TOUCHLESS AND TOUCH OPTIMIZED PROCESSING OF RETAIL AND OTHER COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS

• US 20110202412A1
• Filed: 04/25/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hoffmann, Andreas, Blucher, Jeffrey, LaBlanc, Sylvester M., Dingle, Gregg Robert, O'Meara, Brendan, Bazlen, Derrick Steven, Mathew, Ashvin
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A computer implemented method for reducing input performed in a commerce based application is provided. The method includes receiving a sequence of input values from an input device and associating the sequence of input values with an object in the application based on the sequence. A context of the application is determined One or more tasks in the application are automatically performed based on the object, the context and the sequence of input values.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

receiving a sequence of values from a source user input device;

determining a location of the application using the computer;

in response to determining the location is a point of sale location, automatically performing a first task based on the location and the sequence of input values;

in response to determining that the location is not a point of sale location;

determining a second task associated with the location; and

automatically performing the second task based on the location.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the sequence of input values relates to a credit card number.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the application is a retail application.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein receiving the sequence of values comprises:

receiving a sequence of values related to identity of an item.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein performing the first task comprises:

populating a transaction with an item; and

calculating an amount for the transaction.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein populating a transaction comprises:

populating a purchase transaction with the item.

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

receiving a second sequence of values related to a method of payment for the item.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 wherein the second sequence comprises a sequence related to a credit card number and further comprising:

automatically tendering a sale to a credit card identified by the credit card number.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 and further comprising:

automatically generating a sales receipt for the sale.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein the item is a receipt.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 wherein populating a transaction comprises:

populating a return transaction with the item.

12. A commerce based system, comprising:

a computer having memory and at least one input port;

a user input device coupled to the input port;

an application, stored on the memory, receiving a first sequence of values input through the input port by the user input device, the application using the computer to determine whether a location of the application is a point of sale location or a non-point of sale location and automatically performing a first task, based on the first sequence of input values and the location, in response to determining that the location is the point of sale location, and automatically identifying and performing a second task, based on the sequence of input values and the location, in response to determining that the location is the non-point of sale location.

13. The commerce based system of claim 12 wherein the application receives the first sequence of input values as identifying an item that is a subject of a transaction and populates the transaction with the item.

14. The commerce based system of claim 13 wherein the application receives the first sequence of input values identifying a product that is a subject of a sales transaction and populates the sales transaction with the product.

15. The commerce based system of claim 14 wherein the application calculates an amount due for the sales transaction.

16. The commerce based application of claim 15 wherein the application receives a second sequence of input values that identifies a method of payment for the sales transaction.

17. The commerce based system of claim 16 wherein the application determines that the second sequence of input values identifies a credit card number, and tenders a sale based on the credit card number.

18. The commerce based system of claim 17 wherein the application generates a sales receipt for the sales transaction.

19. The commerce based system of claim 13 wherein the application receives the first sequence of input values identifying a receipt that is a subject of a return transaction and populates the return transaction with the receipt.

20. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

receiving, at a computer, a sequence of values representing an item to be purchased from a source user input device;

determining a location of the application using the computer;

in response to determining the location is a point of sale location;

automatically populating a purchase transaction with the item based on the location and the sequence of input values;

calculating an amount due for the purchase transaction;

receiving a second sequence of input values related to a credit card number;

tendering a sale based on the second sequence of input values; and

printing a receipt for the purchase transaction;

in response to determining that the location is not a point of sale location;

determining a second task associated with the location; and

automatically performing the second task based on the location.