Patent Publication Number: US-2023153793-A1

Title: Re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store use systems and methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/767,487, filed Apr. 11, 2018, which is a national stage entry of PCT/US2015/055134, filed Oct. 12, 2015, and the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to payment instruments, and more specifically, to systems and methods for re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store purchasing of items. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many customers have discount cards, membership cards, and payment instruments they carry in a wallet or purse. These customers may have already loaded their personal data, discount cards, membership card and payment instruments in their e-commerce/mobile customer profile with a particular business. Mobile electronic payment systems require customers to re-enter that information into an application or other system in order to provide payment in-store from a mobile application. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, provided is a method for paying at a point of sale comprising: starting a transaction at the point of sale; receiving a pairing request at a wallet processor from a customer mobile device operating a mobile application in response to scanning of a code having a transaction identification; associating a customer payment profile with the transaction identification and sending associated information to the point of sale; sending an amount of sale to authorize to the wallet processor in response to completing scanning of items at the point of sale; creating an authorization(s) for payment and sending the authorization for payment to an authorizer; and completing the transaction by processing payment. 
     In another aspect, provided is a method for paying at a point of sale comprising: starting a transaction at the point of sale; receiving a pairing request at a wallet processor from a customer mobile device operating a mobile application in response to transmitting a transaction identification from a wireless device of the point of sale to the customer mobile device; associating a customer payment profile with the transaction identification and sending associated information to the point of sale; sending an amount of sale to authorize to the wallet processor in response to completing scanning of items at the point of sale; creating an authorization for payment and sending the authorization for payment to an authorizer; and completing the transaction by processing payment. 
     In another aspect, provided is a system for re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store purchasing, the system comprising: a backend system including a wallet processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores a customer payment profile comprising an already established e-commerce payment profile; a mobile device in communication with the wallet processor; a point of sale in communication with the wallet processor and the mobile device, wherein the mobile device operates a mobile application to communicate with the wallet processor to associate a transaction identification from the point of sale with the customer payment profile; and an authorizer for authorizing a payment of an amount of sale in response to receiving the amount of sale from the wallet processor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and further advantages of this invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of a system for re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store purchasing, in accordance with embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    is a flow diagram illustrating a method for creating an e-commerce account, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    is a flow diagram illustrating a method for setting up e-commerce payments instruments for use in-store, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    is a flow diagram illustrating a method for executing a transaction at a store checkout using a system for re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store purchasing, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  5    is a flow diagram illustrating another method for executing a transaction at a store checkout using a system for re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store purchasing, in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Many store customers have times when they shop online and other times when they are physically present at a brick-and-mortar store. In order to shop online, a customer must establish an e-commerce account with the particular business which often includes entering and storing payment instruments in a database for use with the that particular business. This provides ease of checking out at the end of an online shopping session, wherein the customer can simply execute a few mouse clicks or other input, such as use of a touchscreen and the like, to execute payment to complete an online transaction. Sometimes the payment instruments are stored for future re-use as part of checking out and completing an order. 
     Shopping in a brick-and-mortar store requires the customer must move around and peruse items and goods with the store, select the goods, often putting them within a cart and then proceeding to a checkout line, where a point of sale terminal is then used to scan or otherwise total the amount of money due to purchase the items. The customer must then retrieve the payment instrument from his or her wallet or purse and provide the payment instrument to the point of sale terminal. If a payment card is the type of payment instrument, the card is either swiped by the customer or the employee at the checkout and the payment is processed either by entering a personal identification number (“PIN”) or signing to authorize the payment, thus completing the transaction. Online customers enjoy an expedient check out that is typically not offered at a brick-and-mortar store. The present inventive concepts provide the benefits of online checkout processes with in-store shopping without the need for re-entering payment instruments within a mobile application on a mobile device. For example, the customer can use a payment instrument already saved in the customer&#39;s e-commerce account with a business to pay for a transaction that occurs in a brick-and-mortar store of the same business. 
       FIG.  1    is a block diagram of a system  10  for re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store purchasing. The system  10  may include a backend system having various databases, such as, but not limited to user accounts  14 , payment accounts  16 , non-payment cards/identifiers  18 , payment preferences  20 , and payment rules  21 . These databases  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  are accessible from an e-commerce application  12 . Further, the databases  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  are accessible from a mobile application  22 . The system  10  may also include a wallet processor  24 , a point of sale (“POS”)  26 , a payment gateway  27  and an authorizer(s)  28 . The wallet processor  24  may have access to payments accounts  16 , non-payment cards/identifiers  18 , payment preferences  20 , and payment rules  21  databases. The e-commerce application  12  may be accessible through a computing device, such as but not limited to a computer, a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone and the like. The e-commerce application  12  may be an e-commerce website accessible through an Internet connection. The mobile application  22  may be accessible through a mobile device, such as a smartphone, a tablet and the like. The mobile application  22  may be a downloadable application that is installed and operated on the mobile device. The payment gateway  27  may operate to send messages routed to the authorizers  28 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  2   , the system  10  may be utilized to execute a method  30  of creating an e-commerce account. The method  30  may include operating an e-commerce application  12  from a computing device (Step  31 ); entering user information including customer name, address, user name and password (Step  32 ); and saving the user information in the user accounts  14  database (Step  33 ). The method  30  may further include entering a payment instrument information through the e-commerce application  45  and storing the payment instrument information in the payment accounts  16  database. The method  30  may also include entering non-payment card/identifier information through the e-commerce application  12  and storing the non-payment card/identifier information in the non-payment cards/identifier  18  database. It will be understood that the method  30 , in some embodiments, is a precondition to using the system to complete a transaction at a POS  26 . 
     Further, access to the user accounts  14 , payment accounts  16 , non-payment cards/identifiers  18  and payment preferences  20  databases are secured by restricting access to the information. The username and password stored in the user accounts  14  database includes the information that must be input through a user graphical interface in order for a customer to login to his or her e-commerce account to access, update, change and the like the information stored in the user accounts  14 , payment accounts  16 , non-payment cards/identifiers  18 , and payment preferences  20  databases. The customer may login to the e-commerce account through the e-commerce application  12  or through the mobile application  22 . 
     It is anticipated that the user account  14  may be changed and updated at any time through use of the e-commerce application  12  or the mobile application  22 . For example, address information may be updated, additional payment instruments may be added to the payment accounts  16 , and additional non-payment cards may be added to the non-payment cards/identifier  18 . Further, as payment instruments expire, the payment instrument information stored in the payment accounts  16  may be updated or removed. 
       FIG.  3    depicts a method  40  of setting up e-commerce payments instruments for in-store use. For example, the method  40  may include logging into the e-commerce account (Step  41 ) through the mobile application  22  or through the e-commerce application  12 ; activating mobile in-store payment functionality (Step  42 ), wherein activating the mobile in-store payment functionality requires creating a new payment authentication code, such as a PIN, password and the like; and selecting an existing payment instrument stored in the payment accounts  16  for use in mobile in-store payment (Step  43 ). This information may be stored in the payment preferences  20 . 
     Step  43  of selecting an existing payment instrument may be repeated to select multiple payment instruments for use with mobile in-store payments. If multiple payment instruments are selected, the customer may also indicate how he or she prefers to use the payment instruments when conducting transactions in the store. 
     The method  40  may also include entering a new payment instrument through the mobile application  22  and indicating if it may also be used for e-commerce transactions and/or how the customer prefers to use the payment instrument when transacting in the store. 
     The method  40  may also include presenting a list of existing non-Payment cards/identifiers (e.g. Membership, Loyalty, Discount, Offers) to a customer and selecting which non-payment cards/identifiers to load for mobile in-store processing. This may be repeated if there are multiple non-payment cards on file. The method may also include entering new non-Payment cards/identifiers to the non-payment cards/identifiers  18  database and selecting it to be used for e-commerce transactions or when transacting in the store. 
       FIG.  4    depicts a method  50  for executing a transaction at a store checkout using a system for re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store purchasing. The method  50  may include starting a transaction at the POS  26  (Step  51 ); receiving a pairing request at a wallet processor  24  from a customer mobile device operating a mobile application  22  in response to scanning of a code having a transaction identification (Step  52 ); associating a customer payment profile with the transaction identification and sending associated information to the POS (Step  53 ); sending an amount of sale to authorize to the wallet processor in response to completing scanning of items at the POS (Step  54 ); creating an authorization for payment and sending the authorization for payment to an authorizer  28  (Step  55 ); and completing the transaction by processing payment (Step  56 ). 
     In a method  50 , the customer payment profile may comprise an already established e-commerce payment profile stored in a payment preferences  20  database. Further, the customer payment profile may further comprise one or more payment instruments stored in the payment accounts  16  database. 
     The scanning of the code of Step  52  may include scanning the code generated by the POS  26 . In another embodiment, scanning the code may comprise scanning the code generated by the customer mobile device with a scanning device at the POS  26 . 
     The method  50  may further comprise designating one payment instrument of the one or more payment instruments in the customer payment profile as a default payment instrument prior to starting the transaction. The method  50  may also comprise alerting the wallet processor that the transaction is complete; and alerting the mobile device from the wallet processor that the transaction is complete. 
       FIG.  5    depicts a method  60  for executing a transaction at a store checkout using a system for re-using e-commerce payment instruments for in-store purchasing in accordance with embodiments. A method  60  may include starting a transaction at the POS  26  (Step  61 ); receiving a pairing request at a wallet processor from a customer mobile device operating a mobile application in response to transmitting a transaction identification from a wireless device of the POS  26  to the customer mobile device (Step  62 ); associating a customer payment profile with the transaction identification and sending associated information to the POS  26  (Step  63 ); sending an amount of sale to authorize to the wallet processor in response to completing scanning of items at the POS  26  (Step  64 ); creating an authorization for payment and sending the authorization for payment to an authorizer  28  (Step  65 ); and completing the transaction by processing payment (Step  66 ). 
     In method  60  the customer payment profile comprises an already established e-commerce payment profile stored in a payment preferences  20  database. The customer payment profile may also comprise one or more payment instruments stored in a payment accounts  16  database. 
     The method  60  may further comprise designating one payment instrument of the one or more payment instruments in the customer payment profile as a default payment instrument prior to starting the transaction. The method  60  may also comprise alerting the wallet processor that the transaction is complete and alerting the mobile device from the wallet processor that the transaction is complete. 
     Transmitting the transaction identification from the wireless device to the customer mobile device of Step  63  comprises transmitting with a Bluetooth low energy communication. Further, transmitting the transaction identification from the wireless device to the customer mobile device may comprise transmitting with a near field communication. Further still, transmitting the transaction identification from the wireless device to the customer mobile device comprises transmitting data with a radio frequency communication. 
     Step  65  of sending an authorization for payment to the authorizer  28  may also include sending an authorization for payment to a payment gateway  27 . The payment gateway  27  may then send the authorization for payment to the authorizer(s)  28 . The payment gateway  27  may operate to control the sending of the authorizations to the authorizer(s)  28 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG.  1   , in performing the method  50 , the POS  26  creates a unique transaction/basket ID. The POS  26  may display a code, such as a one-dimensional barcode or QR code that includes the unique transaction/basket ID for the customer to capture with his or her mobile device operating the mobile application  22 . In some other embodiments, the unique transaction/basket ID may be transmitted wirelessly (e.g. BLE), to the customer&#39;s mobile device. 
     In order for the customer&#39;s mobile device to scan the code from the display, a customer may log in using the mobile application operating on the mobile device and navigates to a payment feature. The customer may then provide the Payment Authentication Code (e.g. PIN, password, etc.) in order to validate the payment feature. The customer may then capture transaction/basket ID from the code created by the POS  26 . 
     In order for the customer&#39;s mobile device to obtain the unique transaction/basket ID wirelessly, a wireless message is sent from the POS  26  to the mobile device of the customer. When the message is received, the customer is asked through the mobile device operating the mobile application  22  if he or she wishes to use the payment feature. If the customer wishes to use the payment feature, the customer may select so using the mobile application and the mobile application  22  automatically navigates to the payment feature and the customer may provide the Payment Authentication Code (e.g. PIN, password, etc.) in order to validate the payment feature. 
     The mobile application  22  alerts the wallet processor  24  of a pairing request, wherein the wallet processor  24  gathers customer/payment/card data and sends the customer/payment/card data to the POS  26 . The POS  26  completes scanning items and sends amount to authorize to wallet processor after verbal confirmation of the amount to be paid by the customer. 
     The wallet processor  24  uses the payment preferences, payment rules  21  and payment instruments to create one or more authorizations and sends them to the authorizer  28 . The wallet processor  24  then sends the responses to the POS  26 . The POS  26  completes the transactions and alerts the wallet processor  24  that the transaction is complete. The wallet processor  24  may then alert the mobile device that the transaction is complete in order to alert the customer. 
     In another embodiment, a customer may log in using a mobile application  22  and navigate to a payment feature. The customer may then provide Payment Authentication Code (e.g. PIN, password, etc.) in order to validate the payment feature. The mobile application  22  may then retrieve a transaction/basket ID from the wallet processor  24 . The mobile application  22  encodes the transaction/basket ID and displays either one-dimensional barcode or QR code having the transaction/basket ID. The POS  26  may then scan the transaction/basket ID. 
     The POS  26  alerts the wallet processor  24  of a pairing request, and the wallet processor gathers customer/payment/card data and sends the customer/payment/card data to the POS  26 . The POS  26  may complete scanning items and send an amount owed to be authorized to the wallet processor  24 . The wallet processor  24  uses the payment instruments stored in the payment accounts  16 , payment preferences  20  and payment rules  21  databases to create one or more authorizations and send them to the authorizer  28 . The wallet processor  24  sends responses to the POS  26 . The POS  26  completes the transaction and alerts the wallet processor  24  that the transaction is complete. The wallet processor  24  may then alert the mobile device that the transaction is complete in order to alert customer. 
     As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method, or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. 
     Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), solid-state drives (SSD), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wire-line, optical fiber cable, 
     RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
     Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a wireless network, a cellular data network, a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
     Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, cloud-based infrastructure architecture, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.