Patent Publication Number: US-2020293165-A1

Title: Language selection for electronic card transactions

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The exemplary embodiment relates to electronic payment transactions and finds particular application in connection with a system and method which allow a user to perform a transaction in the user&#39;s selected language. 
     Payment cards, such as credit cards, debit cards, ATM cards, and stored value cards, allow users to perform financial transactions, such as cash withdrawal, electronic funds transfer, and the like, at various transaction devices, such as ATMs and point of sale (POS) devices in shops, restaurants, at gas stations, etc. The card readers are electronic devices that can read plastic cards embedded with identifying data in the form of a magnetic strip, computer chip or another storage medium. Card readers may be contact-type or contactless. 
     In general, when a user pays for an item with a bank or credit card, the card is inserted into the transaction device and the language is assumed the same as that of the vendor. A user who is unfamiliar with the language may have difficulty in interacting with the device or may miss useful information, such as whether a tip has been automatically added. 
     It would be advantageous for a user to be able to interact with the transaction device in a chosen language. 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The following references, the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entireties by reference, are mentioned: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,315, issued Sep. 11, 2001, entitled CREDIT CARD SWIPE SYSTEM, by Calvi, describes an electronic credit card swipe system for taxis. A voice synthesizer recites the fare in both the local language and a selected one of a number of foreign language options. 
     US Pub. No. 20090138255A1, published May 28, 2009, entitled CUSTOMER FACING DEVICE HAVING LANGUAGE TRANSLATION CAPABILITIES, by Sterling, et al., describes a customer facing device (CFD) with language translation capabilities. Location information is extracted from the presentation instrument and used to determine a home language. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the exemplary embodiment, an electronic transaction device includes a transaction card reader which reads information from a transaction card. A language identification component identifies a language preference of a user of the card, based on the information read from the card. A template selection component which selects a language template, based on the identified language preference. A user interface generator uses the language template to generate a user interface for display to the user on an associated display device in the preferred language. A processor which implements the language identification component, template selection component, and user interface generator. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the exemplary embodiment, a method for conducting a transaction includes reading information from a transaction card, identifying a preferred language of a user of the card, based on the information read from the car, selecting a language template from a plurality of language templates, based on the identified preferred language, and using the selected language template to generate a user interface for display to the user on a display device in the preferred language. 
     One or more of the steps may be implemented by a processor. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the exemplary embodiment, a method for conducting a transaction includes providing for a transaction card user to select a preferred language from a plurality of languages. Information is stored on a transaction card or in memory accessible to multiple electronic transaction devices which enables the preferred language to be automatically identified. After storing the information, information is read from the transaction card and the preferred language of the user of the card is identified, based on the information read from the card. A language template is selected from a plurality of language templates, based on the identified preferred language and, the selected language template is used to generate a user interface for display to the user on a display device in the preferred language. 
     One or more of the steps may be implemented by a processor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of an electronic transaction device in accordance with one aspect of the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a payment screen on another transaction device; and 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a screen of the device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a method of performing a transaction in accordance with one aspect of the exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a transaction device  10 , such as an automated teller machine (ATM), or point of sale (POS) device, is configured for reading information from a payment card  12 , such as a credit card, debit card, ATM card, or stored value card, and conducting a financial transaction with a user, such as a payment for goods and/or services, a cash withdrawal, a transfer of funds between user accounts, or the like. The transaction device  10  communicates with the user in a natural language, such as English, French or the like via a user interface device  14 . Communication may include visual information (e.g., text, symbols) displayed on a screen  16 , aural (spoken) expressions output by a speaker  18 , combinations thereof, or the like. The user may interact with the device using a keypad  20 , soft buttons  22 , touchscreen  16 , microphone  24 , combination thereof, or the like. 
     The transaction device  10  includes a card reader  30 , such as a slot, touch pad, or the like for reading information that is stored on the payment card  12 , e.g. on a magnetic stripe  32 , and which may also write information to the payment card, e.g., to the same magnetic stripe  32  or to a different magnetic stripe. The card reader  30  may communicate the information to a control unit  34  via wired or wireless communication. In an exemplary embodiment, the payment card stores (e.g., in the magnetic stripe  32 ) a language preference  36  (or preferences) or other information from which the user&#39;s language preference can be determined. The card reader  30  reads the language preference (or preferences)  36  when the payment card  12  is brought into contact with or is in close proximity to the card reader  30 , e.g., in a similar manner to the way in which the card reader  30  reads user information stored on the card, such as a user identifier, such as an account number, user name, expiration date, or combination thereof. In one embodiment, a user identifier incorporates the language preference(s)  36 , e.g., as a sequence of digits. 
     The transaction device  10  may be configured to communicate with users of the device in a first or default mode, using a default language, which may be based on the location of the device, selected by the vendor, or the like. For example, an ATM or POS device located in England may be configured (e.g., with a stored default language template  40 ) to communicate with a user in English. The transaction device  10  may alternatively or additionally be configured to communicate with users of the device in a second mode, using a user-selected language, which may be deduced from the language preference(s)  36 , stored on the payment card  12 , or otherwise. For example, an ATM or POS device in England may be configured (e.g., with one or more stored templates  42 ) to communicate with a user in the user&#39;s preferred language, such as French or Spanish. Once the user&#39;s preferred language has been identified, all future communications with the user, including a printed receipt  44 , may employ the user&#39;s preferred language. 
     In some instances, the user may be permitted to select more than one preferred language. This may be useful, for example, if the user has some familiarity with the default language and/or does not wish to rely solely on a potentially unreliable translation. In this case, the transaction device may display or otherwise output text/speech in both languages, e.g., side by side, through split screens, or the like, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Similarly, the receipt may  44  be printed in two languages. 
     In some embodiments, e.g., where transactions are fairly simple, a set of stored templates  40 ,  42 , etc., one for each of a set of different languages, may be stored on the device  10  and/or accessed, as needed from a remote server  46 . In other embodiments, for example, where the transaction involves displaying a set of purchased items or services, the transaction device  10  may incorporate a machine translation system  48 , e.g., in local memory  50  and/or may access a remote translation service  52 . The translation service  52  may be hosted by a remote server, such as server  46 , which is accessible to the transaction device  10  via wired or wireless links  56 , such as a local area network, or a wide area network, such as the Internet. 
     In one embodiment, the language preference(s)  36  of the cardholder may be selected prior to activation of the card  12 , such that the language preference is prestored on the card when it is issued to the user. The user may be provided with a user interface, for example, on the issuing card&#39;s website, where the user selects the language preference(s)  36  prior to issuance of the card. 
     In another embodiment, the language preference(s)  36  of the cardholder may be selected at activation of the card  12 . For example, when telephoning the payment card company to activate the payment card, the user may be prompted to select a preferred language. For example, automated voice recognition or the letter codes on the telephone keypad may be used to select the user&#39;s language preference(s). The language preference(s) may subsequently be stored onto the card  12  when the user uses the card at a bank ATM. Alternatively or additionally, the language preference(s)  36  may be stored in remote memory that is accessible to the transaction device  10  and to other transaction devices. 
     In another embodiment, when the payment card  12  is used at an ATM or other transaction device  10  for the first time, the transaction device may detect that the card is not associated with a preferred language and prompt the user to select a language, e.g., by displaying a set of languages or symbols (e.g., country flags) which the user can click on to select a language. The language preference(s)  36  may then be stored in the card and/or remote memory that is accessible to the transaction device  10  and to other transaction devices. The language selection can thus be similar to selection of a new pin on an ATM device. In the present case, the user may opt to change the language preferences at any time. 
     In one embodiment, the language may be set by default as that of the card authorizing bank or the address of the user. The user can then change the language and/or add an additional language. 
     In another embodiment, the language preference may be deduced from the payment card, e.g., based on the location of the issuing bank, which may be encoded in the payment card number. The user can accept the default language or select a different language. 
     The illustrated electronic transaction device  10  includes various software instructions  60  stored in control unit memory  50 , which are executed by an associated processor  62 . One or more input/output (I/O) devices  64 ,  66  allow the control unit  34  to communicate with external devices, such as user interface device  14  and server  46 . Hardware components  50 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  may communicate via a data/control bus  68 . 
     The instructions  60  may include a language identification component  70 , a template selection component  72 , a user interface generator  74 , such as a graphical user interface (GUI) generator, and optionally a receipt generator  76 . The language identification component  70  identifies the user&#39;s language preferences  36 , based on the information  32  stored on the card  12  and may update the information stored on the card if the user inputs a new language preference via the user interface device  14 . The template selection component  72  selects an appropriate one or more of the stored templates  40 ,  46 , based on the identified preferences  36 . The user interface generator  74  uses the selected template(s) to generate a GUI  78  on the display  16  and populates fields  80  in the display as the user proceeds through a menu of options or otherwise provides inputs ( FIG. 2 ). The receipt generator  76  generates a receipt  44  in physical (e.g., paper) or electronic form summarizing the transaction. As will be appreciated, the instructions may include other instructions for conducting a transaction, securing or making a payment, recording details of the transaction and transmitting them to the card issuer, and the like. 
     As an example, a person from the UK pays from some food in a restaurant in Spain. Instead of the payment information and bill on the terminal  10  being in Spanish, as soon as the person&#39;s card is read, all the information is switched to English. Alternatively, the person can be asked to present their payment card first, as they do to vend fuel, and from that point onwards all the transactions are in the language of the payment card. With the language being stored on the card, or otherwise accessible to multiple transaction devices, the user does not need to select a preferred language each time he or she uses a new transaction device  10 . 
     If the user has selected both Spanish and English, or opts to have the default language displayed as well, the GUI can be a combination of two templates, e.g., in a split screen arrangement with two portions  82 ,  84  as shown in  FIG. 2 , allowing the user to interact with either template or use one as informative of the other. The user interface generator  74  may provide a mechanism  88  for a user to change or select preferred languages, e.g., as a set of soft buttons, a drop-down menu, or a speech-to-text converter, which receives a spoken selection of a language and identifies the selected language(s) based thereon. For example, through pressing button  88 , the user is able to navigate to a screen which allows language preferences to be set or changed at any time. 
     The portions  82 ,  84  of the GUI  78 , and also the portions of the receipt  44 , in the different languages may be formatted differently, such that the text and layout may not be a simple translation but configured based on local customs in the countries associated with the languages. For example, the prices shown in the French filled template  84  include tax, while those on the English portion  82  have the tax shown separately. Templates for a localized format and content can be retrieved from the server  42  for use in the presentation of the information to the customer. The control unit  34  may also or alternatively produce voice information for the customer, based on the language. 
     As will be appreciated, the different language portions  82 ,  84  may be combined or otherwise arranged on the GUI, as illustrated, for example, in  FIG. 3 . 
     During operation of the transaction device  10 , the I/O interface  64  may communicate with one or more of the display device  16 , for displaying information to users, speaker  18 , microphone  24 , user input device  20 , for receiving user selections and other inputs, card reader  30  and other hardware components of the device  10 , such as a cash dispenser  90 , a receipt printer  92 , a dispenser of items or services (e.g., as in a self-service kiosk which displays a set of items for the user to select from or which provides a service, such as printing and/or copying), an item scanner (e.g., as in a grocery store, where barcodes of items to be purchased by a user are scanned), and the like. The network interface  66  allows the computer to communicate with other devices via a computer network, such as a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), or the internet, and may comprise a modulator/demodulator (MODEM) a router, a cable, and/or Ethernet port. 
     The control unit  34  may include one or more computing devices, such as a dedicated computing device, a PC, such as a desktop, a laptop, tablet or palmtop computer, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a server computer, a cellular telephone, combination thereof, or other computing device capable of executing instructions for performing the exemplary method. 
     The memory  50  may represent any type of non-transitory computer readable medium such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), magnetic disk or tape, optical disk, flash memory, or holographic memory. In one embodiment, the memory  50  comprises a combination of random access memory and read only memory. In some embodiments, the processor  62  and memory  50  may be combined in a single chip. Memory  50  stores instructions for performing the exemplary method as well as processed data, such as language preferences and transaction details. 
     The digital processor device  62  can be variously embodied, such as by a single-core processor, a dual-core processor (or more generally by a multiple-core processor), a digital processor and cooperating math coprocessor, a digital controller, or the like. The digital processor  62 , in addition to executing instructions  60  may also control the operation of the control unit. 
     The term “software,” as used herein, is intended to encompass any collection or set of instructions executable by a computer or other digital system so as to configure the computer or other digital system to perform the task that is the intent of the software. The term “software” as used herein is intended to encompass such instructions stored in storage medium such as RAM, a hard disk, optical disk, or the like, and is also intended to encompass so-called “firmware” that is software stored on a ROM or the like. Such software may be organized in various ways, and may include software components organized as libraries, Internet-based programs stored on a remote server or so forth, source code, interpretive code, object code, directly executable code, and so forth. It is contemplated that the software may invoke system-level code or calls to other software residing on a server or other location to perform certain functions. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a transaction method which may be performed using the device of any one of  FIGS. 1 to 3 . The method begins at S 100 . 
     At S 102  a graphical user interface is displayed on a first transaction device  10  in a default language. 
     If at S 104 , a user&#39;s selected languages are stored on the transaction card  12  or are automatically accessible from a remote server  46  when the card is presented, then at S 106 , the user&#39;s language preference(s) is are/detected from the card/server. 
     Otherwise, at S 108 , the user may be provided with a mechanism  88  to select the preferred languages, for example, as a set of language options displayed on the user interface device  14 . At S 110 , the user&#39;s language preference(s) is are/detected from the user&#39;s inputs and at S 112 , may be stored to the card or to a remote server accessible to multiple transaction devices for future use on the same or a second transaction device  10 . 
     Once S 108 -S 112  have been performed on one transaction device, these steps can be omitted the next time the card is used on the same or a different transaction device. 
     In some embodiments, at S 114 , provision is made for a user to select or change a language preference at the user&#39;s discretion, in a similar manner to changing the user&#39;s pin. For example, the interface provides for a user to navigate to a menu for “set or change preferred language” through which the user is able to select from a plurality of languages. Using the menu, the user is able to is select or change the language preference(s), e.g., by adding a language preference or preferences and or removing a language preference or preferences. For example, the user may wish to add a language so that receipts can be read by the cardholder&#39;s employer or a family member. The method then proceeds to S 110 , where changes to the user&#39;s language preferences are detected and at S 112 , stored on the user&#39;s card or at a remote server. 
     At S 116 , a transaction is conducted in the identified language(s). 
     At S 118 , a receipt  44  summarizing the transaction may be output in the identified language(s), e.g., in paper or electronic form. 
     The method ends at S 120 . 
     The method illustrated in  FIG. 4  may be implemented in a computer program product that may be executed on a computer. The computer program product may comprise a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which a control program is recorded (stored), such as a disk, hard drive, or the like. Common forms of non-transitory computer-readable media include, for example, floppy disks, flexible disks, hard disks, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic storage medium, CD-ROM, DVD, or any other optical medium, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, or other memory chip or cartridge, or any other non-transitory medium from which a computer can read and use. The computer program product may be integral with the control unit  34  (for example, an internal hard drive of RAM), or may be separate (for example, an external hard drive operatively connected with the control unit  34 ), or may be separate and accessed via a digital data network such as a local area network (LAN) or the Internet (for example, as a redundant array of inexpensive or independent disks (RAID) or other network server storage that is indirectly accessed by the control unit  34  via a digital network). 
     Alternatively, the method may be implemented in transitory media, such as a transmittable carrier wave in which the control program is embodied as a data signal using transmission media, such as acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications, and the like. 
     The exemplary method may be implemented on one or more general purpose computers, special purpose computer(s), a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit elements, an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, a hardwired electronic or logic circuit such as a discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device such as a PLD, PLA, FPGA, Graphics card CPU (GPU), or PAL, or the like. In general, any device, capable of implementing a finite state machine that is in turn capable of implementing the flowchart shown in  FIG. 4 , can be used to implement the method for conducting a transaction in a preferred language of a card user. As will be appreciated, while the steps of the method may all be computer implemented, in some embodiments one or more of the steps may be at least partially performed manually. As will also be appreciated, the steps of the method need not all proceed in the order illustrated and fewer, more, or different steps may be performed. 
     The device and method find application in a variety retail, kiosk and vending environments. Once the language preferred is selected by the user, the method can proceed without further language inputs from the user in future transactions. 
     It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.