PROXIMITY TRANSACTION APPARATUS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

• US 20130214044A1
• Filed: 03/25/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: SPERDUTI, David, SIEGLER, Thomas A., GOMEZ, Garrison, HAVENS, William H.
• Granted Patent: US 10,121,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• 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

Abstract

A transaction terminal may be configured to perform a financial transaction intermediated by an RFID bearing payment token. The financial transaction may be of a general type.

Claims

1. A terminal for conducting a financial transaction intermediated by a payment token, the terminal comprising:

a radio frequency reader configured to read a radio frequency payment token and one or more radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) tags, wherein the one or more RFID tags are attached to one or more articles being purchased in the financial transaction, and wherein the radio frequency payment token is presented as a payment medium for the financial transaction; and

an output device for confirming that a transaction is being performed.

2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency reader is operative to transmit data read from the radio frequency payment token without translating the data into an alternative payment data format.

3. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency reader is devoid of a capability to simulate a reader employing reader technology other than radio frequency.

4. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a printer configured to print a transaction receipt.

5. The terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a transaction register that is operated by a salesperson.

6. The terminal according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging device.

7. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises a bar code reader.

8. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the financial transaction comprises an ad libitum transaction.

9. The terminal according to claim 8, wherein the ad libitum transaction comprises a financial transaction where a purchaser is free to present the payment token issued by a first entity as payment to a second entity for a good or service of the purchaser'"'"'s election.

10. A terminal for conducting a financial transaction, comprising:

a radio frequency reader configured to read one or more RFID tags and a first payment token of a plurality of payment tokens, wherein the radio frequency reader is further configured to provide data corresponding to an elicited response from the first payment token of the plurality of payment tokens, wherein the plurality of payment tokens employ different data formats;

memory in communication with the radio frequency reader;

a communication module in communication with the radio frequency reader, the communication module being configured to communicate with a computer-based apparatus; and

a processor module in communication with the radio frequency reader, the processor module being configured to attempt to decode the data corresponding to the elicited response;

wherein the one or more RFID tags are attached to one or more articles being purchased in the financial transaction, and

wherein, responsive to an indication that the processor module is not configured to perform the decoding properly, the communication module is configured to request from the computer-based apparatus at least one machine-readable instruction for properly configuring the processor module to decode the data.

11. The terminal according to claim 10, wherein the terminal is configured to read a payment token employing a data format particular to a specific commercial entry

12. The terminal according to claim 10, wherein the terminal is configured to read a data format employing a data format particular to a specific retailer.

13. The terminal according to claim 10, wherein the terminal is configured to read a payment token provided by a key fob.

14. The terminal according to claim 10, further comprising an image reader and decoder for reading and decoding bar codes.

15. The terminal according to claim 10, further comprising a signature capture pad.

16. The terminal according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of payment tokens are issued by a plurality of commercial entities.

17. A terminal for conducting a financial transaction, wherein the terminal comprises:

an RF transponder configured to read a payment token a RFID tags attached to a an article in a physical proximity of the RF transponder, the RF transponder further configured to decode tag data corresponding to the RFID tag; and

a communication module in communication with the RF transponder, the communication module configured to communicate with a remote computer-based apparatus;

wherein the article is being purchased in the financial transaction; and

wherein responsive to the terminal completing a purchase of the article, the RF transponder is configured to perform at least one of;

modifying a tag data associated with an RFID tag attached to the article, or

disabling an RFID tag attached to the article.

18. The terminal of claim 17, wherein responsive to an indication that the RF transponder is not configured to perform the decoding correctly, the communication module is configured to request from the remote computer-based apparatus at least one machine-readable instruction for configuring the RF transponder to decode the tag data.

19. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the RF transponder is further configured to be attached to a shopping cart.

20. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the RF transponder is further configured to initiate a payment transaction responsive to an interaction with a user.