METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUT
In an embodiment, a self-service checkout computer receives checkout data from a mobile device of a consumer. The checkout data includes merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data. The transaction details and the payment account data are transmitted to a merchant server or a gateway server for purchase transaction authorization. If the purchase is authorized, the self-service checkout computer transmits a purchase transaction authorization message to the consumer's mobile device for display on a display screen. In some embodiments, if a transaction declined notification is received instead of a purchase transaction authorization, the self-service checkout computer transmits the transaction declined notification to the consumer's mobile device for display.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/527,226, filed Aug. 25, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMobile telephones and other mobile communications devices (such as personal digital assistants, laptop computers, tablet computers, and the like) are carried by millions of consumers. Thus, attempts have been made to integrate payment applications with these mobile devices so that consumers can use them to purchase goods and/or services from merchants. Thus far, however, the available mobile device payment applications have not been widely accepted by merchants because some providers require the merchants to purchase and/or install specialized hardware and/or software in order for the applications to function. In addition, some available mobile payment solutions are not compatible with existing merchant inventory and/or merchant payment systems, requiring merchants to perform a complicated and expensive overhaul of their existing inventory and payment systems in order to offer consumers the option to utilize mobile devices to provide payment.
From the point of view of consumers, since existing mobile payment applications have not been widely accepted by merchants (at least in the United States), there does not seem to be a need to sign-up for and install such payment applications on their mobile devices. Furthermore, since many of the current mobile device applications are complicated to install and use in a retail environment, consumers have not been widely adopting such mobile device payment applications.
Thus, there is a need for systems, apparatus and processes for facilitating mobile device payments from the perspective of both merchants and consumers. In addition, there is a need for providing an intuitive and/or modified shopping experience for consumers shopping in a merchant's store who wish to use their mobile devices to both select items and to purchase those items.
Features and advantages of some embodiments of the present invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In general, and for the purpose of introducing concepts of the embodiments described herein, systems, apparatus and methods are disclosed for providing self-service checkout to consumers utilizing a mobile device to shop in a merchant's store. In an embodiment, a system includes a self-service checkout server computer, a gateway server operably connected to the self-service checkout server computer and to a payment network, a consumer mobile device and a plurality of merchant server computers. The self-service checkout computer can receive and store merchant registration data and consumer registration data, and provides a self-service checkout application to the mobile device for use by the consumer when shopping at the merchant's store. The self-service checkout computer receives checkout data from the consumer mobile device that includes merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data, and transmits that information to a gateway server for payment processing (purchase transaction authorization). In some embodiments, the transaction details and payment account data are instead transmitted to a merchant server for purchase transaction authorization. The self-service checkout computer then receives either a purchase transaction authorization or a transaction denied indication, and transmits either a purchase transaction authorization message or a purchase denied message to the consumer for display on a display screen of the mobile device. In some embodiments, if a purchase denied message is displayed then a prompt is also displayed for the consumer to provide alternate payment account information in order to again try to purchase the items the consumer selected while shopping at the merchant's store.
Another aspect concerns initializing the self-service checkout application by a processor of the consumer's mobile device by recognizing that the consumer mobile device has been transported to the merchant's store. The consumer then uses his or her mobile device to provide input data concerning at least one item selected for purchase, which is then displayed as a virtual shopping cart list on a display screen of the consumer mobile device. When an indication is received that the consumer is finished shopping, the mobile device transmits the transaction details and payment account data to a self-service checkout computer. The mobile device then receives either a transaction authorization message or a transaction denied message, and displays whichever message is received on the display screen of the mobile device.
The self-service checkout system, apparatus and methods permits merchants the opportunity to provide relevant product data and rules to a self-service checkout computer, which can be used to facilitate and enhance a consumer's shopping experience. The shopping experience is enhanced as the consumer adds items to a virtual shopping cart that may be displayed on a display screen of his or her mobile device in conjunction with selecting the item at the store and placing it in a physical shopping cart. An intuitive mobile device application is provided to the consumer for use with his or her mobile device to load a virtual shopping cart while shopping in the merchant's store, and the same mobile device application can be used to easily and quickly checkout (purchase the items) without having to queue up in a line behind other consumers making purchases at a checkout counter.
Referring again to
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The self-service checkout application may also be configured to image a price look-up (PLU) code affixed to an item and have that image matched by the self-service checkout server so that the price, description and other attributes of the item can be downloaded and then automatically listed in the virtual shopping cart. Alternately, in some embodiments the consumer manually enters one or more items and their prices by observing the name, description, or PLU code displayed on signage, for example, in the merchant's store (for example, PLU code labels are typically affixed to fruits, vegetables and/or other produce) that are typically found on shelves that hold and/or display the goods for sale in the store. In addition, items that are required to be purchased by weight (for example, bananas and/or tomatoes) may require the consumer to confirm the weight via a snapshot of the item as it is being weighed on a scale in the retail store, for example, or by manual data entry by the consumer that might require additional, physical verification before exiting the retail store.
Referring again to
In some embodiments, the self-service checkout server 106 transmits the entire contents, a transaction summary and payment details to the gateway server 120 via a structured data format (e.g. XML or JSON) and web protocol (HTTP). The central server 120 may be operably connected via a secure connection to a payment network 122. The term “payment network” as used herein refers to one or more networks that are used to process a payment transaction, which may include one or more server computers. An example of a payment network is the BankNet® processing network operated by MasterCard International Incorporated, the assignee of the present application. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other networks may also be used to facilitate the authorization, clearing and settlement of payment transactions as described herein. Thus, in an implementation, the self-service checkout service (which may be hosted, for example, by MasterCard International Incorporated) functions to obtain all of the shopping item data and payment account data from the consumer's mobile device, generates a purchase transaction authorization request, routes that purchase transaction authorization request to the central server 120 for processing, receives an authorization response, and then provides the authorization response to both the consumer (via the consumer's mobile device) and to the merchant (via a merchant server, for example, one of the merchant servers 112, 114 or 116 of
In some implementations, the self-service checkout server functions to route the purchase transaction details to the proper merchant for “business as usual” payment processing and any additional verification. For example, with regard to
Referring again to
In step 312, if the transaction has been denied, then the self-service checkout server transmits 320 a transaction denied notification for display on the display screen of the consumer's mobile device. In some embodiments, the self-service checkout application then prompts 322 the consumer to select an alternate payment account. If the consumer does select 324 an alternate account, then the process branches back to step 310 wherein the details of the transaction and the alternate payment account details are again transmitted to the merchant server for authorization. If the consumer does not select 324 an alternate payment account then (after a predetermined time has elapsed) the process ends 318.
The computer processor 502 may constitute one or more conventional processors manufactured by companies such as Intel Corporation and the like. Processor 502 operates to execute processor-executable steps, contained in program instructions described herein, so as to control the self-service checkout server computer 500 to provide desired functionality.
Communication device 504 may be used to facilitate communication with, for example, other devices (such as for receiving data from a merchant device and/or a consumer mobile device, and for transmitting data to a merchant server and/or to a Smartphone or to an iPad™ tablet computer of the consumer). Communication device 504 may also, for example, have capabilities for engaging in data communications over conventional computer-to-computer data networks, including the Internet, in a wired or wireless manner. Such data communications may be in digital form and/or in analog form.
Input device 506 may comprise one or more of any type of peripheral device typically used to input data into a computer. For example, the input device 506 may include a keyboard and a mouse and/or a touchpad that may be used, for example, by a systems engineer or other personnel authorized to, for example, perform server computer system maintenance or other task. The output device 508 may comprise, for example, conventional output components such as a display and/or a printer.
Storage device 510 may comprise any appropriate information storage device, including combinations of magnetic storage devices (e.g., magnetic tape and hard disk drives), optical storage devices such as CDs and/or DVDs, and/or semiconductor memory devices such as Random Access Memory (RAM) devices and Read Only Memory (ROM) devices, as well as flash memory devices. Any one or more of the listed storage devices may be referred to as a “computer readable medium”, “memory”, “storage”, or“storage medium”.
Storage device 510 stores one or more programs for controlling processor 502. The programs comprise program instructions that contain processor-executable process steps of the self-service checkout server computer 500, including, in some cases, process steps that constitute processes provided in accordance with principles of the processes presented herein.
The programs may include a merchant application 512 that manages a process by which merchants register for the self-service checkout service and maintains inventory lists regarding the products and/or merchandise available in one or more retail store locations. The merchants may self-register by accessing the self-service checkout web page that includes a merchant interface for providing required information. The programs may also include a consumer application that manages a process wherein consumers register themselves and their mobile devices with the self-service checkout server computer 500, and that permits the consumer to download a self-service checkout application to his or her mobile device. In some embodiments, the self-service checkout registration process may allow consumers to register themselves by accessing, for example via their mobile telephone or tablet computer, a suitable web page hosted by the self-service checkout server computer 500. As mentioned earlier, the information obtained from the consumer during the registration process may include the consumer's name, a primary payment card account number (PAN), and a mobile telephone number (and/or other mobile identifier).
The storage device 510 may also store a consumer mobile device application 516 for downloading by the consumer to his or her mobile device for use while shopping in the merchant's retail store location. In some implementations, the consumer mobile application 516 includes a virtual shopping cart component, a product or item identifier component, a product or item information retrieval component, and a self-service checkout component. The details concerning operation of these components have been discussed above.
The storage device 510 may also include a consumer database 518, a merchant database 520, a products database 522 and other database(s) 524. Each of these databases may be maintained by the self-service checkout server computer 500 on the storage device 510.
The application programs of the self-service checkout server computer 500, as described above, may be combined in some embodiments, as convenient, into one, two or more application programs. Moreover, the storage device 510 may store other programs or applications, such as one or more operating systems, device drivers, database management software, web hosting software, and the like.
Accordingly, through use of the self-service checkout system, a merchant has an opportunity to provide relevant product data and rules and to facilitate and enhance a consumer's shopping experience. The shopping experience is enhanced as the consumer adds items to a virtual shopping cart that may be displayed on his or her mobile device in conjunction with selecting the item at the store. The consumer utilizes an intuitive mobile device application to load a virtual shopping cart on his or her mobile while shopping in the merchant's store, and uses the same mobile device application to easily and quickly checkout without having to queue up in a line behind other consumers making purchases at a checkout counter in the store.
As the term “payment transaction” is used herein and in the appended claims, it should be understood to include the types of transactions commonly referred to as “purchase transactions”, which may be in connection with eCommerce transactions that may involve payment card accounts and/or payment card systems.
It should be understood that the above description and/or the accompanying drawings are not meant to imply a fixed order or sequence of steps for any process referred to herein. Rather, any process described herein may be performed in any order that is practicable, including but not limited to simultaneous performance of steps indicated as sequential. In addition, in some instances steps that are depicted or described herein as being sequential may be performed in parallel in some embodiments.
Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations apparent to those skilled in the art can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a self-service checkout computer, checkout data from a mobile device of a consumer, the checkout data comprising merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data;
- transmitting the transaction details and the payment account data to one of a merchant server or a gateway server for purchase transaction authorization;
- receiving a purchase transaction authorization; and
- transmitting, by the self-service checkout computer, a purchase transaction authorization message to the mobile device of the consumer.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving a purchase transaction authorization:
- receiving a transaction declined notification; and
- transmitting, by the self-service checkout computer, the transaction declined notification to the mobile device of the consumer.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- transmitting, by the self-service checkout computer, merchant instructions to the mobile device of the consumer.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving checkout data, receiving merchant registration data.
5. Them method of claim 4, wherein the merchant registration data comprises at least one of merchant store location data, product data, pricing data,
6. The method of claim 4, further comprising storing the merchant registration data in a database.
7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
- updating the merchant registration data; and
- storing the updated merchant registration data in a database.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving checkout data, receiving consumer registration data.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the consumer registration data comprises at least one of consumer identification data, mobile device identification data and payment account data.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing the consumer registration data in a database.
11. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting a self-service checkout application to the mobile device of the consumer.
12. A computer readable medium storing non-transitory instructions configured to cause a processor to:
- receive checkout data from a mobile device of a consumer, the checkout data comprising merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data;
- transmit the transaction details and the payment account data to one of a merchant server or a gateway server for purchase transaction authorization;
- receive a purchase transaction authorization; and
- transmit a purchase transaction authorization message to the mobile device of the consumer.
13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising, prior to the instructions for transmitting the transaction details, instructions configured to cause the processor to:
- receive a transaction declined notification; and
- transmit the transaction declined notification to the mobile device of the consumer.
14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to transmit merchant instructions to the mobile device of the consumer.
15. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising, prior to the instructions for receiving checkout data, instructions configured to cause the processor to:
- receive merchant registration data; and
- store the merchant registration data in a database.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising, prior to the instructions for receiving checkout data, instructions configured to cause the processor to:
- receive consumer registration data; and
- store the consumer registration data in a database.
17. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to transmit a self-service checkout application to the mobile device of the consumer.
18. An apparatus, comprising:
- a processor;
- a communication device operatively coupled to the processor; and
- a storage device operatively coupled to the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to instruct the processor to: receive checkout data from a mobile device of a consumer, the checkout data comprising merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data; transmit the transaction details and the payment account data to one of a merchant server or a gateway server for purchase transaction authorization; receive a purchase transaction authorization; and transmit a purchase transaction authorization message to the mobile device of the consumer.
19. A method, comprising:
- initializing, by a processor of a consumer mobile device, a self-service checkout application;
- receiving, by the processor, input data concerning at least one item selected for purchase;
- displaying information concerning the at least one item for purchase on a display screen of the consumer mobile device;
- receiving, by the processor, an indication that shopping is completed;
- transmitting, by the processor to a self-service checkout computer, transaction details and payment account data;
- receiving, by the processor from the self-service checkout computer, at least one of a transaction authorization message or a transaction denied message; and
- displaying, by the processor on the display screen of the consumer mobile device, one of the transaction authorization message or the transaction denied message.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein initializing comprises one of automatically recognizing, by the processor, a merchant retail store based on merchant location data in relation to the position of the consumer mobile device and running the self-service checkout application, or receiving input data concerning at least one of a merchant store and a location of the consumer mobile device and in response to the input data running the self-service checkout application.
21. The method of claim 19, further comprising, subsequent to receiving input concerning item data:
- transmitting, by the processor to a self-service checkout computer, the input data; and
- receiving, by the processor from the self-service checkout computer, item information including at least one of an item name, an item price and an item description.
22. The method of claim 19, further comprising, subsequent to displaying the transaction denied message:
- displaying, by the processor on the display screen of the mobile device, a prompt to select an alternative payment account;
- receiving, by the processor, a selection of an alternative payment account; and
- transmitting, by the processor to a self-service checkout computer, the transaction details and the alternative payment account data.
23. A computer readable medium storing non-transitory instructions configured to cause a processor to:
- initialize a self-service checkout application;
- receive input data concerning at least one item selected for purchase;
- display information concerning the at least one item for purchase on a display screen of a consumer mobile device;
- receive an indication that shopping is completed;
- transmit transaction details and payment account data to a self-service checkout computer;
- receive at least one of a transaction authorization message or a transaction denied message; and
- display one of the transaction authorization message or the transaction denied message.
24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising, subsequent to the instructions for receiving input concerning item data, instructions configured to cause the processor to:
- transmit the input data to a self-service checkout computer; and
- receive item information including at least one of an item name, an item price and an item description.
25. The computer readable medium of claim 23, further comprising, subsequent to the instructions for displaying the transaction denied message, instructions configured to cause the processor to:
- display a prompt to select an alternative payment account on the display screen of the mobile device;
- receive a selection of an alternative payment account; and
- transmit the transaction details and the alternative payment account data to a self-service checkout computer.
26. A self-checkout service system, comprising:
- a self-service checkout server computer;
- a gateway server operably connected to the self-service checkout server computer and to a payment network;
- a consumer mobile device operably connected to the self-service checkout server computer; and
- at least one merchant server computer operably connected to the self-service checkout server computer;
- wherein the self-service checkout computer is operable to receive and store merchant registration data and consumer registration data, and is operable to receive checkout data from the consumer mobile device that includes merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data; and
- wherein the self-service checkout computer transmits the transaction details and the payment account data to one of a merchant server or the gateway server for purchase transaction authorization, receives one of a purchase transaction authorization or a transaction denied indication, and transmits one of a purchase transaction authorization message or a purchase denied message to the mobile device of the consumer.
27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a database operably connected to the self-service checkout server, the database storing at least one of consumer registration data and merchant registration data.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 24, 2012
Publication Date: Feb 28, 2013
Inventors: Michael Cyr (New Miford, CT), David Brown (Dardenne Prairie, MO)
Application Number: 13/594,470
International Classification: G06Q 20/18 (20120101); G06Q 20/40 (20120101);