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Mobile transactions with a kiosk management system

  • US 9,972,046 B2
  • Filed: 09/26/2013
  • Issued: 05/15/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for conducting a transaction, with a portable device, for an item stored among a plurality of kiosks pre-stocked with a plurality of items available for purchase, comprising:

  • obtaining, at a portable device of a consumer, pre-registered account information, the pre-registered account information including at least payment information and an identification number of the portable device;

    storing, by a kiosk management system, an association between the pre-registered account information and the portable device based on the identification number of the portable device;

    generating a request, at the portable device of a consumer, to conduct a transaction for a requested item;

    transmitting the request including the requested item from the portable device to the kiosk management system;

    receiving, at the portable device, information identifying a subset of kiosks in the plurality of kiosks within a predetermined proximity of a location of the portable device, the requested item included in the plurality of items with which the subset of kiosks is pre-stocked;

    obtaining, at the portable device, a selection from the consumer of a designated kiosk from the subset of kiosks;

    transmitting the selection of the designated kiosk from the portable device to the kiosk management system to reserve the requested item at the designated kiosk;

    receiving, at the portable device from the kiosk management system, a code unique to the transaction for the requested item, the code indicating that the requested item is reserved at the designated kiosk;

    upon determining that the portable device is within proximity of the designated kiosk, providing a prompt to the consumer to initiate retrieval of the requested item, the prompt being provided to the consumer via the portable device;

    upon receiving a response to the provided prompt at the portable device, transmitting the code to the designated kiosk from the portable device without further interaction from the consumer, to initiate retrieval of the requested item, such that upon verification of the code, and without further interaction from the consumer, the kiosk is caused to;

    identify the requested item based upon the code;

    determine an item storage location associated with the requested item;

    identify a releasing mechanism associated with the item storage location;

    instruct the releasing mechanism to release the requested item from the item storage location; and

    initiate payment for the requested item using payment information associated with the pre-registered account information stored by the kiosk management system; and

    receiving, at the portable device, a confirmation indicating that the transaction is complete after the code is verified, a payment process for the transaction is completed, and the requested item is retrieved from the designated kiosk.

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