Wireless payment mat device and method for retail environments

• US 7,716,082 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2000
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Blalock, Dolan F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buchanan; Christopher
• Application Number:
  US09/645,389
• Time in Patent Office: 3,547 Days
• Field of Search: 705/17, 705/16, 705/18, 705/14, 705/23, 705/24, 705/39, 705/40, 235/383, 235/375, 186/59
• US Class Current: 705/17
• 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 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

The present invention relates to a payment mat that wirelessly communicates with a payment device for payment of items, such as goods and/or services, in a retail environment. A customer presents the payment device within the radiation range of an antenna contained in the payment mat for payment. The payment mat may also include a visual indicator, audio indicator, keypad, transaction display, advertising display, receipt printer, and transaction card reader. The payment mat may be constructed out of a rigid or flexible material. The payment mat may be placed flat on counters in retail stores, nearby cash registers or order entry devices. The payment mat may be placed on drive-thru windows in retail environment, such as quick service restaurants (QSR) or pharmaceutical stores. The payment mat may be placed behind a secure order entry window.

Claims

1. A device for wirelessly communicating with a payment device for payment of items in a retail environment, comprising:

a payment mat that is substantially flat and contains a dielectric, said payment mat comprised of a lower portion and an upper portion sealed together, wherein said lower portion has a front side and a back side, whereby said front side is sealed with said upper portion and said back side is comprised of a skid resistant surface; and

an antenna contained in said payment mat and located on one side of said dielectric wherein said payment mat is associated with the retail environment and adapted to accept payment from a customer for the purchase of a good or service available in the retail environment.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said payment mat is constructed out of a rigid material.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said rigid material is comprised from the group consisting of plastic, metal, wood, marble, and foam.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said payment mat is constructed out of a flexible material.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said flexible material is resilient.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said flexible material is comprised from the group consisting of plastic, cellular rubber, and foam.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said antenna is a coil.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said coil is helical.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said antenna comprises a plurality of antennas designed to operate at different frequencies.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said antenna is comprised of a printed conductive ink.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said antenna is contained on a printed circuit board.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said printed circuit board is flexible.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said payment mat further comprises a transaction display.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said transaction display is selected from the group consisting of a payment display, customer prompts, customer instructions, and items display.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said payment mat further comprises an audio indicator.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said payment mat further comprises a keypad.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said keypad further comprises encryption circuitry to encrypt key sequences entered by the customer.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said payment mat further comprises an advertising display to display advertisements to the customer.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein said payment mat further includes a card reader so that the payment mat is capable of receiving payment from the customer in a first mode from said payment device and is capable of receiving payment from the customer in a second mode from said card reader.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said card reader is a magnetic stripe card reader.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein said payment mat further comprises a biometric reader to authenticate the customer in relation to the payment device.

22. A wireless payment system for payment of items in a retail environment, comprising:

a transaction terminal within the retail environment;

a payment mat associated with the retail environment and adapted to accept payments from customers of the retail environment for the purchase of a good or service available from the retail environment, said payment mat is substantially flat and contains a dielectric wherein said payment mat contains an antenna on one side of said dielectric wherein said payment mat is comprised of a lower portion and an upper portion sealed together, and said lower portion has a front side and a back side, whereby said front side is sealed with said upper portion and said back side is comprised out of a skid resistant surface;

an interrogation reader coupled to said antenna; and

said interrogation reader communicates with a payment device for payment of the items.

23. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein said payment mat further comprises a visual indicator to indicate when said payment device is in communication range of said antenna.

24. The wireless payment system of claim 23, wherein said visual indicator is selected from the group consisting of a LED, LCD shutter, light bulb, electro-luminescence panel, flat panel LCD, and woven fiber optic light.

25. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein an audio indicator indicates when said payment device is in communication range of said antenna.

26. The wireless payment system of claim 25, wherein said audio indicator gives the customer instructions.

27. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein said interrogation reader is coupled to said antenna through a cable wire.

28. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein said interrogation reader is coupled to said antenna through optical communication.

29. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein said interrogation reader is coupled to said antenna through radio-frequency communication.

30. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein said interrogation reader is capable of communicating at a plurality of different frequencies.

31. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein said interrogation reader is capable of communication at a plurality of different communication protocols.

32. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein said interrogation reader communicates at a frequency selected from the group consisting of 13.56 kHz, 134 kHz, 915 MHz, and 2.45 GHz.

33. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein said payment device is a RFID.

34. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein said payment device is a transponder.

35. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein said payment device contains memory.

36. The wireless payment system of claim 35, wherein said memory is used to store loyalty points.

37. The wireless payment system of claim 35, wherein said memory is used to store a cash balance for payment of the items.

38. The wireless payment system of claim 37, wherein said interrogation reader subtracts an amount from said cash balance on said payment device for payment of the items.

39. The wireless payment system of claim 22, wherein said interrogation reader interrogates a customer identification from said payment device to charge an account associated with said customer identification for payment of the items.

40. A device for wirelessly communicating with a payment device for payment of items in a retail environment, comprising:

a payment mat adapted to accept payment from a customer within the retail environment for the purchase of a good or service sold within the retail environment, said payment mat comprising a substantially flat body adapted to be mounted within the retail environment and a dielectric; and

an antenna positioned within said substantially flat body and adapted to communicate wirelessly with the payment device so as to facilitate acceptance of the payment.