Abstract: A computerized method (200) of performing a purchase and an associated communication system are disclosed. A customer mobile computing device (CMCD) communicates (210) with a server computing device (SCD) to generate an order for the purchase. The server computing device (SCD) communicates (220) with a payment processor computing device (PPCD) to perform a first part of a payment transaction for the purchase, wherein the first part of the payment transaction involves reserving funds for the purchase. A merchant computing device (MCD) performs (230) a digital handshake procedure with the customer mobile computing device (CMCD). The digital handshake procedure involves short-range wireless data communication to verify spatial proximity between the customer mobile computing device (CMCD) and the merchant computing device (MCD). When spatial proximity has been verified, the merchant computing device (MCD) communicates (240) with the server computing device (SCD) to accept the order.

Abstract: A communication system (100) for order sharing among a plurality of customers (110) at a commercial venue (101) includes sewer-side functionality (SSF) and a plurality of customer mobile computing devices (CMCD) for use by the customers. The server-side functionality manages a digital order (DO) and provides a network communication channel (NCC) for the digital order. The customer mobile computing devices communicate (140) with the server-side functionality using the network communication channel. The communication includes a) the sewer-side functionality collectively sharing the digital order with the customer mobile computing devices. The communication also includes b) an individual customer mobile computing device (CMCD i) requesting partial settlement of the digital order, where the partial settlement relates to a partial payment of less than a total order value of all unsettled order items of the digital order, or payment of one or more, but less than all, unsettled order items of the digital order.

Abstract: A computerized method (200) of performing a purchase and an associated communication system are disclosed. A customer mobile computing device (CMCD) communicates (210) with a server computing device (SCD) to generate an order for the purchase. The server computing device (SCD) communicates (220) with a payment processor computing device (PPCD) to perform a first part of a payment transaction for the purchase, wherein the first part of the payment transaction involves reserving funds for the purchase. A merchant computing device (MCD) performs (230) a digital handshake procedure with the customer mobile computing device (CMCD). The digital handshake procedure involves short-range wireless data communication to verify spatial proximity between the customer mobile computing device (CMCD) and the merchant computing device (MCD). When spatial proximity has been verified, the merchant computing device (MCD) communicates (240) with the server computing device (SCD) to accept the order.