting unit;

a short-range transceiver configured to send one or more payment zone thresholds;

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

sending, via the short-range transceiver and to a mobile device, a packet of information that includes a first payment zone threshold of the one or more payment zone thresholds;

in accordance with detecting an indication that the mobile device satisfies a calibrated payment zone threshold that is based on (i) the first payment zone threshold and (ii) a signal strength indicator that corresponds to a transmission from the electronic payment module, receiving, via the short-range transceiver, a request from the mobile device to perform a transaction with the payment accepting unit; and

in accordance with a determination that the request is valid, causing the payment accepting unit to perform the transaction by issuing a signal to perform the transaction to the control unit of the payment accepting unit via the first interface.

2. The electronic payment module of claim 1, wherein the payment accepting unit further includes one or more payment receiving mechanisms, a respective payment receiving mechanism of the one or more payment receiving mechanisms is one of a bill validator, coin acceptor, or payment card reader, and

wherein the electronic payment module further includes a second interface configured to couple the electronic payment module with the one or more payment receiving mechanisms of the payment accepting unit.

3. The electronic payment module of claim 2, wherein the first interface and the second interface are compatible with at least a portion of a multidrop bus protocol.

4. The electronic payment module of claim 2, wherein the electronic payment module further includes pass-through channel, the pass-through channel is configured to pass-through signals from the one or more payment receiving mechanisms to the control unit.

5. The electronic payment module of claim 1, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

sending transaction information corresponding to the transaction to the mobile device via the short-range transceiver.

6. The electronic payment module of claim 5, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

prior to sending the transaction information and after causing the payment accepting unit to perform the transaction by sending instructions to the payment accepting unit via the first interface, obtaining a notification from the payment accepting unit via the first interface, the notification indicating completion of the transaction performed by a user of the mobile device at the payment accepting unit and an amount of the transaction; and

in response to receiving the notification;

generating the transaction information based at least in part on the notification; and

storing the generated transaction information in the memory.

16. The electronic payment module of claim 1, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

storing, in the memory of the electronic payment module, a received signal strength corresponding to the request from the mobile device and a model type of the mobile device.

17. The electronic payment module of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

adjusting the payment zone threshold based on the received signal strength.

18. The electronic payment module of claim 1, wherein the first payment zone threshold is a baseline payment zone threshold that corresponds to the payment accepting unit, and further wherein the calibrated payment zone threshold is based on the baseline payment zone threshold and an offset that corresponds to a model type of the mobile device.

19. The electronic payment module of claim 1, wherein issuing a signal to perform the transaction includes sending a communication to a display of the payment accepting unit that the mobile device is connected.

20. The electronic payment module of claim 1, wherein the payment accepting unit is a vending machine.

7. A method of accepting electronic payments, the method comprising:

at an electronic payment module with one or more processors, memory, a first interface configured to couple the electronic payment module with a control unit of the payment accepting unit and a short-range transceiver configured to send one or more payment zone thresholds;

sending, via the short-range transceiver and to a mobile device, a packet of information that includes a first payment zone threshold of the one or more payment zone thresholds;

in accordance with detecting an indication that the mobile device satisfies a calibrated payment zone threshold that is based on (i) the first payment zone threshold and (ii) a signal strength indicator that corresponds to a transmission from the electronic payment module, receiving, via the short-range transceiver, a request from the mobile device to perform a transaction with the payment accepting unit; and

in accordance with a determination that the request is valid, causing the payment accepting unit to perform the transaction by issuing a signal to perform the transaction to the control unit of the payment accepting unit via the first interface.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic payment module further includes a second interface configured to couple the electronic payment module with one or more payment receiving mechanisms of the payment accepting unit, a respective payment receiving mechanism of the one or more payment receiving mechanisms is one of a bill validator, coin acceptor, or payment card reader.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first interface and the second interface are compatible with at least a portion of a multidrop bus protocol.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic payment module further includes pass-through channel, the pass-through channel is configured to pass-through signals from the one or more payment receiving mechanisms to the control unit.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

sending transaction information corresponding to the transaction to the mobile device via the short-range transceiver.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

prior to sending the transaction information and after causing the payment accepting unit to perform the transaction by sending instructions to the payment accepting unit via the first interface, obtaining a notification from the payment accepting unit via the first interface, the notification indicating completion of the transaction performed by a user of the mobile device at the payment accepting unit and an amount of the transaction; and

in response to receiving the notification;

generating the transaction information based at least in part on the notification; and

storing the generated transaction information in the memory.

13. A payment accepting unit, comprising:

a short-range transceiver configured to send one or more payment zone thresholds;

a control unit; and

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the control unit, the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

sending, via the short-range transceiver and to a mobile device, a packet of information that includes a first payment zone threshold of the one or more payment zone thresholds;

in accordance with detecting an indication that the mobile device satisfies a calibrated payment zone threshold that is based on (i) the first payment zone threshold and (ii) a signal strength indicator that corresponds to a transmission from the payment accepting unit, receiving, via the short-range transceiver, a request from the mobile device to perform a transaction with the payment accepting unit; and

in accordance with a determination that the request is valid, causing the payment accepting unit to perform the transaction by issuing a signal to perform the transaction to the control unit of the payment accepting unit via the first interface.

14. The payment accepting unit of claim 13, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

sending transaction information corresponding to the transaction to the mobile device via the short-range transceiver.

15. The payment accepting unit of claim 14, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

prior to sending the transaction information and after performing the requested transaction;

generating the transaction information indicating completion of the transaction and an amount of the transaction; and

storing the generated transaction information in the memory.