Patent Publication Number: US-2018039981-A1

Title: System for receiving value from an electronic cash register to an electronic value system using a user device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of provisional Patent Application No. 62/202,809 filed Sep. 8, 2015. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a currency conversion and value storage system. In particular, the invention relates to a system for converting currency received during a point of sale transaction into electronic value using an electronic cash register communicating with a user device that updates a user account based on the currency value received. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Millions of currency consumer transactions occur daily throughout the world. These transactions often involve the exchange of currency for the items to be purchased. In the modern and evolving world, currency has had many transformations from paper and coinage to electronic currency to include bitcoins. Electronic currency may be separated into many forms including mediums such as a debit, credit, gift card, or the like. Additionally, currency exchanges may occur electronically through the Internet or through systems such as Apple Pay®, Google Wallet®, and the like. The advantage of these electronic transactions is that there is no residual paper or coin currency. 
     Forty-percent of all consumer transactions in the United States at the present time are conducted with currency (hereinafter “cash”), specifically the U.S. dollar. Two-thirds of all transactions under ten dollars are conducted with cash. During a consumer transaction, a consumer selects an item to purchase and exchange, cash for the item. In many cases, if not most, the consumer exchanges cash greater than the price of the item and will receive the residual cash back in the form of paper and coins. Many people place the residual coins and small denominations of paper in ash trays or consoles of vehicles, change jars and all other means of storage. Receiving the residual coins and small paper denominations are a hassle to a consumer, because it falls out of pockets, it is heavy, it accumulates in strange places, and is nearly impossible to accumulate and keep track of. 
     To address the residual cash issue, the current invention allows users to convert physical cash from a point of sale transaction into an electronic value that resides in a user&#39;s account. This value remains in the account until the user decides to redeem the value for example by making purchases with traditional or online retailers. Additionally, a portion of the value of the account may be transferred to organizations like charities. By converting the residual amount of cash into electronic value it eliminates the problem of storage and tracking of loose change and also the conversion of that change into larger denominations of currency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a system for converting residual currency from an electronic cash register transaction into electronic value that a user may use later. The user may purchase items or services or donate accumulated value to different organizations that have accounts. Under the current state of the art, a user selects an item to purchase, the attendant rings up the purchase using an electronic cash register and the electronic cash register calculates the amount of cash to return to the user. The attendant then hands the residual cash to the user which may be in the form of coinage or paper. 
     The present invention allows users to covert physical cash from an electronic cash register sales transaction into an electronic value that resides in a user&#39;s account for later use. The present invention allows a user to select an item to purchase, the attendant rings up the sale using an electronic cash register and the electronic cash register calculates the amount of cash to return to the user. Then user decides if they want cash or would like the attendant to transfer the value of the residual cash from the electronic cash register to the user&#39;s account through the user device, using methods including but not limited to wired, wireless, coding using Universal Product Code (UPC) and/or quick response codes (QRC) and magnetic cards. 
     This conversion may be performed using an electronic cash register or similar point of sale “POS” devices and user device(s) including but not limited to smartphones, tablets and the like. Once the value transfer has occurred, then the user account is updated and reconciled by the system using retailer and user information. The user account shows the increase in the user account balance. 
     As users accumulate value in their user accounts they will want to make purchases with these accumulated amounts. A user may make purchases with the value maintained in the user account with traditional or online retailers. The user may also use the account to make donations to national organizations and charities such as United Way, Ronald McDonald House, and many others or donations to a local church, club or school parents-teacher organization. Additionally, a user may transfer value to a virtual currency such as BitCoin. The organizations may set up organizational accounts that similarly function as a user account so they can receive and expend the value in the organization account. 
     Retailers may enter into the currency conversion system through revenue-sharing relationships and networking with the system server allowing the retailers to transfer value to and from the user&#39;s or organization&#39;s account. Additionally, the retailers may encourage the users through advertisements delivered to user&#39;s devices. Retailers may also utilize geo-fencing and geo-targeting to encourage the user to purchase items when users are in close proximity to a retailer 
     The present invention fulfills the need for converting residual currency from a consumer transaction into an electronic value for the user to utilize in the future for a possible consumer transaction. It eliminates the need to store and track loose currency such as coinage and eliminates the need to convert from small denominations into larger denominations for ease of transport and storage. 
     There have thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of the payment system. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a system configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the contents of a version of a database. 
         FIG. 4  is a process flow diagram illustrating one method for creating a user account. 
         FIG. 5  is a process flow diagram illustrating one method for creating an organizational account. 
         FIG. 6  is a process flow diagram illustrating one method for a user to configure their account. 
         FIG. 7  is a process flow diagram illustrating one method for selecting a user action. 
         FIG. 8  is a process flow diagram illustrating one method of the automatic payment process. 
         FIG. 9  is a process flow diagram illustrating one method for sales transaction. 
         FIG. 10  is a process flow diagram illustrating one method for location notification. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagrammatic illustration of geofencing using the currency conversion system. 
         FIG. 12  is a view of one embodiment of a electronic cash register communication module. 
         FIG. 13  is a view of one embodiment of a user device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of a currency conversion system  100  according to the present invention. This preferred embodiment may include an electronic cash register  102 , a communication module  104 , a user device  106 , a user  124 , an attendant  126 , a user device wireless communication path  112 , a redemption outlet server  114  and a retail store server  108 . Other embodiments may include wired, wireless, and hybrid networks and other internet  214  implementations. The user device  106  may be selected from a desktop, a laptop, and a smart mobile device where the smart mobile device may include a smart phone, tablet, watch, and card. 
     In a cash transaction using the system, a user  124  enters the retail store  122  and desires to purchase a good or service (hereinafter “item”) from the retailer wherein user  124  selects the item and engages the attendant  126  at the counter where they start the sales transaction. The attendant  126  uses the electronic cash register  102  to determine and provide the user  124  with the price of the item. The user  124  then provides the attendant  126  with currency to purchase the item. Upon purchasing the item, there may be residual currency due the user  124  that is in excess of the price paid for the item. In the current state of the art, at the end of the sales transaction action, the attendant  126  would likely band the user  124  the residual currency possibly containing loose coins and small denomination bills. The user  124  would then place the coins in their pocket or in the ashtray, console, or drink holder of the car or some other place for it to be collected over time requiring it to be converted to larger denomination bills for ease of use. 
     However, with the present embodiment the currency conversion system  100  allows the attendant  126  at the request of the user  124  to convert the residual currency to electronic value through the electronic cash register  102  and transfer that value to the user&#39;s  124  account directly or via a user device  106 . Additionally, information associated with the sales transaction may also be transferred to the user device  106 . This transfer may occur using the electronic cash register  102  and the cash register&#39;s communication module  104  wherein it communicates with the user device  106  by one of several methods discussed later in  FIGS. 12 and 13  and provides the user  124  with the value of the residual currency that they were to receive from the sales transaction. 
     The user device  106  may transfer the sales data including the residual value to the redemption outlet server  114  via a user device wireless communications path  112 . The redemption outlet server  114  receives the data from the user device  106  and adds the sales data to the value in the user&#39;s account within the database  210  described in  FIG. 2 . 
     The electronic cash register  102  may communicate with the retail store server  108  wirelessly through the retail store communication path  110 . The retail store server  108  may be housed locally inside the retail store  122  or may be housed remotely at another location. The communication may also be conducted using a wired path between the electronic cash register  102  and the retail store server  108 . The retail store server  108  may then communicate with the redemption outlet server  114  through a wireless or wired redemption outlet server communication path  116  via Internet  214  and transfer sales transaction data  304  to the redemption outlet server  114 . Alternately, the electronic cash register may communicate directly  117  with the redemption outlet server  114  to provide the sales data. Once the user device  106  and the electronic cash register  102  have communicated with the redemption outlet server  114  transferring sales data, the redemption outlet server  114  reconciles and updates the user&#39;s  124  account in the database  210 . This update may be viewed on the user device  106 . 
     The redemption outlet server  114  may be connected to a redundant server  120  through a redundant communication path  118  where the same information resides on both servers and if one of the servers was to fail that information then would be backed up on the other server. This redundant communication path  118  allows for the redemption outlet server  114  and redundant server  120  to be in constant communication and exchanging and updating data. Additionally, the redundant server  120  may also perform as a regional server where in the retailers and users  124  within a region would utilize a regional server and their information would be stored within that regional server database and provide more tailoring of the system based on the regional preferences. This may prevent the need for a single a massive database on a single server in a single location likely decreasing the speed and responsiveness to the user  124  but would instead allow for multiple databases based on the purchasing habits of the user  124  within a specific region or area of the country. For example, in the state of Oklahoma, a user  124  may consistently purchase items from 7-Eleven® whereas a different user  124  living in Texas may purchase items from a Quick Trip®, and having regional server databases that are specific to the areas would simplify the type of database and the size of the database and may also prevent or minimize the possibilities of interruptions of service. 
     In the present invention, the residual currency from a sales transaction may be converted into electronic value. Additionally, a user  124  that has additional currency may have the attendant  126  add the value of the additional currency to the residual currency before converting it to electronic value. For example, if a user  124  bought a item from a retailer and had a residual currency of 50 cents but also had 75 cents in their pocket that they no longer wanted to carry around, they may ask the attendant  126  to add $0.75 it to the residual value of 50 cents thereby converting the value into $1.25 of electronic value. In the alternative, the user device  106  may ask if the user  124  wanted to add additional value to the account and provide directions on how to do so. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an alternative system configuration  200 . This embodiment may include a user  124 , a user device  106 , an electronic cash register  102 , a retail store server  108 , the internet  214 , an organization  216 , a redundant server  120 , and the redemption outlet server  114 . 
     A user device  106  allows the user  124  to receive value from a retailer via the electronic cash register  102  and the communication module  104 . It wirelessly communicates with the redemption outlet server  114  providing sales information. The user device  106  may also allow the user  124  to perform functions, including but not limited to, checking electronic value balances, updating account configurations, setup automatic payment process, and control location updating. The user device  106  has a hardware component and a software component that may be in the form of a mobile application, though the software component may not be permanently installed on a user device  106 . 
     The hardware component of the user device  106  may be a smartphone or other mobile device such as a Blackberry®, a tablet, or similar devices. One embodiment of the user device  106  is further described in  FIG. 13 . The user  124  communicates with the user device  106  and network  214  using a software component of the user device  106 , The software component of the user device  106  preferably consists of a graphical user interface (GUI) or a mobile application that allows a device to connect to through the network  214  to a website hosted on the redemption outlet server  114 . The user  124  GUI may consist of a standard internet web browser such as Internet Explorer®, Firefox Mozilla®, etc., in communication with the system website GUI. The mobile application on the user device  106  may be a software program tailored to its specific mobile device platform and, if installed on the user device  106 , is preferably downloadable via the web site by the user  124 . This combination of hardware and software enables a user  124  to interface with the redemption outlet server  114  via the user device  106 . 
     A user device  106  may be able to provide a user&#39;s  124  location to the system  100  if the user  124  has an automatic positioning capability and allows the system  100  to automatically track their location. The application may ask the user  124  if they will allow the location information to transmitted back to the system. The automatic positioning capability can come in one of many forms; multilateration, triangulation, global positioning, WI-FI or a hybrid system incorporating two or more of the foregoing technologies. 
     Multilateration and triangulation are ground-based methods by which a user&#39;s  124  location is determined by series of radio towers communicating with the mobile device, using the time difference of arrival (TDOA) or angle of arrival (AoA) measurements respectively, to determine a user&#39;s  124  location. 
     Global positioning uses a satellite navigation system known as Globalnaya navigatsionnaya sputnikovaya sistema or GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS) operated by the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces systems spaced-based or the Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging System (NAVSTAR) Global Positioning System (GPS) operated by the United States. Both systems use satellites to provide location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more satellites. 
     Wi-Fi-based positioning system uses a database of Wi-Fi access points where the location is determined by the signal strength between the mobile device and the known locations of these access points in the database. Based on this information, the location can be determined by combining this data and locating a common intersection point. The more access points the greater the accuracy of the location of the user  124 . This system is particularly useful in urban areas with high-rise buildings preventing the line of sight needed for GPS and the user  124  being indoors. 
     The hybrid positioning system uses a combination of the above positioning systems described to supplement the other systems to create a location solution. For example, one hybrid mode may be the “Assisted GPS” mode where the device may only have access to three satellites and the other system provides the remaining piece of location information in order to determine the user&#39;s  124  current location. If the user  124  decides not to allow the automatic positioning system to be utilized, then the user  124  may not be subject to geo-fencing and geo-targeting as described in  FIG. 10 . 
     An electronic cash register  102  is a system designed to enable items to be sold at a retail outlet. Electronic cash registers  102  calculate sales transactions and they help retailers track sales, collect purchase data, collect inventory data and much more. Moreover they may send data to sales and inventory software after the sale is complete to a retail store server  108  for updating and storing on the store&#39;s database  210 . The electronic cash register  102  may be connected to a retail store server  108  where the sales data collected maybe stored. Most electronic cash registers  102  consist of a keyboard that is used to input entries, a scanner of some sort, a drawer that is used to hold cash, a printing device for receipts and an internal computer and software. Additionally, electronic cash registers  102  may perform additional functions, including but not limited to, the ability to process credit cards, conduct check verification, and use technologies such as Apple Pay®, Google Wallet®, etc. An electronic cash register  102  is well-known in the art and is incorporated by reference. 
     A retail store server  108  may have a similar internal configuration as a redemption outlet server  114 . See below for a detailed description. One purpose of the retail store server  108  may include but is not limited to the storing of the sales data, calculating profits and losses, determining inventory, predictive ordering and employee information. in a larger company, the retail store server  108  may communicate with other company servers transferring the data back and forth to provide the company headquarters visibility on the retailers operations. In the current invention, this retail store server  108  and/or the electronic cash register  102  may communicate and transfer sales data to the redemption outlet server  114 . 
     The organization  216  process allows multiple organizations to be part of the system  100 . These organizations  216  may be national organizations such as the American Red Cross, United Way or Ronald McDonald House, local groups such as a local church, club or school parent teacher organization, fraternity, and single events such as funding summer camp for boy scouts that may not be able to attend otherwise. The organizations  216  may function in the same way that users  124  operate but with an additional step. The organization  216  must setup an account such that they may be visible to users  124  and users  124  may be able to direct donations to the organization&#39;s  216  account. 
     The redundant server  120  would act as a backup server to the redemption outlet server  114  in case of failure. There may be more than one redundant server  120  networked into the system  100 . It would be apparent to one skilled in the art the number of redundant servers  120  required for the system  100 . The redundant server  120  may be configured the same as the redemption outlet server  114 . See below for the detailed description of the redemption outlet server  114 . The redundant server  120  may be in constant communication with the redemption outlet server  114  receiving and transmitting data to keep the databases  210  updated and the redundant server  120  should provide at a minimum the same functionality as the redemption outlet server  114 . 
     The system hardware of the redemption outlet server  114  may consist of a web server  202 , a data bus  212 , a communications section  204 , a maintenance interface  206 , storage  208 , and a database  210 . Each of these components will be described in further detail below however the delineation of these components does not indicate that the objective of the system could not be accomplished in other ways. For example, a data bus  212  is expected to be used but it is not an element of the claims and thus its function could be accomplished by another configuration of hardware or software components as an example. 
     The web server  202  provides bidirectional communication to the network  214 . The web server  202  may host the system web site in order to deliver web content to the users  124  which can be accessed through the network  214 . This web server  202  controls the user&#39;s  124  access. The users  124  may access the different functions of the web server  202  including but not limited to user account creation  400 , organization account creation  500 , user account configuration  600 , various user actions  700 , the payment process  800 , and the sales transaction  900 . The web server  202  allows a user  124  to create an account via the user account creation process  400  described later in  FIG. 4  in greater further detail. The web server  202  is the interface between the network  214  and the redemption outlet server  114  which communicates with the rest of the components in redemption outlet server  114  via a data bus  212 . 
     The data bus  212  provides the data highway between all the components within the redemption outlet server  114 . The communication section  204  in conjunction with the data bus  212  control the inward information flow coming from the web server  202  in the form of user  124  actions and inputs that need to be acted upon by the redemption outlet server  114  to the outward information flow as created by the responses to the actions requested by the user  124 . Additionally, the communications section  204  controls the information flow to and from a database  210  and the storage  208  device and maintenance interface  206 . Additionally, the webserver  202  is the interface between user device  106  and the redemption outlet server  114  and the retail store server  108  and redemption outlet server  114  processing sales transaction data  304  from both. The sales transaction data  304  is reconciled within the redemption outlet server  114  and the user  124  account is updated to reflect the new value balance. 
     A system maintenance interface  206  enables system administrators to update, upgrade the system, provide normal system maintenance, and provide administrative functions for the web site and system. One of these features is the ability of the administrator to control access to users  124 , retailers, and organizations  206  based on factors including but not limited to abuse or failure to follow the terms and conditions. The maintenance interface  206  also allows the modification and addition of elements to tables and tables to the database  210 . 
     Storage  208  provides a location to store the redemption outlet server  114  operating system, the web server  202  software including the mobile application interface, the database  210  information including the associated tables for the database  210 . The physical configuration may be in the form of a solid state or a spinning mass hard drive or a combination thereof. Additionally, the cloud may be used as a storage medium for some of the system information. It would be apparent to one skilled in the art, the optimal physical configuration based on space, funding, and other common factors associated with electronic storage. Though the storage device  208  is shown separate from the database  210  in  FIG. 2 , it should be understood that the database  210  and other system data may be maintained on the storage device  208 . Further, different types of computer storage may be encompassed within the storage device  208 . The system may use a hard drive for some types of data storage and chip-based memory for other types of storage. It would be apparent to one skilled in the art the type of electronic storage the system would require to operate at effectively. 
     The database  210  stores all the user profiles and history records  302  and sales transaction data  304 . The database  210  is preferably comprised of a set of tables, including but not limited to, a user profiles and history records  302  table, and a sales transaction data  304  table. Each table is described in further detail below. Generally, once a user  124  has completed a sales transaction, the data associated with the sales transaction are added to the database  210  via the user device  106 , each table accepts its piece of data transferred from the electronic cash register  102  via the communication module  104  to the user device  106  and is stored within each table and associated with a single record. This configuration may allow all the associated data to be retrieved by a user  124 , and may allow a retailer and an organization  216  to retrieve a limited data set based on a query. 
     Additionally in the system configuration  200 , an organization may also create an account wherein they may be the recipient of excess currency from users  124 . The organization  216  would set up an account as would a user  124  however the organization  216  may receive donations from users  124  wherein they designate a certain amount of funds to go to a specific organization  216 . This process and method as to how the organization  216  will receive funds is described later. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the database structure  300  and its associated tables. Each time a user  124  executes a sales transaction, a unique record is created within the database  210 . The database  210  in a preferred embodiment may be divided into two tables: A user profile and history table  302  and a sales transaction data table  304 . The user profile data table  302  may be populated by user-entered data which is compiled to create each of these tables. Other information within the user profile table  302  may receive information that is computer generated or that is system generated. For example, a computer-generated piece of data would be the user timestamp  316  which may come from the internal clock of the redemption outlet server  114  or it may be received from the network  214 . Additionally within the user profile  302 , the account balance  320  is calculated through the reconciliation of the sales transaction data  304  to provide a running account balance. 
     The user profile and history data table  302  may consist of a user name  306 , an account identifier  308 , a user phone number  310 , a user email address  312 , a user mailing address  314 , a user timestamp  316 , security information  318 , and an dynamic account balance  320 . The information for the user profile and history data table  302  is described in further detail in  FIG. 4 . The sales transaction data table  304  may comprise a location  322 , a transaction number  324 , a transaction type  326 , transaction timestamp  328 , retailer identifier  330 , value amount  332 , the date  334 , the local currency  336 , and the item purchased  338 . The information for the sales transaction data table  304  is described in further detail in  FIG. 9 . The elements in the user profile and history  302  and the sales transaction data  304  are the preferred elements but one skilled in the art may add additional elements to these tables and could possibly increase the number of tables with other elements as required. 
     Each time a user  124  executes a sales transaction the data from that transaction is parsed and placed in the elements in the appropriate table as described above. The method by which this data is obtained for the user profile and history table  302  is further described in  FIG. 4  user account creation  400 . 
     After user  124  executes a sales transaction, then several pieces of information will be gathered that will then be parsed and placed in the transaction data table specifically, these may include, location of the transaction  322 , transaction number  324 , the transaction type  326  such as a good or service, transaction timestamp  328 , the retailer identifier  330  identifying which store or chain of stores where the transaction took place, the value amount  332  that was returned to the user  124 , the date  334  on which the transaction occurred, the local currency  336  in which the transaction was performed and the items purchased  338 . The redemption outlet server  114  will then create a transaction number  324  associated with this transaction and a transaction timestamp  328  associated with this transaction based on the information received from the user device  106  or the information received from the retailer. The transaction type  326  may be established by one skilled in the art and may have several categories defined in the redemption outlet server  114 . The items purchased element  338  may be used for geo-fencing and geo-targeting described later in  FIG. 10 . 
     The system may allow a user  124  to keep different values in their account if they travel to different locations that use different currency. The system  100  is designed to be a worldwide system, the system allows for currency to remain in its local denomination so that if a user is in Russia then value transferred would be in rubles. If you consistently travel to and from Russia from the United States, you may want separate accounts that retain currency in rubles and also in U.S. dollars. This may minimize the loss of value caused through constant exchange of currency for people who do considerable travel. The system  100  would be very advantageous to business travelers that tend to travel regularly to a specific location such as China because the user  124  could maintain the value in the account from when the user  124  was previously in China and avoid the losses associated therewith. As for one-time travelers, the system  100  may allow the user  124  to convert the value of the foreign currency into the desired currency based on the current exchange rates. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a method by which a user,  124 , may create an user account  402  and gain access to the functions of the system  100 . A user  124  account may be a single user account, an organization account, a group account, and/or a one-way account. The single user account is discussed herein and the other accounts will be further described in  FIG. 5 . A user  124  may select the user account creation  400  process to initiate the user account creation  402  upon entering a web site or mobile application. The user  124  may select a user name  404 , the user name preferably includes at least the first name and the last name and its associated password  406 . One skilled in the art may add different requirements for the username to improve security in the view of modern hacking and cyber intrusions. Additionally, the user  124  provides the required user data  408  in order to set up the account, which preferably includes, but is not limited to, the email address. The user  124  may add other optional user data  410  to their account, such as a mailing address and a home phone number or cell phone number. The user  124  may also select security data  412  in order to protect the user&#39;s  124  account and to verify that the user  124  is who they claim to be when they logon to the system  100 . Finally, the user  124  must accept terms of use and privacy policy  414  before the creation of the account  400 . After acceptance of the terms of use and privacy policy  414 , an account identifier  416  is generated, the user account is created and an account creation confirmation  418  is generated. After account creation confirmation  418 , the redemption outlet server  114  communication section  204 , may generate an account creation confirmation email  420  that is sent to the user  124  notifying the user  124  of the creation of their account. Additionally, a balance of zero may be placed in the account balance  320  and the action may be automatically timestamped  316  upon the completion of the user account creation process  400 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an organization account creation process  500  by which an organization  216  may create an organizational account  502  and allow a designated user of the organization  216  to utilize the system  100 . The organization account owner may include, but is not limited to, a formal organization, a group, a and/or family. These organization accounts may also be one-way accounts. A group account may be associated with groups such as Boy Scouts, local school bands, universities, colleges, or athletic teams. This group account may have several users  124  with multiple user devices  106  associated with the account. A family account is one form of a group account. For example, a family wanting the take a vacation may agree that any excess currency from sales transactions will be saved for the vacation. One member of the family may set up and control the account where multiple family users  124  may contribute to the account thereby building a desired value balance to be used for the vacation. Additionally, this family account may be one form of a one-way account where multiple family members may contribute to a single account but only one member has control of the account functions. In this form, the contributors will also be the beneficiaries of the family account. Another form of the one-way account is a charity account where charity organizations such as the United Way® may set up accounts and receive value transfers from users  124  not associated with the account other than as a contributor. Once the value is transferred, the contributor may have no input as to its use. Moreover, the users may or may not benefit from the contributions. The organization, group, and family accounts once created operate in a similar fashion as single user account. 
     This process is similar to the above user account creation process  400 . The designated organizational account user will be referred to as the “user  124 ” for simplicity purposes. The user  124  may create an organizational account  500  and gain access to the functions of the system  100  and receive donations. A user  124  may select the organization account creation  502  to initiate the process upon entering a website or mobile application. The user  124  may select a user name  504 , the user name consisting of at least the first name and the last name of the point of contact for the organization  216  and its associated password  506 . Additionally, the user  124  provides the required organizational data  508  in order to set up the account, which preferably includes, but is not limited to, the organization&#39;s  216  email address. The user  124  may add other optional organizational data  510  to their account, such as the organization&#39;s  216  mailing address and phone number. The user  124  may also select security data  512  in order to protect the organizational account and to verify that the user  124  is allowed to access and utilize the organizational account and that user  124  is who they claim to be when they logon to the system  100 . Finally, the user  124  must accept terms of use and privacy policy  514  before the creation of the account  500 . After acceptance of the terms of use and privacy policy  514 , an organizational identifier  516  is generated, the organizational account is created and an account creation confirmation  518  is generated. An additional step as compared to the user account creation process  400  is the verification of the organizations credentials  520  to verify that they are you they say they are. After verification of organizations credentials  520 , the redemption outlet server  114  communication section  204 , may generate an account creation confirmation email  522  that is sent to the user  124  notifying the user  124  of the creation of the organizational account. Additionally, a balance of zero may be placed in the account balance  320  and the action may be automatically timestamped  316  upon the completion of the organization account creation process  500 . After the organizational account is created, the point of contact or some other designated representative of the organization may allow multiple user devices to be associated with the organizational account. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the user account configuration process  600  where a user  124  may configure the settings in their account. The user  124  logs into the system  100  via a login  602  portal, which verifies their username  306  and the password credentials selected earlier in the user account creation process  400  or organizational account creation process  500 . After gaining access to the system  100 , the user  124  selects the configuration function  604  that they would like to modify. The user  124  may select from the following functions: payment protocols  606 , tracking  608  and fence perimeter  610 . Under the payment protocol  606 , a user  124  may configure payment schedules  612 , select payee  614  and set the limits  616 . The user  124  may select from predefined payment schedules  612  or customize the payment schedule  612  to suit the user&#39;s  124  need. Additionally, the user  124  may select payee  614  to be a designated receiver which may include the organizations  216  such as charities, credit card accounts, other accounts, and investment accounts. The user  124  may configure the payee such that the payee account is automatically connected to the user  124  account. The user  124  may set limits or triggers as to the amount that a payee may receive or when the account balance  320  reaches a certain desired level then the user&#39;s  124  account will automatically transfer a determined amount of value to a payee. The amount of value transferred may be a fixed amount, a percentage thereof or a calculated amount. 
     The tracking  608  function may be configured to allow the position of the user  124  to be continuously tracked as described previously and transmitted to the system  100 . The tracking  608  function allows the user  124  to opt-in or opt-out of the continuously tracking function. By activating tracking  608 , a retailer may use geofencing and geotargeting on the user  124 . Geofencing and Geotargeting will be discussed in detail in  FIG. 10 . 
     Additionally, the user  124  may set their own dynamic geofence for the user device  106  where the user  124  may select the diameter of the dynamic geofence and select the retailers for which the dynamic geofence is to apply. For this function to operate, tracking  608  may be activated but only automatic positioning discussed earlier is required. If the user  124  selects tracking  608 , then the user  124  may receive notifications and advertisements for the retailers in the system  100  anytime they cross a geofence but if the user  124  does not select tracking  608  then they may only receive notifications and advertisements for the retailers they selected. For example, a user  124  may set the dynamic geofence to five miles, select 7-11® retailers, and select push notifications then any time the user  124  passes within five miles of a 7-11® retailer, the user device  106  notifies the user  124  of the location, distance, and direction. Additionally, the user device  106  may notify the detected 7-11® retailer through the system  100  to push advertisements to the user  124 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the user actions  700  that are preferably available to a user  124 . The user  124  use a log-in portal to login  702  with a user name  404  and password  406 , which verifies the user&#39;s  124  credentials including the username and password, and the user  124  may select a desired user action  704  from one of the following: user payment account action  706 , receive currency payment  718 , and account maintenance  728 . 
     When a user  124  selects user payment account action  706  they preferably have three action choices: transfer payment  708 , account balance  714 , and payment account maintenance  716 . The transfer payment  708  action allows the user  124  to select either a wireless transfer payment  710  or a non-wireless transfer of payment  712 . By selecting a wireless transfer payment  710 , the user  124  may use a system similar to Apple Pay®, Google Wallet® and the like to electronically transfer the payment without physically connecting the user device  106  to the communications device  104 . However, the user  124  may select a non-wireless transfer payment  712  to make the transfer by connecting the user device  106  to the communication module  104  wherein the payment would be transferred over wires to the user device  106 . 
     The user  124  under the user payment account action  706  may select an account balance  714  function to view the current account balance  320  pending the reconciliation of the sales transaction data  304  and payment processes  800  and also project the pending balance based on the non-reconciled the transfers and payment. The user  124  may also select from the user payment account actions  706 , a payment account maintenance  716  to preferably perform functions set such as setting alerts for the account balance  320  as to when it is below a specified amount or when it is above a specified amount. The payment account maintenance  716  may also allow the user  124  to configure notifications based on receiving a payment from a specific retailer or a payment being transferred to a specific organization  216  or to a retailer automatically. 
     The user  124  may preferably select from the select user action  704  account maintenance  728 . Under account maintenance  728 , the user  124  may select updating password  730 , changing their profile information  732 , or even deleting their account  734 . These actions may be expand by one skilled in the art to cover additional functions that may be useful or required. 
     Another action a user  124  may select from the select user action  704  is the received value payment  718 . Within the received value currency payment  718 , there are preferably four methods by which a user  124  may receive payment and they are wireless transfer payment  720 , a scan code transfer payment  722 , a scan card transfer payment  724  and a wired transfer payment  726 . Under the receive currency payment  718  the wireless transfer payment  720  is similar to the wireless transfer payment  710  as seen in the user payment account action  706  wherein the user device  106  may use applications such as Apple Pay®, Google Wallet® and similar systems to perform the wireless transfer of a payment  720  from the attendant  126  to the user  124  via the attendant&#39;s  126  electronic cash register  102  and the communication module  104  and the user&#39;s  124  user device  106 . Other methods in addition to the ones described below to transfer the value wirelessly would be apparent to one skilled in the art and could include Bluetooth® or the like. 
     The user  124  may also receive currency payment  718  through a scan code transfer payment  722  using a universal product code (UPC) or a quick response code (QRC). The UPC is a one dimensional type of barcode that is widely used throughout the world especially in western countries for tracking items in stores. A UPC barcode in its most common form consists of unique 12 digit number assigned to a single item and encoded into the barcode. Thus when a barcode is scanned, information about a item is retrieved and displayed. The QRC is a type of matrix barcode or two-dimensional barcode and similar to the UPC in that it is scannable and contains data but the QRC has a greater storage capacity compared to standard UPC barcodes and has increased readability speed. Because of this increased storage capacity and speed more information may be included within the code without detrimentally affecting the system speed. The UPC and the QRC will be referred to as scan codes. The electronic cash register  102  may generate these scan codes with the sales transaction data  304  embedded within and then display on the communications module  104  the scan code. The user  124  may use the camera  1308  on the user device  106  to scan the code where the information is then decoded and the transaction data  304  applied to the user&#39;s  124  account. 
     Another method under the received currency payment function  718  is a scan card transfer payment  724  where a card with a magnetic strip is swiped in the communications module  104 . The communications module embeds the sales transaction data  304  into the magnetic strip. The scan card then is transferred to the user  124  where the scan card is swiped through the card reader/writer  1212  by the user  124  to transfer the sales data that was encoded on the magnetic strip on the card and that information is then applied to the user&#39;s  124  account. 
     Additionally as discussed above, a wired transfer payment  726  may also be performed using the electronic cash register  102 , a communication module  104  and the user device  106  wherein the user device  106  is physically connected to communication device wiring  1208  from the communication module  104  and the payment information is then transferred via the wired connection from the electronic cash register  102  to the user device  106 . 
       FIG. 8  is a process flow diagram illustrating one method of a preferred automatic payment process  800 . This method allows a user  124  to configure an automatic payment process  800  using the user&#39;s  124  account to transfer electronic value upon meeting certain conditions. The user  124  may select different payment protocols  606  based on the user  124  configuration of the payment schedule  612 , payee selection  614 , and the set limits or triggers  616 . 
     The user  124  selects payment protocol  802  wherein the user  124  verifies the limits/triggers  804  from the user account configuration process  600 . The redemption outlet server  114  compares the user account balance  320  to the limit/triggers  804  set by the user  124  and the user account balance  320  comparison step determines whether the user account has exceeded the limits/triggers  806 . If the user account balance  320  is within the limit/trigger then the process will create a loop checking the user account balance  320  until it exceed the limits/triggers  804 . The system  100  may be configured to constantly make the limits/triggers  804  comparison or may be set to only make the comparison after a sales transaction has occurred. Once the user account balance  320  has exceeded those limits the process continues to the next step where the payment is calculated  808 . Upon calculating payment  808 , the process continues where the system  100  makes the payment  810  to the selected payee from the payment protocols  606  configuration in  FIG. 6 . Upon transferring this payment, the user&#39;s account balance reduction  812  is accomplished to reflect the new user&#39;s account balance  320 . Then the user  124  may receive a notification of payment  814  from the redemption outlet server  114 . This is a preferable set of steps allows the user  124  to create an automatic payment process  800  where the user  124  sets up the criteria to execute the automatic payment. Multiple payment process  800  may be made from multiple payees. The amount of value paid may include, but is not limited to, a simple fixed amount, some percentage of the user&#39;s account balance, and some percentage of the balance above the set limit. There may be other methods to calculate the automatic payment apparent to one skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 9  is a process flow diagram illustrating one method for a sales transaction  900 . A sales transaction  900  starts by a user selecting an item  902  to purchase. The user  124  selects whether to pay with currency  904 . If the user  124  pays at the register with currency  906 , the electronic cash register  102  determine the excess currency from the transaction  908 . At this point in the sales transaction process  900 , the user  124  may want to add additional currency  910 . If the user  124  desires to add additional currency, the electronic cash register  102  will calculate the new currency balance  912  based on the additional currency that the user  124  has exchanged with the attendant  126 . After the additional currency has been added, the communication module  104  then transfers the excess currency to the user device  106  wherein that information is transmitted to the redemption outlet server  114 . If the user  124  chooses not to add any additional currency  910  to the existing excess currency, then the communication module  104  then transfers the excess currency to the smart device  914  or otherwise so that information is transmitted to the redemption outlet server  114 . Once that information is transmitted to the redemption outlet server  114 , the user account  924  is updated. The user  124  may make the decision not to pay with currency  904  but instead the user  124  may redeem at the register with the user account  918 . Upon redemption by the user  124 , the value is transferred from the user&#39;s device  106  to the communication module  104  through the transfer value to the electronic cash register step  920 . After the transfer, the users  124  account will be updated  924  to reflect the new account balance  320  minus the redemption of the selected item  902 . The user  124  may also choose to make a redemption online  916  at participating retailers. The redemption process is analogous to a common internet  214  purchase herein incorporated by reference with the exception that currency is not used. The user  124  selects an item for redemption, then they follow the retailer&#39;s redemption process and use the value in the account for redemption  922 . Upon transferring the value from the user account  124  to the retailer, the user account is updated  924 . 
       FIG. 10  is a process flow diagram illustrating one method for location notification  1000 . This location notification  1000  is initiated by the retailer setting the geofence perimeter  1002  around their location. The size of the geofence is determined by the retailer and their overall marketing scheme and the proximity of other similar retailers in the area. 
     A geofence is a virtual barrier. Geofencing is a software feature that uses GPS or radio frequency identification to define virtual geographical boundaries around a physical location. For example, a 7-11® retailer may set a five mile radius around a particular location virtually fencing it in. This geofencing allows a retailer to set up triggers so when a device enters (or exits) the boundaries defined by the geofence, a text message or email alert is sent to the user  124  via the user device  106 . Many geofencing applications may incorporate Google Earth®, allowing retailers to define boundaries on top of a satellite view of a specific geographical area. Other applications may define boundaries by longitude and latitude or through user  124  created and Web-based maps. 
     The next step track user and user-initiated detection  1004  allows the retailer to track the user  124  if the user  124  has opted-in in the tracking function  608  configuration step of the user account configuration  600 . The system  100 , the retailer store sever  108  or a system that would be apparent to one skilled in the art, may be used for the tracking, geofence penetration detection and notification. In tracking the user  124  the user&#39;s  124  position is constantly compared to the geofence perimeter to detect if the user  124  has penetrated the geofence  1006 . If the user  124  has not penetrated the geofence  1006  then process goes into a loop and continues checking for the geofence penetration by the user  124 . If the user  124  did penetrate the geofence, the system  100  detects the user&#39;s device intrusion  1008  and at that time the system may communicate with the user device  1010  and provide the location and direction  1012  to the retailer where the user  124  penetrated the retailer&#39;s geofence. The system  100  may check the user database  1014  and the sales transaction data  304  for the user  124 , to determine what they may have previously purchased from that specific retailer or a similar. The user may earn a preferred user status based on amounts, frequency, and locations of use, which provide additional benefits from the geotargeting retailer. After determining items that the user  124  is likely to purchase based on previous spending habits, the items are compared to the current discounted items  1016  and then the user  124  may be geotargeted by providing a tailored notification of the suggested discounted items to be purchased  1018  to the user  124 . If there are no discounted items available, the user  124  may be geotargeted with either currently discounted items, previously purchased items or new items  1020 . The user  124  has the suggested items displayed on user device  1022 . Geotargeting is an active response to a geolocation of a user  124  where a retailer is able to send a tailored message to the users  124  via text or email based on their location at a given moment in time. Additionally, geotargeting allows a retailer to detect the proximity of the user&#39;s  124  location and then geotarget that user  124  based on items they normally would purchase at that specific retailer and provide notifications to the user  124  for possibly discounting selected items if they use the value maintained in their accounts for the purchase. An alternative to geotargeting, is a notification sent to the user  124  concerning all the items on sale without any specific reference to their buying habits. 
       FIG. 11  is a diagrammatic illustration of geofencing using the currency conversion system  1100 . In this diagrammatic illustration, the user  124  is in a user vehicle  1104  with a user device  106 . Additionally, there are four retailers in this presentation. Retailer 1 is  1108  and has set up a geofence around their location and is designated retailer 1 geofence  1110 . Retailer 2 ( 1112 ) is within proximity of Retailer 1 ( 1108 ) and has a Retailer 2 geofence  1114  where the two fences intersect. Retailer 3 ( 1116 ) is in proximity of Retailer 1 ( 1108 ) and Retailer 2 ( 1112 ) and has a Retailer 3 geofence  1118  set up for their location also. The last retailer, Retailer 4 ( 1120 ) is not located within proximity of Retailer 1 ( 1108 ), Retailer 2 ( 1112 ) or Retailer 3 ( 1116 ) but has set up a Retailer 4 geofence  1122  around their retail location. The user&#39;s vehicle  1104  will follow a path  1102  passing near the retailers&#39; locations. Inside the user vehicle  1104  is the user  124  and the user device  106  with a user device geofence  1106  set. 
     The user  124  while in the vehicle  1104  follows the path  1102  and penetrates Retailer&#39;s 1 geofence at the first geofence penetration point  1124 . Upon this penetration into the Retailer 1 geofenced area  1110 , the Retailer 1 ( 1108 ) is notified of the penetration where Retailer 1 ( 1108 ) may geotarget the user  124  as previously described in in  FIG. 10 . Instead of geotargeting the user  124 , Retailer 1 ( 1108 ) may generally send general advertising information to the user  124  which was previously described above. 
     As the user  102  in the vehicle  1104  continues along the path  1102  they may then penetrate Retailer&#39;s 2 geofence  1114  at the second geofence penetration  1126 . Just as before once the penetration has occurred, the Retailer 2 ( 1112 ) is notified that the user  124  is within their geofence and may geotarget the user  124  along with Retailer 1 ( 1108 ). 
     As the user  102  in the vehicle  1104  continues along the path  1102  a third penetration  1128  may occur where Retailer 3 geofence  1118  has been penetrated by the user  124 . As seen before with Retailer 1 and Retailer 2, once the geofence has been penetrated then Retailer 3 ( 1116 ) receives notification that the user  124  is within the geofence and may geotarget the user  124  as described previously with Retailer 1 ( 1108 ) and Retailer 2 ( 1112 ). At this time, based on the location of the user being within three geofences, the user  124  may be receiving notifications in the form of text message and/or emails from all threes retailers mentioned above. The system may charge a premium to one of the retailers to prevent other targeted advertisements from interfering. 
     As the user  124  moves along the path  1102  out through the first and second geofence exits  1130 , notifications from Retailer 1 ( 1108 ) and Retailer 2 ( 1112 ) to the user  124  stop because the user  124  is no longer within either Retailer 1 and Retailer 2 geofence boundaries  1110 , 1114 . However since the user  124  and vehicle  1104  are still within the Retailer 3 geofence  1118 , the user  124  will continue to receive notifications from Retailer 3  116  as they transition through the location surrounded by Retailer&#39;s 3 geofence. As the user  124  and vehicle  1104  pass through the third geofence exit  1132  then all notifications from the retailer 3 ( 1116 ) cease. 
     As the user  124  and vehicle  1104  continues on the pathway  1102 , they have a near miss  1134  where the user  124  does not pass through the Retailer 4 geofence  1122  but comes very close to the fence that was placed around the Retailer 4 ( 1120 ). Therefore the Retailer 4 ( 1120 ) will not push notifications to the user device  106  as was done previously with Retailer 1 ( 1108 ), Retailer 2 ( 1112 ) and Retailer 3 ( 1116 ). 
     If a user device  106  has a dynamic geofence set up with selected retailers as detailed in  FIG. 6  and does not have tracking  608  activated, the user  124  it may request and receive selective notifications from the retailers they have selected as they pass by the retailer and the retailer penetrates the user&#39;s  124  dynamic geofence. This penetration is determined by the relative position of the user device  106  and the retailer. Upon the penetration of the dynamic geofence, the user device  106  notifies and requests the retailer through the network to provide notifications while the retailer is within the dynamic geofence. The dynamic geofence of the user  124  may be much larger and with tracking  608  activated, the user  124  would only receive notifications of the selected retailers because the user  124  may never penetrate a retailer&#39;s geofence. 
       FIG. 12  is a detailed view  1200  of one embodiment of a communication module  104  that may be connected separately to the electronic cash register  102  or may be integrated directly into the electronic cash register  102 . The communication module  104  may comprise a communication device  1202 , a display  1204 , a communication device stand  1206 , communication module wiring  1208 , a user device connection  1210 , and a card reader/writer  1212 . In a preferred embodiment, the communications device  1202  and display  1204  are fixedly attached to the communications device stand  1206  where it places the display  1204  in a position for easy viewing and reach of a user  124 . The communication module  104  allows a user  124  and the attendant  126  to transfers sales transaction information from the electronic cash register  102  to the user device  106 . This transfer may occur by several different methods which were previously described in  FIG. 7 . 
     The preferable method utilizes proximity radio frequency systems for wireless transfer such as radio frequency identification or near-field communication to allow two-way communication between the communication module  104  and user device  106 . The communication module  104  may utilize a contactless reader to receive data from a user device  106 . At the end of the sales transaction, the user  124  may use the contactless reader in the user device  106  to transfer the excess currency from the electronic cash register  102  via the communications module  104 . Upon the transfer, the user device  106  connects to the redemption outlet server  114  via redemption outlet server communication path  116  and transfers the sales transaction data  304 . The user&#39;s  124  account is updated based on the sales transaction data  304 . 
     Another method utilizes a code such as a UPC or QRC to transfer the money. As described earlier, a user  124  may select an item for purchase and the attendant  126  would execute the sales transaction where the excess currency  126  and the sales data would be used to create a code with the sales data embedded in the code  1214  containing the amount of currency that is due to the user  124 . The user  124  using the user device  106  which will be described in detail in  FIG. 13  to scan the QRC code  1214  that would be interpreted on the user&#39;s device  106  and then applied to the account. 
     In an alternative methods of transferring the currency the attendant  126  could encode the information on a magnetic card using the magnetic card reader/writer  1212 . The attendant  126  may place the  304  on the card. The magnetic card would then be handed to the user  124  wherein the user  124  would use the user device  106  with the mobile card reader  1314  to scan the magnetic card to interpret the information and apply it to the user&#39;s  124  account. One additional method is to physically connect the user device  106  to the communication module  104  using communication device wiring  1208  that may supply power and data to the communications module  106  where the sales transaction data  304  is transferred from the communications module  104  to the user device  106 . The user&#39;s  124  account is then updated with sales transaction data  304 . These are some methods by which the attendant  126  may transfer the excess currency to the user  124  but other methods may be apparent to one skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 13  is a detailed view  1300  of one embodiment of a user device  106 . The user device  106  may comprise a smart device  1302 , a display  1304 , a socket  1306 , a camera  1308 , a microphone  1310  and an activation button  1312 . A user  124  may operate the user device  106  to receive the currency transfer from the attendant  126  through the electronic cash register  102  and communication module  104 . The activation button  1312  removes the phone from it inactive state and may also allow the user  124  to possibly control a cursor to activate functions in the application. Additionally, the microphone maybe used to provide voice command to the user device  106  to control its activity. There are several methods to accomplish this transfer that were described previously in  FIG. 12 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, user  124  may use the proximity RF systems to transfer the currency wirelessly from the electronic cash register  102  via the communication module  104  to the user device  106 . The user device  106  is held in close proximity to the communications module  104  where the contactless reader in the user device  106  automatically or upon user  124  initiation reads the sales transaction data  304  being transmitted from the communication module  104  to electronically transfer the currency without physically connecting the user device  106 . As described above, the information is transferred to the redemption outlet server  114  to update the user&#39;s  124  account. 
     Alternately, a user  124  may transfer the excess currency by using a code  1214  and code reader software to read the code  1214  and decode the data within the code  1214  for its eventual transfer and updating of the user&#39;s  124  account on the redemption server  114 . User device  106  application, may use the camera  1308  and software to scan the code  1214  to transfer the excess currency from the electronic cash register  102  via communication module  104  to the user device  106 . Once the user  124  notifies the attendant  126  that they would like to transfer the excess currency into the user&#39;s  124  account, they notify the attendant  126  how they would like the currency transferred and in this case the transfer is to be accomplished by QRC code transfer. The attendant  126  then generates a QRC code  1214  based on the sales transaction data  304 . The code  1214  is displayed on the communication module  104  on the display  1204  where the user  124  activates the capture software and places the user device  106  such that the camera  1308  can read the code  1214 . Once the QRC code is within the capture box of the user device&#39;s  106  camera  1308  then the user may capture the code  1214  wherein the information from the code  1214  is transferred and decoded. The decoded sales transaction data  304  is transmitted to the redemption outlet server  114  where the information is then applied to the user&#39;s  124  account. 
     Additionally, the user  124  may use a magnetic card to effect the transfer of the excess currency from the electronic cash register  102  to the user device  106 . As described in  FIG. 12 , the attendant  126  encodes the sales transaction on to a magnetic stripped card then physically hands the card to the user  124  where the user  124  then slides the magnetic card through the mobile card reader/writer  1314  attached to the user device  106 . The mobile card reader/writer  1314  may be integrated with the user device  124  or attached to the user device  106  as seen in this figure. The sales transaction data  304  is then downloaded and decoded and the sales transaction data  304  is then applied to the user&#39;s  124  account by the same methods as describe above. 
     Another method is the wired transfer of the excess currency from the electronic cash register  102  to the user device  106 . The sales transaction data  304  may be transmitted from the electronic cash register  102  through the communication module  104  using the user device connection  1210  which is then connected to the user device  106  at the connector socket  1306 . The user  124  then activates the application software to download the sales transaction data  304 , which is then applied to the user&#39;s  124  account through the redemption server  114 . These four methods of currency transfer may allow the user  124  as they travel throughout the world to effectively make purchases and receive excess currency in the form of electronic value depending on the state of technology in a particular location. This system provides the user  124  multiple opportunities to use the system  100  wherein the excess currency is converted into an electronic value and then placed on their account.